The Prototype: Zife Design Honda Neo-Sports activities CB650R

Incomes a buyer’s belief is value extra to a {custom} workshop than merely getting prospects within the door. With out belief, they gained’t be given artistic freedom or the prospect to point out the world what they’re actually able to.

It takes a particular form of belief at hand somebody the keys to your brand-new motorbike. Not to mention belief them with tearing it aside and rebuilding it. However that’s precisely what Zife Design’s newest buyer did. With little greater than a quick consisting of a primary type information the Zife group discovered themselves in possession of a model new Honda CB650R and free rein to translate their shopper’s requests nonetheless they noticed match.

The Zife Design workshop relies in Hanoi, Vietnam. They’ve been constructing {custom} bikes since 2010 and have clearly shaped a powerful rapport with the native motorcycling group. Their ethos is to by no means construct the identical bike twice and to this point they’ve accomplished a great job sticking to that plan with a various portfolio of {custom} creations. That is the second late mannequin Honda CB to obtain the Zife remedy, however simply as they promise, this one is nothing just like the final. Based mostly on a 2021 model of the CB650R Zife name this bike ‘The Prototype”.

“The proprietor needed a one-of-a-kind model of the CB650R that’s retro in addition to futuristic,” says Zife supervisor Tuan Ngoc. “Our design idea was influenced by cafe racers with a modernised fairing design that enhances the futuristic traces and chassis of Honda’s neo-sports CB650R.”

Realising their shopper’s temporary took the Zife group a mere 5 months. The undertaking started with a digital sketch in Procreate that was laid straight onto a photograph of a inventory CB650R. Together with giving their shopper one thing to log off this shaped a stable place to begin for the construct. Throughout this stage, lots of the part’s dimensions and relative positions have been fine-tuned on display previous to any work commencing.

Regardless of the Prototype’s complicated types and natural traces, the bodywork isn’t constructed from fibre composites. As a substitute, for his or her tasks, Zife depends on their steel shaping abilities to grasp their ideas. This Honda’s new all-metal apparel consists of a {custom} entrance fender, distinctive entrance fairing that wraps again over the gasoline tank, a fake gasoline tank that sits over the inventory gasoline cell and bespoke aspect panels that conceal any ugly engine or electrical parts. The entire tail meeting is new too and encompasses a detachable cowl for 2-up driving.

One further request of the bike’s proprietor was to make the CB650R extra appropriate for his stature. Being a smaller rider he needed to have the ability to simply get a foot down in Hanoi’s busy begin/cease visitors. To make this doable Zife has slimmed down the seat design and added larger handlebars that place the rider extra upright and within the lowest a part of the saddle. Displaying off their means to plan a undertaking properly, all the new bodywork is held in place by present fixing factors on the CB650R chassis so there was no want for any chopping or welding of the body.

This CB650R wears a spattering of {custom} equipment too. Amongst them is a Denali M7 LED headlight that’s seamlessly built-in into the {custom} entrance fairing. Rear-end lighting duties are managed by a multi-function LED gentle strip. There are custom-made Zife badges on the tank covers and a custom-made gasoline cap. Highway particles is stored in examine because of a machined radiator guard and a taller set of motocross-style handlebars full the revised driving place.

Efficiency upgrades weren’t a part of the temporary with this undertaking, however that didn’t cease Zife from making a number of modifications to unlock the stream of gasoline and air into and out of the engine.

Together with fabricating a one-of-a-kind gasoline tank cowl, the Zife group checked out methods of enhancing the Honda’s consumption system with a {custom} air field. “The ratio of the air field was one of the difficult components of the undertaking,” says Tuan. “We needed to remake it twice to get the specified look and performance.” The results of Zife’s exhausting work is a putting new setup for the neo-sports Honda that together with boosting efficiency helps to maintain working temperatures down throughout Hanoi’s stifling moist season.

As for the exhaust finish of the combustion cycle, it’s exhausting to disregard the bike’s new stomach pan and muffler association. Sitting beneath the radiator is a large mesh panel that permits ample airflow whereas defending the system from injury. Flanking the decrease half of the engine are chunky panels that kind the muffler housings on the rear. The entire setup provides some severe visible heft to the decrease half of the inline-four and in flip, makes this CB650R seem way more planted and muscular.

In our opinion, Honda’s Neo-Sports activities Cafe sequence is without doubt one of the least classic-looking trendy retros available on the market. Regardless of the Prototype’s unmistakably futuristic styling Zife has managed to present the CB650R a way more basic really feel. By changing exhausting traces with flowing curves and a balanced bone line they’ve created one of many best-looking modified Neo-Sport fashions we’ve seen to this point. With first-rate work like this rolling out of the Zife workshop, it’s no marvel they’ve earned the belief of their prospects.

ZIFE Design