The Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) was a staple of motorcycling in the 1970’s. You saw them everywhere, and there was little difference between a Honda and a Kawasaki, or a Suzuki and a Yamaha. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that more specialized machines started to take over the market, and the UJM’s became an endangered species, relegated to a few short, unsuccessful comebacks (Kawasaki Zephyr, Honda 750 Nighthawk for examples).
For some reason, once a UJM is taken in hand for conversion to a cafe racer, the unique DNA of each brand tends to assert itself on the design, and this 1971 Honda CB500 from Steel Bent Customs is a perfect example of why that is a good thing. Just with a quick glance, you know this bike is a Honda, even without seeing the wing emblem. Stripped down to the bare essentials, like all great cafe racers, the character and soul of the machine is laid bare. If you’re guided by the machine, as Steel Bent Customs was, there will be a flow to the design that only works on that specific brand. Take the tank and tail section of “Cannibal” and try to mount it on a Kawasaki or Suzuki and the result will be mediocre at best.
Steel Bent Customs understands the soul and nature of the beast, and that’s why this is a great build!
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