Resurrection: Café Racer Honda 750 Four
So began the task of creating a ride that retains the classic ‘look’ of the CB750F, but with sufficient modifications to bring it into the 21st century.
AN icon in the history of motorcycling, the Honda 750 Four came from the Land of the Rising Sun and changed the way motorcycles were built from that point on. The Honda 750 Four may not have been the first four-cylinder bike ever made, but the way the Japanese behemoth pioneered manufacturing methods and tighter engineering tolerances, inevitably altered the reliability and affordability of high performance machines for the masses.
By 1978 the Honda winged logo was instantly recognisable as a manufacturer of all things fast and exciting where two wheels is concerned and their latest offering came in the shape of an across-the-frame four-cylinder engine with twin overhead cams! The genius of this additional lumpy steel bar on top of the cylinder head opened up a Pandora’s Box of infinite valve angles, multitudes of combustion chamber shapes and the promise of stratospherically high RPM limits in the future.
Now, whether a machine that was King in its hey day is able to live up to its legendary status among today’s sports bikes is an argument best decided over a few refreshments at any ‘bench racing’ events you may attend, but there’s no doubt that the engine performance of the early two-wheeled beasts far outshone their handling and stopping capabilities. Therefore it stands to reason that an upgrade is going to stand you in good stead if you decide to resurrect an old bike.
This fine example of early sports motorcycling is a product of Butlers Customs and Café Racers in Newcastle which benefits enveloping the classic style of a bygone era with modern enhancements like functioning suspension and brakes.
Liams Butler, owner and doer-of-stuff at Butlers Customs and Café Racers, was approached by a customer who wanted to build a café racer.
What, you may ask, is a café racer? It’s a bike stripped of its excess weight, given a lower set of handlebars and a thinned down seat to allow a long, low crouched and more streamlined seating position for the rider, hence allowing you to cut through the air and reach higher speeds whilst racing between cafes! Back in the 50’s 60’s & 70’s this was the cheapest way to make an old bike more sporty and to take advantage of all those horseys and an affordable way to sap every last ounce speed out of your ride… but I digress.
So began the task of creating a ride that retains the classic ‘look’ of the CB750F, but has sufficient modification to bring it into the 21st century rideability arena.
The bike was completely stripped to allow the removal of 30 years of road grime, corrosion and various other crud, and a list of mods was drawn up along with a map of where it was all going to fit.
The rear sub-frame was reshaped and custom-made to accommodate the hand-fabricated, all-metal rear cowling which also hides various electrical components; with more hidden electricals on a custom-made sheet metal pan tucked away under the fuel tank.
The battery has been relocated to the rear swing-arm.
After its mods, the frame was sand-blasted, primed and powder-coated in gloss black, it was then primed again and painted with burgundy candy paint and clear coated.
While it was out, the engine was treated to a rebuild from top to bottom, with a larger set of pistons thrown in to the vapour blasted barrels for good measure.
A new bank of Mikuni flat-slide carburettors feed the larger pots.
Engine cases have been ceramic-coated in a satin black as have the left side-covers and head, while the right covers and other items were chromed for added detail.
The noise exits the engine via a custom stainless exhaust.
The cowling and seat pan were fabricated from metal, and hand-shaped on an English wheel. It slides onto the frame with pins to locate it, allowing easy access to the electricals beneath. The rear seat cowling which adds to the bikes cafe racer look also doubles as a cover for some the hidden custom electrics. It was firstly drawn, then designed by moulding it from clay to get the correct shape and size. Since the seat is so thin, a high-density foam-base shaped for comfort is used and topped with a grey micro suede material aiding in bum adhesion and good looks.
For the added bonus of having the bike being able to corner and stop, a GSXR front-end was grafted on to the Honda frame using a custom-made top triple tree and a standard bottom clamp; the gold of the fork legs contrasting nicely with the candy burgundy colour scheme.
The front wheel is a custom-built spoked wheel shod with a 130/70/18 Dunlop Arrowmax, and floating brake discs, with spacers custom fabricated to allow alignment of the Suzuki GSXR front brake calipers.
The rear is reasonably standard with the exception of a 140/70/18 tyre, the widest the OEM swing-arm would accommodate, and 10 mm shorter shock absorbers to give the bike its ‘flat’ body lines in keeping with the café racer look.
A number of individual items adorn the Honda and include a custom-made and chromed rear number plate holder; and a custom headlight bucket designed and made to accommodate the GPS speedometer also specifically made for this bike.
The side-covers were made from scratch on the English wheel from 3 mm aluminium sheet, then bead-rolled to give them some added shape and strength.
A custom built front mudguard was fab’ed up to suit the GSXR forks and the wider front hoop.
Ensuring that everything functions reliably, Liam rewired the bike from scratch to incorporate the upgraded and relocated new components.
I’m a firm believer in the less-is-more principal and from a custom vehicle perspective, modifications should integrate with the OEM to create a seamless and appealing new interpretation of an older original design. This bike does that. There are countless hours hidden in the small details of this old 750/4, but at a glance there’s no reason to think it couldn’t have rolled off a production line somewhere.
You too can create a machine with the same detail and style with the help of builders like Liam Butler. Get in touch with him next time you need some work done. Butlers Customs and Café Racers, 472a Lot 11 Pacific Highway, Belmont NSW; and check out his other builds at www.butlerscustoms.com.au
Rachel Eats Oreos
RACHEL is an Australian tattooist and model based in Newcastle NSW. You’ll catch her often working at various tattoo expos and loves mixing it up and hanging out with all the girls in the pageants.
Recently she became a Sullen Angel, repping the popular clothing label, as well as being crowned Miss Ink/Girls of Ink. She looks forward to travelling to more expos and finals this year with her titles, so keep an eye out for her!
When she isn’t working, Rachel can be found with her dogs getting some sun on one of Newcastle’s amazing beaches.
Words : JT of Crotch Rocket Motorcycles. Photos : iShootPix
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