The Honda CB400F Goldie will truly leave you speechless with its custom tracker styling
Over the past decade, custom motorcycle rallies around the world have seen a remarkable resurgence in popularity. This is especially true in the United States, where events like The One Show, Mama Tried and The Handbuilt Show have become calendar staples. They bring together regular aficionados and professional builders under one roof, grouped a few months apart.
Photo: Innovative motor sports
For dedicated fans of custom motorcycles, this jam-packed schedule offers plenty of two-wheeled eye candy to drool over. However, this represents a real challenge for builders: how to stand out in an increasingly crowded landscape with large projects at every stage. However, among the vast choice of impressive bikes, some will always manage to stand out from the rest.
One such specimen (aka Goldie) can be seen in the photo gallery above – a Honda CB400F revealed at Mama Tried in 2018. It’s the work of Shawn Smith, who runs Innovative Motosports (IM) in Ankeny, Iowa and is never afraid to push the limits. Although Shawn’s day job is related to the tech industry, you’ll regularly see him engaging in custom projects outside of normal hours, operating as a one-man business.
The stunning CB400F we’re about to review was in terrible condition prior to its transformation, as the previous owner had left it to bake in the Arizona sun for an extended period of time. Undeterred by its neglected state, Shawn sought to give it another chance at life with visual cues taken from Kaz Yoshima’s legendary CB400 race bikes. With meticulous attention to detail, IM’s solo mastermind has created something that would make Yoshima-san proud.
First, the 1975 model Honda CB400F was placed on the workbench and completely disassembled. Next, Shawn got the ball rolling with a complete rebuild of his inline-four engine, which saw it bumped up to 466cc. The engine also gained a Stage Two ported cylinder head, while its valve springs were replaced with Kibblewhite items.
Photo: Innovative motor sports
A lightened crankshaft and new connecting rods are also present, along with an aftermarket cam from Webco. For a powerful spark, the four-cylinder mill has been fitted with a Dynatek ignition system and modern coils, while a premium oil cooler keeps temperatures in check during spirited rides. Oh, and of course, the redesign wouldn’t be complete without new breathing equipment, so that was Shawn’s next stop.
He overhauled the stock carburetors before supplementing them with K&N air filters and ditched the stock exhaust in favor of an Outex four-into-one replacement. The man’s work went much further than the powertrain department, taking the chassis and appearance of the bike to new heights. For tighter proportions at the rear, he shortened the subframe and had the swingarm completely replaced.
The square alloy alternative comes from Framecrafters, getting a pair of adjustable shock mounts before installation. As for the shocks themselves, they are high-end Racetech G3 modules featuring piggyback reservoirs and adjustable preload. These bad boys will certainly bring the classic CB’s driving dynamics into the 21st century, but the front suspension hasn’t remained unchanged either. Modern Racetech internals now live inside the factory forks.
Photo: Innovative motor sports
In the unsprung sector we encounter a pair of Excel rims connected to Buchanan’s stainless steel spokes and wrapped in Avon Roadrider tires. Improved front stopping power is the product of a cross-drilled EBC rotor, accompanied by a braided brake line and Brembo master cylinder. Additionally, Goldie offers a wide selection of made-from-scratch machined aluminum items, including replacement engine mounts and a new lower triple clamp.
A lot has changed in the cockpit area, where the central component is now a GPS-enabled Speedhut dial from Cognito Moto. It’s placed just above a bespoke tracker-style digital board and flanked by Woodcraft clips, which are in turn fitted with ASV control levers and Domino grips. At the bottom, near the front brake caliper, you will see a small yellow tinted LED projector acting as a headlight.
Carbon fiber fenders appear at both ends, while the Goldie’s subframe is topped with a sleek fiberglass rear section. Shawn contacted Dane Utech for saddle upholstery, ordering a neat solo seat wrapped in a mix of real leather and Alcantara. Electrical upgrades include a remanufactured Rick’s regulator/rectifier and stator, as well as a Speedcell lithium-ion battery.
Last but not least, the bike’s color scheme is a tasteful blend of black, white and gold, executed perfectly in-house by Innovative Motorsports. However, the experts at Painthuffer were tasked with applying this delicious gold metal flake finish to the frame. In the end, Shawn ended up with a breathtakingly unique motorcycle weighing just 270 pounds (122 kg) on a full stomach, which is incredibly light even for a motorcycle of this size.
