The owner of this bike acquired it in 2007 and spent eleven years turning it into a tribute to the iconic Honda CR750 as a labor of love. Considering the amount of modifications done here it wouldn’t make much sense to spend time discussing a stock bike, so we’ll let the seller take it from here with his story:
“I had always been a fan of the early CB750 – OK, more than a fan, I was in love, but that’s another story for another day – but during the 90’s I started reading about the CR750 and decided it was the most beautiful race bike I ever saw. I collected articles and pictures, and bought the Tamiya 1/6 scale model of the bike. At some point I decided I would eventually build one for myself, and make it so it could be ridden on the street. In about 2005 I came upon a shop called Garage Company here in Los Angeles, and in the window was an actual CR750. Yoshi, the owner, was kind enough to let me take about a million pictures and actually sit on the bike. Well, that was like a drug dealer letting someone have a free heroin sample.
I started looking up the various businesses that made CR replica parts, making parts lists and drawings, and thinking of ways to raise the money for my project. The first thing I did – in 2007 – was to sell my excellent condition stock original ’75 CB750, thinking that would give me a good start in the funding department. Hah! I had no idea. As it turns out, the sale of the CB covered just the purchase (not the ceramic coating or installation) of the new exhaust system. In many years of riding motorcycles, going to motorcycle shows, and hanging around at places like The Rock Store in California, I’ve only seen one CR750 in person, and it was Yoshi’s. And it was strictly a race bike. I’ve seen custom bikes on the street that had one or two elements of the CR, like the bum-stop solo seat or the big gas tank, but I had a very specific picture of what I wanted.
My concept for the bike was this: Imagine that a Honda executive calls up the factory race shop and says “I want you to build me a road-going replica of the CR750 that Dick Mann rode to victory at Daytona, but do it in our classic factory racing paint scheme. Use high performance parts wherever possible. Make a custom wiring harness, use lathe-turned stainless hardware, trim off all the unnecessary brackets, add alloy rims and a second disc brake, and build up the engine. But make it civilized like a street bike. Keep the electric starter and the side stand. Use a cam and carburetors that will boost the midrange but still allow the bike to idle at a stop light. Integrate a headlight, make a custom taillight, and add some nice horns. Finish it to a very high level. And throw in some neat little custom touches, so when people come in for a closer look they’ll find nice details. And build just one.”
It took a long time, a lot of money, a lot of work, and the help of two incredible fabricators, Takashi Iwamoto of Cascade Café Racer, and “Kiyo” Kiyonaga of Kiyo’s Garage. With their deep knowledge of Honda motorcycles and their metalworking mastery, they made it look like Honda built it. The bike draws a lot of interest everywhere it goes, and it has won trophies at Willow Springs, El Camino, The British Ride at Hansen Dam, The Californian, and Venice Vintage.
The biggest thrills so far have been being invited by Jay Leno to do an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage and winning a Best In Show plaque at The Petersen Automotive Museum’s Breakfast Club Cruise-In. It’s been a labor of love to build and a blast to own, but time takes a toll on us, and now I have to move on.”
Manufactured in October 1972, this example is VIN: CB7502210461 (hard to read on the frame), Engine #: CB750E2211941. The seller has the original VIN tag which shows wear as well as a reproduction that will be included in the sale. The seller acquired it from a private party in Agoura Hills, California in 2007.
“The rebuilt speedo stopped working at 1,048 but there’s probably 3,500 miles.” True mileage is unknown.
“I had a total left knee replacement, and now it’s uncomfortable for me to ride.”
Maintenance:
“The engine, transmission, brakes, electrical system, and suspension have all been completely rebuilt.”
““The rear brake lever was shortened to accommodate the path of a brake cable, and there’s not enough leverage to really engage the brake. The speedo was rebuilt but does not operate correctly. The Motogadget keyless ignition was drawing current, so I bypassed it. It’s still on the bike.”
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection. Our service department notes the following on their condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: Ok
Engine Oil Level: Ok
Engine Oil Quality: Good
2T Oil Level: N/A
Coolant Level: N/A
Coolant Quality: N/A
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: Ok
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: Good, <1.5% Moisture
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Final Drive Condition: Ok
Headlight High Beam: N/A
Headlight Low Beam: Ok
Passing Light: N/A
Parking Light: N/A
Turn Signals: N/A
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light (Front Switch): Ok
Brake Light (Rear Switch): Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Horn: Ok
Kill Switch: Ok
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: +90%
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: +90%
Forks: Ok
Shock/s: Ok
Tire Date Code Front: 03/24
Tire Date Code Rear: 01/24
Tire % Remaining Front: +90%
Tire % Remaining Rear: +90%
Tire Press. Front: 29 PSI
Tire Press. Rear: 31 PSI
Battery Standing Voltage: 13.56V
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: 13.8V
Running Condition: Ok, runs on bench
Test Ride Completed: None taken
Test Ride Distance: N/A
Notes:
***No key – Switch Only***
-Drive chain is dry
-Horn is always powered
-Tach feeds inaccurately, appears to read higher RPM than actual
-Oil on RH bottom of fairing + engine
REPAIRS RECOMMENDED:
-Oil leak diagnostic + repair
Modifications:
“Here’s a partial list:
Wiseco 836 kit with high-compression pistons
Barnett clutch
Hidden battery cutoff switch
All engine machining done by American Performance Engineering
Shorai battery
Custom battery box below front of swingarm
All new bearings, seals, o-rings, and gaskets
Dyna ignition and 3 ohm coils
Custom wiring harness
New bronze valve guides
Crankshaft balanced to 12,000rpm
Stainless Kibblewhite valves Kibblewhite valve springs
Heavy-duty cylinder studs
New cam chain, primary chains, guides, and tensioners
Webcam #341 midrange cam from Dynoman
29mm Keihin CR carbs from CycleX, Turned aluminum velocity stacks.
Aluminum CR gas tank and oil tank from Meadspeed.
Rearset footpeg mounts from M3 Racing
Fork tubes from Frank’s Footpegs and levers from CBR900RR and CBR600RR
Custom shift linkage
Tomaselli clip-ons from Disco Volante, custom instrument faces, NOS Smiths oil pressure gauge, Pingel switches, MotionPro cables
NHK steering damper
Honda three row oil cooler
Keyless ignition switch from MotoGadget
Tank and fairing graphics from Simon Tappin
CR replica exhaust system from Simon Tappin
CR replica fairing, seat, and fender from Air Tech Windscreen from Gustafsson
Custom tail light Italian leather seat by The Upholstery Zone
Stainless hardware with lathe-turned bolt and screw heads
Custom stainless engine hangers
Rebuilt NOS aluminum-body Koni shocks
18-inch Excel aluminum rims and stainless spokes from Buchanan’s, additional front disc, Spiegler brake lines.”
We caught up with Vincent at the Californian (where he won an award) and asked him to talk us through his bike:
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Bridgestone Batllax BT46 tires with date codes of 0124 and 0324.
The sale includes a MotoGadget key but it has been bypassed for the ignition.
The sale also includes several awards.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album in the “Photos” tab for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
“Blemish on lower right side of fairing. Worn spot on rear left side of frame where brake cable touches frame. Small paint chips on left brake caliper mount.”
Currently located in Panorama City, California, (please make an appointment for an inspection) this Honda is offered on a clean California title with registration current through October 2026.
Have any CB/CR750 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
