Nothing says Rocker like an old cafe racer, the right paint and parts, proper seat, suspension tweaks and engine tuning, all for the purpose of joining the Ton-Up club and looking good while doing it! Some of the old British bikes were classic cafes but here's one guy that thinks the perfect cafe begins with a Honda CB750.Steve Carpenter has been reworking CB750s for quite a while and a couple of his creations won 1st and 2nd place at the Grand National Roadster Show. These bikes definitely look the part and the video on his site shows they sound pretty good, too.His creations are shipped all over the world and he'll build one for you, if you're so inclined. Some of the bikes on his sites have photos showing the build from stock bike to finished cafe so you can get an idea of how it all comes about. He sells a few parts to help you create your own CB750 cafe, like a proper seat, gauge faces, decal kits and other odd bits.
Nice bikes!Links: Steve Carpenter'svia Cycle WorldPosted on April 23, 2006 Filed Under. I’ve had the pleasure of talkin’ with Carpy about the 750 cafe’s He’s a great guy who has a passion for Cafe Racers. From the first time I contacted him he’s treated me as if we were pals from days past.as for the jap cafe bikes, well, I’ve owned several different makes and models (brit,deutsch, and jap) they all have their plus and minuses but the CB750 is by far my fav. As this trend seems to be catching on we must remember that it’s more about the spirit of a stripped down runner than a “make and model” party.lets not shame the cafe “scene” (if you will) like the Harley Davidson diehards have done to choppers. It all boils down to who can get back to the cafe first, right?.steve says. Hey Rob-The original cafe racers were really using Brit bikes only.
The Rockers in the UK in the 50’s and 60’s who pioneered the style were modifying Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs, Ariels, Vincents, and Royal Enfields.As far as your ignorant and ill-informed take on the “true cafe spirit”, well, BMW wasn’t even in the cafe arena. Neither were the italian bikes. None of those kids were riding anything but Brit bikes. So quit talking out of your ass and do your homework on the subject next time.Today those cafes are pretty much all closed and those racers are old men.
Now people the world over are building cafe-style street bikes out of every marque, and I’d wager the majority of them are JAPANESE since the bikes seem to have aged well and are very affordable. Plus you can even get new or period cafe parts for them.As far as Carpy goes, the dude lives for the cafe racer and spirit is something none of his customs lack.So bring your BMW if you have one or whatever else you’re riding, and wheel it up next to one of Carpy’s raging 750 Cafe monsters, and I’d bet the farm that his bike is the one built in that true Cafe spirit.Rapidrik says. Quote “The original cafe racers were really using Brit bikes only. The Rockers in the UK in the 50’s and 60’s who pioneered the style were modifying Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs, Ariels, Vincents, and Royal Enfields.” UNQUOTE.IN the 50’s and 60’s Brit bikes were the fastest bikes available. Building a cafe racer with a Honda engine is evolution of the species.
I am in the process of building a bike in that style from a GS1100 arguably one of the strongest engines ever built. The speeds modern bikes can achieve means that bodywork makes them faster so is a turbo’ed Hayabusa a cafe racer? If it RACES between CAFE’S then yes.
Basically EVERY cafe racer has emulated the race bikes of their era. Lets face it, the fact that modern production bikes look like race bikes just means that it took the factorys 35 years to realise what their customers wanted. Rik out.Dirk Laguna says. Sure the cafe’ scene started in Britain, but just like the chopper, a cafe is a STYLE of bike, not a specific make or model.
There are those narrow minded folks who say a chopper can ONLY be a V-Twin, but what about the earliest Triumph choppers? Same with the cafe’, I would love to have a real Triton in a feather bed frame, but due to cost/availability, that just ain’t happening.
The Rice-Burners provide a great, reliable and cost effective base to build a kickin’ cafe racer. Is it a REAL cafe? I guess that would be up for debatebut is it a great cafe’?
