Rebels with a cause: Winners of Honda's custom competition announced

This Honda CMX500 Rebel, built by Sardinia-based customisers Motocicli Audaci, has been crowned winner of the 2022 Honda Customs competition.

Called ‘Maanboard’, the build took inspiration from the sand racers of the 1930s with springer forks up front and 19in wheels.

It was voted best online of the 10 customised Honda 500 and 1100 Rebels which entered the competition, with all finished machines displayed at the annual Wheels and Waves festival in Biarritz, back in July.

Winning builder, Nicola Manca said: “The thing we are most proud of is that we were able to achieve a completely different line from the starting model without having to modify the frame, tank or the swingarm.”

Coming a close second was the ‘5Four Honda Rebel Street’ from British bike builder and TV personality Guy Willison, who readers may remember from his previous Honda collaborations to build versions of the CB1100RS and CB1000R .

His street tracker-inspired transformation of a CMX500 features a racing tail piece, stainless-steel front number board, wire spoked wheels and a signature 5Four candy red paint scheme by Pro Kustom.

While coming third was the gold and white ‘Lucy 500 Rebel’ by Portuguese dealer Honda Garonda, which was inspired by Honda’s CB175 of the late sixties and early seventies.

The 10 entries, which came from countries as diverse as Italy, the UK, Portugal, Spain and France, were featured on the site with over 8000 registered users asked to express a ‘like’ or dislike’. When the competition closed, the top three received 5175, 4823 and 4335 ‘likes’ respectively.

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The Rebel alliance: Honda reveal 10-strong custom cruiser line-up at Wheels and Waves

First published on 11 July 2022 by Dan Sutherland

Honda are celebrating their CMX500 and CMX1100 Rebel cruiser models by showcasing a range of radical custom builds at this year’s Wheels and Waves Festival in Biarritz, France.

The 10-strong line-up were on display from June 29 to July 3 and were put together by builders from Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, and the UK.

With the show now over, the Japanese marque are now inviting you to choose your favourite in an online vote, with the most popular bike announced at the end of August. A number of desktop and mobile wallpapers are available to download, too.

Despite beginning life as low-slung cruisers, the custom Rebels on show have been transformed into everything from balloon-tyred bobbers, to 1930s sand racers. Even the UK’s own Guy Willison of 5four Motorcycles has got involved; building a CMX500 inspired by his previous custom work on the CB1100RS retro and CB1000R sports naked.

Details include a candy red paint job, one-off titanium Racefit Urban Growler exhaust, and a racing tailpiece.

Another build is ‘Lucy’ – a gold and white creation inspired by the CB175 of the 1960s and 70s and put together by Portuguese team, Honda Garonda. Changes to this bike included upgraded rear suspension and a Vance and Hines muffler.

To see the full range and have your say, visit hondacustoms.com