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Author Topic: 78F New rear frame, seat, and tank stripe.  (Read 31240 times)

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Offline apetersonboy

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78F New rear frame, seat, and tank stripe.
« on: August 24, 2012, 09:10:38 PM »
About a year ago I bought a 1978 CB 750F SS with the intention of building it into a cafe racer/ brat/ off-roader/ street tracker/ I can't decide. The first and only other motorcycle I have ever owned was a 1991 KX 125 motocross bike (traded straight across for the CB) not sure if that was a good decision yet..  :P. I really have no previous motorcycle mechanical experience.

So with that being said...

The bike when I first brought it home.


« Last Edit: June 05, 2014, 09:03:31 PM by apetersonboy »
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2012, 09:13:00 PM »
What I want to end up with:



I know it'll be a lot of work... and sadly a lot of money too, but I'm willing to wait. I need a kick- @ss ride for college! This will hopefully be it. (someday)
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS custom off-roader build
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2012, 09:21:47 PM »
So the night that I got it home, I stayed up late into the night tearing into the thing having no idea what I was doing or getting myself into...

The beginning..!


My parts (a few of them). Came with a couple of baskets of extras. Including lots and LOTS big, ugly, stock blinkers, a couple bars (one with controls), and even a GS750 air box too :o!



Lotsa chrome..



Progress on break down:



After some wresting with it on the shop floor for a good while and with some crowbar action, we got the engine out of the frame!

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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2012, 09:33:11 PM »
And it's sat like that (not in the truck anymore of course) for a good while. I don't know if I ran out of know-how, gumption, or what; but it just sat. One night I grew tired of it sitting in the shed just mocking me as a I walked past it everyonce in a while and I did something foolish... I pulled out the grinder and just started cuttin sh!t off! Dumb I know... I didn't know what I was doing. So, I ended up grinding off my center stand mounts  :o and a few tabs I figured I wouldn't need. Now, I'm just stalking up on parts and saving up money to get the frame powder coated some bright color. Neon green/ yellow? My highschool orange? Ducati red? Can't decide, but one of these days I'm just gonna pull the trigger.

I'd like to do the frame one color, and my swing arm another just so it kinda makes the frame pop a bit more. Tank will for sure have some type of racing stripe down the middle. Wheels will be as black as night. Calipers will be the frame color and the inside of the discs will be the same.

Other than that, I've purchased fork gator boots, a new chain and rear sprocket, some chrome bullet turn signals for DCC, an oil filter, headlight rim retainer kit from EMGO, a headlight bulb and light, some tank sealant to re-do the inside of the horribly rusted out tank. It was left out in the rain with no cap what so ever on it! >:( oh well. I've also bought some flat tracker bars, black billet grips with bar ends, a bar- mirror, All-Balls Steering stem kit, and finally a kickarse white mini speedo from DCC with LED's in it!

I plan to make my bike pretty minimal on the controls and front section. Probably just run a speedo and that's it for gauges. Probably just stock blinker controls and such for money's sake.
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2012, 07:20:02 AM »
Purchased this a few days ago. Once it gets here I will fit it to the frame and perhaps fab up a battery / electric box.
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-chassis-seat-parts-black-dcc-originals-ribbed-leather-wrapped-one-up-racing-seat-dcc-lwrapcafe-r.html
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS racer progress: New seat and more... questions too
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2012, 06:35:32 PM »
My seat came in from Dime City Cycles! Those guys are awesome. Great service and parts. Here's the seat and then a tank/ seat mock up.




In other news... Got me an airbox. No pods for this ride.



Got the axel this far out with the press and then ran into trouble.. Makes an aweful creaking noise when its under pressure. Am I forgetting to remove any seals or things that would keep it in?




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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2012, 06:54:38 PM »
Got the axel's out today. Used some penetrating oil and they came right out. Well not quite that easily... but it worked.

Started tearing into the airbox today. Will bring wheels to the local shop to get the seals out with their spanning wrench and then off to the powder coater (or painter) they go! Not sure which I'm going to do yet. I know I'm doing black though.

Next on the list is chopping off the rear section of the frame to accomodate the seat. Is there any danger or doing this without welding in a bar to make up for the lack of reinforcement? Like a bar connecting the left and right side?
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Offline Trounce

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2012, 08:17:00 PM »
Project is looking good...I know its hard to stay on track when the path isn't quite clear. Get some inspirations together to solidify your end goal and keep at it...Oh and the PB Blaster is your friend! use it generously! ;D . There may be a better way but the solutions I would have for your rear section would be to shorten the rails to the reinforcement and add a hoop... or simply make a small cut in the bottom of the rail (about 3/4 of the way through), heat and bend it to fit the contour of the seat and then re-weld a new wedge back in to reinforce. :-\
« Last Edit: September 26, 2012, 08:26:44 PM by Trounce »
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"You don't know till you try and fail....and then try again!

Offline luap

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2012, 10:05:41 PM »
thats a good goal to reach on what you want it to look like. you know what that rear tire is?
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75-550 ffsc sold, 78-550 diamonte sold, 125s grasshopper sold, 76-550 puma sold, 78-550 tracker sold, 74-550 verde diablo Sold, 74-550 Noemani finished trying to sell. 72 500 hartail in the works
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Offline Viktor.J

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2012, 09:57:36 AM »
Lovely seat !  :P
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Please ! Take a look and give me feedback in my project thread, its much needed :)
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=112745.0

Honda CB750 K2

Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2012, 01:25:46 PM »
Thanks for the advice Trounce. I I don't want a rear hoop hanging out the back, I'd like it maybe fit the upward angle of the end of the seat like you're talking about. And thanks for the advice on staying on track. Pretty hard to sometimes when I see all of the spotless bikes people are doing on here... makes me feel over whelmed.

