That’s pretty much what we’ve got going on here with this Smoke Out 18 Honda CB750 chopper that was once a staple of the chopper world. Back when it was new over 45-years ago so like it or not, it’s a modern Old School build in the true spirit of the times. I will admit that most of the (mildly) chopperized bikes of the day I saw were someone’s Harley, Triumph and a dare to be different four-cylinder CB750 with a disc brake of all things. I say “mildly” chopperized as modifications on any bike usually consisted of longer fork tubes, apes, sissy bar, custom seat and a crazy and loud exhaust. Topping it off if an owner still had any money leftover would be spent on a cheesy paintjob that nobody would pay a cent for today. 

   In other words, if I came across a CBN750 chopper as nicely designed and built as this one I would have been shocked. Someone who built this bike (yeah, we have no idea who owns it) really had their ship together or they unbelievably just ran into the right parts to make a chopper with a dedicated bad ass look to it. I’m going with the former as nobody’s that ignorantly lucky. Three’s definitely a retro feel to it, but it doesn’t feel dated or antique in spirit. Like any bike that I really like, it makes me want to hop and hooligan it up and get up the next day and do it again.   

   I think it’s safe to assume this was a garage build, but that’s not a slam in any way. This bike looks very well built and the approach taken to make this come out so nicely took a good eye and a lot of skill. It also took a bit of time finding the right stuff so it doesn’t end up looking like a bad hodgepodge of dissimilar parts trying to work together. 

   The centerpiece of this build that looks as fresh as a daisy for a 45-year-old engine most assuredly didn’t look like this before the build. It was probably some skanky old piece that had spent years sitting out behind someone’s shed before getting scooped up for a pittance and dragged home. Now it’s a pip of a four with the all aluminum engine looking clean, but not overdone. The only major change to it was replacing the original bank of four carbs with dual intake manifolds leading to one carb each. Certainly lends a bit of airiness by removing the huge plastic air box and replacing it with two oval pod air filters. 

 There are some other engine changes like the exposed dynamo and the deletion of what really made a Honda a Honda. The electric starter is MIA and that makes for a nice weight reduction as well as even more analog simplicity. Nobody should have trouble kick starting this thing as one of those four little cylinders has got to fire. Plus no custom exhaust was needed as the stock headers were cut to size and any kind of muffling is no where to be found. That sure removes a lot of weight too. 

   I doubt this frame was made for a CB750 as it looks too damn good with proper proportions and sleek lines for a V-twin, but fit the inline four to a tee. It’s probably just somebody’s V-twin roller project that stayed a back-of-the-garage dream before getting Honda-ized. The pleasantly fat and usable spoked rear wheel looks lovely and it’s got the only brake in town. And, it’s got a Harley caliper sandwiched into the rigid rear end tubes that makes me think all the more this was a failed Harley project. Apparently one man’s misfortune is another man’s good luck. 

   Up front there appears to be a Harley-Davidson fork doing suspension duty as well. Nothing special, just beefy and very clean looking and I like that look. And, it’s not sitting at some crazy rake for shock and awe, but somewhat conservatively for good looks and handling. The 23-inch spoked wheel adds a nice modern touch without looking out of place although the cool looking knobby tire might be of dubious benefit out on the open road. I remember when the only 23-inch front tires available were dirt bike tires so maybe this is an ode to that or someone’s a dirt biker and it all makes sense to them. Maybe they just had it lying around next to a dirt bike in the garage? Who knows? And most important of all, who cares? It looks cool. 

   It’d be no surprise to think that the nicely formed fuel tank was part of the deal along with the rear fender too. They fit the build well and streamline the look making the wide four-cylinder even more noticeable. Like a Harley-Davidson, the CB750 has an external oil tank and the chromed oval unit here looks purposely classic. A set of motocross-style braced bars adds to the dirt bike look as well as the off-road lamp now repurposed as the headlight.

All in all, the stance the builder went for is close to perfect regardless of what powers it. 

   I’ve never been big on the camo thing whether it’s clothes or paintjobs, but I gotta say this bike wears it well. Maybe it’s the surprising addition of the unexpected racing stripe that takes it out of the usual blah league for me. Or maybe it’s how the black stripe ties into the frame, I don’t know, but this bike looks surprisingly smart as it is. My only bitch would be the brutal seat and you can be sure that’s one hurting perch. Too bad as a set of seat shocks are cheap, easily hide able and oh so comfortable. 

  But hey, things can be changed in that garage from whence it came and I hope the builder does it for their own good as that’s about the only thing I can think of that would keep this bike from being a wicked fun blat-around-town ride. But, given the chance I’d give it a go in a second just to see what daring to be different is like.