By day, Shawn Lin creates concept art for the gaming industry—a space where fantasy and science fiction reign supreme. But the motorcycle he rides in the real world is cut from a different cloth. While Shawn’s designs are edgy and futuristic, his bike is a decidedly classic—and may we say elegant—Honda CB350 café racer.
Shawn is based in Taiwan—one of the few countries in which you can still get a new Honda CB350. Marketed there as the Honda H’ness CB350, it’s the cutest single-cylinder modern classic that you can’t buy in Europe or the USA. With 21 hp from its 348.4 cc motor, it’ll hardly set your hair on fire, but it’s just as handsome as modern classics more than twice its size (and price).
This 2021-model CB350 has all the trimmings of a traditional Honda café racer, but still retains a surprising amount of stock parts. There’s been no hacking of frames or binning of fenders here—just a handful of well-judged mods that go a long way to refining the already attractive CB.
“My design philosophy is rooted in an endless nostalgia for bygone eras,” Shawn tells us. “The customization of this motorcycle was not just a yearning for retro style; it was a profound engagement with the art of craftsmanship. The distinctive Honda emblem on the tank, married with the classic lines of the CB350, pays homage to the elegance of British motorcycles and the refinement of Japanese craftsmanship.”
Since Shawn’s a designer by trade, he started by meticulously plotting the entire project digitally. Armed with detailed mockups of how he wanted his Honda CB350 to turn out, he then called on Capo Moto to bring his vision to life. “They did an incredible job translating my mockups into reality,” he adds, “adding structural and functional elements when needed.”
“Their expertise really shines through, especially with their use of 3D modeling and printing to fine-tune the design before diving into the metalwork. It’s a crucial part of the process that I truly value.”
The changes started with the addition of a vintage Rickman-style fairing, complete with a headlight bubble that aligns perfectly with the generous windscreen. The fairing alone is graceful, but the real artistry is in the drilled brackets that attach it to the CB350. Some are hidden, but others are on full display—like the stays that flow out from the fuel cap, deliberately mimicking the horns on samurai armor.
Tucked behind the fairing is a custom-made dashboard that holds a pair of aftermarket dials, a row of LED warning lights, and a gear position indicator. Capo fabricated the clip-ons too, plus a Honda-branded blank-off plate to cover the original handlebar clamps.
There’s more of Capo’s handiwork lower down, where they’ve produced a set of rear-set foot controls and mounting plates. Other custom touches include an abbreviated front fender, a pair of tiny LED turn signals that flank the fairing’s lower extensions, and a set of finned engine covers. A handmade chain guard tidies up the area around the swingarm, while a removable tail bump adds café racer style to the stock seat.
Shawn didn’t mess with the Honda’s engine, nor its suspension or brakes (although he plans to tackle those later on). But he did spec the bike with a one-into-two exhaust system—a nod to the iconic four-cylinder Honda CB750.
From there on out, Shawn relied on a host of tasteful finishes to push this timeless Honda café racer over the finish line. The OEM side covers were chromed to match the OEM rear fender, chrome trim was added to the front fairing, and the wheels were partially polished for a more vintage vibe. Piano black dominates the livery, punctuated by silver and gold striping.
Although Shawn is likely to modify his bike further, he doesn’t need to. Neither too hot nor too cold, this Honda CB350 café racer is just right.
Shawn Lin Instagram | Capo Moto Instagram
