The 6-cylinder, 24-valve, 1,047cc Honda CBX 1000 engine was pivotal for Honda. Surprisingly, however, the motorcycle beloved today was unloved in its day, mostly because of the handling. It weighed in excess of 580lb wet with 100-plus horsepower and a frame that could not give the rider confidence. Georges Martin of Moto Martin, located in Les Sables-d'Olonne on the east coast of France, designed and built a stiffer and lighter polished nickel tube frame capable of controlling the motor, yet still used the original CBX geometry adding 42mm Moto Martin forks and a rear shock horizontal under the seat. Martin used Brembo brakes and managed to lose nearly 80lb.

Built by Gregory Smith of Aitkin, Minnesota from a Martin kit and a 1981 crate motor. As the proprietor of Kuhnhenn Machine Werks, he made many of the chassis parts himself. There was no chrome and all the bare metal was polished. There's also a Texas title (September 2002) in the name of a Thomas Barnhart of Corinth. The bike had been left abandoned with a broken engine and damaged frame. In mid-2005, requested by our seller, a complete overhaul and restoration was begun by CBX specialists TIMS International Motorcycle Supply of Alpharetta, Georgia. The frame and swing arm were refurbished, as were the Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes. The tank, seat and fairing were specially customized, featuring twin head and twin taillights, and new 3-spoke, 17in wheels. The 6-into-1 exhaust system was handmade in stainless steel and the motor was modified to give 140 horsepower at the rear wheel but still maintain the original Honda drivability and reliability.

Now showing 26,217 miles, the machine remains in beautiful, running condition just as Georges Martin would have envisaged.