Lightly caffeinated: A CB400F from Mokka Cycles
For a bike that was only on sale in the US for a couple of years, the Honda CB400F had a massive…
Read more »Honda cafe racer
Honda has always been a popular choice for cafe racer builders, given the solid engineering and easy availability of parts. The CB series is especially common, from the smaller twins and 1970s inline-fours, to the mighty six-cylinder CBX.
Let’s not forget the CX500 though: the liquid cooled V-twin was a departure for the Honda engineering department, but has proven to be a godsend for builders smart enough to make the ugly frame look good.
The pinnacle is undoubtedly the classic CB750 cafe racer, using the original superbike as the donor.
But rising prices in the used market mean that more recent Honda cafe racer builds are just as likely to be based on bigger, newer motorcycles—like the CBX1100 or the recently discontinued CB1100.
The Apprentice: A Honda Egli returns home for restoration
Most businesses need a succession program. And if you’ve been operating for more than half a century, training up the next generation…
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Giant Killer: Honda CB400F ‘Raptor’ by Ripple Rock Racers
It’s a long time since we’ve featured what you might call a ‘traditional’ café racer. The term is used very loosely these…
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Better than the original: A CB550 from Thirteen & Company
Once in a while, a custom motorcycle builder will create a machine that attracts attention like nothing else in their portfolio. For…
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Super Six: A Honda CBX 1000 from France
Despite the fact that motorcycles seem to keep getting bigger, the six-cylinder engine layout has never really caught on. Only a handful…
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Analog turns the Honda Hawk GT 650 into a flier
For some people, custom motorcycles are just a hobby. But for others, they put food on the table—and that’s when it pays…
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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 7 June, 2020
A crisp Honda V30 Magna tracker, a swooping Norton/Vincent hybrid, a Ducati Hailwood replica up for auction, and a very sharp Ducati…
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The Sabbatical: Taking a break to build a CB750 cafe racer
When Brent Becker planned a 45-day sabbatical from his high-stress CEO position, he had no clue it would end up stretching out…
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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 19 April, 2020
It’s all about Honda this week, with a CB900 Bol d’Or from Spain, an Elsinore from Australia, and a Shadow 500 from…
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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 8 March, 2020
A beastly CB750 from Belgium, a vintage Ducati worth over half a million dollars, a Honda Dominator with geometric bodywork, and an…
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‘Friday’: A sharp Honda CB550 from Cardsharper Customs
It’s been a while since we’ve featured a classic Honda CB café racer. The custom scene has splintered and grown a lot…
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Tokyo Nights: Upgrading the classic Honda CB900F
Unless you can identify a motorcycle just by its engine, you’ll have a hard time pinning down the exact year and model…
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