There was a time when we couldn’t open our inbox without seeing another custom Honda CB750. Honda’s revered four-cylinder UJM was one of the original darlings of the new-wave custom scene—and even though its popularity has waned somewhat, it’s still adored by customizers the world over.
This custom Honda CB750 is a testament to the Seven-Fifty’s enduring appeal. It comes from Maria Motorcycles in Portugal, and it’s dripping with the laid-back coastal style and vivid colors that the workshop is known for. And if you look closer, you’ll spot an assortment of modern upgrades too.
“This motorcycle was commissioned by one of our special clients who we had previously built a 125 cc bike for,” says shop boss Luis Correia. “He was a young man who had just started riding motorcycles, and now, years later, he contacted us to build him a bike with a larger engine that was also more daring and unique.”
Maria started with an extremely tidy 1993-model CB750 F2 donor. Thanks to its condition, and Honda’s legendary reliability, the engine needed nothing more than a quick once-over. The only significant engine work happened on the outside, where Maria cleaned and polished the covers for a better-than-new finish.
The OEM airbox was ditched in favor of not four, but two K&N filters. Each oval filter accommodates two carburetors, and each wears a chrome cap that perfectly complements the freshened-up engine. The burly four-into-four exhaust system is completely bespoke, and the perfect fit for the CB750’s hunk of an engine.
Under the hood, Maria ripped out all of the CB’s wiring and started over. A fresh wiring loom now runs off Motogadget’s ubiquitous Mo.unit controller, which helps to keep things clean and simple.
Luis and his team wanted to bring the 30-year-old CB750’s handling into the modern age, so they grafted on the entire front end from a Yamaha MT-09. The Yamaha’s upside-down forks, yokes, steering stem, brakes, and even its front fender, were all adapted to the Honda. Maria trimmed the fender to give it a more classic feel and upgraded the brakes with a pair of Brembo discs.
A set of Öhlins piggyback shocks sit out back, set up specifically for the bike’s owner. The 17” laced wheels are from Jonich in Italy and feature polished alloy rims, with modern Metzeler Roadtec Z6 tires.
Shifting their focus to the bodywork, Maria ditched everything but the Honda’s original fuel tank. “We decided that the original shape was good,” says Luis, “except for the attachment ‘wings’ for the side covers. We decided to remove them, resulting in a tank with cleaner and simpler lines.”
A CNC-machined fuel cap was retrofitted too, and new side covers were shaped from aluminum. Maria also fabricated a new battery box, license plate holder, and mounting points for a custom seat.
The stubby café racer-style seat was requested by the client. Maria shortened the subframe to match it, then finished it off with a slightly kicked-up rear loop. Beige suede might seem like an odd choice for a motorcycle seat, but there’s no denying how well it picks up the subtle gold highlights in the CB’s new livery.
The paint job even extends to the headlight; an up-cycled Harley-Davidson part. Behind it, the cockpit is dressed with new handlebars, and an assortment of Motogadget bits that include the speedo, grips, and mirrors. The ignition has been relocated to the side of the bike, and tiny Motogadget LED turn signals sit sneakily at both ends.
Maria has nicknamed the bike ‘Cobalto’ (the Portuguese word for Cobalt) as a nod to its blue base coat. We’re not quite sure if we’d call this a bobbed café racer or a beach-cruising street tracker. But one thing we do know is that it sure looks like it would be fun to ride—especially with the sun on your face and the salty smell of the Atlantic in the air.
Maria Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Manuel Portugal
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