The inspiration came directly from Honda’s legendary CL models of the 1960s and 1970s. Their distinctive orange-red paintwork, high-mounted exhaust systems and adventurous spirit provided the foundation for the project. Working closely with Stéphanie, the painter behind many Meister creations, we developed a bespoke color scheme that pays tribute to these iconic machines while bringing a modern level of depth and finish.

Named Alpina 500, this motorcycle was completed under exceptionally demanding circumstances. Honda Switzerland entrusted us with the project only a few weeks before the competition, leaving roughly four weeks in the middle of summer to design, fabricate, paint, assemble and finish the entire build.

The project also marked a special milestone: the 50th anniversary of Honda Switzerland. The commemorative “1974–2024 Honda Swiss 50” graphics incorporated into the tank celebrate five decades of the importer’s presence and contribution to motorcycling culture in Switzerland.

Several details were created exclusively for this motorcycle. The original CL500 headlight lenses were retained as a nod to the donor bike, while the surrounding housing and support structure were entirely redesigned and manufactured specifically for this project. The same philosophy was applied to the instrumentation, resulting in a cleaner and more timeless cockpit.

To achieve this, we started by redesigning one of the motorcycle’s most defining elements: the fuel tank. A completely new tank was handcrafted in-house, removing the original straight lines and introducing the flowing silhouette that has become a signature of Meister Engineering motorcycles. The rear frame was shortened and reshaped to create the compact, purposeful stance that characterizes many of our builds.

The chassis received our shortened transformation. The wheels, frame and swingarm were finished in chrome, creating a striking contrast against the dark engine and bodywork. An inverted front fork was installed together with a flatter, lower handlebar to sharpen the bike’s proportions and reinforce its sporty attitude. To create a balanced visual language, the rear shock springs were finished in the same bronze-gold tone as the fork tubes.

One of the most distinctive features of the Alpina 500 is its custom exhaust system. Inspired by the high-level exhaust routing of the original Honda CL models, a bespoke stainless-steel header was fabricated to rise elegantly beneath the side covers before connecting to an SC Project silencer mounted high on the bike. The result is both visually dramatic and true to the spirit of the original CL lineage.

To strengthen the vintage character, we fitted more aggressive scrambler-style tires and recreated the small gold side-cover emblem found on historic Honda CL models. Each emblem was crafted using genuine gold leaf by our painters. Classic Honda tank badges were also added, replacing the modern branding and giving the motorcycle a more authentic period-correct appearance.

The result is a motorcycle that bridges past and present—an homage to Honda’s scrambler heritage interpreted through the craftsmanship, attention to detail and unmistakable design language of Meister Engineering.