1981 Honda CB900F

What was your intended objective when you started the build?

Initially, I was thinking of a simple cafe conversion. Then, slowly it transformed into a full blown, tear down creation. Every nut and bolt is new, refurbished and/or modified in some way.

What motivated you to start your project?

I’ve done wheel and fork swaps previously and wanted to do a full build.
I saw a super clean CB900F build, online, where it had been stripped down with modern wheels suspension. So I started looking for a suitable donor vehicle. One popped up on E-bay and happened to be only about 30 miles away. A 1981 CB900f w/appx 23k miles. I knew I wanted to go with USD forks and a single shock swing arm. Initially I started out what I thought would be fairly straight forward CAFE conversion..

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

I would say both the headlight bracket and Fender bracket. Both are hand bent and welded up. The headlight bracket is steel whereas the fender bracket is aluminum and each are made up of 6 different pieces.

What are you most proud of?

Besides the overall project, I would have to say the fuel tank. I never worked with sheet metal before. I had to take 2 fuel tanks and fused them together and make sure it didn’t leak. I took a 90’s CB400F , cut out the bottom grafted in an ’81 tank bottom.

What do other people say about your motorcycle?

Love the execution. Just a super clean package.

4 Comments

N. L. Grinnell says:

June 27, 2019 at 2:52 pm

A great reconditioned 1981 Honda CB900F.
Super clean with big performance add-ons.
A clear-cut choice to take to the track.
Definitely worth the money.

Reply
R. Dunk says:

June 27, 2019 at 3:05 pm

Love the header and headlight on this build, great color highlights all over

Reply
Julie D says:

June 27, 2019 at 5:33 pm

It looks like there had to be a lot of time and fabrication put into this project. Great color combination, well put together for a beautiful final machine.

Reply
Aaron Lopas says:

April 17, 2020 at 5:51 pm

Very very nice build – it all hangs together very well – lots of time was slent to a great end – congrats, enjoy

Reply

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Submitted by: James B

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Specifics

Make, Model & Year: 1981 Honda CB900F

Fondly known as: Tokyo Nights

Time spent: 500

Motorcycle cost: 1100

Money spent: 10000

Engine: Street ported head with hand lapped valves New Forseti Racing camshaft chains The crankshaft was lightened and balanced by the team at APE Racing in Rosamond Ca 1mm over pistons Enlarged oil pick-up R6 starter sprag conversion CBR600 permanent magnet alternator conversion

Intake: Mikuni RS34 with spacing kit from Mikuni OZ

Exhaust: Delkevic 4 to 1 header with a Yoshimura RS3 Titanium muffler

Transmission: Stock 5-speed

Frame: OE Honda frame • Reinforced rear loop with shock mounts added Reinforced backbone Hangers added for rear sets Subframe mount added Modified Ducati Monster sub-frame

Suspension: • Ergal Billet lower triple clamp with stretched yoke • Modified CBR1000 upper triple Showa forks (ZX-10R) Triumph 675R swingarm Triumph 675R Ohlins TTX shock Adjustable shock linkage

Wheels, tires and brakes: Aprilia/Brembo 17″ wheels 120/70ZR17 180/55ZR17 Continental Conti Motion EBC front rotors, Nissin caliper with a Brembo, RCS19 Corsa Corta, front master cylinder

Finish – Paint: Painted all components my self. Main Frame was powder coated Matte metallic vinyl stripes are on the tank.

Accessories: Motogadet m.unit blue-Keyless Go Full Dyna 2000 ingnition and coils Rizoma grips, turn signals and reservoirs Matching Brembo HPK clutch perch CNC rear sets Aftermarket Oil cooler with custom 8AN lines and adapters 6AN fuel lines with a dry-break quick disconnect All engine cover fasteners- hand turned tapered head stainless bolts Majority of all other fasteners are Titanium Honda Reg/Rect mounted under fuel tank Lithium battery mounted under tail seat