We’ve all been there: you stay up all night drinking with your friends until midnight, hatching all sorts of genius conspiracies never to see the sun rise. The way Mike Muller puts it, that’s how this Honda CB350 turns into-sidecar The coffee shop was born.
The idea started when Mike’s custom bike workshop, Federal Moto, moved into their Chicago-based garage for the first time. Over a few beers with their new neighbors and fellow business owners at Metric Coffee, the idea of a “cold coffee sidecar” was born. But both businesses were just starting out in Chicago’s famous Market District at the time, so the extra money to fund the project was a valuable commodity.
A few years passed and both businesses found their footing. The idea resurfaced and decided to make it a reality.
For the sponsor bike, Federal Moto started with a 1971 one Honda CB350—But being stuck with a clean restoration is more of a radical custom. It has been stripped down, and the frame is powder coated black, as are the forks, wheels, and engine.
Most of the small details are also treated in all black. This CB350 now has an all-black cockpit with a trio of clamps, levers and bars, with Biltwell Inc. grips. and slim mirror. The original Honda gauges with chrome bezels have been changed to minimalist (but still similar) gauges, also available in black.
All lights and electronics have been updated with cleaner, more modern appliances. The bulky stock tail assembly has gone into the bin, and the Motogadget lights and signal are fitted in its place.
Next is the air box and the factory side cover. The rebuilt Keishin CV Carbs now wear a case filter and the electronic bits have been repackaged in a custom tray under the saddle. Exhaust duties are performed by a pair of custom loudspeaker mufflers, manufactured by Cone Engineering in Los Alamitos, California.
Federal also keeps things clean and simple with CB’s engine. The original twin-cylinder engine was rebuilt to OEM specifications, except for the oversized pistons and Cerakote treated for reliability.
The original subframe was kept, but the factory saddle was removed in favor of a brown leather saddle, built by frequent Federation collaborator Dane Ultech of Plzbeseated. Dane also makes leather straps suitable for decorating cold brew refrigerators; Another luxury.
It’s a nice bike, but the real story here is a custom built sidecar. This CB is more than just some dialogue lying around the store. It’s a fully functional barista on wheels, which Metric Coffee employees ride (not tow) to events around the Chicago area.
The setup is nothing short of genius. The large cooler was built by Federal in-house mechanical engineer Desmond Digiovanni and built to the custom specifications of the Metric coffee kegs. The rig is filled with two crates of cold beer and plenty of ice to keep them cold, leaving room for canned drinks for those on the go.
That’s all well and good, but truth be told it’s the dual nitrogen tank setup at the rear that really caught our attention. Is it legal? Who knows. Is it cool? Sure.
“Yes, to the haters out there: if you reassemble a nitrogen tank, it can explode,” Mike said. “I guess motorbikes are dangerous… who knows!?”
Nestled above the tanks, you’ll find a custom-built countertop, wrapped in butcher block, and wrapped in a rubber shield (you know, for rush hour traffic). the point). A laser-cut helmet holder is custom-made and mounted underneath, as is an anodic wrench for turning on nitrogen bottles.
As for the sidecar chassis this rig rides on, you’re looking at a one-off custom build, made by hand with help from Mike’s friend Chris Zahner of Zooz Bikes. The entire unit is completely detachable, so the bike can be used alone. And from what we’ve said, this Honda is a good time with or without its sidecar.
Once the rig is fully loaded, though, the extra weight adds a significant “bad” to handling, Mike told us. So Federal fitted a steering damper to the bike, to keep it on the straight and narrow roads around town.
“Our favorite turn is to the left,” he said. “Sidecar Wheels!”
Who else wants to see this run for 24 Hours of Le Mans this year? With this much caffeine, Federal Moto will become the first outfit to run an entire race with a single rider. And since it’s also capable of delivering kegs when called in, it can also handle post-race refreshments.
Federal Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Photo of Grant Schwingle