No doubt!Leave the exclusivity to the V-Twin loyalist and let the rest of us chop/build/ride/customize awesome bikes for 1/4 the cost.superman says. A lively debate! I love it, Just an old codger here in the midwest USA, riding 38 years In my garage right now?
3 cafe’ style cb 750 ( the toecutter, night rider, & red rider) kz1000, (stock), CBX mild cafe’ style, shovelhead HD dresser(170,000 miles), super-low-severely raked sportster, Tracy bodied cb750, Bobber style xs650(flat black of course), GSXR1000 full custom, and that’s just one stall. Gentlemen, I have alsways believed that Cafe’ is a feel, an attitude, a statement of style, loud, fast, ridden hard and put away for another day, when the coppers ain’t lookin. Take it from an old flat tracker, drag racer and self proclaimed wild man.
Run watcha brung, if you got rules, they only apply to you! Don’t let those rules hold you backyou’ll be sorry someday! Is your bike fun? Does it piss off your neighbors when you warm it up? Well come on in.welcome to hell.says.
English bikes are cool, but if you only recognize UK bikes, then you don’t see much, sure they are light fast and fun, easy to throw around out on the twisties and they sound GRRRREAT. But we’ve all seen the T-shirtRIDE.
WRENCH. REPEATMy old Harleys are the same way, but I am sure havin a ball on the ol’ jap bikes!Anybody can buy one of “theirs”, I say borrow elements from everything you see, and some stuff you’ve only heard of, make it yours, show some style, then go out and ride the miracle mile.c.smallman says. Good for you guys, I say if you like it, then good, cuz you got it! Plenty of folks in this world don’t want what they got, and want something they’ll never have When i ride up and some J/O says “what is that?” I say well thats my bike “why do you wanna ride some japcrap?” Cuz that’s what I got, hey I didn’t build this bike so that some jackoff would go “wow that’s just like them there OCC bikes” I built it cause I had this bike and I had some ideas, where did you BUY yours?
1979 Honda Motorcycle Models
I guess they just want to be “different,Like everybody else”.jordan says. I’m putting together my first cafe racer based on a BMW R45. I check out anything I can find and then go and do what I can and with the bits I can afford – best if it’s free or off something else. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time – cant wait to get home from work or out of bed in the morning and every new change gets lots of pictures taken and a frenzied attack on the next bit. The box of redundant parts is getting heavier and the day I wheel this beast out and fire up is getting closer. Should really piss the neighbours off.AquaJet100 says. I think Carpy would build a hammer no matter what marque you put in front of him.
Just look at his machines. There’s a reason those bikes went 1st and 2nd. So what if he choses to use a Japanese platform for a style that originated (as did he) in Brittain? It’s smart, efficient and cost effective. I’d buy one of his creations before I hopped on a new Thruxton 900 or Sport Classic; that’s for sure!I have 3 CB bikes.
They are all cafe racers. I also have a lil’ 67 Yamaha YL-1E tracker that I ‘race’ a few blocks each day (to avoid cops since it isn’t street legal) to get my morning cup of joe. So it’s a cafe racer too.Just my 2 strokes worth.says. Met a guy at a cafe in Minneapolis once who didn’t have a bike, but swore if he did it would only be a Black Shadow!
Maybe he and Rob should hook up and scoff together. By the way Rob, are you riding a Triumph or a Norton? I’ve been workin on a CB750 cafe for a while.
It’s a daily rider/racer. Since the day I got it, it’s never failednever. Right now it sports rear sets, dual front discs, clubmans, a custom seat, a pair of sweet alum rims and four big chrome Dunstalls (because I love shiney things). When I light it up, babies all over the city start crying! I love the 70’s Ducatis too, so this winter it’s getting clip-ons and a 74 Duc 750SS fairing (lot of work, but why not?) When I’m done I’ll send before and after pics to CarpyI dig all bikes, but mine’s a CB750!.Brad says. It has been said before its not what you ride its that you ride.
