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...