A café racer fan found this 1977 Honda CB750 on eBay and made it his for a couple hundred bucks. The bike was sitting in a barn for a couple of years, but it was fully functional and could be ridden for the next few months before the café racer transformation began.
First thing first, clubman bars and a tri-bar headlight were added so that the bike would lose its factory look. Also, the seat was reformed and reupholstered so that it would add a sporty look and yet offer plenty of comfort. After getting its carbs synchronized, exhaust pipes trimmed and brakes overhauled, the old CB was already transforming into a much sweater ride.
But this Honda’s Norton-like toutch was to be given during the second stage of the customization process by a new tank paintjob. In the end, this looks like a sweet and comfy café racer with plenty of years left to spend on the road. Hear it after the jump.
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As hard as it may be to believe for those not directly involved, scooter riders love their small and buzzing machines, so because it “wouldn’t be the same without it,” designer Marc Graells Ballve has created the armadillo-inspired armor for scooters.
Called ‘Protect 486′ the system is easy to attach to the scooter’s bodywork and then be wrapped on top of it, protecting the thing from sun, rain and even thieves. Yes, it even has an alarm that goes off if anyone tries to go past the attractive looking orange protective shell.
There’s nothing wrong with the idea of protecting your ride and this actually looks like a practical concept despite the fact that it makes any two-wheeler look like the half of a pimp’s Cadillac.
The Z2/750RS was one of Kawasaki’s highly appreciated inline-four nakeds and made the subject of many customization projects over the years and, as we have recently come to find, it can still work its magic. Modified by the Kouga branch of the Sanctuary workshop, this precise exemplar apparently retains most of its original features, but it is brought up to date especially in what the chassis is concerned.
Now built around a powdercoated and reinforced frame and featuring Yamaha XJR1200 suspension as well as Brembo brakes, the upgraded Kawi Z2 should handle much better and come to a hault almost instantaneously. Also, thanks to the Yoshimura-tuned Mikuni TMR-MJN38 carburetion and Nitro Racing exhaust with titanium silencers, the blueprinted and balanced engine that originally developed 69bhp at 9000rpm now responds better to acceleration and sounds racy.
Overall, this is a clean looking bike which, despite having a few good years on its back, only needed a quick upgrade in order to keep up with its modern siblings from most points of view. That’s why we love Japanese bikes so much.
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For the NaSty concept, GPDesign has taken Suzuki’s entry-level naked bike, the Gladius, and made their best in turning it into a supermoto version. Focusing on technology and innovation to enhance the design and emphasize safety, the NaSty concept also has the purpose of keeping riders interested in the bike as it is claimed to be very versatile.
Among its most important features we find the 2.75-inch taller seat. The sporty looking unit is actually made of alcantara leather and it is water resistant, so quality was definitely taken into consideration. Also, they’ve added supermoto handlebars with handguards and everything. These lasts together with the tall front fender and front plastic body parts do make the Gladius in its NaSty form even easier to love.
At the back, an aftermarket exhaust and a new plate holder do the trick. What’s best about this concept is that it features fluorescent paint on the rims, tank and handguards, which makes the thing more visible at night and implicit much safer to ride. Good idea!
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This 1981 Yamaha Virago 750 was transformed into a café racer in Haaksbergen in the Netherlands to pay tribute to the Zero Engineering style and it turns out that the bike manages to capture the very essence of the world’s first sportbike (the café racer) and add a little something to it, meaning fat tires.
Although details about the project are scarce, we can see that the original engine and transmission were kept, but also the Virago’s gas tank. The mag rims are also present, but unlike the standard bike, this café racer features 15-inch rims with big fat tires instead of a 17-inch one at the front. That’s what gives it that aggressive note, while the café racer rear end, clubman bars and the black paintjob complete the “don’t mess with me” state that it induces. See it for yourself.
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