I have had brits now have some old japs ridden beemers and harley fergason. I prefer to ride cheap and fast and often with the money saved going to gas oil and beer. I do my own work and modify for handling.
I race TT (tavern to tavern) and have gone over 500 miles one way for coffee ( 1145 miles one day ) so that must make them cafe racers as well. My leather jacket is 35 years old and I have ridden about 3 years longer as I didn’t start till in my teens. Two wheels keep us young and 100 years from now no one will care, so RIDE ON.Chris says. Glad to see so many people interested in cafe racers. I’m currently building a ’75 CB400F. Fast and reliable. I think this makes a much better cafe racer than the CB750.
Lighter, 10,000 RPM redline, stock 6 speed tranny. Not to mention due to the popularity of cafe racers these days, plenty of parts. The 750 is cool, but it’s too heavy, which equals slower.
I regularly blow by bigger (and supposedly faster) bikes in the canyons on my STOCK CB400F. As soon as I build the motor and shave some weight, I defy anyone to keep up. Next up, AHRMA! Kaz would be proud!.says. The issue of weight comes up all the timelet’s see: Cb750 (per factory manuals) is 517lbs.having taken mine apart, and in the interest of information, weighed components- engine 172 lbs, frame 38lbs, front suspension 43lbs, rims 14lbs front, 20lbs rear.
Garbage (oil tank, electrics, etc.) 50lbs +/-I’m running in the 350lbs neighborhood.Cb400 (per manual) is 373lbs. Now, not having one here to weigh, (but having done them before) I would say that’s fairly accurate.Now, yes, the 400 will spin faster (10k vs. 9500) and has a 6th speed.
Does that really make a difference? When you’re talking about 68bhp stock for a 750, and probably close to 48 bhp for the 400 (per cycleworld articles of the day)Now consider that not one cafe’d 750 is stock, but most 400’s are stock (mostly unavailable speed parts) where’s the argument?I love the little 400’s too, don’t get me wrong, but the blanket statement of the 400 being “lighter” and “faster” is a bit of a stretch.anyway, just adding to the discussion.dave.Sean says. Well, I’m 16 and fell in love with cafe racers due to my dads Guzzi Le Mans Mk II 850, which had a Ducati style fairing, was painted red and black with gold pin stripes and when that V twin started up I still remember hanging on desperately to his jacket, with my seven year old legs barely touching the foot pegs, and loving every minute of it.So, when I bought my first bike, a Honda CBX 250, had electrical troubles, ripped the fairing off There was a cafe racer staring me in the face. It already had an aftermarket chrome exhaust, I’d replaced the famous japanese elbow detectors with chrome bar-ends, all it needed was a new headlight and I was set.Cue big, chrome headlight, faux chrome indicators and lovely chrome brackets to hold it all.
As you may have guessed, I like shiny bits. I’ve spent nearly five hundred bucks NZ on it, going to spend another 400 or so on the single seat and tail lights, and then maybe I’ll slow down. Start saving up for the next bike.
Another cafe, I think.To everybody who says that it has to be euro to be a cafe, I think your logic is slightly flawed. As some have said, it’s not what you ride, or how you ride, it’s that you ride. I don’t care if you love Harleys, Dukes, or 250 screamers. Two wheels, heaps of fun, and almost endless personality come whatever you ride. I mean, who wants yet another Subaru Legacy when you have something that can be yours for half the price?I’m just starting out, and I’m only 16. But I love riding like nothing else, and what is the internet for, if not to voice your opinions?.Tom Ceruzzi says. Hey Everyone!I have been recently become interested in building a cafe racer.
I own a 1980 cb 650 and I am wondering why I can’t seem to find any info on people building these bikes into cafes. I seems logical though because of the lighter weight compared to the 750’s.
