Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125866
Red, silver and lots of g old make this the By Chuck Clayton Lyn Abrams is the proprietor of R ac e c r a ft e r s International in Ho llywood , Califo rn ia ("The Cafe Racer's Headq uart ers" ) and also the dude who designed and paid for what has to be the world 's ultimate road rasher. A blank check, a list of desired specifications and Lyn's stock '7 3 Honda 500 -4 were turned over to Bob Faniff with instructions to "d o you r th ing" a nd reckon not the cost . Many of t he special co mp o nents of the red and si Iver stre et-eater are off-t he-shelf accessor ies from the Racecrafter st ock, which helped keep th e final cost under five figures. Th e machi ne is an outstand ing advertisement for Lyn's business and really turn s the tootsies around when he cruises it down Sunset Strip on the way to t he solitu de and swervery of th e Hollywood Hills. Specifications Engine: Yoshimura 550 kit, Isle-of-Man cam , Yosh imura cyl inde r head polished, ported , big valves, valve spr ings, velocity stacks. Exhaust: Racecrafters 4-into-1 upswept megaphone with removable baffle. Fairing: Head-Titan full 3·p iece. Tank: Read-Titan St iletto 5-gallon in custom stainless steel with leather mounting strap. Seat: Racecrafters with built-in tail light and custom upholstery. T ickle Rearset pegs: Modified John Racing (England). Chainguard: Racec rafters Slimline aluminum . Side Covers: Machine-turned aluminum with aircraft fasteners. Hardware: Special aircraft alum inum fasteners and brackets throughout. I nstruments: Honda CR tachometer 4,000 t o 16,000 RPM. St ewart-Warner cylinder head temperature and oil pressure gaug es. Redes igned and relocated warn ing light panel (neutral, oil pressure , high beam). Custom alloy instru ment and switch pan el. Headlight : M ar c h a l Ampulu x quartz-Iodine. Rear struts: Ko ni. Forks : Ce r ian i with dual ca liper brackets. Brakes: Fro nt , milled Hond a dua l d iscs a nd CR master c ylinder. Rear , Hurs t ·A irhea rt dr illed d isc with dou ble-act ing caliper and Lockheed master cylinder. Wheels: Borran i alloy WM·2 front, WM-4 rear . Rear Hub: Barnes with quick-change sprocket . Tires : K-81 Du nlops , 4 .30x18 rear, 3.60 x19 fro nt. Handlebars: To maselli clip-on with stock Honda levers. Paint: Red, silver and gold leaf by " Crago." Construction : Built for Racecrafte rs by Bob Fan iff. • Instrument panel is well thought-out. features flip-up cover for ignitio n switch :Oual mirrors are for admiring road rasher image. Below : License plate had to be tr immed to tuck snugly under ta il light. Bottom left: Solo acco mmodati o ns disappoint the starlets who wish they could go for a ride. This is t he look that will make choppers old fash ioned .