Tag Archives: cb750k

The KC Special CB750 Honda inline Four

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
17 Feb

I have always loved creating My style of machine for Customers and this one is no exception, the KC Special turned out to be a great looking ride and the Owner Keith Conrad ( Hence K.C.) lives in Milwaukee and asked if I could revamp his old 1975 CB750 into a Silver and Black Cafe bike, I said sure thing and the deal was done, a build sheet was agreed upon and Keith sent the bike out to me.

I took the bike apart, right down to the frame, as I do all my builds, then I set about cleaning the frame up some what and smoothing some of the old factory welds, as Honda welds are quite rough back then as i guess they were hand welded and not automated as they are today.

As you can see, I took my time as I wanted the frame to really look nice in a Gloss Black on this build, I wanted it better than factory, so I took a long time to make sure that this Chassis came out nice, as i mostly powder coat my frames, unless I am using Candy Paint or Metalflake etc. Above you can see how Glossy the main frame rails are.

I took the stock gas tank and using my Egg Hammer, I pounded the sides to create Knee inserts, so you can tuck your legs in tighter to the bike and get a little more stream lined, just as they did back in the day for racing etc, this is no easy task and you will see how much it takes to do when you have a go your self, but worth the look in the end thats for certain.

The Paint scheme is High Gloss Black with Metalflake Silver panels and racing stripes and I really needed to make sure that this flowed well, and am happy with the result.

Plenty of Detail too, I hand machined out of 6061, a Custom Finned Oil Tank Dip Stick cap, this really did look trick, compared to the stock version.

Its like the saying says, the devil is in the detail and there is plenty to look at on this CB750 Cafe Bike and am stoked how the bike turned out in the end, worth all the hard graft.

The seat is one of my own that I manufacture, called “The Rocket 4” its a sleek sturdy and well rounded seat base that I produce and has the same curve as the gas tank, that way the body work then flows and give the machine the Status Quo.

Keeping in the theme of Old School styling, the seat upholstery was hand machined and small 1 inch Diamonds in white stitching with Silver piping and vintage snaps was completed to really make this stand out from the crowd.

I used an LED Custom Tail light that I offer on my website and this is bright as Einstein, and I think is a nice addition to the back of the Rocket Four seat unit, also the silver flake racing stripes really stand out nicely.

I machined some covers for the rear piggy back shocks as well as making some risers for the lower, to increase the ride height by 2 inches, out of 7071 Military spec Aluminum.

I also Chromed the rear swing-arm and hand made then Chromed a Custom Chain Guard to show the Gold 530 X-Ring chain off, I also polished the Hubs of the rims and painted the centers black to give a nice offset.

The Motor was rebuilt, as well as the carbs and synchronized etc, my Custom Oil lines were added in Black for a nice offset too, I fitted an oil Pressure gauge to keep the rider informed as to what is going on below.

As you can see, there is plenty going on here, I took a lot of time on the front sprocket cover and I even polished the rear set brackets for a more Custom look too.

Rebuilt and polished Carbs with hand machines velocity stacks from Steel Dragon really help the look of this bike and give it that Nostalgia look and it runs really hard too, there is something about hitting 6 grand on a 750, then you know you are starting to pull like a steam train.

People ask me about my gauges that I create on these inline four machines, and this one is no exception, unless I am restoring a bike, I don’t really care for the Honda’s Gauge faces as they are Green or Blue, not my favorite color of choice to be honest, wished they would of gone Black with White numerals like the Classic British machines, but oh well, so what I do is take the gauges apart and then I fit my Custom faces thats an overlay I print out, then repaint the needle and add chrome cups to embellish the bodys and give it a little more Custom look.

I have always liked to do this and it really does personalize your gauges, this time I went with the Cafe Racer Font and crossed Flags of which I think suit this Motorcycle to a Tee.

You may also notice that I have fitted a 2 inch handle Bar riser, to give a more comfortable riding position and easier strain on the wrists too, then fitted my Relocation bracket on top of the handle bar clamps to clean the top end of the bike up, with a BIG oil pressure Display light to match the Needle ends.

This is one tasty ride, the 4 into one system of mine is Ceramic Coated Silver, its a great look, almost a brushed polished Aluminum look to it, and she barks like a scolded dog when you get on the loud button, you will also noticed I machines a Finned Stabilizer Bar at the rear of the bike and did my usual drilling on the brake hub to let brake dust and heat escape under hard braking.

