Honda CB750 ‘Mr Hyde’ by Classified Moto

Words by Martin Hodgson.

Custom motorcycles often leave an audience profoundly polarised, while some lavish praise others ridicule and scoff. It seems the further from sedate you go the more divided the opinion, but designers like Terblanche and Tamburini have shown that is not always true and great custom builders can do the same. Create amazing one off motorcycles that receive almost universal acclaim, are anything but bland and always show off that signature style that lets you know the brains behind the build. Enter John Ryland, Classified Moto and a Honda CB750 known as Mr Hyde.

I always eagerly anticipate a new build from the Richmond, Virginia based workshop and this 1992 Honda CB750 Nighthawk certainly doesn’t disappoint. Customer Jordan had seen a pre-Nighthawk CB750 build of Classifieds called the SuperStrada and wanted something in the same vein. The first thing that hits you in the eyes is the single sided swingarm and this is certainly no bolt on conversion. While the Ducati Multistrada swingarm remains stock the Honda frame required considerable fabrication and welding expertise from Seth and Danik to get the two working in harmony. The Showa shock originally fitted to the Ducati remains in place while just like SuperStrada the rear wheel is from a Ducati 1098.

The front end is equally as accomplished and it’s rare to see a Classified build that doesn’t feature a variation of an USD fork, Mr Hyde is no exception. Donating its forks, lower clamp and front wheel is a late model Yamaha YZF-R6R that brings handling well and truly into the 21st century. Finishing the conversion is Classifieds very own billet aluminium upper triple clamp. With the R6 also kindly donating its controls the front of the bike was nearly complete. But never ones to dodge a challenge the decision was made to bring even the speedo into the 21st century, no dials here as an iPhone mount was carefully CNC’d and a GPS based speedo app takes care of the display. Adding function to the perfected form is a 12v accessory port to keep the iPhones battery at full charge.

At this stage of the build Mr Hyde appears to be quite similar to the bike that inspired it, the SuperStrada. But Jordan had a request, occasionally he wanted to be able to ride his custom “two up”. So unlike the last CB750 build upholsterer Roy Baird shaped the rear of the seat to accommodate a second person and no metal fairing was added. What makes this addition to the build truly exceptional is the set of passenger pegs that sit below the swingarm; Want to ride solo and remove the sight of the second set of pegs? Easy, they’re removable!

While many will automatically assume the fuel tank is simply a Classified Moto’s bare version of an earlier CB750 it is actually from a CB450T Hawk. Matched with the handmade seat, the tanks proportions work perfectly with the later model Honda, both merging at the halfway mark of the frame giving a visually satisfying balance to this urban brawler. It’s these touches that make John such an incredible designer and when the bike makes its growl from a sweet four-into-one stainless exhaust fabricated by Seth you can start to see why the Classified Moto team have taken the motorcycle world by storm and have celebrities knocking on their door.

Now with the Honda in Jordan’s hands, the malevolent Mr Hyde is free to take to the Jersey jungle and do all the things so many of us wish we could do on a Classified Moto build; Hold it open and hang on!

[Photography by Adam Ewing]

via PIPEBURN

SOLO UNA LUNA HL SPEEDY 500

Though we’re not there yet, might there will be a time where the world has one universal currency? Skipping over Bitcoin, which is a struggle for those without electricity, never mind a computer, there’s still one ubiquitous leveler which speaks to many as legal tender. Good old moonshine, distilled by the light of our friendly celestial orb. Be it deep in the woods of North Carolina or out in the Mongolian Steppe, if you want to strike a deal, your best bet is to crack open the good stuff. The local brew in Hungary is catchily called Házipálinka and some claim it’s about the best you’ll find. Feel free to argue that one out amongst yourselves…

For Zoltán Szabó though, the moon has a different connotation. Sola Una Luna; One Moon. It’s the mantra, the inspiration and the name of his company. Based out of Csongrád in the south east of Hungary, perhaps a swig or two of Házipálinka helped in the building of his latest, the HL Speedy 500. As with all his builds Zoltán ensures the bike has a duplicity, a blending of the new and the old. And for this Kawasaki the idea was to create something that would prowl the city streets, “a real night stalker, with many unique parts”.

Rolling right out of 1980, the Kawasaki Z500 donor is as UJM as it gets, the perfect base to inject a little character into. Broken down into piles of keep, chuck and refurb, the latter pile was rapidly growing. Imperfections were to be maintained in choice parts, but mechanically the fully rebuilt machine is tickety-boo. It’s worth noting that all the custom parts were made in an entirely analogue way. No CNC here, just Zoltán and some hand tools, the great finish speaks to the hours of fettling that have gone into the bike.