It seems your much more likely to find any other size of honda modified to a cafe then a 650. I’m curious to know if this is a result of the relative rarity of the first 650’s or as a result of a superficially un-cafe look of these bikes.Anyhoo A friend of mine has an old 78 cb 400 f that i think i might grab off of him for 200 bucks and just cafe it to the nuts for racing around town and save the 650 for longer trips. I’d appreciate any thoughts.roger says.
Hi these cafe look alikes are pretty cool i tink its realy seet to biuld what i would call a VINTAGE STREET FIGHTER in my own words. I lovem for i am into the stuntin nd drag rcing he newer crotch rockets.I just picked up a 1979 cb750k 10th anniversary limited edition with 6K original miles garage kept ALL of its life with 900 bore kit cams, pistons, k&N air filter,4to1 mac header and muffler for 300 hundred friggen bucks with title.and im going to biuld a cafe out of it since it has the engine work done the engin work was done at 4500miles so i figure it should scream for a VINTAGE STREET FIGHTERif anyone has info on where i can buy the handle bars for this biuld EMAIL ME AT.Zooks says. I have a 76′ CB750 K and am currently doing a total Cafe explosion on it. I talked to Carpy the other day and told him that this was my first venture into doing anything like this and was inspired by his website to do it. He gave me his number and said if I ever have a question to give him a call and he would walk me through it. Now tell me this.would you have done the same? This guy is one of the coolest guys I have talked to in years and I have talked to him once on the phone.
He treated me as if we were old Navy buddies or something. Personally I know very little about the history of all these bikes and lack in the mechanical knowledge but I could care less. I will have a Bitchin’ Cafe and it will be a CB750. Don’t like it.Try and catch it!.McDanger says. Kris:the ’77 is going to have an SOHC motor, the ’80 has a dual-cam. More parts available for the SOHC.Other than that, the k model is going to be more of a “standard” bike, where the SS is kinda sporty, with a tail section, and lower bars (if stock)If it were me, the ’77 would be my choice. But, of course, ’78 is my personal cut-off for old CB series bikes.I have been getting into the ’80s bikes a little recently, and there is some cool ones to play with, but the parts availability for the ’80s is rough.
Simple things are hard to get, but can be swapped with newer parts if you knw what you’re looking for. Honda, in particular was pretty good about making the same thing over and overAnyone have any questions, you can ask me or Carpy for that matter.dave.Geoff says.
I’ll be in receipt of my brother in laws CB750 K5 (with a new K7 engine) in about 2 weeks time.Its beautiful and immaculate. As a Brit I lament the passing of the English m/c industry though Triumph is now very successful. It was the result of a dominant industry that becoming lax and constricted by trade union activity that lost many their jobs.The Honda is a revalation – reliable, powerful and fast.Cant wait to ride to to ACE Cafe in London for a cup of tea, a bacon sandwich and put a quid in the jukebox.Kelly Mishak says. Ive had several Triumphs, tiger and bonnies, a BSA, all harley mill configureations from 1942 through 1989.
But my heart has always been and will always be with my 1972 CB750K. Cheifly because it was the first bike I ever got a ride on. It was with my uncle when I was 7 years old on a orange 1973 CB750four. I am proud to say I have been the proud owner of that very same bike for the last 8 years, having inherited it from my uncle. I currently have a 1961 Harley Sportster XLCH and a 1981 FHL80 Classic. But I ride the CB750 to work every day, rain or shine, 60 miles round trip, 65-70mph the whole way with bursts of up to 100 on ocassion. It sports clubmans, a 16″ rear Harley rim, 4 to 2 shorty headers, and a modified airbox.
Im finally in a position to add the lil’ bits Ive been dreaming of. Like everybody else, I love Carpy’s work and he is an inspiration to me.I like the vintage cafe style and its history is a link across the pond for all us bikers.
