City Bike: A neo-retro Honda CB100 with a GL200 engine
First released in 1970, the Honda CB100 was only available in the US for three years—but it enjoyed a 15-year tenure in Asian markets. It was particularly popular in Indonesia, where its size, weight, and five-speed transmission made it a stylish and approachable commuter.
Its popularity hasn’t waned much either. Indonesia’s HEREX scene (it stands for ‘Honda Exciting Riders Extreme’), where bikes like the CB100 and other small-capacity Hondas rule the roost, is booming. It helps that they’re reliable and easy to customize—and that genuine and aftermarket parts are relatively easy to come by.
This 1973 Honda CB100 belongs to Raymond Nainggolan, who customized it via his workshop, EGO Project. EGO Project is a collaboration between Raymond and his friends—or, as he puts it, “a tight-knit community of kindred spirits fueled by an unwavering automotive passion.”
Although never confirmed by Honda, it’s widely believed that CB stands for ‘city bike.’ Leaning into that concept, Raymond and Co. decided to take the 1970s Honda CB100 and transform it into a slick and modern urban runabout. But by the time they were done, there wasn’t much of the original bike left.
To kick things off, the team stripped the bike down until there was nothing left but a bare frame. Raymond didn’t want to mess with the original design much, but he did want to tidy things up. So the coils and other electrical components were relocated to under the tank, mounted on laser-cut steel brackets, and the frame was reinforced in key spots.
After trying to revive the old CB engine, the crew ran into an issue with the factory kick-starter running foul of the new foot peg location. They tried their best to find a similar kick-start engine but eventually decided to swap the whole thing out for an electric start Honda GL200 engine. Even better, the GL200 engine is similar enough to the CB’s that it went into the frame with minimal tweaking.
One big visual change is the bike’s stonking upside-down front end. The EGO team installed a set of 50 mm Kayaba forks, with a modern fender mounted at the bottom and a 5” headlight up top. A pair of gold RCB shocks do duty at the back.
Is the bike over-suspended? Probably, but it looks great. 17” spoked wheels with disc brakes add to the sleek look, while also improving the old CB100’s rideability. There’s also a new stainless steel exhaust system, crafted by a local artisan, that probably unleashes an extra horse or two.
The Honda’s updated bodywork has a fantastic modern industrial vibe. EGO Project retained the OEM fuel tank but built an ingenious rear ‘cover’ out of fiberglass to stretch it visually. It’s a huge improvement over the stock setup, cleverly filling in the gap between the tank and seat.
Once it was done, the tank was painted in stunning champagne silver with dark grey for the new fiberglass bit. The resin Honda badges are custom items, drawing inspiration from the vintage-style badges that sit on Honda’s modern mini-bikes.
The CB100’s new back end is undoubtedly a stand-out feature. Inspired by neo-retro bikes like the Husqvarna Svartpilen, EGO Project 3D-printed a modular seat pan and rear cowl. They then covered the seat pan in foam and chic oxblood leather.
The team also 3D printed the LED turn signal housings and the taillight housing. The striking taillight ‘lens’ was inspired by long-exposure photos of light trails at night. Hidden steel brackets were employed to adapt the new parts to the frame, minimizing the need for cutting.
The control area was kept nice and simple. A set of bars, grips, and switches from a Honda CB150R were bolted on, and finished with a pair of Rizoma bar end mirrors. Raymond lucked out with the speedo when he stumbled on the perfect modern-looking LCD unit online.
The most remarkable thing about this hopped-up CB100 is how tidy it looks. A handful of subtle EGO Project logos are sprinkled throughout the build—but there’s some period-correct Honda branding too, giving the whole thing a sharp factory vibe. We’re sure it’ll be a hit on the local HEREX scene.
Raymond Nainggolan Instagram
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Originally posted on: https://www.bikeexif.com/custom-honda-cb100