Topic: CB350 twin cafe

[trueblue]

A couple of months ago I picked up a basket case CB350K2, 1970 model.  A few days ago, I went and saw a mate of mine and raided his stockpile of parts.  I ended up with a pair of Morris mags , a front end off a CB400N to carry calipers for the front discs, a tank off a CB250G.  In the next couple of days I'll be going back out to raid a set of triples off a CX500 so I can lower the front end a little, because it is currently sitting a little high.  I've also got to find a set of calipers that will do the job.  I intend on doing a cafe type build, but what I'm aiming for is to make it go and stop quicker, not like most cafe jobs you see where it is all form over function.  I think I'm off to a good start on the stopping part at least with the triple disc, now I just have to make it all work .

This was it when I brought it home



This is it this afternoon



And the other side of it, with my 2 little hinderers helpers

[trueblue]

Nah mate, they were quite helpful for the most part.  There were a couple of moments where I needed the extra set of hands.  You can just see on the hand of the one wearing the blue shirt, the grease on her hand .  In the end her hands were dirtier than mine .

[trueblue]

Yeah mate, my young fella isn't interested in the slightest, there's no buttons or screen on the bike

[Roach Carver]

Looks good. You done yet.

[seanbarney41]

subscribed...here's mine

no cafe mods for this one though...I just got it running.  These are fun and easy to work on.

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

YES! This is the start of a great project. Seems like youve got the bits, know how, parts connections and lil' helpers.

[Roach Carver]

Heres my wifes

[WhyNot2]

Kewl looking bikes guys...............

Keep it up.

I'm still looking for one of these.............................

[trueblue]

Here's my last project, a 79 650.  I was contemplating doing a cafe with it but I couldn't bring myself to cut up such a complete bike, and I'm glad I didn't.

This was it when I started



This is it now



The 350, I was originally hoping to do a similar resto on, but it was too far gone.  The tank, seat pan and rims all have a severe case of termites.  They are too far gone to do anything with, so cafe it is .  Not to mention it had the early 350 tank that has all the styling cues of a brick. 

[trueblue]

If anyone out there has a DOHC 750/900 or a late model SOHC 750F.  Would you please be able to take these 2 measurements and let me know?

[Roach Carver]

I have one, but not at my house. Its in storage. I will try and get it tomorrow? Maybe someone here has one in their gayrage they can measure.

[trueblue]

Thankyou, that would be appreciated

[754]

Roachcarver, are those SL carbs or KO carbs off a 750. ?

[Roach Carver]

Ko's. They were there when i bought it. The biggest problem is the T lines.

[trueblue]

I got the measurements  for the front wheel, they are 65mm between the bolt centres, and 65mm between the axel centre and lower caliper bolt centre.  Exactly what I needed .  Today I went back out to my mates place to dig through his pile of bits, I picked up a set of twin piston front calipers off a CB900, and they bolted straight up and the calipers are in the right place .  I have to play with the rotors and wheel a little, I'm a little tight on room between the fork legs.  I need to gain about 3mm per side, shouldn't be too hard .  I also picked up a set of triples off a CX500, these also bolted straight in, the offset is within a fairy fart of the originals.  I fitted the CB400N forks to them, this allowed me to raise the forks up to bring the front back down to where it needs to be.  The 400 forks were originally a top bolt style and they have a screw in plug down in the guts to seal the forks and hold the spring in.  With the way the forks are built, when using the CX500 triples the top 25mm of the fork tube is redundant, so will be trimmed .

[754]

Roach Carver, I ran KO carbs 25 or more years back, cant remember what I did to the fuel inlets. Maybe I used the left and right carbs,  then put a fuel ine between the two tees, is that a straight line, or is frame in the way?

[trueblue]

I haven't been able to do too much over the past month or so, between work, specialist and physio appointments and family there hasn't been much time left over.  Over the past couple of days I finally have had a chance to have a play.  The 250 tank got the flick, too much work to make it fit and work properly.  I picked up a later model 350 tank off of HomebrewTJ on this forum (great seller BTW).  It keeps the lines I wanted and drops straight onto the factory mounts, clears the triples and saved me a heck of a lot of work.  Tonight I spent a good while working my way around the bike with numerous straight edges, and string lines to figure out wheel spacers, sprocket and brake rotor location.  I need to trim 6mm off the sprocket carrier and fit a 10mm spacer under the rotor so the caliper doesn't hit on the spokes.  Another job for another day, I just wish I had a lathe at home, if I did I would still be out in the shed .  Instead I need to wait till I get some time free at work .

[trueblue]

I started on the plug for my seat today, I'll let the pictures do the talking.










One thing I can say about this little fella, he is loyal.  I had the router going for nearly 2 hours and he just sat there.



















After a couple of hours of shaping I gave up for the night, more to do tomorrow night 

[trueblue]

Over the weekend it was pi$$ing rain, non stop.  I spent Sunday afternoon in the shed and finished off the plug for my seat.  I like how it has come out .  Now I just have to wait for a fine day (could be a while) so I can lay the fibreglass.  I'm getting antsy, but I know I can't do it while the humidity is as high as it is at the moment.

[trueblue]

After weeks of waiting for the weather to clear, we have finally had a few days of clear weather.  After I finished work today, I had to go pick up a goose and a duck for the missus, long story.  When we got home I decided it was time to lay some glass on the plug for my seat.  I got 2 layers of glass down today, tomorrow I will remove the plug and start work on reinforcing the seat so it can hold my weight and maintain its shape, unless I decide to take the 650 out for a ride .

[trueblue]

Well after a lot of head scratching I finally have the rear wheel setup sorted out.  I used the front rotor off a CB500T, a caliper off an '81 GSX 750.  I also have a set of rearsets off an R1, which I'm not 100% decided on using yet.  I'm swapping the chain to a 520, by using a front sprocket for an XL500, this fixes my issue I had with the sprockets being slightly out of line .  I'm also trying to track down a 520 sprocket that will attach to the Morris wheel,  the one that is on the wheel has cushdrive rubbers built into the sprocket and thus far I haven't had any luck finding one like it.  If I can't find one I'll just thin the sprocket I have to 520 size.  Now I can move onto the front wheel, first order of business is to thin the rotors a little to allow clearance between the fork legs.