We’ve heard numerous tales of {custom} bike initiatives stalling, however the story of this Honda CB750F café racer takes the cake. Its proprietor, Stan Chen, needed to endure an eight-year wait earlier than work might even start on the bike—and he needed to get the cops concerned, too.
Stan initially picked up the 1975-model Honda CB750F desiring to do some mild café racer mods to it. He dropped it off at a pal’s workshop, and fairly quickly the checklist grew to incorporate an overbore and some extra mods. After a yr, minimal progress had been made—and Stan’s pal stopped answering the telephone.
“Quick ahead to about 6 years after my ‘pal’ went MIA, I made a decision to go to the police station to simply file a report that the bike was stolen,” Stan tells us. “The officer requested the place the bike was, so I gave him the handle not pondering a lot of it, since all of the earlier makes an attempt to go to the store failed. I waited within the station foyer for about 15 minutes, when the receptionist requested if I used to be the bike’s proprietor.”
“I mentioned ‘sure,’ and he or she mentioned that the officer was on the store and to move over instantly. I drove down there in my little BMW i3 and, positive sufficient, the officer had my ‘pal’ there and advised him to return all my components. Evidently, I used to be not ready in any respect to take a motorbike residence in items in my automotive—or to even get the bike again in any respect.”
Stan saved the bike for one more two years whereas he found out what to do with it. Then he met Craig Marleau from Kick Begin Storage on the OG Moto Present—a {custom} bike present held in downtown Los Angeles, that Stan co-founded. Stan’s religion in {custom} bike builders was restored, and Craig was tasked with getting the CB750F café racer over the end line.
The wait was evidently price it. Stan’s CB750F seems to be immaculate, easy fusing basic café racer aesthetics with a number of ultra-modern particulars.
The 48-year-old motor seems to be good as new and hides a slew of efficiency upgrades. There’s an 836 cc big-bore package inside, utilizing contemporary pistons from JE Pistons. Stan additionally opted for billet valve tappets from J.Webster Designs, a brand new ignition and coils from Dyna, and a Ricks regulator/rectifier.
A row of Keihin CR29 carbs with Ok&N filters feeds the motor, whereas exhaust gasses exit by a burly four-into-two exhaust system. Johnny Nguyen at Upcycle Moto Storage fabricated the headers, terminating them in a pair of underslung Yoshimura cans.
The CB750F additionally sits decrease and extra purposeful now, because of a complete transforming of its operating gear. It now rolls on classic Yamaha alloy wheels, measuring 19F/18R, and carrying Pirelli Sport Demon rubber. A single Beringer disc brake sits up entrance, with the Yamaha wheel’s drum brake doing obligation out again.
The entrance forks have been lowered and re-fitted right into a set of Cognito Moto yokes. The CB750F has shed its twin shocks too, in favor of a {custom} mono-shock setup with a 6” swingarm stretch.
Customized bodywork sits up high, within the type of an aluminum gas tank and tail part. A row of brilliant LEDs acts as a taillight, whereas a swingarm-mounted bracket hosts the taillight. And for those who’re on the lookout for the oil, it’s now saved in a bespoke reservoir beneath the tail bump.
Simply in entrance of it’s a slim electronics tray. The entire bike’s been rewired with a less complicated harness, operating off a Motogadget controller.
A PIAA headlight lights the best way out entrance, with a tiny Motogadget speedo embedded within the high yoke simply behind it. The cockpit sports activities custom-made clip-ons with grips from Posh Japan, minimalistic push-button-style switchgear, and Beringer clutch and brake controls. The entrance brake’s attached through a {custom} hose from Spiegler.
The bike additionally wears discreet LED flip indicators from Morimoto, and classy rear-set foot controls from Cognito Moto.
The Honda’s coloration scheme is straightforward and placing, completely complementing its deeply contoured gas tank and angular rear part. Powder blue dominates the bodywork, white striping matches the body and wheels, and a touch of crimson on the saddle calls for consideration.
It’s a flawless livery to match this CB750F café racer’s equally flawless stance and proportions. Not unhealthy for a motorbike that was virtually misplaced eternally.
Stan want to thank Craig at Kick Begin Storage, Johnny at Upcycle, Jay at Lossa Engineering, Cognito Moto, Beringer Brakes, Motul, and Pirelli Moto.
Stan Chen Instagram | Photos by Viet Nguyen
