Honda GL500 "Black Beauty" by Ugly Motors

The Honda GL500 "Black Beauty" by Ugly Motors is a 1982 GL500 transformed into a stealthy, modern brat-style custom that retains its classic V-twin soul while delivering a completely rebuilt riding experience.

The Concept

This build was commissioned by a client from Lower Silesia, Poland, with a clear and disciplined brief: all-black, pure, reliable for a 40-year-old motorcycle, with modern suspension and braking. The result had to be stealthy and mean without losing the classic character of the original Honda GL500. Ugly Motors delivered on every count and solved an additional challenge the client introduced mid-project: making the bike function as a two-seater without compromising the design's visual lightness at the tail.

What Makes It

The donor bike features Honda's Pro-Link monoshock rear suspension and a 500cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine, reliable hardware for the era and a solid foundation for a performance-oriented custom. The rear suspension was upgraded with an R1 rear fork swap, notably stiff and well-matched to the GL frame. Up front, a Suzuki GSXR 750 front end with Tokico calipers transforms the braking and handling response, a change Ugly Motors describes as improving the bike by a significant margin. Safety and durability were prioritised throughout: the tyres are Metzeler ME888 units, long-distance rubber known for their lifespan and confidence in mixed conditions. Motogadget turn signals complete the electrical updates cleanly.

The Build

The two-seater requirement shaped the tail section entirely. The custom seat was stretched to accommodate a passenger without visually lengthening the motorcycle, a millimetre-by-millimetre design exercise. Purpose-built passenger footrests were designed to be secure and unobtrusive. The result is a motorcycle that works in every single situation, handles routine maintenance without drama, and looks exactly as dark and purposeful as the client requested.

Specifications

• Builder: Ugly Motors
• Base model: Honda GL500 (1982)
• Type: Brat style / custom motorcycle
• Engine: 500cc liquid-cooled V-twin
• Rear suspension: Honda Pro-Link monoshock with R1 rear fork swap
• Front end: Suzuki GSXR 750 with Tokico calipers
• Tyres: Metzeler ME888
• Turn signals: Motogadget
• Configuration: 2-seater with custom passenger footrests
• Seat: Custom stretched single unit

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