I like to think that the Boozefighters and the Rockers would have made great mates and may have ruled the world had they been thrown in together!!! Shoot, theres a good chance some of them may have fought shoulder to shoulder (or wing to wing) in WWII. At the moment, I have a good set of pics of the Dunstall rearsets and I know I can build them with some needed improvements. Lots to decide, where do I start? A Rickman seat and relocate the tail light and turn signals, new guage faces, oil pressure guage, Accel coils, electronic ignition, filter pods and rejet, Some of Carpys decals and Ill be set. The cammed 836 kit will be done this winter. I have a good 1972 parts bike and thats the motor Im running now while the Big motor is being built.
She wont be the Quality of Carpy’s bikes, but she’s mine. She gets me to work everyday rain or shine, and is an on going project.I cant begin to say how much I have enjoyed reading all your comments.
Lots of talent out there, hope you all grow to be gray haired old bikers turnin’ heads in the future. Thanks again.Joe says. Great bikes, CB 750 was my second Jap bike that I got in 1973. I installed clip-on’s, punched out to 836 with Daytona Yosh cam and an Dunstall half fairing. Painted it all black (no badges), stock pipes with no baffles, and CB headlight from France. Took it to Germany and had to leave it there. I didn’t realize I was so far ahead of my time.
My second Cafe was a Suzuki GT 750. Idid the same thing to it that I did to the Honda. Now that thing was a screamer.
However I love what Carpy has done. If I was close and had the money.but I aint and dont so I’ll just have to keep plugging along with the 1973 I have in the garage. One of these days I just might finish it. But until then I’ll be forced to ride my RD200 Cafe to get my fixGet the Picture!!! Some people build Cafe’s, other’s build coppers. Plus I don’t think you can buy either at the Honda dealer.Italian Coffee says. Whats up everyone, I just bought my first cafe project its a 75 cb750.
My last project was a cbr929rr street fighter, and before that was my first bike I got when I was in high school it was a 93GIXXER 750 with a 1100 motor in it. The motor was already built by yoshimura and it had a NOS kit.
But now saddly my gixxer and 929 have been smashed beyond repair (sold for parts). I wrecked both of them up on Death highway(Ortega highway 74 SO.CAL).The cafe bike for me is something I can build and respect opposed to build and destroy and they dont drain my wallet as much as my other bikes(yet).shocktek says. The whole idea is to take what you can buy from the local bike shop and turn it into somthing you can be proud to beat your buddies on.When I was young (17) all I could afford to beat my buddies on was a 72 cb450-well massaged mind you. And now that I’m “old” (27) I do the same thing on my 06 speed triple-also well massaged. The speed triple has been renamed Triple LaTe. Both bikes are stripped down, put on a diet and have lost thier baby bars.Just to add, if I see you on the streets of Salt Lake and I’m one of my bikes, I’ll race you to the cafe, the spirit of cafe is in the rider more than than the birth county of the bike.says. Lets put this entire debate into perspective: The Honda cb750 is still around and getting more collectable by the month because they were made in massive numbers, and designed and built to run better than Swiss watches.
The engineering was close to perfection, sure they had to cut some corners in order to make it profitable for them, so we can put on new pipes, repaint the things, add wider tires, etc., to make it our own. This is what Harley riders do!
(Or just keep in original) We should appreciate all bikes made by all nations and stop the name the calling!.blazer says. I’m keepin’ my eye on this thread, it gives me hope.We are on this thread, and on these bikes because we are non-conformists. Just as soon as some a-hole sets a rule in stone, we are looking for a way around it. That is why we are on these bikes, i wanna have fun for under $20K, i currently have 18 bikes, and I seriously doubt whether I have $20K in all of them, yes all of them can run and on any day, i can start at least 12 by just turning the key, and kicking two or three times.The others are a little tempermental, and require some massaging (foreplay, if you will).
One of my favorites has under $600.00 total in it, runs good, and is a riot to ride! I love my Cb 750’s and my harleys, I spend most of my time and money with them, but my xs650 yamaha is a spectacular ride! You can still buy one cheap, they made a million of them, and they are a riot to ride even stock, sound like a brit, ride like a jap, this is a win-win.
