Zero to Hero: Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

From Zero to Hero: Honda CB175 built from a junked chopper…

The Honda CB175, introduced in 1969, was based around an air-cooled parallel twin engine with dual carburetors and a 5-speed transmission. The bike offered 20 horsepower and a top speed of around 86 mph. For a number of influential motorcycling personalities, including David Edwards of Cycle World, the 175cc Honda CB was their first street bike.

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

Enter Meitha Tri Ardiyanto of Indonesia, who grew up in an engineering family. He bought the CB175 you see here as a junked chopper and brought to his father’s workshop, where he fabricates industrial parts. There, Meitha and his older brother hand-built the bike “from zero to hero.” We especially love the 2-tone paint scheme and hornetlike design of the tail section. Below, we get the full story on the build.

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer: In the Builder’s Words

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

I’m Meitha Tri Ardiyanto and I grew up in an engineer family. My father and my elder brother were expert engineers. My history with my motorcycle is I bought it from junk, so I built it from zero. I had to restore the engine first until it ran perfectly and then I customized the frame and the body.  My elder brother and I did it at my father’s workshop — my father has an industrial workshop to make parts for industrial machines.

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

• What is the make, model, and year of the bike?

My bike is Honda CB175, 1975.

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

• Why was this bike built?

This is my personal project that I bought from junk and I restored and customized it.

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

I just made a simple cafe racer with 2-tone paint and I made it by myself with my elder brother so it was handmade. I made the U pipe for the tail and little bit cut for the comsteer because it was a chopper custom when I bought it.

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

• How would you classify this bike?

Cafe racer

Honda CB175 Cafe Racer

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I was proud of the engine restoration and hornet design.

Follow the Builder on Instagram @meithatria

5 Comments

  1. johan bastian

    wow…awesome….i proud of you brother…..
    MONTOC MLETE…PEACE

  2. very nicely done. i like the two tone paint job scheme and the colors. nice looking tank and tail section. and i like the idea of the half cover over the triangle section of frame behind the engine and under the seat, that’s usually left open on a lot of custom cafer’s. half filling improves the flow of the bike styling.

  3. great job..a real cafe racer – finished from end to end like the RZ380

  4. Nate Soldan

    The only problem is this is not a CB175, it’s a CB200T.

  5. Meitha Tri A

    its cb175T engine brother but i use cb200 gastank because it is unique shape

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