Marco’s CB500

  Often you have to take the bad with the good, and this build squarely falls into that conundrum.  The tail section is too small to match the seat and tank, while the frame underneath looks unfinished.  Those checkerboard graphics are plain awful, and a cafe cliché, while the “C@FE” on the tank looks cheap, to be nice about it. 

  Then there’s the good, such as the voluptuous curves of the tank, the monochromatic color scheme that’s menacing yet approachable, the wonderful flat black of the exhaust, and an overall stance to the bike that begs you to ride, NOW.  I can’t help but like this bike, even though there would be some things that would have to change if she was mine.  But, isn’t that always the case?

Classic Bikes And Cafe Racers Forum

Cannibal By Steel Bent Customs

  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!

Steel Bent Customs

Renard Speed Shop Kuri Kuldnokk

  Renard Speed Shop owner Andres Uibomäe brings us Kuri Kuldnokk, which translates into Wicked Starling.  This Honda CB500T had been sitting for ten years before Andres got a hold of it, and worked his magic.  After everything was stripped down, a new custom swingarm was fabricated, the engine was gone over, and everything you see that’s painted is brand new paint.  The headlight is an ex-automobile foglight, and Motogadget supplied the instrumentation.  It all results in a bike with an aggressive stance, and we love it!

Source: Return Of The Cafe Racers

Visit Renard Speed Shop

Jose Armenteros’ Cafe Racers

  It doesn’t take a full-blown shop to be able to create some great looking cafe racers.  Jose Armenteros and his dad built these, a CB750 and a CB500, and they’re great.  I think the 750 came out better, though I would have left off all the stickers!  I like the fact that they were smart enough to color the tail sections black, giving the bikes a visual push towards the front (which enhances the sense of forward movement, even while sitting still).  Not many get that right!

Visit Jose Armenteros’ Flickr

Project Anna CB500

  Chris Booth in Vancouver always thought motorcycles were too dangerous, until he actually rode one.  Now he’s created this great cafe racer based on a Honda CB500, upgraded with a 550 motor bored out to 592cc.  There’s no denying the passion that motorcycles ignite in people, and this build is a perfect example!

Visit The Single Overhead Cam 4 Forum Build Thread

Pure Blue Moon

  Pure Motorcycles in France built this bike called Blue Moon, a 1972 Honda CB500.  While it’s very similar to a lot of projects out there, i really like the paint effect on the tank!




Visit Pure Motorcycles
Source: Ottonero