You young guys that are starting out, don’t overlook them.Reggie says. Nah, I can lift a cb750 out of the frame by myself on the floor, no way it weighs over 200, as a matter of fact, I have a complete engine sitting on my bench right now. It is cold here in Illinois, and 12″ of snow fell last night, but I’ll get out there and weigh it in the next couple of days.My whole cb 750 doesn’t weigh 425, two guys can lift the whole bike. Granted the engine is big, and pretty tight in the frame, but even when I was young and they were new, I could sit on the floor and slide it back, tip it forward and slide it out onto my lap. ( Don’t try this if you are not a pretty big guy) Now that I am old and work smarter, I have a lift.Who gives a sh!t what it weighs anyway, if you want to go crazy fast there are plenty of those.
Get out there and have some fun.Nicolas says. Can’t believe I never found this thread before! My’70 CB450 was sort of cafe’d in the ’70s, CL350 “scrambler” tank and pipes, clipons, bored out, cams, etc.
Hasn’t run for 20+ years, last time I put the engine back together I got the valve timing wrong (DOHC), couldn’t find the book. Kinda top-heavy, really have to drag it back upright after a turn, but plenty of power. Used to hit Gessner on Hammerly going 90mph, 4-foot rise, perfect ramp. Could fly almost to the U-Totem, now you know where I’m from! Where can I get CB450 parts?.Josh says. Last time I wrote in was august when I bought my 1975 cb750 since then I have put a cafe tail on it, clubman bars, hot rod tail light,4 into 2 cb chopper exaust, and a cool head light from Steve Carpenter.
And since then I have polished my forks, all the brake components, brake lever, throtle body, clutch lever, next to be polished will be the motor, hubs, and rear brakes.I learned how to polish at my last job I used to work at a plating shop. I have painted the tank and tail flat black with flat white scalups. Anyone who is thinking about building a cafe bike should check out Steven Carpenter’s stuff at cb750cafe.com his bikes and parts are really cool and he ships his parts quick. I ride in so’cal and I am looking for meets that are mostly cafe racer like the mods vs. ROCKERS rides if anyone knows please share thanks.Jeremy says. 30,000.00 and 30 miles does not constitute you being a biker.I cannot stand people who go out and buy the next fandangoed custom motorcycle and automatically brag about being a biker, or those that buy or rent a trailer and take thier bike to these great biker events and get a hotel room 25 miles away then ride in to the event and talk about this long ride they made to show up to the event, whatta bunch of crapbut that saidas long as your on two wheels and enjoy what it is all about then who am I to say. Just my 3 cents.mike says.
Hey Mike loomis wrote in telling you the dual overhead cam cb750(DOHC) is not worth as much as the single overhead cam cb750s(SOHC) and he is right but you said the bike you are looking to buy is a 1978 cb750f super sport. 1978 was the last year of the SOHC cb750 the DOHC cb750 came out in 1979.
And if its a super sport you will have dual disc in the frount and a huge disc brake in the rear which in my opinion will be sweet you’ll have the cool SOHC 750 four with all those disc brakes.mike says. Great to see this 2 year old thread still running.I just picked up my first bike and it’s a 1980 cb750. Previous owner was in the process of chopping it already but ended up abandoning the project and sold it as is for pretty cheap. In doing some research on the interweb i came across Carpy’s cafe racer website. Needless to say it has inspired me to Caff my new rat.Carpy is definitely a great guy, emailed him to ask some questions and have been buying some parts off him. Gonna be a cool bike, even if its a DOHC.I don’t think i could have picked a better bike for my first ride.
