Honda GL500 "Wood" by Ugly Motors

The Honda GL500 "Wood" by Ugly Motors is a 1982 GL500 custom built around a philosophy as simple as it is demanding: match speed, modernity, and classic character without overcomplicating any of them.

The Concept

This bike was built for a friend of the builder, a skilled wood craftsman who wanted one element from his trade incorporated into the machine. The result is a GL500 with a handcrafted wooden seat as its centrepiece, an unexpected material choice that grounds the motorcycle's identity in craft rather than convention. Ugly Motors reshaped the rear frame to smooth the GL's characteristically angular lines and rebuilt the rest of the motorcycle around the contrasting materials of speed and wood.

What Makes It

The build was kept deliberately low-budget and simple, which Ugly Motors considers proof that design in its purest form can stand out even on a platform as well-explored as the GL500 or CX500. Core changes include an Aprilia RS125 front end, which transforms the steering feel, and an R1 rear damper for significantly improved suspension performance. A large K&N air filter (car-spec) feeds the V-twin generously. Firestone tyres give the build its period-appropriate stance. The biggest technical challenge was integrating the new airbox and filter with the rear of the bike, a week of measuring and fabricating before the solution locked in.

The Build

The Honda GL500 foundation delivers a 500cc liquid-cooled V-twin with Honda's Pro-Link monoshock rear suspension and electric-only starting, reliable engineering from 1982 that has aged well when properly maintained. The custom rear frame eliminates the visual roughness of the stock GL silhouette, and the wooden seat introduces a material warmth that contrasts sharply with the mechanical components around it. The result is a cohesive, low-cost custom that demonstrates what clarity of concept can achieve regardless of budget.

Specifications

• Builder: Ugly Motors
• Base model: Honda GL500 (1982)
• Type: Custom / cafe-inspired
• Engine: 500cc liquid-cooled V-twin
• Front end: Aprilia RS125
• Rear damper: R1 unit
• Air filter: K&N (car specification)
• Tyres: Firestone
• Seat: Handcrafted wood
• Rear frame: Custom-designed to smooth GL lines

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