November 1993 I bought myself a fairly original Honda CBX1000, the first model. I restored this beautiful sixcylinder machine together with Jan van Atteveld and rode it for five years. A great bike, powerful engine and impressive looks. Although the frame is flexible like jelly, it was really possible to ride it like a sportsbike. Actually: it was thé sportsbike at the end of the seventies.
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Until 2001 I've taught the 3D-program Form*Z at the University of Professional Education. I measured my CBX's engine and worked it out in this program to use it for my students: how do you build something that looks very complex from geometrical shapes.
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After that it was very tempting to design my own bike. Central element: the wide engine. The rest: leave out what may be left out. Just pure simplicity. I chose stainless steel because it is what it is: pure. I designed a narrow and angular frame to make the engine look wider.
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Wheels and frontfork: GSX-R 1100. Handlebar: straight and angular, cables hidden from sight. Fenders: stainless steel processed in carbon fibre, angular too.
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Gas tank: stainless steel and angular, no fuel cap, battery hidden from sight. Seat: Spartan small.
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Exhaust pipes: stainless steel and angular. Muffler: carbon fibre.
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This shows the bike in hidden line view mode.
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All bike objects rendered and provided with materials.
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From virtuality to reality: a picture, taken two and a half years later.
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This may all seem easy, but in reality of course it isn't. I showed the first design to my good friend Jan van Atteveld, who also happens to be a mechanical engineer and a technical expert. He was a great help from the beginning to the end.

After this I contacted Willy Naves from Aalten, the Netherlands, who at that time teached metalworking in Doetinchem. He is a real no-nonsense craftsman and owned a self-built Martin-CBX, winner of several awards. Here he has his picture taken voluntarily, which is a rare occasion.
Elly, his wife, had her doubts after seeing the original concept. "Son, what d'you have in mind now?".
A special moment: the engine makes its first rounds on April 17th 1999. Don't mind the smoke ;-)

Until the presentation of the bike no one had ever seen a glimpse. Reason: I didn't want to be influenced by any well-meant advice; this might have disturbed the severity of my design.
On the sunny Sunday of March 19 2000, two and a half years after the first drawing, the bike was revealed to family and friends for the first time. No less than 41 people showed up. As a thank-you I left the lifting of the veil up to Jan.
People responded like many others would do in the months and years to come: a mixture of terror and enthusiasm. The terror was washed away with champagne.

August 19 2000, during the CBX Euromeeting in Almelo, someone asked me:
"And now?"
- "What do you mean, 'and now'?"
"What are yours future plans?"

That night new ideas flashed through my head.

The concept: changing it to an even more simple and basic bike. Inventing it took one sleepless night, realising it would take me more than one and a half year:

Six-into-six exhaust instead of a six-into-two exhaust.
Cameras instead of mirrors.
Magnet switches instead of visible switches.
Massive stainless steel seat instead of an upholstered seat.
July until November 2003 I initiated 'Stage III': radical and less radical changes combined with necessary maintenance.
 Fenders, fork, headlights, indicators, exhaust, brake discs, starter engine, swing arm, gas tank, and last but not least: the engine.