Honda are set to showcase 10 one-off CB750 Hornet and XL750 Transalp customs at the 2026 Wheels & Waves festival in Biarritz, introducing an ‘On Road vs Off Road’ theme to this year’s European Honda Customs competition .
Now in its seventh year, the annual contest will see five Hornet-based builds go head-to-head with five Transalp interpretations, representing 10 different countries. All bikes will be on display at the coastal festival from June 10–14, with online voting open throughout the summer. The winner will be announced at the end of the season.
For 2026, Honda have added another twist as each custom build will be reviewed by the original designers of the base bikes: Valerio Aiello, responsible for the XL750 Transalp, and Giovanni Dovis, who styled the CB750 Hornet at Honda’s R&D centre in Rome.
The competition follows previous Wheels & Waves showcases built around a single platform. The CB1000R naked roadster opened proceedings in 2020, followed by the CB650R middleweight in 2021 and CMX500 Rebel in 2022. Mini models including the Dax, Grom and Monkey starred in 2023, the CL500 scrambler took centre stage in 2024, and 2025 focused on the then-new GB350S retro single .
The road-focused half of the grid is based on the 755cc parallel-twin CB750 Hornet.
A street tracker finished in white with a matt black frame and carbon Rotobox wheels, White Venom features Wilbers suspension, an X-shaped custom exhaust, revised swingarm, chopped rear end and multiple CNC-machined and 3D-printed components.
Inspired by the Hornet name, this build uses honeycomb-themed paintwork, a reshaped rear end and handcrafted bodywork. It also incorporates parts from elsewhere in the Honda range, including a CB125R headlight and X-ADV spoked wheels.
Styled as an homage to 1980s World Championship race bikes, Last Lap uses a race fairing produced from a 40-year-old mould, a flat-top tank and boxy rear section in a reinterpretation of HRC Tricolour colours. A single-sided swingarm and full custom exhaust complete the transformation.
Finished in forest green with gold detailing, Mugen adopts a streetfighter stance with lowered front suspension, clip-on handlebars, a custom swingarm, underpan, carbon winglets and a shortened tail section.
This futuristic interpretation uses 3D-printed bodywork, including a new lower fairing and partially faired wheels. Candy red paint with gold accents and revised lighting give the Hornet a more radical appearance.
Representing the off-road camp are five builds based on the XL750 Transalp adventure bike.
Influenced by Baja race machinery, Ruth receives new fairings in violet and neon red, additional lighting and a custom high-exit exhaust system.
Blending surf culture with adventure styling, Ocean Nomad features simplified bodywork, a round LED headlight, brown leather seat and a side-mounted surfboard rack.
Taking cues from Honda’s historic three-wheelers, the ATC750 converts the Transalp into an off-road trike with a custom swingarm, revised drivetrain and bespoke rear axle arrangement.
Built as a rally-inspired concept, Saharja includes a handcrafted navigation tower with digital roadbook, additional fuel tanks, high-mounted exhaust, aluminium skid plate and protective bars, finished in HRC Tricolour.
This UK entry pays tribute to Cyril Neveu’s 1986 Dakar-winning NXR750 with a desert-inspired paint scheme, long-travel suspension, high front mudguard, twin high-level exhausts and race number boards. The livery also incorporates a quote from Dakar founder Thierry Sabine.
Alongside the bikes, graffiti artist Moka 187 will create one-off artworks on the surfboards used as display stands for the customs during the festival, building on last year’s live sand sculpture display.
Wheels & Waves, held annually in Biarritz, has grown into one of Europe’s best-known custom and lifestyle motorcycle events, blending bike shows with surfing, skating, hillclimbs and ride-outs. As we’ve seen in previous years, manufacturers often use the event as a launchpad for one-off specials and limited editions, alongside dealer-led custom competitions.
There are some cracking builds here but I’m particularly taken with the AT750 and the Last Lap race rep. In fact, if Honda ever build a road version of the latter, I’d be seriously tempted…
Ben Clarke began riding (legally) at 21-years-old when he passed his direct access one month before shipping his Yamaha XT660 R to Miami and embarking on a 13,500-mile tour of the USA and Central America. He's worked at MCN for the last six years, riding everything from super nakeds and superbikes to small-capacity electrics and scooters across several continents. In more recent years, he's worked closely with the bike kit team to bring you all the latest news and reviews about the bike-related products we all use every day.
Lover of V-twins and big singles, partial to a tour