Customs

The SOHC/4 bikes and engines found their way into use in many unusual ways.

CB750 Lawn Tractor

This CB750 lawn tractor can be seen and heard in this video on metacafe.

“This tractor started life in the early 60’s as a Pennsylvania Panzer Garden Tractor. This tractor was a very rugged design which included a narrowed Plymouth 5 bolt rear end, and a Kohler cast iron 8HP engine.

I rebuilt and lengthened the frame and hood, lowered the front end and modified the steering. I then installed the 750 engine and fabricated a header with a 4” collector. Gearing was accomplished with the trans on engine, and also a 4 speed Volvo Trans, giving it 20 gears. Top speed was nearly 100 mph. Very scary. This is an old video, hence the poor quality.”

The Cafe Racer motorcycle style started in early 1960’s London with an emphasis on lightweight motorcycles optimized for speed and handling. The distinctive style, based on early GP road racing bikes, generally featured low-mounted handlebars, swept-back pipes, and rear-set footpegs.

By the mid-1970’s, the Honda SOHC/4 engines had gained popularity as the power plant to a wide range of custom and manufactured cafe bikes. There are many sites which cover these bikes in great detail, this page is here as a reference to the SOHC/4 cafe bikes.

The Satanic Mechanic

Any mention of the SOHC/4 cafe bikes needs to start with the Satanic Mechanic. Axl Griessman, who tragically left us in 2009, started compiling a website covering all of the known sports and racing frames which were made for the CB750 engine. On his site, you will find detailed information on the following manufacturers.

In addition to a reference guide to this group of frame makers, the Satanic Mechanic site has a wealth of technical information focused on performance modifications which can be made to the SOHC/4 CB750 engine.

BikeBros

Bike Bros is a web publication from Japan. These are a just a few of the great SOHC/4 articles on the website.

• 1976 Bimota Honda HB1
• Honda CR750
• Again CB400Four

The SOHC/4 Cafe Bikes

There are a number of SOHC/4 owners who own custom and manufactured SOHC/4 based cafe bikes and have graciously provided photos. If you have questions on any of these, look up the member on our forums.

ANDY SMITH’S (WESTFIELDANDY) SEELEY CB750

SAM GREEN CR750
SANTA POD RACEWAY ON 17TH SEPTEMBER 2006

Dresda 900

This bike was built by Dave Degens in 1976. Proud owner: Eamon Maloney (UKCB750CAFERACERS)

Dresda CB500-4

North weald (UK) Classic Bike Drag Meet 17th July 2006 Spotted this excellent Dresda at the North Weald Classic Bike Show on Sunday. Spoke to the owner who has had it since 1986. It’s an early Dresda frame (numbered in the high 100′s) with a K2 500/4 engine (CB500E-21xxxxx), Alpha exhaust, Dymag wheels and Lockheed brakes. Some serious engineering by the owner. His 1/4 mile drag times were not so good due to a bit of bogging at take off so he didn’t bother recording them. Maybe next time…

Picture shows Eamon Maloney (UKCB750CAFERACERS) pondering the engineering while Jim Shea holds his orange drink!

Rickman CR750

A 1979 Rickman nickel plated frame with a CB750 F2 engine.

Race Bikes

The SOHC/4 Forums Performance and Racing board is a great resource for anyone interested in racing a single overhead cam four.

SOHC/4 Racing and Performance Articles

“Mann Makes it at Daytona”, Motorcyclist Magazine, June 1970

Performance Parts

Action Fours Catalog	This is a 1979 Action Fours catalog with products covering the Honda 500/550/750 and Kawasaki 650/900/1000.
Arias Forged Racing Pistons Job Card	This “Job Card” for CB750 pistons provides technical details as well as installation instructions for a batch of pistons made in 1998.
Arias Piston Installation Instructions	Installation instructions for Arias forged aluminum pistons.
Carillo connecting rods specifications.	A 2007 Carillo connecting rods specification sheet with torque values and wrist pin specs.
Crowerod Tag	A spec sheet for a set of rods made for the Honda CB750 by Cower Rod in 2008.
Dixon Racing Limited 1982 Catalog	The 1982 catalogue from British motorcycle tuning firm, Dixon Racing. This isn’t just a list of parts and prices, but a very informative booklet on motorcycle tuning.
Dixon Racing Limited 1982 price list	The price list is for Yoshimura parts sold by Dixon Racing and covers the CB750 and CB400F among other bikes.
Dyna S Electronic Ignition Installation Instructions	Dyna S Installation Instructions covering the DS1-1 for the Honda 350/400 and the DS1-2 for the 500/550/750.
Dynateck Dyna S Test	A how-to from Dyna describing diagnostic testing methods for the Dyna S electronic ignition.
Dyna Ignition Coil Installation	Installation instructions for Dyna ignition coils covering most applications.
Eckert CB500 and CB750 rear-sets	A line sheet for the rear-sets made by Roland Eckert Sportmotorrader of Kupferzell-Belzhag, Germany.
1977 Eckert German Price Sheet	1977 price list for parts and services for the CB750 and CB500 by Roland Eckert Sportmotorrader of Kupferzell-Belzhag, Germany.
1982 Roland Eckert Catalog	The Roland Eckert company catalog from 1982 (in German)
Gerex Ignition Instruction Sheet	Installation instructions for the Gerex Multifire ignition system.
Sudco Keihin CR-Special Carburetor Owner’s Manual	Technical information on jetting options for these carbs.
Keihin Troubleshooting Guide	Covers the FCR and CR Special Carburetors.
1974 MotoRademacher Catalog	MotoRademacher was a German company supplying general performance parts for the CB750.
Installation instructions for the Wiseco M Series pistons	2001
Wiseco Piston Ring Installation Instructions	for the Wiseco 4 cycle/auto rings.
Yoshimura Cam Settings	FOr the Yoshimura YH750-112-00 cam for the CB750.

Race Bike Gallery

DR TOM MARQUARDT’S CB550 AHMRA RACE BIKE

Members Race Bike Gallery