Team CB's CB750F
Team CB's has been active in CB-F/R tuning since motorcycle customization became popular, and has applied many techniques, from engine to body, from the big stuff to the small details, to many CB-F/Rs at many different stages. What is noteworthy is that many of the bikes that were modified in those days are still in use today, and their shine has not faded. This bike is one such example. While some parts show its age, you can also feel that it is still running well. "Originally, the frame, engine and other parts were collected and assembled from scratch. The owner has been a Honda man since he got his license at the age of 16. He started with a Lead 90 (scooter), then moved up to bikes with gears with a CB250T, then a CBX400F, then a CB400FOUR and now this CB750F. The concept of the bike was to be easy to ride in all situations, from long tours and city riding to mountain passes and race tracks. We have created such a machine," said the late Mr. Ichimoto of Team CB's (interviewed in April 2023). Although the front forks and front and rear wheels have been changed, the basic construction of this bike remains the same as at the time of production 20 years ago. Hybrid Bros/VFR400R (NC30) front forks, laydown Ohlins rear shocks, Wheelie swingarm and Sunstar discs. The fact that there have been no major specification changes since it was built shows us that the bike was trouble-free and regularly serviced. The best kind of bike is one that will still be going strong, not only at the time of production, but also after time has passed.
We thought there must be another reason that this CB-F could be ridden for 20 years. As for that, Mr. Ichimoto said, "We make them so they don't break (laughs)." We asked for more details and he replied, "If you build the body properly, you can generally work on it from the exterior, and frankly, if you want to add anything, you can. You can also update the electrical parts, changing harnesses, ignition systems and so on. The engine is the one thing you don't want to break, so first of all, you have to think carefully about what specifications you want to make it to. If you want more power, you can't just increase the displacement and hope it doesn't break, you have to aim for a good compromise between power and durability. We don't usually increase the compression ratio or do surface grinding. We don't want to overwork it. In the case of this bike, we made it 823cc using Wiseco pistons, but that's good enough for the CB-F. We had a CB1100R that we increased from 1062cc to 1139cc, which is a little higher than the 1123cc that is generally thought of as the upper limit for CBs, but it wasn't for racing and we knew how it was going to be used, so we were able to choose that spec. It's good to just make it a bit faster while making sure it won't break. Nowadays, it's important to make bikes that won't break down." Team CB's has many years of racing experience and knows what to do to prevent the engine from blowing out, while at the same time they have been trying to find ways to supplement stock parts that are no longer available, such as journal wrapping on the crankshaft, and R-SHOT surface treatment on pistons, transmission systems and other sliding parts. They have taught us many points to make the engine less breakable from the assembling stage, such as countermeasures for the cam chain tensioner and so on. Having a solid outlook at the building stage is also the secret to a long life for the CB-F. This bike is one that has proven that.
Handle
The front view with the addition of a windshield and smaller turn signals. The front master cylinder mounted on Sansei Racing Clip-on Handlebars is a NISSIN Radial Pump.
Electrical
The meter, which shows the age of this bike, is stock CB-F, with the addition of a YOSHIMURA Digital Multimeter for oil temperature management. The steering stem is from a VFR400R.
Bodyworks
The exterior coloring, mainly red, is an original by CB's. The frame is also reinforced and finished in a similar red color.
Engine
The base engine is the CB750F's and has been fully overhauled and upgraded to 823cc with Wiseco Forged Pistons. The dynamometer is reinforced by Metal Gear Works (MGW), and the oil cooler is a round type by M&S to ensure cooling performance.
Intake & Exhaust
The carburetor is an FCR φ37mm with red funnels to match the body color. The exhaust system is CB's original Stainless Steel Megaphone Exhaust.
Chassis
The simply shaped step is a one-off item. The front sprocket cover with speedometer detection is made by Chase Motorcycle.
The front fork is a VFR400R (NC30) bottom case combined with a Bros φ41mm inner tube. The front brake is a Sunstar disc combined with calipers from another Honda model.
The front and rear wheels are 17-inch taken from a GSX-R (3.50/5.50 wide). The reinforced swingarm is by Wheelie and it is combined with Ohlins laydown shocks. The rear brakes are Honda stock calipers and Sunstar discs.
Gallery
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Specifications
| Part | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | WISECO Over Bore Piston Kit |
| Carb / Intake | KEIHIN FCR Carburetor |
| Exhaust | TEAM CB'S Stainless Steel Megaphone Exhaust |
| Frame | WHEELIE 7N01 Pentagonal Swingarm |
| Brake | NISSIN Radial Brake Master Cylinder Kit [Vertical Φ17 Radial Pump Brake Master] SUNSTAR Custom Type Front Disc Rotor |
| Suspension | OHLINS Rear Suspension Legend-Twin |
| Steps | TEAM CB'S Original Steps |
| Drive System | CHASE MOTORCYCLE Front Sprocket Cover |
| Handle / Steering | SANSEI RACING Clip-on Handlebars YOSHIMURA PRO-GRESS2 Multi-temp Meter |
| Oil Cooler | M&S Round Oil Cooler |
| Bodyworks | DAYTONA Aero Visor DAYTONA Blast Barrier/Aero Visor Series Exclusive Vehicle Bracket |
| Electrical | METAL GEAR WORKS Enhanced Generator Kit SP |
Original Source of this Article
Heritage & Legends