1974 Honda Cb450 Cafe Racer – Custom, Rare, One-of-a-kind!! on 2040-motos

Took second place at the Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show in Daytona in the Café Racer category (lost to a Harley “café racerâ€� that cost 4 times the price of this!).  

Complete, frame-up restoration on an already-extremely-solid bike.   Everything is new/rebuilt/custom…but still all Honda in the parts that matter (engine, transmission, etc.). 

Engine had less than 3,400 original miles on it (before build) and had absolutely nothing wrong with it. Now has about 3,400 + 10.  Try to find that on a 40 year old classic!  Entire engine has been completely checked/inspected, tuned, carbs adjusted, and all gaskets and seals replaced.  The engine is strong and smooth.  The bike is now kick-start only (and starts very easily).  The electric starter was removed to save weight and drag on the engine.  And what an amazing difference it makes in engine responsiveness!  You don’t realize what a drain on power the starter is until it’s gone.  Bike revs quickly and effortlessly.   It’s light, fast, and loud (exactly as a café racer should be!). 

All custom tins (tank, seat pan, fender).  All painted in a deep, beautiful, custom, metallic British racing green with a gold metallic stripe.  The color is absolutely amazing.  Pictures don't do it justice.  I'd give my right arm to have a whole car painted in this green!

Awesome-looking black rims with chrome spokes.

Custom seat in a unique and comfortable ostrich leather.

2 owner bike (including me).

This is a new 40-year-old bike.  Countless hours and money went into building it.  No expense was spared; no short cuts were taken.  Would be impossible to build for the price I’m asking.  Much better than when it rolled off the showroom floor in 1974.  This is a bike-lovers bike.  Highly collectable.  One that can be used as a daily driver.  Or one that can be added to a collection to surely appreciate over the years. 

No fancy CNC billet parts here.  Just good ol' fashioned old-school.  You may find cheaper café racers, but you won't find a better one!  There are a lot of great inexpensive café racers projects out there.  This is not a project, it is a finished product built for a bike show and for the road. 

Any questions, please ask.  Pictures tell a thousand words so if you need more, please ask.  Shipping is responsibility of buyer but I will help in arranging if necessary (I’ve personally had great experience with various transporters and shipping services, including uShip).  Also, since my last buyer backed out, I will be asking for a $200 non-refundable deposit through PayPal at auction end.  If you're serious about the bike, this won't be a problem for you. 

Here are the details of the knuckle-busting, blood, sweat, and grease that went into the bike:

Frame:

• All the tabs were removed
• 7/8 hoop welded on the rear
• Battery and electric relocation plate welded in place
• Stripped to bare metal and painted satin black (urethane)

Suspension:

• Forks rebuilt with new seals
• New gator boots

Brakes:

• Rebuilt master cylinder and caliper (Honda OEM parts)
• Steel braided brake line
• New banjo bolt with built-in brake switch
• Drilled front rotor
• Custom rear hub vent

Wheels:

• New spokes
• Wheels painted satin black (urethane)
• New tubes and tires
• New EK x-ring chain

Controls:

• New grips
• New throttle tube
• New clutch perch
• Clip-on bars
• Custom rear sets
• Cut down levers
• New mini-speedo

Electrical system:

• Completely rewired (kick-start only)
• Battery and electrics relocated to under seat cowl
• Updated mini rectifier
• New battery
• New fuse box

Motor:

• 3400 miles.  The motor has great compression and the bottom end checked out so it was not rebuilt.
• New gaskets and seals (Athena)
• Stainless bolts
• Starter and starter drive removed to save crank weight
• Carburetors rebuilt and jetted properly
• New upswept mufflers
• New fuel and overflow lines
• New fuel filters
• New petcocks

Bodywork:

• Norton Manx tank with ETHANOL PROOF BIPHENOL EPOXY SEALER
• Custom fiberglass seat cowl for a perfect fit
• Custom ostrich covered seat pad
• Fiberglass front fender
• Fiberglass café racer headlight
• New paint, metallic British Racing Green with metallic gold stripes