Author Topic: 1987 Honda Rebel 450 - this was my first bike  (Read 1770 times)

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Offline sangyo soichiro

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1987 Honda Rebel 450 - this was my first bike
« on: August 28, 2012, 10:05:19 AM »
Hi everyone,
I figured I'd make a thread of the current project that's taking up my time lately. This was my first bike. My father bought it for me back in 1990. It was a stock Rebel 450, but time and neglect hasn't been the kind to it over the years. It has a few dents and scratches, but the biggest problem so far has been the gas tank - lots of little holes where it rusted through. So I've been soldering them shut as I find them (seems every time I get ready to prep it for painting, I discover new holes!). Once soldered, I will line it with the Caswell tank liner that I have seen recommended on the HondaTwins forum.

Anyway, no offense to any Rebel enthusiasts here, but I never really liked the way the stock Rebel looked, so I decided to change it up a bit. Plus, the seat was really bad, so I took the easy way out and just put a solo seat on. But take heart Rebel enthusiasts! - None of my changes are permanent, and I still have all the stock parts, and it could go back to stock at any time if desired.    :D

The rear fender is from a CB 750, in case anyone was wondering. And the next big decision is what to use for turn signals, since the stock ones won't work with the new handlebars (they clamp on the bars, and just don't sit right on the new ones in my opinion). Any suggestions for front turn signals that would look nice would be appreciated.    :D

Anyway, here she is as she sits today. Still working on the tank patchwork, but after that she'll be pretty close to firing up.

Cheers!
1974 CB 750
1972 CB 750 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,57974.0.html
1971 CL 350 Scrambler
1966 Black Bomber
Too many others to name…
My cross country trip: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,138625.0.html

Offline sangyo soichiro

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Re: 1987 Honda Rebel 450 - this was my first bike
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2012, 02:15:08 PM »
Another photo of it.
1974 CB 750
1972 CB 750 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,57974.0.html
1971 CL 350 Scrambler
1966 Black Bomber
Too many others to name…
My cross country trip: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,138625.0.html

Offline sangyo soichiro

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Re: 1987 Honda Rebel 450 - this was my first bike
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2012, 02:16:08 PM »
And another.
(I had a terrible time trying to attach photos earlier today, thus the delay in posting these last two.)
1974 CB 750
1972 CB 750 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,57974.0.html
1971 CL 350 Scrambler
1966 Black Bomber
Too many others to name…
My cross country trip: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,138625.0.html

Offline toytuff

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Re: 1987 Honda Rebel 450 - this was my first bike
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2012, 02:18:26 PM »
Not bad! A different color would make it "pop".

tt

Offline sangyo soichiro

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Re: 1987 Honda Rebel 450 - this was my first bike
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2012, 02:39:09 PM »
Thank you.   :D
What color do you think would look good?  It was originally black, and the fender I put on it I had already painted black for another bike.  But who knows, I may paint it again someday.  For now I was just going to paint the tank, since I have to paint it anyway.
1974 CB 750
1972 CB 750 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,57974.0.html
1971 CL 350 Scrambler
1966 Black Bomber
Too many others to name…
My cross country trip: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,138625.0.html

Offline Sparked

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Re: 1987 Honda Rebel 450 - this was my first bike
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2012, 02:44:12 PM »
Candy red maybe? Or a blue/white combination?
1972 CB350F
1982 CM450A
1961 Ford Falcon (time for four wheels)