Kyril Dambuleff, founder of Blacksquare Motorcycles, defies convention in more ways than one. He builds custom bikes for fun and he doesn’t even have a classic workshop or even a store for bike parts. And that makes his designs even more special. This Honda CB 500 cafe racer dates back to 1972, but it has recently received a complete – and sleek – makeover. Dubbed ‘Bikini’, the motorcycle boasts a stylish new look, with most of the parts on view, apart from a few key details. Using a quote from Japanese food critic Masuhiro Yamamoto as a motto, “Ultimate simplicity leads to purity”, Dambuleff created a contemporary masterpiece.
The bike boasts a distinctive asymmetric tank, a Cerakote polymer-ceramic coating with a mirror finish, and sky blue accents. ‘Bikini’ also features a 3-position rearset bracket, an antigravity battery, aluminum custom fenders, as well as wheels with polished aluminum rims and stainless steel spokes, with 18’’ and 19’’ Michelin tires. The attention to detail stuns. The marine-grade semi-perforated vinyl seat matches the bespoke perforated side covers, while at the front, the vintage headlight complements bike’s cool design perfectly. Safe to say, this Honda CB 500 cafe racer is a rare beauty. Photographs © Blacksquare Motorcycles.