Honda CB750K '79 Cafe Racer EVO -project from Finland

[Guzzi82]

Dear,
I have followed you in the shadow along your path.
I understand that a "Panigale" can put any othe project at the angle but your build was really good. Good ideas, good, project, good execution... it has its right to survive and to come to an end.
I hope this orrible covid period has at least given you the time to go along with it (most of all I hope you are safe and sound!)
Please update this post. A lot of people is at the window.
All the best
Riccardo

 

[Jsama23]

Bike is currently in a workshop for a custom exhaustsystem. Work will be done in mid-March.
Workshop will also fabricate plug for stopping oil spreading all over the engine from tachometercable hole (idk what it is called )

Before we took it there, we finished shorting the sidestand.

Shortened sidestand. Bike is way more lower than original, so it had to be done.

Welded little pin to the frame, which will stop sidestand hitting the frame. Have to buy a little rubberpiece end of it, so it will not scratch the paint

It came perfect


Friend of mine finished welding the offset front sprocket.

Looks amazing and works perfectly

Have to do minor work for the chainline. It is almost straight, but not enough yet


My seat came from the upholstery.

I'm digging it

Could your friend make me a sprocket like that?

 

[0tist]

any update on the project?
I love your posts and story so far, I'm complete beginner and trying to gather some courage to commit to project.
looking forward to hearing from you

 

[dirtdigger]

Original poster hasnt been on site for 3 years.

 

[Macce88]

Dear,
I have followed you in the shadow along your path.
I understand that a "Panigale" can put any othe project at the angle but your build was really good. Good ideas, good, project, good execution... it has its right to survive and to come to an end.
I hope this orrible covid period has at least given you the time to go along with it (most of all I hope you are safe and sound!)
Please update this post. A lot of people is at the window.
All the best
Riccardo

Thanks for your encouraging words.

any update on the project?
I love your posts and story so far, I'm complete beginner and trying to gather some courage to commit to project.
looking forward to hearing from you

To be honest, I have worked a lot with cars, motorbikes and bicycles but only like "minor" simple bolt-on modifications. This project is my first true real project with lot of hand made parts and own design.
I have none education of working with these things, so I can say that best way to do these kind of projects is by just starting it and prepared to do lot of mistakes and then do again until you success.

Original poster hasnt been on site for 3 years.

I'm back


Well it not worth to say any excuses that I didn't have time or I was too busy.
Fact is that my motivation was gone and I didn't have time.

Panigale has been sold now and all my friends says that I should really finish this build.
New Year, New Me

I have scheduled time for every week now onwards, so I'm trying to finish this build.
I'm going to garage this week to sort out what has to be done.

This project will be updated now more frequently and hopefully you guys are still keen on following.
Your comments and praises will boost me, thanks for those!


HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!

 

[loxley007]

Thanks for your encouraging words.


To be honest, I have worked a lot with cars, motorbikes and bicycles but only like "minor" simple bolt-on modifications. This project is my first true real project with lot of hand made parts and own design.
I have none education of working with these things, so I can say that best way to do these kind of projects is by just starting it and prepared to do lot of mistakes and then do again until you success.


I'm back


Well it not worth to say any excuses that I didn't have time or I was too busy.
Fact is that my motivation was gone and I didn't have time.

Panigale has been sold now and all my friends says that I should really finish this build.
New Year, New Me

I have scheduled time for every week now onwards, so I'm trying to finish this build.
I'm going to garage this week to sort out what has to be done.

This project will be updated now more frequently and hopefully you guys are still keen on following.
Your comments and praises will boost me, thanks for those!


HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!

I’m a year into my 79 cafe racer build. 2024 is the year to get it finished!!

 

[Old_Crow]

I’m a year into my 79 cafe racer build. 2024 is the year to get it finished!!

I had an old Harley Shovelhead that I took apart "just to paint the tins and change the swing arm bushings". Once I got into it, it took so long that I ended up buying another bike so I'd have something to ride. After that the project turned into a nut and bolt restoration which took a total of 2 years and around $5k. All this on a bike that was running and riding when I took it apart.

 

[Macce88]

New Year and couple weeks has gone by but the project has seen more progress than in last three years.
Motivation is high and I again see clearly the vision in my head. Let's keep it that way.

Basically in last two weeks me and my father has been assembling the bike as far we can. This way we can find out what has to be done, what is missing, what is not finished and what needs to be bought.

I also sort out every single bolt and parts to see what we have and in which condition.

--------------------------------

This was the status or situation after standing almost three years in the corner of the garage.

After couple nights and weekends this is how it stands right now.

Engine has been ready for few years now and is basically ready for paint. Carburetors and fuel lines were finished.

Controlling components (is that the right word? I'm pretty sure it's not. ) was fitted. M-switch, throttle-body, front brake parts and mirror/indicator-combo.

Rear brake and pegs fitted. Still need switch for brake light.

Rear cowl fabrication or design was suddenly in my mind. I started to make my vision come true and ideas how it will be made and mounted just rushed to my eyes. More to come.

