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Author Topic: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)  (Read 11937 times)

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Offline coma13

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My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« on: February 11, 2012, 09:54:39 PM »
Welcome to my first build thread, for my first build! I'll be documenting every step along the way here.

Enjoy!
« Last Edit: February 11, 2012, 10:13:07 PM by coma13 »
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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2012, 09:55:09 PM »
Here it is as I bought it. 14,000 miles and many years sitting outside later. The PO bought it out of a guy's front yard and spent a few months trying to get it road worthy. He made a ton of horrendous "repair" jobs that I spent the next couple of months re-repairing.



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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2012, 09:55:50 PM »
I bobbed the fender, did a major seat reduction, built a custom taillight mount, swapped the front end for a 78F unit, and put some tracker bars on it. I rode it in this configuration for a couple months, messing with a charging problem that couldn't seem to be solved the entire time.





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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2012, 09:56:29 PM »
One recent afternoon, I heard a nasty clunk and some grinding gear noises and ended up with a screwed up clutch. Around the same time, a close friend went in for shoulder surgery that would put him off the bike for 6 months. This resulted in me having a 2007 Suzuki SV650 in my parking spot, and a CB750 that was down for the count for the time being.

It was then I decided that I was going to chop it. Pull the engine, figure out what was going on with my charging system once and for all, and build a hell of a bike by the end of it.

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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2012, 09:57:10 PM »
I ordered a hardtail section from www.cycleonemanufacturing.com, and a pair of 10" Z-Bars from www.zombieperformance.com and they both arrived shortly thereafter. My goal for the project is that these will be the only two pre-fabricated pieces that I buy.



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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2012, 09:57:45 PM »
All the preceding posts bring us up to speed today. Today I got to bring all of my components to school, where I'll be doing all of my fab work, while the engine stays home and gets cleaned up (and maybe throw an 836 kit in there).



I jammed everything I needed into my 2-door hatchback Toyota Yaris and so it began.





which leads to........







I'm thrilled with the stance.
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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2012, 09:58:39 PM »
I'll be switching back to spoked wheels, front and back, by the end of the build. I'm going to shave the lowers on the original 77K front end that I still have and run that setup.

Also, the first part I built for the bike is this seat hinge:





I need to make the spring bungs and cut out and shape a seat pan next. Perhaps the fender should be first though. I'm excited to try my hand at the english wheel. This project will be the first time with one of those bad boys.
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Offline lucky

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2012, 11:34:55 AM »
It looks like the project is going very well.
Are you going to powder coat the frame?
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Offline Vbled1

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2012, 11:44:10 AM »
Dude, love that hardtail. Most of them, at least to me, are ugly with that flat section they put for the seat. Granted they probably do this because its an easier mod for people, but yea yours looks awesome without the usual unnatural seat section that runs parallel to the ground. Looking forward to the build.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2012, 11:52:55 PM by Vbled1 »
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Offline brandEn

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2012, 11:47:10 AM »
Subscribed. I love me a hardtail SOHC.
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Offline WhyNot2

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2012, 12:13:10 PM »
Quote from: brandEn on February 12, 2012, 11:47:10 AM
Subscribed. I love me a hardtail SOHC.

Me too...................watching with intensity. I want to do something of the same.
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Offline coma13

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My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2012, 10:42:46 PM »
Quote from: lucky on February 12, 2012, 11:34:55 AM
It looks like the project is going very well.
Are you going to powder coat the frame?

Sure am.
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Offline SOHC Digger

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2012, 11:47:58 PM »
Looks great!  That really is a nice looking hardtail section.  I'm impressed.  Are you planning on raking the neck to bring the lower frame rails parallel with the ground, or maybe shorten your forks?
« Last Edit: February 12, 2012, 11:50:15 PM by SOHC Digger »
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Offline coma13

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My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #13 on: February 13, 2012, 07:31:57 AM »
Quote from: SOHC Digger on February 12, 2012, 11:47:58 PM
Looks great!  That really is a nice looking hardtail section.  I'm impressed.  Are you planning on raking the neck to bring the lower frame rails parallel with the ground, or maybe shorten your forks?

I'm undecided on that, actually. I plan in keeping the stock rake, and occasionally I see a bike with stock rake and a longer fork that really does it for me. There is definitely something to be said for keeping your frame rails parallel, but sometimes that tilt back with slightly longer forks, tall sissy bar, kicked up pipes, and mid controls just looks awesome.

I'm going to check it out both ways though.

Thanks for the interest.
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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2012, 11:08:42 AM »
Alright, back at it! It's been a while since I've been able to get any work done on the bike, but I've been staying somewhat busy making various bungs and mounts. I'm trying to build as much of this stuff myself as possible.



