01
Rear conversion in CAD
Subframe, upper shock mount and tail structure modelled as one assembly, so the shock position and load paths could be checked before cutting steel.
Canarin Garage · Est. 2024
Custom motorcycle workshop, Croatia
Honda
CX500
A 1981 CX500 rebuilt as a neo-retro endurance cafe racer. The engine stays, everything around it is redesigned: monoshock chassis, sportbike front end, 17-inch spoked wheels, clean electronics.
- Base
- 1981 Honda CX500
- Engine
- 497 cc longitudinal V-twin
- Style
- Neo-retro endurance cafe racer
- Front
- GSX-R750 K7 USD, 30 mm offset
- Rear
- Custom monoshock, YSS shock
- Wheels
- 17-inch spoked, gold nipples
- Electronics
- Motogadget M-Unit + Motoscope Pro
- Target
- Road and Grobnik track days
Status board
Build status
Ten phases from donor bike to first fire. Four are done, three are on the bench right now, three are queued.
- Done
- In progress
- Next
- 01
Donor bike and paperwork
1981 CX500 sourced, import documents, parts references gathered.
Done Fall 2024 - 02
CAD and structural check
Rear frame and monoshock conversion modelled in SolidWorks, checked in ANSYS.
Done Nov 2024 - 03
Teardown
Frame, engine and drivetrain separated. Everything labelled and photographed.
Done 2025 - 04
Rear frame fabrication
Subframe, gussets and shock mounts welded. Test fit with the YSS shock done.
Done 2025 - 05
Coating
Frame sections and hubs coated. Remaining brackets going out in the next batch.
In progress Now - 06
Wheels and front end
17-inch spoked wheels laced. GSX-R forks and Cognito Moto triple tree fitted.
In progress Now - 07
Engine rebuild
Bearings, carb kit and pod filters in hand. Exhaust routing still being decided.
In progress Now - 08
Electronics and cooling
Motogadget wiring layout, KTM Duke 390 radiator packaging, Rae-San ignition.
Next Next - 09
Bodywork and finishing
Short seat, minimal cockpit, matte black with brushed metal details.
Next Next - 10
First fire and shakedown
Road setup first, then a Grobnik track day.
Next Goal
Engineering
Drawn before it was cut
Not a restoration. The rear of the bike is a new structure, so it was modelled and stress-checked before the first weld.
- 160MPa
- Peak equivalent stress
- 0.199mm
- Total deformation
- 1.56min
- Safety factor
- Nov 2024
- ANSYS static report
02
ANSYS static review
A static structural pass on the rear section. The numbers are a sanity check, not a certificate, but they gave the fabrication a clear starting point.
03
Welded reinforcement
Formed plates and TIG welds around the shock and seat support area, so the cafe tail is structural rather than cosmetic.
Spec sheet
Parts map
Engine and drivetrain
01- Engine
- CX500 497 cc V-twin, full rebuild in progress
- Bearings
- OEM brown-code connecting rod bearings
- Intake
- Murray's twin carb kit, K&N pod filters
- Exhaust
- Custom stainless 2-into-2, raised routing
- Ignition
- Rae-San programmable, OEM pickup
Chassis and suspension
02- Subframe
- Custom, CAD-modelled, ANSYS-checked
- Rear shock
- YSS TCFX-MZ-366-280-TRL, monoshock
- Forks
- Suzuki GSX-R750 K7 USD
- Triple tree
- Cognito Moto, 30 mm offset
- Wheels
- Custom 17-inch spoked, black rims, brushed hubs
Electronics
03- Control unit
- Motogadget M-Unit
- Dash
- Motogadget Motoscope Pro
- Wiring
- Compact loom, integrated lighting and controls
- Related
- Moto32, my open-source alternative to the M-Unit
Cooling, brakes, finish
04- Radiator
- KTM Duke 390 conversion
- Rear brake
- Brembo caliper, GSX-R K7 disc, under review
- Finish
- Matte black, brushed metal, gold spoke nipples
- Cockpit
- Minimal, short seat, endurance proportions
Shop notes
On the bench
Engineering
Static chassis check
The ANSYS pass on the rear conversion came back with a 1.56 minimum safety factor. Good enough to proceed, with real-world checks once the bike is rolling.
Report: Nov 2024
Fabrication
Gusseted rear section
Welded reinforcement around the shock and seat support so the tail carries load properly. TIG, fit-up on the table, then grind and check.
Process: TIG + fit-up
Geometry
Modern front, 17-inch stance
GSX-R750 forks, Cognito Moto triple tree at 30 mm offset and 17-inch wheels move the CX toward a modern stance without losing the spoke-wheel look.
Direction: road + Grobnik
Gallery
Photo log
Build log
Longer notes
Garage 4 min read
Honda CX500 Canarin Garage Build
A 1981 Honda CX500 is being reinterpreted into a neo-retro endurance cafe racer with modern geometry, custom 17-inch spoked wheels, and a clean Motogadget control system.
Read note Garage 5 min read
CX500 Monoshock Conversion And Chassis Analysis
The rear of the CX500 is being rebuilt with a custom subframe, YSS shock, welded reinforcement, CAD layout, and ANSYS static checks before final assembly.
Read noteGet in touch
Parts, photos, questions
Parts partners, photographers and fellow CX builders are welcome. The bike will be on the road first, then at Grobnik.