--------------------------------

Situation right now

SHOPPING LIST (approx. 25-30 items)

• Bolts, washers, nuts
• Battery mounting belt
• Fasteners
• Rubber washers
• Front fender
• Brake fluid and fuel hoses
• New brake fluid reservoirs
• Throttle cable
• Clutch cable
• Replace parts for gold-colored parts
• Bulbs
• Licence plate lights
• Engine start button
• Switch for rear brake light
• Rear fender / tire hugger
• VRod headlight fairing
• Possible changing some parts to bend in to my vision.

WELDING LIST

• Place for the CDI-parts
• More wire holders
• M-unit bracket
• M-lock bracket
• Few ground bolts
• Noise killer
• Speed sensor bracket
• Regulator bracket
• Start relay bracket
• Rear cowl and brackets
• Horn bracket

OTHER THINGS TO DO

• Mounting the battery
• Controlling components (wires, brackets)
• Front fender
• Lower saddle 2mm
• Install new brake pads
• Install new wheel bearings
• Install new steering bearings
• Carburetors clean-up
• Chain line check
• Frame tinning (tin)
• Build and install new cables
• Install M-Button, M-Switch, M-Lock, M-Unit
• Do all the electrics / wires
• New tires
• Turning wheel edges
• Rear cowl
• Decide paint theme, colors and everything else

PAINT

• Engine
• Frame and other parts (powder coating)
• Exhaust (plating)
• Fuel tank, front fender, headlight fairing and rear cowl
• Deciding details

This was very very very harsh and non-detailed list of things that has to be done or bought...
Going forward step by step

 

[Chudman1]

I find comfort seeing this
I bought my project about 5 years ago and still haven’t finished it
Definitely not the calibre of this build

 

[Macce88]

I need comment on this one.

Strongly differing opinions were found and encountered in different projects/forums regarding the placement of the regulator and cdi parts.

Some strongly believe that the parts in question (circled in blue) should be placed in the undercarriage in terms of cooling, but on the other hand, some experiences say that there has been no problem even if the parts are placed under the seat/back cover in an almost closed box.

Please help...

 

[Macce88]

BIG UPDATE!

A lot of more parts have been ordered
- Front fender
- Motogadget new buttons for the handlebar
- Motogadget wiring harness
- Front headlight "cap"
- Nuts, bolts, washers
- Automatic fuse
- Rear brake banjo bolt with brake light switch
- Rear fender
- Leather straps for attaching the battery
- Chain tensioning bolt
- Rear light
- New brake fluid reservoirs
- etc. etc

Ignition lock
The bike will have Motogadget keyless ignition lock, which means that by showing the "tag" the power goes on and off.
For this, a hole was made to the side of the bike and it will come at the level of the side.

Dimensioning

A hole in the side

A bracket for the reader that is welded to the frame

Ready

Electric box
The electricity comes under the rear cowl, as already mentioned.
The positioning of the components was changed and the new places have been dimensioned.

The bolts must be welded

At the same time, a few more cable loops are made, where the cables stay neat and do not hang

Rear fender
I bought a GSXR rear fender which I think fits the style of the bike well and is bolt-on.
At the same time, it also protects a little from the rain, even I don't want to drive it in the rain, unless I really have to

BEFORE

AFTER

Rear brake light switch
I bought a new banjo bolt for the rear brake with a rear brake light switch.
The problem was that the new banjo is much longer than the original, so it caught the swingarm.

The foot pegs are moved slightly outwards, so there is enough room for the banjo bolt

Axle protection pieces
I bought axle protection pieces for the front and back. I don't think these have anything to do with protection, but it looks nice and more finished.

Speedometer sensor
A place was found for the sensor in the attachment point of the front fender and the magnet can be attached to the brake disc brackets.

Front fender
The cutting and grinding of the fender has been done for the last few days in the garage. The shape is starting to take shape.
The brackets are also almost ready and they are being cleaned up a bit more gracefully, but it seems like a functional package.

STARTING POINT

PROGRESSING

BRACKETS

What next?
The front fender and its brackets are finished, after which the bike is disassembled.
After this, hopefully the last welding will be done during April.

When the welding are done, we will assemble the bike one more time almost completely and make sure that everything has been taken into account and if any modifications need to be made.
Once this is confirmed, we get to the painting stage, so we are moving towards the end at a fast pace!

 

[Macce88]

1,5 years later... 10-year milestone reached!
It’s been a while since the last update, but the project hasn’t been forgotten.
On September 15, 2025, a milestone was reached — the project has now been ongoing for ten (10) years!!!

Over the past couple of months, the project has been actively worked on weekly, and I thought it was time to update the project log.

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TO DO before painting​

• Throttle and clutch cables
• Installation of control units and drilling of pass-through holes
• Mounting of side indicators and mirrors
• Modification of the front light fairing
• Construction of the rear cowl
• Design and implementation of emblems for the sides
• A few final welds

---

Rear cowl design and construction​

The base of the rear cowl has been attempted several times, and the goal is to make it out of metal.
I don’t have welding capabilities myself, so this part will be outsourced.