The frame was cut about as little as possible, just small adjustments to the rear end to maintain flow ‘tween tank and tail. An adopted Suzuki GS550 tank is now in place of the original Kawasaki item, which was a little too far gone to recover. Stripped and buffed back, it was left with flaws and faults to be seen under the glass-deep layer of lacquer. Zoltán hand crafted the tail piece, beautifully judged, the lines rising to draw that imaginary line through the seat, then up and over the tank. Bridged by the hand sewn seat, leather appropriated from an aged chair, the natural wear and tear compliments those marks in the metal.

It’s always nice to see the rear triangle be put to use with a bit of creative flair. While the open look can reduce the visual weight of a bike, it is a bit of a blank canvas in terms of artistic opportunity. For the Speedy, the Oriental origins have been captured in a subtle rising sun motif behind which the bulk of the electrics now lie. There’s a curvature to the aluminium side covers enhancing the lean look of the bike. The front mudguard is home grown; a well used piece from a classic Danuvia, cut down to hug the front 7-spoke, keeping crud off the satin headers.

Mechanically the triple discs, reliable DOHC 4-cylinder powerplant and Featherbed style frame work in harmony as Kawasaki intended. Stripped, serviced and shining from a thorough clean and polish, they now have the gleam to match the go. Sometimes there is no need to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, the sticky rubber, and freshly serviced chassis parts likely offering a far better riding experience than a mismatched collection of tired Ebay finds. The 4 into 1 system coupled to a shorty megaphone lets the Z500 sing to 9000rpm; that ought to shake a few alarms at night.

After final assembly, fuel tap turned, ignition flicked on, she fired right up. The fresh tyres found grip on the blacktop right away and fuel was eagerly guzzled. Prowling the streets of Csongrád under the moonlight, I’ll raise a glass to that.

There are plenty more in depth build photos on Zoltán’s site; check it out.

via The Bike Shed

Cars we love: Citroën DS

Much has been written about the Citroën DS, such was its impact on not just the motor trade, but society in general. From philosophers to presidents, the Gendarmerie to the humble cabbie, it was the car to have, and for very good reason…

Back to the future

It’s October 1955 and Paris motor show-goers have just been treated to a glimpse of the future, thanks to Citroën's avant-garde, stylish and positively wacky Déesse. The Goddess (in English) was justifiably irresistable, and the orders flooded in quicker than they could be recorded.

If Flaminio Bertoni’s space age design was radical, André Lefèbvre’s engineering must have seemed out of this world. Teeming with technology, the DS essentially rewrote the rulebook. It had powered disc brakes up front (the first production car to do so), swivelling directional headlights (on post-1967 models), and hydraulically powered everything, from the brakes to the clutch to the semi-auto ’box. Oh, and that self-levelling suspension, of course; a system so good that it helped win Citroën the Monte Carlo rally twice, and has only just this year been discontinued from the current range. In short, the DS had no real rivals. Well, not for 20 years at least.

In fact it was so advanced, so ahead of its time, that Citroën feared any other car it produced would be inferior and tarnish the brand’s name, then so famed for its innovation. The answer was simple: no others were built. Success was long enjoyed, and some 1.4 million D-Series cars were produced in myriad varieties between 1955 and 1975. 

Cause for celebration

Chapron’s drop-top ‘Décapotables’ are luxury and style of the highest order, though any DS, be it a Pallas, Prestige or Safari estate, is still capable of craning necks (as we found out for ourselves a few years back in London). There’s just something about these cars that’s still so intriguing today. And what with the 60^th anniversary of the DS being marked in 2015 with a number of events, including a special celebration at the inaugural London Classic Car Show in January, expect interest in this French icon to swell. 

Time to plunder Monaco’s Hotel de Paris

Monarchs, world leaders and the international jet set have been wishing each other ‘bonne nuit’ at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo since 1863. Now, with the hotel on Place du Casino about to undergo comprehensive modernisation, various relics are set to go under the hammer…

At the end of January, Artcurial will sell off more than 3,000 collectables from the famous hotel at its auction in Monaco, offering a unique opportunity to acquire some items that helped to attract the world’s elite. How about waking up in a bed Winston Churchill once slept in, slipping into a bathrobe made from Egyptian cotton, and pouring freshly brewed coffee into an original cup from the hotel? If this excites you as much as it does us, circle the 25 January 2015 in your calendar – no advance booking required...

French Riviera style for your home

You might suppose that these lots come with Monegasque price expectations attached, but a glance at the catalogue could surprise you: for example, a sofa and two chairs in Louis XV style from the Sarah Bernhardt suite are estimated at €600-800, while all beds are expected to command just €400-600. The furniture, rare pictures and photos that once adorned the hotel walls are also being offered. It’s a shame they can’t speak of the scenes they’ve witnessed over the years, but they’ll certainly bring a little French Riviera style to your home.

Photos: Getty / Artcurial

All lots from Artcurial's Hotel de Paris auction can be found at www.artcurial.com.