Bandida: Honda CBX750 Café Racer

Four-Cylinder CBX750F from Bob’s Garage…  

If you mention “CBX” among any group of bikers, most will imagine the massive six-cylinder CBX1000 that appeared in 1978. However, the Honda CBX750 (RC17), introduced in 1984, was another bearer of the storied CBX name — and a worthy one to boot! 

“The release of the CBX marked the end of 15 years of uninterrupted CB750/4 production, involving countless revisions, new engines and updates.” –Classic Motorbike

The CBX750 was developed from the CB750, but with a largely new DOHC 16-valve engine that incorporated a partial oil-in-frame design, hydraulic tappets, lightweight valves, hollow cams, and other technology for smaller dimensions and less reciprocating weight. The result was 93 horsepower and a quarter-mile time of 12.1 seconds at 111 mph.

The CBX750 was overshadowed by Honda’s own V4 Interceptor VF750, as well as the introduction of liquid-cooled race replicas like the Suzuki GSX-R series. However, for those of us who love air-cooling and carbs, the CBX750 was one of the last of a breed:

“The Honda CBX750F was probably the pinnacle of the air cooled four cylinder Honda 750… Fast forward and the CBX750F is still a model that lives in the shadows…” –Bennetts

To us, that sounds like the perfect donor for a ’70s CB750-inspired café racer, and we’re not the only ones. Recently, we heard from Roberto “Bob” Homem de Mello of Joinville, Brazil, who grew up in a two-wheeled family and worked as an industrial designer at many large companies — Mercedes, Sharp, Whirlpool, and more — before turning his small workshop into a business, Bob’s Garage Motorcycle Art.

“The obsession for details is the main guideline here. Form, function, colors, textures, lights are the elements used to improve the experience between rides and riders.”

In this case, the customer wanted a 70s-inspired Honda 750 café racer with some modern touches, so Bob picked up an ’89 CBX750F, the Brazilian version. As with many builds, the tank choice was paramount.

“As soon as we decided on the gas tank from the GB250, everything else followed its lines and proportions, so each piece would look as part of the same concept.”

Nicknamed “Bandida,” the bike is now rolling on 17-inch wheels, with shortened forks and a shortened rear subframe. The side panels, seat, and removable tail section are all handmade, as is the stainless steel silencer of the 4-into-1 exhaust. The lighting has been converted to LED, and the instruments are courtesy of a Honda CB500.

Bob estimates the bike is some 20 kg lighter than the standard version, and with around 100 bhp on tap, the bike is a joy to ride.

“The bike glides through the road…a real silky feeling. Very smooth with a real 4 cylinder heart.”

Below, we talk to Bob himself for the full details on this CBX750 café racer.

Honda CBX750F Café Racer: Builder Interview

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

Motorcycles were always a passion in our family. Heritage from our father. Since we were kids there was always two wheels around. I use to disassemble and reassemble everything just to see how things work… So I thought Engineering would be the career to choose. When I got to know about Industrial Design, there was no doubt left. In this field, I would be able to combine creativity, art, and technical knowledge exactly the way I imagined.

Even before graduation, I had the privilege to work for huge companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Sharp Electronics. After graduation I moved on as an Industrial designer for Sharp, and later on for Whirlpool Corporation. But I always had my small workshop where I fabricated a lot of stuff and tried every material and technique that I felt interested in. As soon as I dropped my last job as project manager inside the Engineering Department of a major local plastic pipes and fittings company, I decided to make my workshop a business. So Bob’s Garage Motorcycle ART was born.
The obsession for details is the main guideline here. Form, function, colors, textures, lights are the elements used to improve the experience between rides and riders.

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

Honda CBX750F 1989 (Brazilian version).

• Why was this bike built?

Out client always wanted to have a Custom Honda 750 in the café racer style. So we helped him to find a good donor bike and started the build.

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

The whole concept stemmed from the 70’s café racers built from the Honda CB750. As soon as we decided on the gas tank from the GB250, everything else followed its lines and proportions, so each piece would look as part of the same concept.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

– Shortened rear subframe.
– New gas tank installation
– Handmade seat and rear “cafe racer” removable tail
– Handmade side panels
– 17” wheels adapted from Ninja 9 (rear) and CBR450SR (front)
– 4 in 1 exhaust with handmade stainless steel slip-on muffler.
– Handmade rear LED taillight
– Shortened front fender
– Shortened front fork
– Installation of LED headlight and new instruments from Honda CB500

• Does the bike have a nickname?

“Bandida.”

• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?

About 100hp and estimated 20kg of weight reduction from the stock bike.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

The bike glides through the road…a real silky feeling. Very smooth with a real 4 cylinder heart.

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

I guess the rear section including the tail and the side panels gave a really exclusive feel, integrating perfectly with the gas tank design.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

We thank God…first and always. But also thank you to our client Marcelo Lonzetti for entrusting his dream to us. Thank you to Cleber Zermiani, my good friend and new workshop partner, and all our network of suppliers and collaborators… It was a pleasure and privilege to deliver this babe with your help.

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