sound !
Customizing
Jean Luc MILLET’s CBX- F6R
Text by Denis Courbis - Pictures by Jean Luc Millet - Translated by Jean Paul Grasmuck
sound !
You
may have seen already this exceptional CBX , crafted by Jean Luc Millet,
at the Vincennes or Lyon
show, or you may have seen it featured in “le
Maillon No 53”
(the official French CBX club publication), or the CBX club of France
website reporting on the last
“Moto Legendes cups” in Monthlery.
About the owner :
Jean
Luc is a true enthusiast, his
professional training and current occupation
in computer and data printing were not exactly linked to the creation of
a new concept for a classic motorcycle like the CBX !
He
is, without a doubt, a remarkable
mechanic and does not need to prove his wrenching abilities, but you will also
find him to be a very friendly and
easy going guy,
calm and down to earth . This is quite a contrast with the muscle and
“extravaganza” of the CBX F6R ! Let’s
wish him to get over his current health problems .
Jean
Luc always loved motorcycles
and he owned at one time or another many standards from the 70’s and
80’s such as the CB750 , Goldwing,
Z1 Kawasaki etc…Also an accomplished racer , he discovered racing
through Quad competition where he won 3 regional crowns,
third at the national 500cc
championship, 2nd in Endurance quad races , Hillclimbs
and many more top finishes…
This
CBX F6-R is not his first conception, he also built a Rickman framed 500 H1 Kawasaki and year after
year developed his personal
workshop, only short now of a lathe to build his own custom parts.
About
customizing :
Like
many of us, Jean Luc was frustrated by the limits of the stock CBX
handling and not being able to take advantage of its wonderful inline 6
engine. His wish was to modernize the rolling chassis and still enjoy the
fabulous 6 cylinder sound.
The
CBX transformation was a long project, and his merit was the time he invested in
research and his quest for efficiency without sacrificing the looks.
No chances were taken in adapting unproven parts, no half way solutions ,
no compromise to quality. The
choice of components was made by taking in account the overall
harmony of the bike lines , and to create a unique sleek machine.
The stock frame was cut and re-welded after adapting a RC30 single sided swingarm straight from HRC.
A
Racing OHLINS shock was
fitted for proper rear suspension. The linkage adaptation was done by a
500
GP mechanic friend . The front
fork comes from a Suzuki TLR
with custom made triple tree and engine mounts from billet aluminium. 
The
PVM magnesium front rim comes from a 500 GP bike .
Front brakes are Brembo racing with a radial master cylinder.
The
body parts consists in a stock
early CBX tank which was cut , reshaped and re-welded and a Yamaha R1
seat and tail section adapted
to the frame. The carbon front
fender was designed for a VFR, and the shark style nose was borrowed from…. uh…..a
Peugeot scooter , but with a home made carbon top replacing the screen.
Underneath this aggressive small fairing, a half moon tachometer (Franck
Carbone) and a numerical
speedometer designed for…bicycles.
A big bore kit from Wiseco was installed increasing displacement to 1147cc with forged pistons. The crankshaft was balanced and rods shotpeened. Serious headwork was done , porting , valve seats etc…
Carburation demanded intense tuning,
with a stage 3 Dynojet kit and individual K & N filters.
The engine exhaust system is a splendid custom made stainless set by a local
artisan friend of Jean Luc.
Mufflers
are tucked underneath the seat and sound powerful .
The electrical supply is
handled by a Kawasaki alternator, more reliable and with less inertia than the
stock unit. Dyna coils help boost the sparks.
It is interesting to note that the electrical circuitry , now located under the
seat , gave Jean Luc most of his headaches in building this custom CBX, because
he had to rebuild the circuitry wire after wire.
But
all these modifications allowed a 40% power increase compared to the stock
engine.
Jean
Luc “the perfectionist” is now contemplating fuel
injection and is now testing different options, using
programmable ECU and fuel injectors sourced in the automobile industry.
There is no doubt that he will come
up with a system soon.
The CBX F6-R will be displayed at the next “Moto Legends Cups” in Monthlery
on May 25 and 26th among
other great customized CBX’s . Don’t hesitate and come on over to admire
them and say Hello !
If you wish to customize your CBX,
Jean Luc is ready to study your project, you can reach him at Jean-luc.millet4@wanadoo.fr.