I have a soft spot for the smaller displacement Honda CBs. They belong to that exclusive breed of motorcycle that looks ‘just right’ in showroom spec. And with a light custom job, in the hands of the right builder, they can look magnificent.
This lithe Honda CB350 comes from London-based Untitled Motorcycles, and was commissioned as a prop for a film. The brief was to avoid making the bike too obviously customized or ‘show-bike-ish’—which meant keeping the original tank, along with its paint, scratches and dings.
“The frame and engine size were key factors and visually worked well,” says filmmaker John Lindquist. “It was important the rider looked in total command of the bike and not the other way round, which could have happened using a shorter actor. I later discovered it was the same bike used in the film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, perhaps for similar reasons.” [We covered that CB350 too.]
Untitled kept their modifications subtle. The frame has been tweaked and the rear subframe was cut to match the shape of a slim custom seat. The rear fender is a hand-made Untitled item, the stock oversized air box has been swapped out for K&Ns, and a stubby new exhaust system has been grafted on.
“The rest of the bike is pretty standard, actually,” says Untitled co-founder Adam Kay. “The clocks, headlight, controls and switches are all original—as is the engine.” The rims and hubs have been powder-coated, and stainless spokes fitted. There’s a splash of paint on the frame and the engine cases have been buffed up.
Like a skilled make-up artist, Untitled Motorcycles have amplified the good points of the original Honda CB350. And proved that the old girl can still turn heads, decades later.
Check out the Untitled Motorcycles website here and follow their news via the Untitled Facebook page. Images courtesy of Damian McFadden.
