Well I figured now that I have my bike in the same state that I am living in I could start a thread.
Background of Bike: Bought this off a friend shortly after getting out of college (he had upgraded to a Katana) as I had always wanted a SOHC Four (my father had some '69 750's back when he was in the Navy) Bike had been sitting for a year or so in his parents garage. I picked it up and after a couple rides the left crank seal started pissing oil. Pulled the motor and replaced both seals but never got the motor back in.....7 years later and a couple moves I found out trash got in the cylinders because I had never put the plugs back in.....I got pissed and let it sit until I had the time to deal with it.
My Background: Mechanical engineer working in the Power industry (Nuclear Power) I travel ALOT for work (pretty much every couple years it is a new project/location. I keep a base of operations (where my personal projects live....the CB, a RD400, 1962 Fairlane and a V8 S10) For my current work assignment I figured I would bring the CB since it travels alot easier than a full car and will not take much tool wise to work with (I did bring a small MIG and 4.5" grinder to detab the frame and weld on a couple new tabs for the solo seat/cowling)
The Plan: I won't call it a Cafe build as they do seem a little over done and I hate trying to fit that stereo type in that you have to have a certain part or color or whatever or the trend is. I am just building this the way I want to build it (I might cut some corners in buying something bolt on instead of fabbing as my time is limited and funds not as much) On hand/in the mail already are some Tarozzi rearsets, a forkbrace, new monza cap for the tank and that is about it.
- Relaced wheels (prob done by Buchanan's) size yet to be determined. Hubs and rims in black powder polished SS spokes.
- Forks will get some new tubes from Franks (don't wanna bother with eBay for used tubes that are bent or have some pitting) Looking to upgrade the valving. Lowers to get black PC also (I do have some spare lowers that might get polished and might end up on the bike instead)
- Dual SOHC front brakes. I kinda like the vintage look of them. Will get the centers PC'd and the disc drilled and ground. Calipers refreshed with new pistons, more powdercoat.
- Motor will be tore down and cleaned up, painted flat black and phillip heads replaced with small hex head bolts where I can (debating using a grey parkerized finish on the bolts) a spare set of side covers were polished 6 years ago and will just a refresh to go on the motor.
- Stock carbs (will get them refurbed) with stock boots to a custom airbox (prob a 2-piece Carbon deal with a cone filter up under the seat more)
- Solo seat/cowling with the standard electronics relo under it. Ballastic Battery, modern ATC fuse block, Dyna Ignition
- Tarozzi rearsets as mentioned.
Looking into muffler options (have a 4-1 on the bike now) to swap out the steel cased muffler for something smaller and/or lighter.
My garage in my rental has no power (need to pick up a couple extension cords so I can get some light out there) so pics will come tomorrow. I have already stripped down most of the bike (fusepanel is about the only think left on it right now) and have a couple sets of bars I want to test fit for when the rearsets get here later this week. I think I have an aerotech seat picked out along with a belly tray.
I am trying to fast track some of this build. I would like to get most all of the mock-up down before Feb 4th when I go into a refueling outage that will be running 2-3 months in length and will have pretty much ZERO time for the bike (kinda hoping that will be my send stuff out for powder/paint/refurb and assemble it all this spring)