Now i’m hooked on the cafe style.Pics of my bike are here.Josh says. Hey, All you guys are my favorite kinda folks! This whole thread been near bringin me to tears; remindin me of that day in 1971, at Bezerkeley Honda, my mom co-signed $1640 on my 1st bike, one of the 1st three Gold 1971 CB750s to hit the east bay! Since then I’ve had Victor(441), Kawi Mach 3,Tri TR6r, XLCH Sportys, n’ a 77 Wing that I beat 75,000 miles outta fer about1500 bucks not countin gas and oil over 8 yrs.
But That Honda!! EVERYONE wanted to race the four-banger, Rice Grinder! That thing as fast as they say, Buddy?
What’s the speed limit here, Mr. Honda?To which I’d always reply “On this bike 129!”Natur-lee the tickets started stalking me! In 6 months I had 37 moving violations, mostly 2 points each; hit the CA 4 point system so hard ‘n’ fast they couldn’t react! Stretched the chain over nine inches! Burned 23 sets of plugs(would not last 600 mi)Went to Salt Lake City, crossing Nevada at an AVERAGE speed of 110mph (no speed limit in 71!)Dead stock that marvel of Japanese mechanical precision would win most of the chalenges it’s revolutionary nature inspired; set up like the cop-baiter at the other end of this thread, I wouldn’t have even stopped for the 20% of heat that I didn’t ditch, back in the day!Rubber side goes down! GO HAPPY!AnteBob.J.T.
HiI just found this website. I am looking at a 76 CB750 Super Sport that has been sitting in a neighbor’s shed for 20 years. It has 6K on the odometer and the engine kicks over. I have only had a quick glance at it so far and just found out about it by chance. I was getting my 79 Yamaha XS 650 back into running shape after sitting for 4 years (I bought this bike new in 79) and my neighbor came over and told me about the Super Sport he had since new.
I had no idea he even had a motorcycle. Anyway I asked if he wanted to sell it and he said sure.
What would be a fair price? I am thinking $300-400 due to the work and $$$ to get it back into good running shape.Chuck says.
Lots of attitudes (in a good way). I am more into the Kawasaki Z-1 but just could not cut one of mine up to make a Cafe Racer so the CB750 SOHC ended up getting cut up.When we got our project the previous owner had already smashed the bike (at one year old) and it was really twisted up. The laundry list is as follows,1. Morris Mags- Drum rear/Dual Drilled Disc front2.
Koni rear shocks3. Big 4 single seat (cafe style)4.
New fuel tank (Honda)5. Winnings Header6. Racer One Fairing7.
Clubman Bars8. Homemade rearsets9. Newer honda forks (air assist)I was going to go with the cb750 engine but have been thinking about going with a bigger, more powerful engine.
Does anyone here know what other engine(s) will or may fit in this chassis? Something along the lines of a 1000 would be great, I am happy with 120 to 150hp on a daily driver. If anyone has any thought on this please post it, it will be greatly appreciated,Chuck.Josh says.
Hey guys I am currently working on a 1975 cb 750 cafe racer project but I totally suck when it comes to electronics. When I bought the bike it had one stock coil and one dyan coil. So I changed them out for two stock ones with wires and plugs. But now everytime I turn the ignition to the ON position I blow the 15 amp fuse the one on the bottom of the three, I have no clue whats going on I know its probably something real stupid but when it comes to electronics my mind simply turns off. Any opions on whats going on or good web sites that can help will be greatly appreciated thanks.superman says. Josh, One coil hooked up backwards? Finishing up on a 76 GL1000 Goldwing cafe, very nice, lots o fun too.
My Last mail put my collection at 18 bikes, but now I’m up to 21. I’ve been busy. 6-8 weeks before we can ride here in illinois, but I’m getting ready. Will be bringing out the wing, another cb750, and we restored a 76 wing as well, I have a 79 wing i just bought, stripping it to make a clone of the cafe I am finishing, it will be just the opposite, red where this one is black, black where this one is red, shiny where this one is powder coated, powdercoated where this one is shiny, they’ll be like a negative of each other.
