Honda CB750 Cafe Racer Build | Rear End Rebuild & Shocks

The 1979 Honda CB750 Cafe Racer build continues, and we're finally starting to put the rear end of the bike back together. After stripping down the rear of the bike, this episode is all about getting the frame, engine and rear suspension cleaned up and ready for the next stage of the build.

I use an engine hoist to hang the bike while I work on it, remove the GSXR ignition barrel and spend far too long trying to decide exactly what sheen of black should be used on the engine and frame.

With everything cleaned up, the rearset mounts and swingarm get painted before being installed again. The shock absorbers go in next, followed by the rear wheel, giving us one of the first really good looks at how the finished bike is beginning to take shape.

There's also a look at a possible cafe racer style seat - although there's still plenty of work to do before the CB750 is anywhere near finished.

Getting the Honda CB750 Back Together

This is one of those stages of a custom motorcycle build where things finally start to feel like they're moving in the right direction.

The frame and engine have been stripped, cleaned and prepared, and now the swingarm, rearset mounts, shocks and rear wheel can start going back onto the bike.

It's still a long way from finished, but seeing the rear suspension and wheel installed again gives the project a much better sense of its final proportions.

Fifty Shades of Black

Choosing black for a motorcycle sounds simple until you actually start looking at paint finishes.

Gloss, satin, semi-gloss, matt - the difference can completely change how the frame and engine look together. In this episode I work through the options and try to find the right balance for the CB750 without making the whole bike look too shiny or too flat.

The Rear End Takes Shape

The swingarm and rearset mounts are cleaned up and painted before being fitted back onto the frame.

The shocks are then installed and the rear wheel goes back in, bringing the rear of the CB750 back to life.

There's also a first look at a possible cafe racer seat, giving us an early glimpse of the direction the finished bike could take.

This is an ongoing Honda CB750 Cafe Racer project from Tink Customs, documenting the build from the original motorcycle through fabrication, paint, mechanical work and final assembly.