1974 Rickman Honda CR750 Replica,

Engine no. CB750E-2339006

· Built by Rickman Specialist Jay Farlow

· 'California Hot Rod'

· Period Correct improvements

The coming of Formula 750 in the early 1970s produced some of that decade's most exciting motorcycle racing, as the world's top riders battled for supremacy on works bikes from Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson, Norton and BSA-Triumph. The most prestigious race in the calendar was the Daytona 200, the 1970 event being a straightforward confrontation between works entries from BSA-Triumph and Honda, whose team of race-kitted 750s was managed by Chester, England-based Honda dealer Bill Smith. Riders were Smith, Ralph Bryans, Tommy Robb and American Dick Mann. Although the British machines started as favorites - the line-up included multiple World Champion Mike Hailwood and previous Daytona winner Gary Nixon - it was Honda-mounted Dick Mann that won, giving sales of CB750 road bikes in the all-important USA market a further boost. Although far from cheap, the CR750 race kit (200 examples of which were made) enabled privateers to transform a road-going CB750 into a potential Daytona winner, and machines so-modified were soon winning races at all levels worldwide.

This wonderful CR750 Replica beneficiates from the Rickman frame made for these bikes at the time. Indeed, after mostly working on the British bikes during the 1960s, the Rickman brothers had to adapt to the constantly evolving motorcycle market, even more with the growth of the Japanese manufacturers and the mighty 736cc inline four. The Rickman developed a frame that could house that heavy engine while giving the bike a rigidity missed on regular models - Rickman frame were made out of 531 Reynolds manganese-molybdenum.

That beautiful piece is the work of the reknown Rickman specialist Jay Farlow. The bike has been built adding the best period correct parts and add-ons possible such as Boge Mullhollands shocks or Dunlop K81 TT100 repoductions. The original Honda engine has been completely stripped down and rebuilt before being housed in the Rickman frame and then surrounded by the orange FRP bodywork and its correct reproduction decals.
That California Hot Rod is beautifully built and barely used since having been put together.