Samuel Guertin used to spend his days wrenching on choppers—the kind that fly. But after a decade working as a helicopter mechanic, he decided that customizing cars and bikes was more fulfilling.
So he changed his flight path and Clockwork Motorcycles was born, with a base in the countryside half an hour east of Montréal, Canada.
This CB750 custom is called Fury, and it’s Clockwork’s fourth build. “When I found the donor—a 1971 model—it was pretty funny to look at,” explains Samuel. “It was a weird, failed attempt at a gothic bobber-slash-chopper. It deserved better fortune.”
Samuel decided to make the CB750 a little more chunky and curvaceous. It was time for a well-judged series of subtle nips and tucks.
That meant shortening the frame at the rear to a more bobber-esque length, while the swing arm was extended by two inches and hooked up to a pair of Progressive Suspension rear shocks.
The extra visual bulk required more meat up front, so Samuel has installed a set of Suzuki GSX-R600 forks. They’re non-inverted units for a more period correct feel, and fitted via a custom-made aluminum triple tree and front hub. The GSX-R also donated its front brakes—now fed by a Nissin master cylinder via braided stainless steel hose.
The modified oil tank (below) is an especially neat touch, appearing at first glance to be a stock side cover. There’s custom fabricated panel on the lefthand side to match.
The wheels are 16-inch Harley-Davidson items, laced with stainless steel spokes and nipples, and wrapped in Firestone Deluxe Champion rubber. (Samuel knows he’ll get flack from some quarters for his tire selection, but that’s okay).
For the seat, he settled on a shape that would complement the bike’s beefy new demeanor. Ginger at New Church Moto was responsible for the upholstery: a classy mix of leather and suede.
Clockwork’s mods are more than just cosmetic though. The engine has been completely stripped down and rebuilt, fitted with CNC-cut valve seats and bored out to 836cc with a Wiseco kit. A stunning set of Keihin CR29 race carbs handle the fueling, with a four-into-one stainless exhaust system providing the soundtrack.
Samuel has thoroughly reworked the wiring too, with a full Motogadget installation that includes the m-Unit control unit, a Motoscope Tiny speedo, m-Switch handlebar switches and an m-Lock keyless ignition. It’s all powered by a small Lithium-ion battery stashed in a hand-built electronics box.
The cockpit is equally tidy, with custom-bent clip-ons, leather-wrapped grips and a small headlight. Bullet turn signals were installed, and the quirky taillight is from Prism Motorcycles.
When it came to the CB750’s final paint scheme, Samuel had little interest in bright colors or complex designs. “I didn’t want anything flashy or shiny to steal the show,” he says. “It’s all about lines, shapes and curves—so all the colors are muted tones.”
The final color scheme is sublime, flattering the Honda’s brawny new lines just as intended. Monsieur Guertin has certainly found his calling, and thankfully it’s nothing to do with choppers.
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