New Honda GB250

Honda GB250

In the Honda canon of custom-friendly motorcycles, the GB range tends to be overshadowed by the mighty CB750 and CB550. But the GB250 Clubman has a lot going for it, including bulletproof reliability. And it’s the perfect platform for a lightweight, about-town café racer. The bike was released as a Japan-only model in 1983, using the CBX250 motor—a DOHC thumper with a four-valve head and twin exhaust pipes. In stock form, the engine pumps out around 30hp at 9,500rpm, and drives through a six-speed ’box. And with a dry weight of just 130kg, progress is brisk. The machine in the pictures is from the legendary Gravel Crew shop of Kuwana City, an outfit best known for their meticulous Yamaha SR400 customs. The dated, 80s-style bodywork of the original GB250 has been removed, and a slender new tank and seat unit installed. To complete the look, the engine now breathes through an elegant set of custom pipes—a Gravel Crew trademark. For a chuckable, affordable and reliable café racer to get from point A to point B, it doesn’t get much better than this.