MAD Custom Twins to Put a Smile on Your Face

MAD Custom Twins to Put a Smile on Your Face

Little Hondas With Big Attitudes

Over the years we've seen a number of custom cars, trucks and motorcycles from Mangum Automotive Designs (MAD) Industries on display at esteemed venues such as the SEMA automotive trade show in Las Vegas. All of those vehicles are built to very high standards by MAD Industries of Costa Mesa, adjacent to Newport Beach in Southern California, so when I saw these latest bikes roll out of their garage, I knew they were going to draw a lot of attention.

Recently we saw two custom Honda CB500F motorcycles at a Honda press event. Both bikes were built by MAD at the request of Honda, and showed a lot of creativity along with usability. Two things that don't often go together on custom bikes. The pair of CB500Fs also displayed a high level of craftsmanship and build quality, along with a number of ideas that could be “borrowed” by individuals who are looking for practical ways to customize their own machines.

Fortuitously, we got to meet the guy behind these good-looking machines, and later took a road trip over to his MAD Industries facility for a peek inside. Mangum Automotive Designs led by Chris Mangum, has built numerous custom and show automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and boats over the last 17 years, for top manufacturers along with key automotive accessory companies for marketing and display.

With many magazine covers, features and manufacturer design awards, his peers come to Chris for his expertise and unique designs. MAD has the ability to turn design renderings and specifications provided by either Mangum or OEMs into award-winning completed vehicles. For this reason, Mangum has earned a reputation for its combination of innovative ideas, fresh design styling, and top quality. Which is why we like him in the first place, and why we're doing this article. We love craftsmanship, quality and attention to detail.

“We strive to create and build show cars, trucks and bikes that establish a remarkable visual impression, which in turn drives them to the dealerships to buy these vehicles and associated products,” explained Chris Mangum. “Our key relationships with aftermarket accessory manufacturers allow us to be a major part in the design and development of prototype parts that are developed into mainstream retail parts and accessories that are vital to a new model launch.

“I approached Honda Powersports after the success over the past two years on our Grom builds, with a design concept to build a modern-retro scrambler based on a production bike. We picked a CB500F due to the huge success of the bike and the size of it. MAD Industries did all the disassembly and paint work along with accessorizing of the bike, including working with the guys at Ride Wright wheels to come up with a set off one-off laced spoke wheels for the bike. We also used a slew of PSR accessories and a Riviera Primo headlight.

“Knowing that we were in a time crunch and working on several car and trucks for SEMA, I reached out to Lossa Engineering, as Jay is known for his hand fabrication work on Honda motorcycles. Jay was up to the challenges I laid, out. Lossa did the frame fabrication work along with the seat pan, and all the re-wiring need to change the gauges from digital to a retro-style dash. He also made his own hand-built Lossa exhaust and some of the other items. We early on decided to swap the front end out to a CB600RR inverted fork set up supplied by Honda. This gives the bike a great look as well as a performance braking upgrade. Jay flawlessly managed to merge the CB600RR front end with the CB500F neck.”

MAD 500S (Scrambler Concept)

Honda twin-cylinder sport bikes revolutionized the world of motorcycling back in the sixties when they first appeared, and this latest generation of Honda's 500 twins may restart the revolution. Starting with a 2016 Honda CB500F, MAD Industries and Lossa Engineering created this CB500S to replicate the very popular "Scrambler" style of motorbikes, using a modern sport bike frame.

This CB500S frame has been modified with fabrication work featuring hand-made panels, seat base and exhaust system, combining current modern parts that are available and tie in with the key hand-made items. The front end was upgraded to an inverted 41mm Showa big piston fork and radial-mounted calipers from the CBR600RR. The wheels are custom built by Ridewright Wheels with 40-spoke cross laced wheels that were custom finished to match the bike's Black and Gold theme. They’re wrapped in Continental Trail Attack 2 Tires.

Here's the build list for the Scrambler which may help individuals select parts for their own customs:

