Restomod Roadster: Honda CB750 “Hanashi”

“Hanashi (History) in the present.” –Cafeina Motorcycles

The Honda CB750 remains one of the most iconic, influential, and beloved motorcycles in history. Today, it may not seem like such a revolutionary bike, but that’s only because it shaped so much of the future of sporting motorcycles in its own image. Hailed as the “Original Superbike,” the CB750 was the first mass-production bike with four cylinders, a disc brake, and electric start.

“What Honda did in 1969 was so far removed from what anyone else was selling, it’s impossible to comprehend. The CB750 had twice as many cylinders as any motorcycle on sale, made 50 per cent more power, had a starting procedure that didn’t involve kicking or tickling, brakes that worked, reliability that other manufacturers couldn’t even dream of and all for the price of a lashed-up, warmed-over, vibrating British nightmare that should have been put out to pasture ten years earlier.” —Bennetts

Enter Luis Martins of Lisbon’s Cafeina Motorcycles, who’s been in love with motorcycle ever since he was a kid. He started as a workshop apprentice and worked his way up the ladder, coming to own a Suzuki dealership / workshop and race professionally in several different series and disciplines — supermoto, enduro, and road racing, bringing home a title in a Stock 1000 superbike series.

In 2015, it was time for a change of pace, and he started Cafeina Motorcycles to build custom motorcycles, which have been displayed in some of our favorite events and shows, including Bike Shed London and Wheels and Waves.

Today, we’re thrilled to feature his workshop’s 1978 Honda CB750 Four K8 “Hanashi” (History) — a resto-modded roadster that manages to retain the vintage charisma of the original superbike while bringing the performance and aesthetics into the 21st century.

Below, Luis gives us the full story on this fast and elegant 750 Four, and we have Nelson Oliveira (@smashmotobros) to thank for the gorgeous photos.

Builder Interview

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

I own motorcycles and a workshop. To summarize over 45 years of actual stories with and on motorcycles:

I was a kid in love with motorcycles, with a desire to be a motorcycle rider. I started as a workshop boy — “sorcerer’s” apprentice. As a young man, received specialized training in the two-wheel sector with the main brands present in the market. In 1997, I became an entrepreneur: LuisTuning — Suzuki dealer/workshop and representative of other brands.

As a rider, after having competed in MX and TT races in a more amateur way, I went pro with Team LuisTuning (12 years active). Won a title in Promo Cup “Stock 1000” category and raced in the following series:

National Speed Championship: 125cc, 450cc, 750cc, 1000cc
National Championship Resistance: 750cc, 1000cc
National Supermoto Championship
National Enduro Championship
TT National Championship
European Championship Supermono UEM
Spanish Speed Championship: 450GP

I have stories, many, but the best are the people I had the pleasure of meeting and sharing knowledge with. Evolving with the best. Common passions! The pleasure of overcoming challenges.

In 2015, I registered the name Cafeina Motorcycles. Change of facilities, life, rhythm… Our 2018 Freewind Cafeina 6.5 + “Do It Yourself” Kit saw the light of day. Bike Shed London, Cafe Racer Festival Paris, Wheels and Waves Biarritz, Arruda Motorcycle Market, Setubal Custom Weekend, etc.

• What’s the make/model/year of the donor bike?

Honda CB750 Four K8 from 1978.

Honda CB750 “HANASHI” — In the Builder’s Words

The CB750 has an unquestionable presence in the history of motorcycling at a global level. A relatively restricted set of bikes have managed to mark decades, and the CB750 Four is one of those Queens.

It was a produced over a period of almost a full decade, from K0 mid-1969 to K8, respectively 1978. Young and less young, many dreamed of owning and riding this bike. About 400 thousand units produced in its various series, recognized anywhere in the world. This unit, coming from the Cafeina Motorcycles workshop, forces us to go back to the dream and write another chapter of history.

Without losing the original identity, respect for historical grandeur, the update offered is simply extraordinary. There are more than 50 years of design here reviewed in a captivating and time-consuming result, but even better are the sensations provoked when riding the bike!

At the front, the inverted suspension is shorter than the original, which makes the steering angle more incisive when heading into any curve, without hesitation and with precision. The bike comes with modern braking, 2 x 320mm discs and a radial pump on four-piston calipers. Low and wide handlebars, guaranteed effectiveness.

In the rear, the swingarm “grew” when the front wheel approached the center of mass. The bike gained agility, and with the 180 tire mounted on the rear rim, the rider can twist the handle fearlessly and securely at the same time. The mono central shock absorber replaces the pair that were set in the original swingarm — not at all recommendable, as is known. This new aluminum unit is firm, secure, and the new rear shock allows a wide range of adjustment. Result: TOP!

The engine, rebuilt as an almost mandatory rule, boasts a 4-into-1 exhaust, with megaphone style muffcer as so many owners desired at the time. Here the style makes history again — another piece of history mounted on Hanashi!

The color is not black. Live and in direct light, you can see the strong brown metallic in the gold. The same gilding was added to a series of key pieces as well. Pleasure to the eyes, tranquility in the dream.

Classic, superb quality, simply beautiful. Hanashi (history) in the present.

-Luis Martins, Cafeina Motorcycles

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Photographer: Nelson Oliveira from SmashMotoBros (@smashmotobros)