A lot of time and energy went into creating this machine and the owner really digs it, it is just how he wanted it and am glad that i was able to oblige with his demands.

The Customer wanted Gloss Black Rims with stainless spokes and he really did like the way these turned out on the bike and the attention to detail that I am known for on these inline fours.

I always fit an Oil pressure Gauge, as I do not trust the Honda Pressure switch thats behind the Barrels, so these run great and give true pressure as soon as you fir the bike up, as it is connected to the oil galley plug.

As you can see, New Levers, new Control switches, new Handle Bars, polished triple tree, New cables, New master cylinder and stainless nuts and bolts through out this motorcycle.

A great but solid Motorcycle, with aggression when you want it, reliability for everyday riding, and an awesome stance to give it that moving look standing still, sure does sit well in my stable.

I really did enjoy putting this bike together and felt good to know that I had done all and more than the Customer had asked me about, its one fine steed and I enjoyed slinging my leg over it.

I wanted to share it with you guys and Gals and hope you like what I have created too?

Maybe if you are in Milwaukee area, you might come across the KC Special? if you do, take a snap and send it to me, love to see it again.

 

A New Year is almost upon us, what does it bring to the people in the two wheeled world?

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
05 Dec

Sitting in my office, looking at the fog bank rolling in across the front of the window, reminds me of years gone by when I was back in England, I had an old garage that was built in the 1960’s, the doors were missing and I shared the area with 9 other garages, closed in by a wall and agate, the Fog would roll in just like today and I continued to work on one of my projects, be it a 2 or 4 wheeled model and just shrug the weather off.  Today the Fog is surrounding me but I have been fortunate to have an office now and as I type this, the New Concrete slab that has just been poured for my new workshop, is hardening and hopefully in a months time, the steel Barn can be constructed and give me a new chapter in my life of Building and manufacturing parts for Motorcycles and Hot Rods.

This Covid Virus has really turned the globe on its head and many times I have heard news of friends and family catching this awful strain, I too submitted to it, even with 2 shots, but, the world is now evolving and in a way, getting used to life with a mask and Social distancing.  I mean, Life has to go on, we have to live, survive and of course put bread on the table.

I see a few companies starting back up, albeit on a smaller scale, but we have to carry on and get back on track, and not look back at the sad and painful year or so that has gone by.  I am getting enquiries on commissioned builds but am not ready to commit to contracts on these until I know where I am with my New Workshop etc. and want to take my time to equip the barn with the tools I need to do what I do.

But, 2022 is just around the next apex and I can see it approaching a bit faster now, I see a way better year ahead for all thank god and look forward to attending some shows and exhibitions etc. to show people New parts, builds and also just Human Communication, something I do miss of course, without communication, I have no input into what people like, want or are hoping to see in our two wheeled family and with the new Year offering hope with Vaccinations and the like, I believe that we can slowly get back into gear and enjoy the hobby that we all love.

 

I love all Motorcycles and really enjoy chatting to other builders, some of who simply knock my socks off with their own creations that leave my proverbial jaw continually slammed on the ground in amazement of their skills and creativity.

I think that as a builder and manufacturer, we all feed off input and the importunateness of shows and meetings etc. is Vital in the industry that we are in, and looking forward to attending a few shows next year, even if its just to stretch my creativity legs so to speak.  I really do enjoy talking with Customers about their needs and what makes their crank turn and even though I still receive many phone calls and emails, its always great to see the Client in person.

So, here’s to a way better year and look forward to seeing some of you on the tarmac, always great to hear from you all and get an idea of what you are creating at home.

Time and Tide wait for no Man or Woman

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
22 Oct

No matter what is going on in the world, one thing remands the same, and that is the ticking Clock, she will always continue to grind away 24-7 and I am vert aware at times of that as deadlines come up real fast when yo are a small business, but, there is nothing better than being your own boss, so that out weighs the stress and difficulties that we all endure at times in the trade that we are in. Time to get on my Bike and start to design some New parts for you all.

Things are changing for me and not long to go until I get my Own Brand New Workshop/Barn, exciting times for sure and look forward to spending some quality time in there and banging away at some projects that I must get completed my self. Sometimes I need to Police my self to get things finished, but a New Workshop is something to keep you Motivated that’s for sure.

