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The 1962 Honda CB77 Super Hawk is famed motorcycle that is usually restored rather than reworked. But industrial designer Ian Duffy, of the Miami-based studio Imperial Design, went against the grain, handcrafting his own unique build. Duffy revamped the performance racer in his backyard shed, using a basic tool kit and working within a $2,000 budget. He shortened the frame, replaced older parts with reconditioned components such as Wiseco pistons and Dyna coils, sharpened the look with stainless steel spokes and Sava tires, installed ceramic-coated Honda CL77 pipes, added a CB160 headlight and fender, and fabricated many parts himself with the help of a mini lathe. Applying his design experience to this big personal project, Duffy made his own exhaust flanges, fiberglass and PVC tank, headlight ears, rearsets, steering tension, and triple tree. He then blackened the bike with a DIY powder-coating device and finished the metal components with a silver paint by Aston Martin. A truly contemporary cafe racer, the resulting bike is sharp as can be, powerful, and lightweight.
