If there is a From Takashi Nihira’s style description, it’s restraint. His custom bikes are neatly built and unpretentious, but they reward closer inspection with a wealth of tasteful details. So it’s no surprise that Nihira-san’s custom store is based in Tokyo, wedge motorcyclehas won many awards.
His latest build is the epitome of this feature. Finished in unsaturated tones, it is compact and perfectly proportioned, despite the power of the four-cylinder engine. It’s that vintage vibe that also believes it’s true nature; Underneath the custom work is a 2016 Honda CB1100 EX.
Choosing a modern donation bike is a very deliberate choice. Wedge customers want a motorcycle with lots of classic styling, but also plan to use it as an everyday vehicle—so reliability is high on the list. “He wanted a custom bike that he could drive for the rest of his life,” says Takashi.
“In the used bike market, older air-cooled inline four-cylinder engines were very popular and, therefore, expensive. Also, since they have been on the market for a long time, the condition of used bikes varies widely and there is a high chance that they will have problems once they start hitting the road.”
A newer Honda CB1100 is less likely to break down—but customizing one isn’t without its challenges. Takashi had to find a way around Honda’s 1,140 cc in-line four-cylinder engine, sturdy frame to hold it and its modern electronics. However, there doesn’t seem to be anything slowing him down much.
For added peace of mind, Takashi took the engine apart and reassembled it with new gaskets. The caps have been polished to a shiny finish, but that’s as far as the mods go – the fuel injection module and the emissions sensor are both still intact. That means the CB1100 runs great without any additional tuning and it will pass the biennial vehicle inspection in Japan.
Takashi also kept the original airbox, but thinned it down enough to match the car’s redesign, but not too much to compromise performance. The four-to-two headers and mufflers come from Moriwaki, but they’ve been modified and covered in black. And the bike was rewound — but only so there were fewer wires and parts sticking out all over the place.
Wheels and brakes are also OEM parts, but the main brake cylinder is a Brembo product. Firestone’s classic Deluxe Champion tires were placed on the 18-inch wheels at the request of the customer. However, the large rear tire caused ground clearance problems, so the swingarm had to be changed to make room.
Next, Takashi shortened the front fork and equipped with Öhlins shock absorbers at the back. That not only reduces and balances Honda’s stance, but also reduces the seat height for Wedge customers, who are a bit short. But it took more than just those changes to create the perfect silhouette you see here.
Takashi explains: “I believe that Wedge’s unique style is the straight body line. “To create such a simple and beautiful line, not just a straight line at the bottom created by the fuel tank and the saddle. It includes the height of the headlights, how close or far from the body, the path from the headlights to the top of the fuel tank, the size and position of the body relative to the wheels, and many other factors. .”
Takashi started by building a new gas tank, using pieces of the old tank. Starting with the top of the OEM device, he built a new device that is narrower and lower than before, but retains some of its original DNA. There’s even space for the stock fuel pump.
He added: “I thinned the rear end of the fuel tank to the width of the handrail that I did. “This allows emphasizing the inline four-cylinder engine. When the driver is in the car, the engine can be seen protruding from both sides of the tank—I think this powerful driver’s vision is one of the best features of this car.”
The slim custom saddle also has a slight slope and taper so it flows out of the tank harmoniously. Handcrafted fenders and aluminum side panels complete the new bodywork. “I took the bike off my desk and took it outside to verify the contours of the body many times, from different angles and at different distances,” says Takashi.
Up front is a classic round headlight, held together by the same wraparound headlights that the older CB750 Four used; an idea coming from the owner of the bike. Behind it is a Motogadget tachometer and new bars equipped with classic grips and switches.
There are a lot of jobs that most people would never take – just look at the yoke. Takashi freed them from any unnecessary racks and brackets, flattened them, and moved the front brake line junction point below the lower yoke.
Wedge’s good taste also extends to the paint job. The fuel tank, fenders and headlights remain in the simple but effective original beer color, while the frame has been reworked in silver. It’s as fascinating as it is timeless.
Takashi adds that the CB1100’s more compact size and lighter weight have had a significant impact on its handling—in a positive way. He added that the bike was born just as he envisioned it.
Are your customers happy though? That’s what he is, and he’s already begun to cross the miles with his new whip.
wedge motorcycle | Facebook | Instagram | Image of Yasui Hiromitsu | Thanks to tadashi kono
