By the early 2000s Honda had diluted its once iconic CB series so much that any connection to the original CB750 was all but gone. Following suit with just about every other brand, the Japanese manufacturer had jumped on the naked bike trend that Ducati spearheaded with the Monster in 1993. By 2004 though the CBs had become yet another staid-looking, run-of-the-mill sport naked.
During the early thousands CBs had been subjected to a “little in the middle but got much back” design approach. This translated to a naked front end, a broad angular fuel tank that quickly thinned out in the midsection, and an oversized wasp-like tail that sat well over the rear wheel. Any link to retro or classic style was questionable and the look quickly dated. Recently, those bikes have earned a few admirers, but I do not share that sentiment. As it turns out, we’re not the only ones.
This custom 2004 Honda CB400 is the work of Indonesia’s custom bike powerhouse Katros Garage. Led by workshop frontman and founder Andi Akbar, Katros pumps out a steady run of unique custom projects each year and this little CB is one of their latest. Built for the bike’s current owner who had grown tired of the CB400’s sedate look, his request was to give the Honda a retro overhaul inspired by its iconic lineage.
The neo-retro build approach taken with this project saw the Katros team blending modern technology with classic styling. First and foremost the CB’s bodywork had to be completely revised. To achieve this they fabricated a whole new fuel tank from steel with a classic, smooth silhouette reminiscent of the original CB750. Following suit is the revised seat and tail unit that was once again shaped from steel. The slightly upswept cowl sits atop a modified subframe that tightens the bike’s proportions for a more compact look. Tying everything together is a custom headlight shroud that keeps things looking tidy up front thanks to inbuilt cable guides.
Adding to the long list of styling upgrades is a fresh set of side covers that bear Katros branding on machined aluminum inserts. Both fenders are one-offs with the rear running along the inside of the frame rails to keep grime off the Honda’s inline four. The bike’s mid controls have been replaced too with machined alloy rear sets and the handlebars with a lower set that emphasizes this Honda’s cafe racer vibe.
As for the lighting, Katros opted for a complete LED overhaul. At the pointy end, there’s a 7-inch Daymaker headlight, in the rear a dual-function LED strip, and the front-end turn signals are retro bullet-style items with LED internals.
Andi reports that the wheels presented the biggest challenge of this comprehensive build. Along with swapping out the cast rims for classic spoked hoops, his team had to massage a set of chunky Shinko SR777 tires into the swingarm. The extra work has clearly paid off as the fat wheels give this 400 a welcome muscular stance.
Big performance gains were never the focus of this project so upgrades have been limited to the intake and exhaust. Hanging from the re-tuned carbs are pod filters that allow the inline-four to breathe easily. The 4-into-2 exhaust is a bespoke system fabricated in-house by the Katros team that finishes with a pair of custom-made Katros mufflers.
The result of all this is hard work is a perfect execution of their brief. Katros has transformed the JDM CB400 into a stylish cafe racer that we’d happily throw a leg over.