I have just made up a bunch of Braided Hose Oil Lines and Braided brake lines, one piece and 2 piece front brake lines to cover any of your builds and continue to make and design more parts for the inline four, as well as other makes too. Have fun on your Machines this weekend everybody.

 

 

 

4 into 1 exhaust systems for CB750 and CB550 still selling strong

Posted on by Steve Carpenter

Well Howdy Everyone

Hard to believe that almost 22 years ago I started making parts available for these and other machines and continue to do so today, I try and help everybody out where I can, and I really do enjoy what I do for a living.

None of these parts are made in China and I make all the Prototypes right here in California, with more parts I am designing right now for our machines and a few more brands too is in the works, but right now I am getting ready to build a Brand New Barn/Workshop and all the plans have been approved by the city , so not long until I can work from home once more.  I think you get more attentive to the detail and of course, can save any frustrations about driving to and from work.

Below is a shot of a 4 into 1 Ceramic Coated Exhaust system that I have sent to a Customer back home in the UK, and the system looks awesome on his 750-4 Honda.

Peter Hch Harrison In the UK has one of my 4 into 1 exhaust systems on his 750-four Honda.

I really enjoy what I do and thank you for sticking with me and not using Chinese Parts.

Years gone by.

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
27 Apr

Jeez, time does scoot by a little too fast for my liking these days, but I came across this I had done many many years ago, it was for a Polishing company and it did bring a smile to my face, so- I thought that I would share it with you lot.

Hope you are having a good week and maybe getting some time to work on your project at home?

 

The Aztec HONDA CB750

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
01 Apr

Sometimes you come across an old photo of something you built and have forgotten about, and today was that time, I completely forgot about building this machine, no idea where it went in the world but it sure was fun building this bike out of parts that I had laying around the garage in boxes and parts under the table.

This bike pulled pretty hard out of the gate, I wanted a Custom look and set about using many old parts and recycling them to gibe a unique Custom look to this inline four.

Rebuilt the carbs and added BSA Velocity stacks for that Classic Finned look, as I had some Original Racemasters Finned covers for the Valve cover and start cover etc.,.

I hand hammered the knee inserts into the side of the old Gas tank, then I hand masked and painted some Aztec Gold Candy Painted Scallops for a Real Custom finish and clear coated over the top.

I used an old 70’s set of Schwinn Bicycle grips that I heated up in hot water and fitted on bars, and stoked the way they looked. Custom gauges too and Polished control switches.

I used an old set of Invader steel wheels and Painted the Aztec Gold and fitted a set of Bridgestone tires, Polished front forks, cut down stock fender and fitted CB1100 rear shocks and my hand made Dunstall seat.  I even used old VW pea shooter tail pipes to add to some NOS headers I had in a box. Fun machine and hope its still on the road somewhere?

 

 

 

Another Chopper frame I have is a Santee, built mid 1970’s

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
14 Feb

I picked yo another frame and this time this one is a Santee Honda CB750 frame, created in their Arroyo ave shop in San Fernando California in the mid 1970’s.

Custom Chrome bought them out many years later but this is an original frame and, a some point I will build this as a Custom Chopper and I am sure it will be a fun build and change guises along the way, as thats how Choppers get built. They can change forks and rims numerous times until the builder is happy, and this will be the case with the one I have right here.

I need to be able to move these frames around, so for now I am bolting a few bits and bobs on that I have laying around, but of course, this will maybe look a little different as time goes on, but right now I thought that I would throw some Ram Horns bars on as it had no bars at all when I got it and you know how hard that is, trying to move a Hondas with no bars.

Right now the front end is just a stock Harley Sportster, but they don’t have enough length for the look I am going for, so not sure whether to just get longer fork tubes, say 6″over – or go another route and get a Springer front end, I am leaning towards Springer, as that’s a cool period look and something I have always dug anyway.

I am also going to probably go a 16″ rear wheel with spokes, just for the Nostalgia, as Lester Rims and Invaders have gone and priced themselves out of the market over here, and I do dig spokes anyway, maybe a 21 inch wheel up front too.