AMSOIL Dominator motor oils
BASF R-M Onyx Waterborne System - Jet Black and Custom Gold Paint and Glamor Clear Coat
Ceramic Pro 9H Nano-Ceramic Paint Plastics Wheel Coating
Continental Trail Attack 2 120/70-17 Front and 150/70-18 Rear
Drag Specialties Tail light / License Plate Holder.
Super Moto Bars
DRIVEN MOTORSPORTS 520 GOLD O-RING CHAIN
DRIVEN MOTORSPORTS HALO FUEL CAP
Joker Machine Risers
Joker Bear Trap Foot Pegs
Koso TNT Speedo
K S GT Mirrors
LGE-CTS Enterprises Custom Paint Application to Tank and Hand Fabricated Parts.
Lossa Frame heavily modified by Lossa Engineering
LOSSA CBR600RR COMPLETE FRONT END CONVERSION
LOSSA MODIFIED TAIL SECTION – DETAB COMPLETE FRAME
LOSSA HOPPED REAR CUSTOM HANDMADE SEAT AND PAN
LOSSA HAND FABRICATED SIDE PANELS AND REAR FENDER
LOSSA BLACK OUT ENGINE, BLACK OUT REAR SETS WITH LOSSA FAB WORK
Lossa Hand Made Stainless Exhaust System with Lossa Muffler
LOSSA REAR BUTTON SIGNALS
OHLIN’S USA REAR SHOCK HO 320
Odyssey the Extreme Battery
PSR Aluminum Grips
PSR INTEGRATED BRAKE RESERVOIRS
PSR DELUXE REAR BIKE STAND
PSR FRONT BRAKE RESERVOIR
PSR ADJUSTABLE KICK STAND
PSR CASE ARMOR
PSR CNC GRIPS
PSR MAGNETIC OIL DRAIN PLUG
PSR OIL FILLER CAP
PSR CLICK N’ ROLL LEVERS CNC MACHINED FROM BILLET SIX POSITION ADJUSTABILITY IN BLACK. .
RIDEWRIGHT WHEELS CUSTOM 40 SPOKE CROSS LACE 17” X 3.0” - FRONT IN CUSTOM FINISH
RIDEWRIGHT WHEELS CUSTOM 40 SPOKE CROSS LACE 18” X 4.25” - REAR IN CUSTOM FINISH
Rivera Primo LED 7" Phase 2 All LED Headlamp with Integral Amber Turn Signals. Fits All Models With 7" Headlight. 6500K / 1900 Lumens Approx. DOT E9 Compliant

MAD Industries CB500F

Chris told us “The concept for the Naked CB500F was to show the other side of the coin, taking a production CB500F and turning it into a fully accessorized custom bike that the masses can build with off-the-shelf parts and a bit of custom paint work. From the start, we knew we were building a MAD Edition Honda Ridgeline Black Edition that has been paired with the Honda Powersports MAD Edition CB500F Naked Sport Bike, designed for the weekend warrior who needs plenty of room for hauling gear.”

Both are painted in the BASF R-M Waterborn System in Crystal Black Pearl and Candy Red. The CB500F, the smaller sibling of Honda's flagship CB1000R naked sport bike, is designed for excellent maneuverability, a comfortable riding position and with a versatile engine having great performance across the rev range. PSR Custom CNC Billet Accessories are featured from front to rear, including Driven Carbon Fiber Meteor Bars and a Yoshimura R-77 Muffler in carbon fiber and stainless steel, and a custom set of Ride Wright Wheel wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tires. MAD Teamed up with Long Mach of Mach 1 in Costa Mesa for expert installation of all the accessories.

Here's the build list for the CB500F naked bike which may help individuals select parts for their own customs:

AMSOIL Dominator motor oils
BASF R-M Onyx Waterborne System - Jet Black and Custom Candy Red Paint and Glamor Clear Coat
Ceramic Pro 9H Nano-Ceramic Paint Plastics Wheel Coating
Diode Dynamics LED Amber Turn Bulbs
Driven TT Rear Sets
DRIVEN METEOR ALUMINUM BARS WRAPPED IN CARBON FIBER IDEA FOR NAKED MOTORCYCLES
DRIVEN D-AXIS CONTROL GRIPS RED
Driven Chain and Power Up Kit Evo / Gold
DRIVEN GOLD CHAIN 120 LINK
DRIVEN HALO FUEL CAP
LGE-CTS ENTERPRISES CUSTOM PAINT APPLICATION TO TANK AND HAND FABRICATED PARTS
MACH 1 CUSTOM INSTALLATION
PIRELLI DIABLO ROSSO CORSA 120/70-17 FRONT AND 180/55-17 REAR
PSR Adjustable Handle Bar Risers
PSR Cable Adjusters
PSR Carbon Mirrors
PSR 3” CARBON BAR END MIRRORS
PSR INTEGRATED BRAKE RESERVOIRS
PSR DELUXE REAR BIKE STAND
PSR FRONT BRAKE RESERVOIR
PSR ADJUSTABLE KICK STAND
PSR LOWERING LINK 3 POSITIONS
PSR Case Armor
PSR Magnetic Oil Drain Plug
PSR Oil Filler Cap Kit
PSR Adjustable Handle Bar Risers
PSR Click n’ Roll Levers CNC Machined from Billet Six Position adjustability in Black.
Ride Wright Wheels Custom 40 Spoke Cross Lace 17” x 3.0” Front in Custom Finish
Ride Wright Wheels Custom 40 Spoke Cross Lace 18” x 4.25” Rear in Custom Finish
Odyssey the Extreme Battery
Vagabond Fender Eliminator utilizes OE Street brake light and turn signals.
Vagabond Exhaust Hanger
Yoshimura R-77 Muffler in Carbon Fiber and Stainless

Both bikes show a high level of attention to detail, along with continuity of styling and great fit and finish. We wouldn't mind having either, or both in our garage! For more info on this custom build visit www.mad-ind.com and www.lossaengineering.com.