1972 Honda CB500

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What was your intended objective when you started the build?

I wanted to build a cafe racer in the old school fashion, similar to the the race bikes of the sixties and seventies.

What motivated you to start your project?

This bike was immersed in a salt water flood in 1989.  It sat in a shed for about 25 years.  I brought it home and realized restoration to original would be next to impossible so I decided to build a cafe racer.

What was the most unique and creative thing you did to the bike?

The front fork and front wheel are from an early 70’s Suzuki GT750 (Water Buffalo).  I liked the idea of a 4 leading shoe drum brake rather than the original single disc brake.  Modifications were required to the wheel and forks as I used the Honda triple clamps which are narrower than the Suzuki’s.

What are you most proud of?

The overall stance and ridability and performance.  The engine has been modified extensively and now displaces 572 c.c.  It has a Web Cam, Wiseco 10:1 pistons, smooth bore carbs, Hindle exhaust etc.  It runs and handles quite well and is ridden regularly.

What do other people say about your motorcycle?

What year is it?  Great job!  Love the color.  COOOOOL!

5 Comments

  • Michael says:
    October 19, 2018 at 11:45 pm

    You did a fine job creating a thing of beauty from something that had been submerged in salt water. Since I do some custom work of my own, I know that modifying parts can be challenging. It can be like piecing a puzzle together.

    Great job in capturing the Cafe Racer spirit. It’s a ride to be proud of.

    Reply
  • Matt Wicinski says:
    March 8, 2019 at 11:27 pm

    Wow, fabulous job. Love the retro paint. One of the nicest cafe’s I have seen. That thing screams, “ride me!” Best of luck.

    Reply
  • Michiko Pallotta says:
    July 13, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    Glad I discovered this on google .

    Reply
  • Rulg says:
    February 25, 2023 at 5:08 am

    Excellent work…i wanted to find one of those 400 fours for a long time, but i gave up looking after a few years….the front end mods on your bike came out sweet, looks legit..
    one of my friend’s first bikes was a water buffalo…..can you imagine that?, like what are you thinking? he got in a crash of course. lucky int was in town and not at high speed…he got his fist broken bone that day….but he eventually got a new bike, and got it together…he’s a good rider now…

    Reply
  • anonymous says:
    December 6, 2025 at 7:38 am

    5

    Reply

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Submitted by: Ron P

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Specifics

Make, Model & Year: 1972 Honda CB500
Fondly known as: HRC Cafe
Time spent: 200
Motorcycle cost: Originally$850.00 in 1978
Money spent: About $7,000.00
Engine: CB500 stock cases and crankshaft . 572 c.c. big bore kit with Wiseco pistons, Web Cam and spring, Dyna ignition, All new bearings, cam chain, primary chain.
Intake: Keihin smooth bore carbs with special shortened K&N pattern filters.
Exhaust: Hindle performance exhaust 4 into 1, Ceramic coated.
Transmission: Stock Honda 5 speed transmission
Frame: Stock main frame loop with all excess tabs removed, rear seat loop added, additional front frame to engine brace. Custom tank and seat. Custom rear set footpegs, shifter, and brake pedal.
Suspension: Cal Fab aluminum swing arm as used by 1970’s Superbike racers.
Wheels, tires and brakes: Both wheels are 18″. Front is a 2.15 (WM3) width, rear is 3 inch width. They are shod with Pirelli Sport Demon tires. Rear brake is stock Honda. Rear shocks are YSS. Front wheel and fork are from a GT750 Suzuki (water buffalo) with 4 leading shoe drum brake.
Finish – Paint: Engine main cases,cylinder, and head are powder coated. Frame is powder coated. Wheel rims and hubs are powder coated. All brackets for footpegs, small parts are powder coated. Engine side cases, forks, brake backing plates, top triple clamp are polished. Paint on tank and seat are patterned after Honda’s 70’s race bike colors.
Accessories: The only “stock” parts on the entire bike are the main frame loop (heavily modified), the main engine castings (cases, head, cylinder and internals such as gearbox and crankshaft which have been rebuilt), the rear hub, and lower triple clamp. Everything is custom built or after market. Handle bars, fork brace and footpegs are Tarozzi, Swing arm is Cal Fab, pipe is Hindle, Speedo is a combo tach and GPS speedo with many features i.e. 1/4 mile ET, highest speed reached, multiple trip ODO.s, Shift light etc.

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