The model was designed using aluminum strips and tape to shape the fairing.
I don’t want the rear cowl to be spherical, but rather streamlined and compact.

The final model of the rear cowl was completed and will serve as a reference and guideline for the actual part.

---

Brake fluid reservoirs​

Placement and hose routing for the brake fluid have been planned, and everything is ready in that regard.

---

Front light fairing​

I bought a new V-Rod style front light with dark optics and LED version. It brings the bike into the modern era and gives the front end more of the desired "EVO" look.

The fairing will still be modified to fit better, provide some protection for the instrument cluster, and cover the wiring neatly.

---

Throttle grip​

The previously purchased throttle grip was a "China" model, which felt very cheap and low-quality.
I went and bought a Motion Pro throttle grip, which is more compact and significantly higher in quality.

---

Throttle and clutch cables​

These have been a bit of a struggle.

I built model cables and assumed that some custom shop or motorcycle service could solder the nipples onto the cable ends, making the process straightforward — but that wasn’t the case.
I couldn’t find a single place that still does this in Finland.

I searched for ready-made cables, but there was always an issue with either the nipple type or the total cable length, so no suitable pre-made cables were found.
I don’t want to use screw-on nipples at this stage, so I turned to Venhill in the UK.

A request has now been sent to them to build custom cables to the desired specifications, and I’m waiting for their response/confirmation.

---

Side panel emblems (maker plates)​

I’ve done the entire project together with my father, and I wanted our names and a personal touch to be visible on the bike.
I decided to design plates for the side panels.

The work started with making a suitable model out of cardboard, as always.

Then I used photo editing software and AI to create the base of the plate, and designed the texts and details with the editing software.

The plates will be laser-cut to size, and the texts will be engraved using laser engraving.

Additionally, a plate will be made for the upper triple clamp.

These are already in progress.

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Other small things​

Welding has been done, and a few small corrections will be made before all welding is considered complete.

A new regulator arrived, designed to be compatible with a lithium battery.

After completing the above tasks, the bike will be at a point where it can be disassembled completely, every bolt and nut bagged, parts sorted into boxes based on painting method, and painting can begin.
Most of the painting will be done by professionals to ensure the result is worthy of the project.

Using photo editing software and AI, a vision of the potential color scheme has been created, but the final decision is still pending.

NOTE! The design images below do not do justice to the final result, as reflections, color tones, and details are just rough edits and look like poor mockups.

---

What's next?​

Work continues, and progress is being made.
I’ve learned not to give estimated completion dates or deadlines anymore, but I do have one in mind — and I’m trying to stick to it.
It would be amazing to finish the project during its 10-year anniversary and finally enjoy the fruits of the labor.

I'll be back!

 

[loxley007]

Fantastic update!! Congratulations (!?!) on the 10 year anniversary!!!

 

[MarcinMMz]

Fantastic project! Big respect bro

 

[Macce88]

Fantastic update!! Congratulations (!?!) on the 10 year anniversary!!!

Thanks!
I'll try to keep updates coming now in every two-three weeks at least.

Fantastic project! Big respect bro

Thanks!

 

[Macce88]

Throttle and clutch cables are ready from Venhill in the UK. They were shipped today and are now on their way to Finland.
The total cost came to around €120, which is fairly reasonable — at least they’ll be proper quality (assuming my measurements are correct).

The bike will head to Parkano (northern part of area where I live) next Thursday, where a professional will make the rear cowl out of aluminum with hidden mounts.
That process should take about a week.

After that, we can start fitting the cables in place, modifying the front fairing, and making a few cable pass-throughs.
A friend also promised to weld the last couple of parts that same week, after which the bike should be ready to be stripped down completely and painting can begin.

Speaking of paint — I played around a bit more with AI and came up with much more realistic paint scheme ideas.
Below are a few examples that might give a small hint, but I’m not revealing the final decision just yet.

The project really seems to be moving forward — and it’s looking very likely that it’ll actually get finished!!

 

[Bo82CB]

I like bronze wheel setup the most, white wheel setup the least...

 

[Macce88]

I like bronze wheel setup the most, white wheel setup the least...

I have to agree with you It was pretty random try with AI and the photo with bronze wheels touched my soft spot hard.
Well we will see what is my final decision

White/silver wheels is also my least favorite because those seems to be like "detached from the bike".

 

[MarcinMMz]

Macce88 I've admire your project since I joined to this great Forum; that's really impressive! If I could chose the colour scheme I'd go with 3rd proposal I still keep my fingers crossed for your project!

 

[Macce88]

The bike has been taken to Parkano, where the rear cowl and its mounts are being made completely from scratch out of aluminum.

FedEx also delivered the cables made by Venhill.
Excellent in quality and, compared to my own "prototype versions," perfectly correct — can’t wait to test them once the bike is back in the garage (hopefully already next week).

(Pictures corrected)