Nestled against the northwestern Sicilian coastline is a town called Alcamo. Known for its white wine and beautiful seaside, it’s also home to emerging Italian builder Isidoro Stellino.
Stellino began his career at the age of 18 as a coffee roaster in his family’s shop, before taking up TIG welding as a trade. Now 36, he’s been building bikes for the past two years as Officine Mr. S. His latest creation is this 1982 Honda CB400N, put together with the help of an architect friend of his.
Nicknamed the CB400S – to signify its scrambler disposition – it’s a charming and well-proportioned bike, and features some very nice hand-made parts. For starters, Stellino harnessed his TIG welding skills to make new 2-into-1 exhaust headers from stainless steel, fabricating intricate flanges to secure them and attaching an up-swept reverse cone muffler. The motor support plates and rear brake strut are also one-offs.
Little more than a good service and some carb tuning was needed on the mechanical side – but the wiring was completely re-done and the airbox ditched. The fuel tank’s a scrapyard find of unknown origin, and has a new CNC cap fitted. Stellino’s painted it a classic red, with matching accents on the spark plug wires, fuel lines and air filters. Most of the remaining bits have been coated black, with the exception of the engine – which has deliberately been given a distressed finish.
The CB400S has an air of practicality about it with Mitas trial tires, fork boots and fenders at both ends. Stellino’s cleaned up the cockpit with a mini speedo, vintage enduro-style headlight and Biltwell Kung Fu grips. Alloy number plates and dirt-bike handlebars round the scrambler motif off nicely. The new seat is particularly nice though – it’s been covered with black leather on the sides and blue Alcantara on top.
Right now Officine Mr. S has four other bikes in the shop, and I honestly can’t wait to see them. If he keeps this up, he’ll soon be able to add his name to the list of things that Alcamo is famous for.
Images by Alessandro Giglio.