I picked up some 4" over tubes from Forking By Frank off of a user on hondachopper.com and I am SO pumped on how it looks!!! Level bottom frame tubes be damned!



I cleaned up all of the excess tubing, brackets, and some gusset material around the neck. Much cleaner. I may still do some additional filling in, I'm not decided yet.

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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #15 on: March 04, 2012, 11:09:15 AM »
My boss gave me an old, rusted up Sportster front fender and I stripped it, trimmed the edges, and wheeled it into the rough shape to fit my rear wheel.



I mocked up a coffin tank out of cardboard at home.



Once I got to see it on the bike I was COMPLETELY sold. :D I can't wait to weld it up. Hopefully that will get done this week.

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Offline srbakker

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #16 on: March 04, 2012, 11:11:25 AM »
Nice stance!  I was going to offer you a set of nice clean 6" over fork tubes and lowers I have laying around, but you obviously have that covered.  Those bungs look great too!
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Offline srbakker

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #17 on: March 04, 2012, 11:12:45 AM »
But!  It occurs to me that I have a nice aluminum tweak bar laying around somewhere if you want it cheap.  Should polish up nicely anyway.
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1975 CB750 K5
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2007 Triumph Speed Triple
1971 Kawasaki F7 175 Enduro
2000 Honda VFR800 (gone but not forgotten)

Offline Seabass

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My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #18 on: March 04, 2012, 11:23:46 AM »
Thanks for the link for the hardtail.I have been looking for one for my 77 but everything I find is for 69-76.looks great and removes the ugly flat piece on the frame.Subcribed


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.510671,-119.641573
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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #19 on: March 04, 2012, 01:12:14 PM »
Quote from: srbakker on March 04, 2012, 11:12:45 AM
But!  It occurs to me that I have a nice aluminum tweak bar laying around somewhere if you want it cheap.  Should polish up nicely anyway.

Thanks for the offer. I will probably just mill one myself if I feel the need.  :D
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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #20 on: March 04, 2012, 01:14:50 PM »
Quote from: Seabass on March 04, 2012, 11:23:46 AM
Thanks for the link for the hardtail.I have been looking for one for my 77 but everything I find is for 69-76.looks great and removes the ugly flat piece on the frame.Subcribed

No prob! CycleOne is the best! Amazing customer service too. I had a question and Kate called me up on a Saturday ready to help.
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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #21 on: March 10, 2012, 09:28:26 PM »
Alright, in spite of my long hair, I managed to get a little more work done on this thing today. I had machined a bunch of axle spacers in various sizes and got the rear wheel alignment dialed in, then I moved on to the seat.

I got my hing and spring mounts welded up and cut and bent my seat pan.




I am digging it. Kept an angular look to go with the coffin tank and my planned oil bag. I'll be attempting to cover it myself using the How-To on the ChopCult "Best Of" forum.

I also drilled out and tapped the axle plate for my sissy bar mounts.



I ran out of time to actually build the sissy bar, but I've got 10' of 5/8" cold rolled round stock waiting for next weekend.

My coffin tank is ready for construction now. I got all of my panels cut out of 16g steel on the shear and the necessary holes drilled. I'll be welding it up later this week.

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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #22 on: April 01, 2012, 12:05:31 AM »
It's been a little while, but I have actually been working on it! Here's a little progress report.

I got my gas tank all welded up, and mostly metal finished. I need to go back and braze in some low spots and pressure test it before it will be done, but it looks pretty cool.





I finished the gas tank mounts today as well.



I got my sissy bar finished a week ago but I forgot to take any pictures. Here it is!

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Offline coma13

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #23 on: April 01, 2012, 12:09:42 AM »
I also upholstered my seat almost entirely by myself. I used foam from a kneeling pad you use in a garden and some leather I bought from a local bag-maker. I did all the shaping and leather forming and then took it to a local shoe repair place to have it sewn up. I'll be riveting the next one as I wasn't completely thrilled with the stitching.



Today was a good day, because I got to mock the bike up with the seat, sissy bar, and gas tank in place and really get a good idea of the overall shape of the bike. I am completely stoked on the stance and I can't wait to finish this thing!





« Last Edit: April 01, 2012, 12:19:23 AM by coma13 »
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Offline wolfbiker88

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Re: My First Build (1977 Honda CB750K Hardtail Chopper)
« Reply #24 on: April 01, 2012, 07:50:02 AM »
love the parallel look of the sissy bar and front end. i ended up using the same hard tail section and im in the process of building a flat tracker type bike.
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