I have a bunch of old Chopper Gas tanks and grabbed this one, not sure yet but love the split beading in the middle, of course the old paint job will have to go but I do like the old Coffin tanks too, this tank does have that peanut feel to it and like the way it sits on the frame right now.

A long way to go but I need to be able to roll this old girl around and now I can, its bloody heavy to move with the rake of the front end but am sure later on I will get it sorted out.

A long long way to go but always something fun to do and have a go at, this and the other Chopper project I have will be therapeutic for me in these crazy times and give me more than I need to do to keep wrenching.

Feel free to email me any info on the Santee or if you have any cool parts I might be able to use, be fun to get this old 70’s Custom back on the road once more. carpy@carpyscaferacers.com

Hope you all had a great weekend? Tomorrow its more exhausts to get sorted, so stay tuned for that too.

Picked up some Original Chopper frames

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
12 Feb

Well, sometimes things come along and you think to yourself- ” I might have a pop at these later” And sure as eggs are eggs, I have them at my place.

These are some cool old pieces right out of the 1970s.

First off is the Black frame, A Denver Choppers frame, these were one of the best out there and built many frames over the years and I was lucky enough to locate this one not too far from me, its been sat in the desert for many years but later on, I think I can build something cool, may take time to find some period parts and have my own twist on it, so we shall see how this goes.

 

Since 1967

Denver’s Choppers was the first company to manufacture the long down tube stretch frames, or the Swedish style as they became known, which was actually Denver’s style. There is even a motorcycle club in Sweden called Denver’s Choppers, so named after the long stretch bikes.

Denver’s Choppers became famous worldwide in the early 1970’s, and their parts have been used by world renowned bike builders over the last three decades. Denver’s Choppers has been and will continue to be one of the leading trend setters in the industry.

They have quite an aggressive rake to their frames and that’s what I like about their chassis, now, this is just parts right now but in time, I hope to try and assemble it into some sort of cool 70’s style machine and be able to take it out around here and experience the trippy feeling of being a Chopper rider.

A long way from anywhere and even though I have owned a few of these frames in a while, I have always sold them to guys that want a chopper bike, but thought that it would be cool to have a couple of real customs, so it will take time but hopefully I can pull another machine out of the Barn later and see what these are like again, as it has been a long while since I have had one of these Iconic machines.

I am sure it will have a few different parts on it to get it rolling and still need to find adjusters, but dont see one in the rear rigid, so may drill the back to allow for a long wheel aligner bolt to be used.

Still has the Original OIL tank and Battery box, but may copy it with a New version if this is in bad shape, but its all fun and still a learning curve, so I really have my work cut out and it will be a long battle of which I hope to become the Victor in.

So the start begins for parts, bit by bit and then we shall see how I go about all this and enjoy another Denver Mullins Chopper frame for the good Old CB750 Honda.

 

This is something how I want it to look, this is a Denver  Chopper, similar frame.

 

New Parts and New projects this year

Posted on by Steve Carpenter
03 Feb

Hey Everyone

Hope that you are all well and trying to continue doing what you enjoy- This Pandemic is a royal Pain in the proverbial arse, but we have to stay strong and continue masking up, keeping your distance and soon after we all get the Jab, hopefully we can get to some sort of even Keel and enjoy the freedoms that we once all took for granted.

Things will be changing a little with me as I shall be having a steel barn built to keep me close to home, I can make prototype parts and start to create some more motorcycles for Customers and of course my own, I have a few ideas for many things and here I can do all that and much more.  I shall be offering more exhaust systems, that are all made right here in California, none of the China crap will be here and hope that you can pass the word so we can keep our money in the USA as so much money goes to China, but none from me- I tell ya that for free.

 

I love what I do, I really enjoy making new parts, I also enjoy the many emails and texts that i receive every day, if I can help someone out of their dilemma, even if it does not involve using my parts etc, I am still happy as someone now has got their machine on the tarmac.

Have fun with what you do, its an awesome hobby of ours and everybody wants to help each other out, I get a lot of calls right now as people are of course at home locked down in some cases, so, as to not get bored, people are creating their own style machines and there are some great creative minds working overtime as I type this Blog today.

So get into them Garages, Sheds or back rooms and have fun wrenching, I am here to help anytime, be it phone, Email or text, sure look forward to hearing from you, stay safe and get wrenching.

 

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