Resurrecting the motorcycle of a lost friend…
In 1992, Honda introduced the CB400 Super Four (CB400SF), a 400cc sibling of the CB1000 Big One. Though it began as a Japan-only model, the CB400SF was later exported to Southeast Asia and Australia. The liquid-cooled inline-four was a revised version of the engine from the CB-1 (NC27), with 55 horsepower and VTECH variable valve timing technology from 1999 onwards. The Super Four remained in production all the way up until 2022 — a 30-year run.
While we only received these bikes as gray market imports in most of the northern hemisphere, there were enough of them on the UK roads that Motor Cycle News published a review.
“It’s a chunky, good-looking, well-equipped roadster that’s both novice-friendly, reasonably versatile and sporty, too… Don’t expect giant slaying performance. Cute, likeable, and fun…” –MCN
Indeed, the bike did look a bit like a miniaturized CB1000 Big One, and there’s something special about a small-displacement inline-four that harks back to Honda’s own CB400F of the 1970s.
This Super Four comes to us from Ritto Joeliando of Knuckle Whackjob Customwork, a workshop in South Tangerang, Indonesia, which mainly specializes in building scramblers. This build wouldn’t just be a departure in style for the workshop, but one very, very special project indeed.
Headman Ritto was contacted by an old friend and longtime member of the Indonesian custom community, Andika Gunawan, who’d bought the bike from the family of a friend who’d passed.
“This bike was already a Cafe Racer, but the owner passed away. His family didn’t want to sell this bike to anyone else, except those who knew and were close to him.”
The decision was made to rebuild the bike, resurrecting it in honor of their friend who was gone. The inspiration would come from Italy.
“The design and style of the Super Four cafe racer is taken from a bike designed by Arturo Magni, a legendary manager who led the MV Agusta Racing Team to 270 Grand Prix victories. This Honda CB references the MV Agusta Magni 750 Sport America.”
Knuckle Whackjob fabricator Dani hand-made the aluminum bodywork. It was painted blood-red in the style of the Sport America, with a special addition on the tail section. Doa Mama translates to “Mother’s Prayer.”
The bike was fitted with several performance enhancements: Keihin FCR 33 carbs, Suzuki GSX650 forks, dual disc front brakes, and more.
Initially, Andika chose to use one of Dani’s old mufflers, but Ritto offered to install an Akrapovič GP Series exhaust, so the power and sound are even better than before. Combined with the FCR carbs, this 400 has significantly more zip than the original.
Overall, this is one of the most striking 400 Super Fours we’ve seen, and one hell of a tribute to its previous owner.
“Overall, this bike is dedicated to a friend who has already left, so that it can still be remembered by his close friends who still exist in the Indonesian cafe racer world…”
We can think of no better way to honor and remember a lost friend. Hats off to Ritto, Andika, Dani, and photographer / writer Juri Wissekerke (@juriwissekerke) for keeping a friend’s memory alive in such a powerful way. This is what it’s all about…
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Knuckle Whackjob: @knucklewhackjob | @knuckle.partsupply
Photographer | Interviewee: Juri Wissekerke (@juriwissekerke)
Awesome stuff of Handmade ,2 thumb’s Up 👍
Cool bike, reminds me of the Read Titan Honda cafe racers from the 60s/70s.
Great build. Congratulations.
The OG CB400 had the world’s best looking exhaust system on it.
Superbe moto, bravo