It?s getting harder and harder to categorize custom bikes. We all know a traditional cafe racer when we see one, but these days we?re just as likely to stumble across a ?cafe? bike with dual sport tires. Or a bobber with clip-ons and racing rubber.
Some mash-ups hit the mark, and some don?t. This is most definitely one that does: a fusion of café racer and chopper styles that could never work on paper, but looks amazing in the metal.

It?s the work of Christian Klein, who first graced these pages six years ago with an unusual Ducati 350. Klein is not a man to follow trends, and he?s stretched this Honda CB900 almost beyond recognition.
It?s owned by Karl Stromberg, an architect based in Duisburg, Germany, who originally asked Christian to work on a CB550. But Karl is a tall guy, so Christian suggested the Honda CB900?also an air-cooled inline four, but capable of around 12 seconds for the quarter mile and topping out at 120 mph (193 kph).
?I wanted the bike to look different to those normally seen on the internet,? says Karl. ?With a long and low appearance?mean and dirty. And definitely no Harley engine.?
?Christian has magic mechanical skills, and he?s a wonderful artist as well. He made just one very simple sketch on a little piece of paper in a bar, and the project started.?

A 1980-spec Honda CB900 was lifted onto the bench. Soon, only the engine remained intact: Christian has kept the front downtubes and most of the top of the frame, but binned everything ...