Drag em out, piece em together, and burn up some roadway! See you soon, look for my cb750’s and “hotwings” on the two laners of the midwest, they’re out there anytime the sun shines!.biggerstaff says. Thanks superman for the info.
But I figured it out, it was one of my coil wires rubbed aginst its mount and was grounding out on the frame. Your bike’s sound sick, I’ve never seen a cafed goldwing. Do you have a web site I can check them out at?
I ride highway 74 (DEATH HIGHWAY) in the Ortegas in southern Califofnia and Pacific Coast Highway all the time. So if your ever out in So.Cal look for a flat black cb750 cafe racer with white scallops and my side cover’s have #17 painted on them with gold pinstriping around it, you’ll know it if you see it.
And once again thanks for the help.750Rocker says. As an owner of a 1978 cb750f2 supersport i feel i should add that as opposed to a standard K model the ss comes with factory 4into1 different carbs & cam a boxier tank with gas cap enclosed for a smoother cafe look as well as the afformentioned 3 count em 3 disc brakes and comstar mag wheels and a longer wheel base a stocker weighs a little over 500 pounds, but i wouldnt be surprised if 100 pounds could be shed by changing the seat and exhaust and losing all the unneeded electrical b.s. And getting rid of the 20 pound ugly rear fender.todd says.
Chuck, are you happy with your Z1? Though it’s much less than what you want in a commuter (“120 to 150hp”) it’s still no slow poke with 82hp. The CB750 has 67HP which isn’t much less than your Z1. You can go with a big bore kit to get up to 850cc (or more with substantial extra work) to get even closer to your Z1.
The CB1000 motors are entirely different, it may be easier to put a 100hp CBX1000-6 in there instead. Still, 120 to 150hp is a huge jump.
You’re better off buying a CBR1100XX.-todd.billy says. Eh gents, perhaps I can get some quick insite to base my decision on. Though i’m no noob to cafe’s, I’ve yet to play with the cb750 line, i’ve made two cafe’s out of old GS cycles, and a XS750. Last winter i picked up an old 74 cb750 barn fine for a hundred bucks.
Cosmetics are good and chrome is nice, but exhaust mufflers themselves are shot. Motor freely turns. Other then that, havnt touched the bike, planned on it being my personal cafe once i completed some other bobber projects.But today i just got a line on a 78 cb750 supersport, was running last year, now has clutch problems for 300 bucks. Overall body is pretty nice.I’m not real sure what the difference is in years, if one has a more aggresive cam then the other, or if the supersport was merely just a cosmetic differences, I know this one has the dual disk front brakes and mine the single.I’m curious which would make a better choice to keep and overall better final value.
The 74 needs alot more work as it hasnt ran in years, and the 78 should be an easy clutch fix (I assume, i’ve done clutches on other bikes and it’s fast and simple, assuming same on these). I dont get into full customs and motor work and all, I’m mainly a cosmetic guy but can do the basics ya know.
But if i’m going to keep one for myself and cafe out, which one would you guys prefer? A final value worth is also a concideration as I do change bikes often if i create something better i like.Thanks for the input, i’m in upstate NY, please feel free to email me as i’m not sure when i’ll be checking back in with this.zack says. Hahaha Awesome thread. Its nice to know there are others out there that share the passion! 🙂I started out with an ’80 cb650, then stepped up to an 80 cb750k, then to a 78 cb750f. The most I paid was $900 for the supersport (needed full brake/carb rebuild due to sitting for 10 years), which I rode to work today.I am always stopped by older riders and constantly being complimented on the bike, and its pretty much stock with the exception of powdercoated stock headers, clubman bars and stainless steel brake lines (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!).
The plan was origionally to turn this bike into a full custom cafe, but I just cant bear to bring myself to chop up such a cherry, so now the plan is to pick up a k model and do the 836 overbore kit. Someday I may step up and buy a newer bike when I can afford it, but you can rest assured there will always be a SOHC 750 in my stable. 🙂.Greg says.