Chris Kelland and Elijah Reese, the founders of Limey Bikes in Austin, are known for their expertise in maintaining, restoring, and customizing older Japanese and British motorcycles. While they occasionally build café racers, they prefer to take on more unique and fun projects. When a client approached them to turn their father’s 1974 Honda CB750 into a café racer, Chris and Elijah proposed an alternative idea: a Honda CB750 flat tracker.
The CB750 was not commonly used for café racers due to its weight and slower performance compared to other motorcycles of its time. Chris and Elijah saw an opportunity to create something different and exciting. They started the project by completely tearing down the bike and rebuilding it from scratch.
The motor was brought back to life with an 836 cc big bore kit, a new crank, and a milled head. The intake and exhausts were cleaned up, and the valves were upgraded with Kibblewhite parts and CNC-cut seats. The clutch was rebuilt with an EBC kit, and a row of Keihin CR29 carbs with K&N filters were installed. The bike also features a four-into-one stainless steel exhaust system from Delkevic in the UK.
In terms of the chassis, Chris and Elijah replaced the swingarm with one from Carpy’s Café Racers and added fresh piggyback shocks to the rear. The CB750 now rolls on 19″ Sun rims with stainless steel spokes from Buchanans, wrapped in Shinko flat track tires. The steering stem was refreshed with tapered roller bearings, and the top triple clamp was swapped for a CNC-machined item without speedo or ignition brackets.
For the bodywork, Limey Bikes ordered a full set of fiberglass parts from Airtech Streamlining. The kit included a fuel tank, tail unit, and an oil tank with an integrated inner rear fender. The Honda’s subframe was trimmed to accommodate the new rear section, and modifications were made to the oil tank and fender to ensure a perfect fit. The bike is also equipped with a handmade seat and stainless steel oil lines.
The Honda CB750 flat tracker boasts minimal accessories. It features a small headlight embedded in an enduro-style number board, with a taillight and license plate bracket tucked under the tail. Flat track-style fork protectors are also added to the front.
The livery of the bike is an inspired combination of blue, black, white, and gold, with OEM-style Honda branding. Most of the hard parts have been redone in black, while the engine showcases contrasting raw and black finishes.
Chris and Elijah are thrilled with the outcome of the project. They are proud to have created “the lightest, best-balanced CB750” they have ever ridden. Despite its age, the bike delivers a thrilling experience on the road. Both Chris and Elijah consider it their favorite CB build to date and admit that if they could have kept it, they would have.
The Honda CB750 flat tracker by Limey Bikes is a testament to their passion for creating unique and exciting motorcycles. With their expertise in customization and restoration, Chris and Elijah continue to leave their mark on the motorcycle industry while satisfying the desires of their clients.