Automotive producers have been utilizing wooden of their vehicles for greater than a century. Within the twenties, complete automotive our bodies had been created from timber. Later wooden was used to adorn automotive exteriors and as we speak, timber is used solely for embellishing the interiors of primarily luxurious autos. In distinction, using timber in bike design and manufacturing was very short-lived.
The primary bike ever made, Gottlieb Daimler’s ‘Reitwagen’, used a steel-reinforced timber body however after that, wooden and the motorcycling world all however parted methods. The one exception to the rule is when a {custom} builder decides to attempt their hand at carpentry. As you’d anticipate the end result is usually lower than interesting, however occasionally, we see somebody pull it off with spectacular outcomes.
Customized bike builder Žiga Petek is the proprietor and operator of the Slovenian workshop Fuel and Retro. He gained his bike-building expertise working for one more European {custom} workshop for 13 years. Then 4 years in the past, after rising bored with their restrictive strategy, he went out on his personal.
Žiga works nearly completely alone, finishing most tasks unassisted except for the paint. Because of his steadfast work ethic and artistic aptitude he’s rapidly constructed a reputation for himself within the native scene. This has additionally meant that Žiga’s prospects are blissful to offer him inventive freedom with their beloved bikes, which is strictly how his timber tailed ‘Libertas’ Honda CB750 cafe racer got here to be.
“The Honda CB750 is a {custom} mission for my buyer, Martin Cvetko,” says Žiga. “He got here to me and requested if I’d construct a motorbike for him utilizing his CB750. At first, I used to be a bit confused as a result of the bike had already been closely custom-made. I felt maybe that it will be exhausting to attain one thing new!”
Fortunate for Martin, Žiga is an concepts man. So as soon as the Honda was parked in Fuel and Retro HQ, his inventive juices began to stream.
First issues first, Žiga gave himself a clean canvas to work on by stripping the CB750 totally down. Then whereas contemplating which styling course to take a full engine overhaul was undertaken. After opening up the inline-four it was handled to new valves, some head work and all new seals and bearings. The engine’s exterior then obtained an overhaul too. A brand new coat of black paint removes any signal of the bike’s earlier life and the inventory carbs have been fastidiously cleaned. To offer the bike a efficiency enhance DNA filters substitute the airbox and the carbs have been jetted to swimsuit. As for the 4-into-2 exhaust system, it’s a mix of the inventory headers, which have been re-chromed, and modified Spark mufflers.
With the brand new bodywork, Žiga has managed to considerably tighten the Honda’s proportions. The transformation kicked issues off with the fitment of a smaller CB500 gas tank. Becoming the five hundred tank to the 750 body meant reducing out the tank’s inventory tunnel. As a substitute is a custom-made model that sits the tank degree on the body to arrange a traditional cafe racer bone line. Together with offering a slimmer profile the brand new tank exposes extra of the CB’s iconic inline-four which makes the entire bike seem extra muscular. Additional enhancing the muscular look is a set of chunky Shinko Basic tyres.
Another excuse why this bike seems to be compact is because of Žiga’s therapy of the entrance and rear finish. Up entrance, he’s caught with bare styling. The rebuilt and polished forks put on a set of aggressive clip-on handlebars that are saved clear utilizing Motogadget switchgear and by working all the wiring internally. Žiga’s additionally added custom-made alloy caps to the tops of the forks and triple clamp to disguise any litter. The plastic-covered Honda gauges have been changed with a single Daytona Velona Speedometer and the headlight is a traditional aftermarket unit that’s been nestled deep between the forks. Whereas rewiring the bike Žiga additionally added tiny Motogadget indicators and hooked every little thing as much as a Motogadget M-unit controller.
As for the rear finish, that is the place issues get actually attention-grabbing.
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After shortening the inventory subframe Žiga has completed it utilizing a one-of-a-kind tail unit. Juxtaposing with the remainder of the bike’s traditional styling, the tail homes a Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 brake gentle meeting, however reasonably than becoming the sunshine’s unique plastic housing, the brand new model is made totally from oak.
“First I made the tail out of a single piece of steel then my good friend Blaz Sustarsic helped me 3D scan it,” says Žiga. Together with his take a look at piece digitised Žiga labored with Blaz to fine-tune its match and end. Once they had been proud of what that they had, it was lower from a block of stable oak utilizing Blaz’s CNC mill. The completed tail is a 3-piece building with the wooden on prime, 401 tail gentle within the center and an alloy plate beneath to seal the meeting and fix it to the body.
Including to the visible influence of the wood rear finish is Žiga’s alternative of color palette. The satin black scheme by Matej Mrzlikar is damaged up by delicate touches of brushed aluminium however the oak tail is the actual eye sweet. Lastly, a riveted black leather-based seat by Mitja Bizjak provides a contact of old-school sizzling rod type that’s completely suited to this brash construct.
Based on Žiga, he’s by no means been a fan of the Honda CB750. Nonetheless, because of how this mission turned out, his opinion has swayed, and it’s very simple to know why.
