I recently got a chance to meet up with Paul Riccioli, Jr. at his shop, RPM Resto and Custom, in Hillsborough, NJ to see his 1976 Honda CB750K. We were lucky enough to be able to roll the bike out of the shop on a very unusually warm January day to shoot some photos and ask him a few questions about himself and his bike.

How long have you been riding motorcycles?
I've been building and riding motorcycles for about 13 years

How did you get into the motorcycle scene?
I was always into antique cars and the progression into custom motorcycles was just natural.  I always wanted to ride and the time was just right to start.

Where does the name Precious Metal come from?
I named it Precious Metal for the copper plating.

What do you love most about your bike?
I love the simplicity of the bike.....no levers, no switches, no cables at all on the bars. I modified a set of forward controls to act as a foot clutch and designed the tank shifter myself. There's also an internal cable setup that operates the hidden front master cylinder. 

Do you have other bikes or any other projects going on?
I currently own 2 1/2 Motorcycles. The CB750 and a slightly modified 1995 FatBoy. Also a Yamaha XS650 roller project in a 70s Santee plunger style gooseneck frame waiting to be built. My first bike was an 80 Ironhead Sportster that I hardtailed and chopped. 

Back to your current bike. How long have you owned Precious Metal?
I got the bike on a trade around 2011 and started the build. I finished it late 2013.

Did you do all of the work on the bike yourself or do you have any friends, shops or builders that you’d like to shout out and thank for their help?
I did all the design work myself as well as 95% of the build. The larger powdercoated items like the frame and rims were done by GSD Coatings in Keyport, NJ. The copper plating was done by Super Chrome and Dayton Gray in Asbury Park NJ. 

The hardtail is from Tigman in Massachusetts and several of the other specialty CB750 aftermarket parts are from Lowriders By Sommers. 

What are some of the more unique aspects of the build? What do you think sets it apart from other bikes?
The copper plating, simple hidden hand controls, and tank shifter are all unique aspects of the bike that seem to grab people's attention wherever I take it.  It's fun to watch people look at the bike and try to figure out how everything works. This was only the second bike I'd ever built.


What are some of the most memorable times you’ve had with this bike?
I just enjoy taking the bike out for rides on the farm roads around me as well as to the local cruise nights to share it with the people walking around. 

What’s next? Do you have any future plans for the bike?
As of now I have no plans to sell the bike. I enjoy getting out and riding it and need to make more time to do so.

For more of Paul’s work, you can follow him on Instagram at @resto_paul.