cobra special project: rs750 scrambler

cobra has been at the forefront of the metric parts and accessory industry since 1994 and was the first custom exhaust manufacturer to not only create exhaust systems for “*** bikes” but they built entire metric customs. the first two “special projects” they built were done simultaneously and were both hondas, a vt1100 shadow and the new v45 magna.

yeech. still, that bike started the “metric cruiser market.”

17 years later, cobra has built over 30 special project bikes for all four of the major metric builders. some were influential to me as i drew sketches of what my dream bike would be in 2003. the stratacruiser and the hot saki i particularly dug.

now cobra has built a bike to resemble the classic honda cl77 scrambler, a 50 year old motorbike which had a 305cc inline twin that stamped honda as a major force in an industry largely ruled by larger british bikes. the cl77 was also called the “superhawk” and possessed quality and reliability far superior to it’s competition. the oil-tight engine, electric starter and 180-degree crank were major factors in its success.

now that honda no longer makes an inline twin motorbike, the basis of cobra’s rs750 scrambler is an entry-level v-twin, the 2010 shadow rs750, which comes stock with 42hp and 45ft/lb of torque.

then cobra turned it into this:

nifty. i’ve been messing with stock metric bikes by doing simple mods for over a decade and my bet is cobra’s custom exhaust, their fuel injection modifier, and the addition of simple changes like a k&n air filter give the rs750 scrambler 55hp and 60ft/lbs. they also made it a chain drive rather than the power-robbing shaft from the stock cruiser. it would be nice to know the exact numbers.

(hint hint)

cobra’s latest project does a great job at paying homage to an important classic bike and looks like something honda itself would/should make and sell for less than 8 grand. in the usa. if they could pull their heads out of their *****.

i’d have also made a 2-into-1 exhaust for even more power and i think 36-spoke wheels would be very cool. the design touches are nice. the tank looks stock with the lip and badge, and the paint scheme is obviously on target.

check out this video and let us know what you think of the cobra rs750 scrambler. would you buy one?

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