Honda CB450 Vintage Cafe Racer Restored

Description

1973 CB450 Caf? Racer

I’m selling my son’s dream bike and it can be yours for $6500.

I’ve been restoring and building bikes for over 40 years. A couple of years ago, y teen-aged son expressed interest in building an authentic Caf? Racer. I had built several in the 1970s and he wanted to build one using vintage parts and techniques – essentially like I would have done when these things were first popping up on the scene.

THE BUILD

This Honda had been in our warehouse for nearly 40 years. My cousin started building it as a cafe racer in 1974, o it was a great starting point. It already had a nice paint job, ut unfortunately over the years, he bike was scratched several times. So, e started with a total disassembly for a complete, rame-up restoration. We began by stripping the frame bare, oating it with a heavy-duty urethane primer and painting it silver.

The original fuel tank was retained and it was coated with POR15 fuel tank sealer. A custom seat was fabricated from the original pan and I made a one-off, and-laid fiberglass seat. A cutout was made to use the stock taillight (something we did back in the day). An aftermarket fairing that best resembled those used in the 1970s was purchased and custom aluminum brackets were fabricated. A precision cut-out was made on the windscreen to clear the stock master cylinder. I painted the tank, eat, ide panels and fairing with a high-quality, utomotive basecoat/clearcoat process. A custom seat pad was designed to compliment the bike colors.

As the bike was put back together, very nut and bolt was inspected and polished or replaced with high-quality stainless replacements. The steering head bearings were inspected and greased and the fork seals were replaced. New fork boots were installed and the fork legs were highly polished. To save money my son utilized the original rims (we originally planned to install vintage DID aluminum rims with stainless spokes). The bike currently has period correct tires from the 1970s, ut I have a new set that is included with the bike, f your intention is to ride it regularly or at speed. The rims were cleaned and polished along with the brake drum on the rear and the disc on the front. There are a few blemishes on the rims and spokes, ut I don't think it distracts from the overall quality of the bike, ecause originality was our foremost desire when we started the project. That's why we retained the original Honda logos on the tank and used the very cool and hard to find emblems on the side panels. The front brake master cylinder and caliper were rebuilt and the pads were replaced with high-quality items. The brake flex hose was replaced as well. The rear swing arm bearings were inspected, leaned and greased. The wheel bearings were replaced with new items. Aftermarket shocks were installed because they look cool (and we couldn't resist), ut we have the original chrome shocks (which are included). New foot peg, hifter and kick-starter rubbers were installed. The hand grips were replaced with vintage-style replacements. The rear fender was bobbed and a polished aluminum license plate holder was fabricated. A new drive chain was installed.

Every connection on the electrical system was cleaned and the coils, oints, ondenser and spark-plugs were replaced. The switch was rebuilt and a new Honda OEM key was purchased. New LED turn indicators and flasher were installed because of their small size (as well as for safety purposes). If you prefer the original style Honda turn indicators, have them and will include them in the sale. Or, he turn indicators can easily be removed if your state doesn't require them. A new halogen head-light bulb and 12-volt battery were also installed.

All control cables, s well as tachometer and speedometer cable were replaced. The original 1970’s shorty mufflers and headers were polished and retained. Chrome muffler brackets were fabricated and installed.

The engine was completely disassembled and inspected. New rings, lutch plates, eavy-duty springs, iming chain and gaskets were installed. Valves chambers were polished and valves seated. The carbs were rebuilt and re-jetted. We can’t be positive, ut this engine was supposed to have a performance cam and the bike certainly runs like it does. It is very fast for a 450 Honda. All engine side cases, alve covers, oints cover and carb throttle body were polished to a mirror finish. This alone would cost hundreds of dollars if it were contracted.

My son was never comfortable riding on the street and this project was always about the build, nd us working together on a project, o we've probably put less than 25 miles on it since the build. This is a beautifully customized bike, t runs and rides great and shows a lot of love, are and creativity in the build. That doesn't mean that there aren't any flaws. We retained a lot of the original parts, s long as they were in serviceable condition. So there a few scratches on some of the original parts and a few of dings in the exhaust (mostly on the underside where they can't be seen). The windscreen has a tiny crack (that has been stopped) and unless you're looking for it, ou probably won't see it. Original instruments were used, o the face plates are faded. But this all adds to the realism of a truly vintage road-racer, uilt by someone who was doing it in the early 1970s.

We love this bike and wouldn't be selling it, ut my son is in his second year of college and really needs the money for expenses above his scholarship.

I hope to have a video of this motorcycle running up soon on youtube. If you contact me, can get you the link. This bike sounds throaty and wonderfully vintage! It's also lightweight and not overtly powerful, o it's plenty mild enough for a novice rider. A lot better than a $15,000 pocket-rocket.

If you would like to buy this bike, ut want perfection, can lace new rims and replace any flawed item with NOS parts - but this will be in addition to the purchase price.

Thank you for reading and good luck!

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