Duane Ballard's Funkenstein CB750 Chopper

When he built his first digger five years ago, that raked-out rapier gained Duane Ballard the kind of notoriety few choppers could match. The most polarizing detail of that first bike was ODB's choice of motor. Honda's venerable CB750 was a staple in death traps from the drug-fueled '70s, but bikes built in the early 21st century almost always boasted big-inch V-twin mills. Not Mr. Ballard's funky retro rocket.

In 2010 Mooneyes invited Duane and both of his Honda-powered show bikes to their big event in Yokohama. To get Funkenstein looking pretty, Duane removed the gas tank for a deep clean. That's when he realized his frame's back bone was broken in half. While ODB and his friend Renato Calderone cut, lugged and slugged the top tube, CB750 guru Dennis Truddelle rebuilt the motor after a paint refresh. The new look is more blingy than ever, and Duane wowed the crowd at Mooneyes with not one but two beautiful machines from The Motherland.

People back home took notice, and when Duane, his Pink Taco and Funkenstein returned to American shores last January, a style-conscious chopper freak two blocks from Duane's home bought the Taco. Now Duane has the time and space he needs to rebuild yet another CB750, this one for his son. Clearly, the nut never falls far from the tree.

See Duane's leathercraft.

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