Honda CX500 Blubber by Ton-Up Garage

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Ton-Up Garage’s Honda CX500 Blubber takes a compact, mechanically exposed donor and gives it a sharply defined custom identity. The Portuguese workshop keeps the CX500’s distinctive engine architecture on display, then frames it with a low solo seat, broad treaded tyres and a blue-and-silver bodywork package that looks more considered than ornamental.

A CX500 with a strong visual centre

The motorcycle’s proportions are set by the fuel tank and the pair of chunky wheels. The tank uses a satin grey centre with vivid blue panels, thin white borders and a small Ton-Up Garage emblem. That combination carries forward onto the headlight cowl, creating a continuous graphic line from the cockpit to the front of the bike.

At the rear, the short seat follows the line of the frame before ending above a compact tail section. Its visible stitching adds texture without competing with the paintwork. The stripped-back rear also leaves the twin shock absorbers, frame rails and rear wheel unusually prominent, making the chassis part of the design rather than something hidden beneath bodywork.

Mechanical detail left in view

Blubber does not disguise the Honda engine. The black-finished cases contrast with light-coloured cylinder-head covers and pale exhaust wrap, while a small exposed filter is visible beneath the tank. The wrap gives the lower half of the motorcycle a handmade, heat-resistant visual texture, and the light engine details echo the white grips, tank pinstriping and exhaust shield.

The front end uses conventional telescopic forks and a single visible disc, while the rear keeps a shaft-drive housing in the composition. Black wheels with solid, elongated spokes suit the bike’s muscular stance, and the tread pattern gives the otherwise polished build a hint of scrambler influence. There is no attempt to turn the CX500 into a fully enclosed café racer; its utility-shaped components remain part of the appeal.

Why it is called Blubber

Ton-Up Garage describes the name as a reference to the insulating fat layer found on marine mammals. In the workshop’s explanation, that layer represents stored energy, while the motorcycle represents the extra inspiration needed to pursue freedom. The idea is reflected less literally in the styling than in the bike’s compact, purposeful appearance: every major visual element appears to serve the overall shape.

Blubber’s success is therefore less about adding visual noise and more about editing the CX500’s identity. Blue graphics, pale contrasting parts, a shortened tail and exposed mechanical surfaces turn the donor into a coherent custom without erasing the character of the original motorcycle.

Photo Gallery

The bike you see here is the work of Ton-up Garage – a Portuguese custom workshop with an established name as one of the best in the business. Their attention to detail is second to none and the amount of time invested in getting this CX500 into better-than-factory condition is clearly apparent.