The phrase quality over quantity holds up very well in the custom bike world, far too many people have found out the hard way that getting a lot of work done on your beloved motorcycle for a small amount of cash is a recipe for disaster. But one man bucks the trend, producing an incredible number of custom bikes each year and yet the quality is always first class. So, right on time to prove the point, Noel Muller of Black Cycles Australia has followed on from a recent feature with yet another jaw-dropping release. And oh baby, it’s a beauty, dressed up in Ferrari Red, this Hot Rod Honda CB1100 is quite simply one of the best custom motorcycles we’ve seen, and no stone has been left unturned in the successful pursuit of perfection.

Late in 2022, Noel took a call from Dan in Canberra, who had a 1983 Honda CB1100 Bol d’Or that he’d had as a project for the past six years. But with a busy schedule and other commitments, the impressive parts list he’d built up hadn’t yet found their way onto the bike. So, in January of this year, Dan loaded up the bike and bits and headed for Black Cycles headquarters in Queensland, to drop the bike off to Noel and discuss ideas for the build. Dan comes from a family heavily involved in the custom car scene, so he knows what he likes and the effort required to build a vehicle of exceptional quality, and he had his mind set on a cafe racer look.

But as Noel gazed over the parts that had been supplied, he picked up a more contemporary vibe, and after doing some initial work, he took photos and sent them down to Dan. The response came back in minutes, “Go with your style, completely!” And the Ferrari inspired theme was set, with the sort of quality that is both uncompromising and of the highest calibre, the sort you see in the judging halls of the world’s best hot rod shows. To start things off, “I first removed the original rear frame & built a more flowing style also remounting the Ohlins rear shocks to get a lower stance. I then modified an aftermarket fuel tank into the shape you see now,” Noel explains.

The work on the tank didn’t stop there, as Noel had a bezel and base plate machined for the top, that holds the filler and a Koso digital dash for that race-inspired double dry break look. Underneath a new tunnel was built to fit over the frame, which itself has undergone significant changes “a filler piece around the front of the tank opening, removing a couple of small gussets, removing all of the factory folded joints & slowly cutting out all the factory MIG welds & then using a TIG for a lower, cleaner finish.” To further keep things looking ultra neat, a battery box was built, which hides under the swingarm and houses a lithium battery and matching RM stator as well as the starter solenoid.

That swingarm is a beautiful vintage racing-style alloy unit built by Metmachex Engineering in the UK, which has been carefully smoothed out around the welds to match the flawless look of the frame. This kicks off a huge handling upgrade, with GSX-R750 USD forks made to fit using triple trees from Cognito Moto, who also supplied the hubs and rearsets.

To ensure these matched the quality of the rear shocks, Chris at XXX Rated Race Suspension rebuilt and lowered the Suzuki legs with Ohlins internals. The front discs are Braking wave-style pieces and with no match for the rear, one was made to suit, that now works with a Brembo master cylinder. Hel custom lines, Brembo masters and a hydraulic clutch conversion, and the quality is out of this world.

The wheel size helps to set the stance and the laced-up alloy rims measure 19in at the front and 18in at the rear. “The tyres are a Dunlop/Bridgestone which we’ve then completely smoothed the sidewalls for an even cleaner look, it’s an old hot rodder trick!” Noel tells us. Then to really bring it all together, a host of parts like the PBM headlight shroud, billet clip-ons, MGW engine covers, billet side stand and much more were sent to DNA anodising for a burnt bronze Cerakote, which has a special mix with 10% gold mica.

While Noel had been busy doing all of this work, and much more that we just don’t have space to print, Justin at PopBang Classics had been building a beast of an engine. The insides are completely overhauled and stuffed with a 1250cc big bore kit. On the outside, Justin smoothed things out and laid down a custom 2k grey paint, which matches the look of the stonking Yoshi spec bank of carbs.

Noel finished the tops of these in a Ferrari-styled red textured finish and did the same to the valve cover, having filled the tacho hole. The exhaust is a full titanium Nitro Racing system, rebuilt by MDS fab to work with the lower stance. A Dynatek ignition was wired in, a PWR cooler added and then she belted out a thumping 100rwhp on the Pro Cycle dyno.

Time to finish things in style, and Noel and Justin are the dream team, the swingarm and frame are finished in Ferrari Rosso Corsa Red with Justin topping it with a matte clear, while all of Noel’s handy work on the tank, calipers and that incredible front fender get the same, but with a gloss finish.

But the boys weren’t done there, “I had seen a motorcycle painter from Japan doing a 3D style paint buried in resin & thought I’d really like an HRC logo done similar to that but actually 3D & after a bit of thought Justin came up with the idea of slowing building it up with high fill primer over a stencil & then refining it even more.” To show you the level of commitment on this bike, Noel did three seats before settling on the perfect black saddle.

The end result is a custom bike for the ages, with all involved throwing the full weight of their talents at the Honda to achieve this remarkable result. Noel’s attention to detail is only surpassed by his ability to dream up an incredible concept and then bring it to life in all its glory.

Every year, Australia’s Mecca for motorheads is the annual Summernats car festival, with the best vehicle on display and in the driving events being crowd the most coveted prize, Grand Champion. And after years in this scene and attending that motor fuelled mayhem of an event, I have no doubt that if the Honda had four wheels, the biggest prize in Australian Hot Rodding would be in Dan’s hands; thanks to Black Cycles and one incredible crew of Aussie craftsmen.

[ Black Cycles Australia | Photography by Gold Coast Studio ]