MATT COPENER’S HONDA RC31
His last custom was based on a rare Yamaha SZR660 which means global data distribution manager Matt Copener has form re-purposing unusual Jap machinery. So, aer selling the SZR in 2016 he went, ‘looking for something else to make into a modern interpretation of a café-racer, and this grey import Bros 650 came up on Gumtree, with just 1400km on it.’ The Bros was the ¡rst production Honda with an ally-frame and single-sided swingarm. ‘This was part of the appeal,’ says Matt. ‘Because it made for a light, agile bike. ‘Two Brothers Racing in the USA inspired the twin-spar rear subframe,’ continues Matt. ‘I made a cardboard template then hand cut it in airframe quality alloy. That supports a handmade seat unit, sourced from Greece’s C£racer which was modi¡ed to ¡t.’ This melds perfectly into the Aprilia Mito 125 tank, modi¡ed by his demon metal-working friend, Pete Ayres, who also applied the tubular housing for the Koso digital speedo which sits atop the tank. The Sportmax tyres are on the stock threespoke rims which, like the chassis and engine, were powder coated by Mikris Finishers, Stonehouse. But what’s most impressive paintwork-wise is the carbon¡bre-style ¡nish on the tank and seat hump by Wicked Coatings in Poole. Progressive springs and slightly thicker oil sit inside the stock forks, which were dropped through the yokes to ‘sharpen up the steering.’ At the back a modi¡ed Wilbers shock looks great without being ¥ashy. Overall it’s a subtle-looking bike which was completed in just under a year.