Photo: Kaspeed via Pipeburn
Kaspeed (not to be confused with Thailand’s K-Speed) is a three-man crew consisting of Karsten Dressel and his two sons, based in the German town of Glauchau. They probably wouldn’t be able to build a bad custom bike even if their lives depended on it, and this won’t be the first time we bring up their work here on autoevolution. Oh, and of course, it most certainly won’t be the last, either!
This article’s photo gallery showcases a Honda CX500 from the model-year 1984, which was turned into something infinitely prettier than its stock self. With the motorcycle on their workbench, they kicked things off by eliminating its rear subframe, so as to make room for a bespoke replacement built from scratch. The new framework is a looped affair arching upward to bring about a sporty riding stance.
On the other hand, the main frame and swingarm got cleaned up and treated to a layer of satin-black powder coating. Turning their attention to the motorcycle’s suspension, the Dressels did away with its original shock absorber in favor of a modern adjustable module from YSS. The factory air-assisted forks are still present at the front, but they’ve been subjected to a comprehensive rebuild for good measure.
Karsten and his sons have also refurbished the braking hardware at both ends, while choosing to retain the 18-inch Comstar wheels that came from the factory. Their rims were shod in Metzeler Roadtec 01 rubber for ample grip, and a custom license plate bracket has been attached to the swingarm. The latter carries a handmade rear fender, as well.
A new mudguard also made its way onto the front end, but the Kaspeed trio decided to retain the stock fuel tank. Behind it lies a sizeable seat upholstered in black leather, with a curvature that follows the subframe tubing seamlessly. The cockpit area is now home to a low-profile LSL handlebar with adjustable levers, Kellermann bar-end turn signals, and a single underslung mirror mounted on the left.
Peek further ahead, and you’ll notice an aftermarket LED headlight illuminating the CX500’s front end. It’s topped with a small 3D-printed cowl that works its way up to also encase a digital Koso dial back in the cockpit. Rounding out the ergonomic package are billet aluminum rearsets, and the Kaspeed treatment made its presence felt in the powertrain sector, as well.
The freshly refurbished carbs got capped off with premium DNA pod filters, while the OEM exhaust was swapped with a full stainless-steel alternative from Arrow. Lastly, the livery covering the motorcycle’s gas tank comprises a glossy silver base and green accents, but the former hue made its way onto the headlight cowl, too. Satin-black is the predominant finish elsewhere.
On the other hand, the main frame and swingarm got cleaned up and treated to a layer of satin-black powder coating. Turning their attention to the motorcycle’s suspension, the Dressels did away with its original shock absorber in favor of a modern adjustable module from YSS. The factory air-assisted forks are still present at the front, but they’ve been subjected to a comprehensive rebuild for good measure.
Karsten and his sons have also refurbished the braking hardware at both ends, while choosing to retain the 18-inch Comstar wheels that came from the factory. Their rims were shod in Metzeler Roadtec 01 rubber for ample grip, and a custom license plate bracket has been attached to the swingarm. The latter carries a handmade rear fender, as well.
A new mudguard also made its way onto the front end, but the Kaspeed trio decided to retain the stock fuel tank. Behind it lies a sizeable seat upholstered in black leather, with a curvature that follows the subframe tubing seamlessly. The cockpit area is now home to a low-profile LSL handlebar with adjustable levers, Kellermann bar-end turn signals, and a single underslung mirror mounted on the left.
Peek further ahead, and you’ll notice an aftermarket LED headlight illuminating the CX500’s front end. It’s topped with a small 3D-printed cowl that works its way up to also encase a digital Koso dial back in the cockpit. Rounding out the ergonomic package are billet aluminum rearsets, and the Kaspeed treatment made its presence felt in the powertrain sector, as well.
The freshly refurbished carbs got capped off with premium DNA pod filters, while the OEM exhaust was swapped with a full stainless-steel alternative from Arrow. Lastly, the livery covering the motorcycle’s gas tank comprises a glossy silver base and green accents, but the former hue made its way onto the headlight cowl, too. Satin-black is the predominant finish elsewhere.
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