And to you Luap that's a K60 Scout tire. Gnarly isn't it? I think I might go with something a bit more paved-road-friendly cause I don't think I'll be doing any off-roading with this thing.

Thanks Victor, I'm diggin it too. Just gotta make it look natural on the frame is all
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS buildage dude.
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2012, 09:57:46 AM »
Just dropped off the wheels over lunch to get the bearings pushed out. Then will walk across the street and get them quoted for painting.
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Offline brandEn

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2012, 10:03:41 AM »
Subscribed!
I love watching these F builds come together.
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2012, 11:35:48 AM »
Grinded the ends of the frame off just about up to the shock mounts. Took the large support the that goes from the sides for support too. I'm having trouble though figuring out how to mount this thing though...

The back end of the seat fits around the frame perfect, but the seat narrows as you progress to the front of the thing. So, the front of the seat is in contact with the frame through the very edges of the thing if that makes any sense. I think Ill have to get some dense foam and cut some spacer type things to level the seat out. Still trying to also figure out how else to secure it other than the two bolts that are in the back of the seat. THose will mate up to the frame no prob.

The front of the seat has two prongs I guess you could call them? That look as if they would sit under a brace of some type to keep the front of the seat from wobbling around... The problem is, if I did make a brace for them to sit under, it would be right over the battery and all of the electrical  :-\. So, either I will have to make a locking hinge mechanism  that will allow me to get to the battery and such, or I am going to have to relocate all of it... Hm.

Any suggestions?
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #14 on: September 30, 2012, 11:43:02 AM »
Choppin'...




I'll post some pictures of the seat dilema in a bit!
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #15 on: September 30, 2012, 11:46:31 AM »
Any body else seen this video? Makes me drool every time I watch it!



He sure has a nice seat.. Minus the silver studs ;)
I've got the same blinkers he's got, and I'd like to tuck my brake light/ license plate up under the seat like he did. Probably going with this: http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-lighting-parts-slanted-chrome-cats-eye-taillight-62-21605.html

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Offline brandEn

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #16 on: September 30, 2012, 03:12:30 PM »
If the two "prongs" at the front of the seat your talking about are on the frame, those hold on the rubber piece that holds the ass end of the gas tank secure. 
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #17 on: October 01, 2012, 12:08:34 PM »
I looked at what you're talking about... The seat first few inches of the seat then sit under the tank. Is that alright? :P
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Offline brandEn

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #18 on: October 01, 2012, 05:46:21 PM »
The OEM seat does not sit under the tank. The stock seat is designed to hinge open with the tank installed.
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #19 on: October 01, 2012, 06:44:08 PM »
Ohhh ok I just realized what you're talking about! You're talking about the frame tabs, right? I'm talking about this:


Are we on the same page now?
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Offline brandEn

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #20 on: October 01, 2012, 06:55:13 PM »
Haha, yea. I was talking about the frame tabs. That looks like a picture from Dime City Cycles. If so I assume that's an aftermarket seat so I don't know how that mounts or what the tabs are for.
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #21 on: October 01, 2012, 07:49:17 PM »
Yes it is DCC and yes it after market! Haha it's the one I bought for my build.

Anyways, I went dumpster diving behind a shoe sole factory and ended up with some really high quality closed cell foam that I'm going to use to figure out the mounting issues with the seat. I figured if it is good enough for feet, it's good enough for my motorcycle! :P
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #22 on: October 02, 2012, 08:18:29 PM »
Nothing huge to report today... Picked up the broken down wheels today from the shop today. Charged me $20. This weekend will hopefully get some build time in
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #23 on: October 05, 2012, 12:26:37 PM »
Well last night I started to use and shape some of that shoe insole rubber to fit the seat to the frame, and realized it would be fine without the rubber. I was just not pushing it hard enough down to get it sit right on the frame. SO I got my grinder out and grinded off the little bit off extra that was hanging off of the end of the frame.

... I took off too much. ^$*#%#*#
I figured this would be a good opportunity to do the hoop that hugs the ass end of the seat since I ruined the frame as it is now. So, that's what I'll be doing this weekend!

Also, I was looking at tail lights on the internet last night and all of the ones that I like aren't DOT approved  >:( Will they bust you on the roads if you're using one that isn't approved? Is it a big deal?  :P I figured that cops don't carry around a catalogue of approved and unapproved taillights so how would they know the difference?
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Offline apetersonboy

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Re: 1978 CB 750F SS.... build?
« Reply #24 on: October 09, 2012, 09:15:41 PM »
Did some welding for the seat mount... in short, I am an idiot, and my grandpa is awesome. He helped me learn how to do this and played a major role in helping me weld up this fail. Going to need to either make some spacers to keep the front end of the seat from popping up, or just shop all of this off and start over:





If I would've welded it sitting about half an inch higher, wouldn't have to make spacers, but honestly, I think I'm going to just start from scratch. FAIL
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