Cafe Racer

Honda CB400F from PopBang Classics

I just noticed that this blog was recently quite one-sided regarding the type of featured motorcycles. XJR 1300, Z1000, Four modern classics and Franken Gixxer with a B12 engine. It’s a pretty muscular setup.

So I decided to get a little lower with engine displacement and more mainstream regarding the type of builds. I started browsing for some old – classic cafes that I overlooked in the past.

And found this beauty from 2016.

If I was ever going to describe the perfect blend of cafe racer build based on a true classic with a perfect amount of restomod – this would be it. And below this simplicity and pure style – is way more than meets the eye at the first glance.

Classic

The donor bike is a CB400F from 1974. Bought for $350. Spoked wheels, pretty little air-cooled R4 engine.

Restomod

The front USD forks are from a Ducati Monster. Bolted together with an awesome looking, completely rebuilt CBX550 disc brake hub, modified to fit into this spoked wheel. Custom made rear end accommodates central shock absorber from Triumph, a custom swing arm, and a floating seat design.

Cafe Racer spirit

It’s a simple concept. The baseline of the seat and tank is a straight line. The steering head was lowered, so the upper line of the bike also stays low. The speedo is integrated with a headlight. Small bar-end mirrors and hidden brake fluid reservoirs with minimalistic turn signals add up to an ultra light looks – which is exactly what it should be like.