Good design removes the unnecessary. It’s a principle understood well by Michael Mundy of Steel Bent Customs in Tampa, Florida—as his latest build shows. Called “The Brushed”, it’s a minimalist take on the classic Honda CB750 cafe racer.
Mundy started work by cleaning out the center frame, a signature look of Steel Bent. So the electronics are now mounted under the tank, and the battery on the swing arm. The frame was then painted a low-gloss black, with a matte clear coat to finish. The wheels were given the same treatment before being shod with fresh Dunlop rubber.
“The tank is from a CB750 Super Sport,” Mundy reveals. “We mixed the paint ourselves to a rusty red color, then painted the lower part black and added a silver pin stripe to mimic the angle of the seat.”
The seat is from Lance’s; it sits above custom rearsets from Old School Speed, and a custom 4-into-1 exhaust. The engine has been treated to pod filters, and the carbs re-jetted and tuned to match the new breathing characteristics. “We also fabricated the clip-on bars, eliminated the stock controls, and fitted a mini headlight,” adds Mundy.
Next up for Steel Bent Customs is a 1998 Triumph Adventurer—not the most common platform for a custom machine. We’ll be watching out for that one with interest. Meanwhile, keep tabs on SBC’s news via their Facebook page.
Images © Erick Runyon. For commissions, bookings and fine art prints contact Erick here.
