Topic: Pinkley's 73... First times a charm

[Pinkley]

Hello all! I'm going to make this my introduction/build thread so bare with me...

My name is Nate and I'm a proud owner of a 73 cb750. I've known for the past 2 years I wanted to build a CB cafe bike but just couldn't find one I wanted. One day my buddy called me and told me his dad was selling his bike. I've been bugging him for over a year to sell it to me. All It did was sit in the garage and collect dust. He was the original owner and use to ride this bike to and from Missouri and California. It has 87000 miles... So I went to talk to his dad about it and he told me to make an offer. Jokingly I offered him $500... And He accepted. An hour later it was sitting in my garage.


Before loading it up


Dumped some gas in it and put in a new battery. Surprisingly it fired right up. Let it run for about 20 minutes and then took it for a ride down the road.

Parked it and started the tear down



First thing I bought for the bike was a set of BikeMaster Clubmans bars... And decided I didn't like the feel of them. I'm sure my back wouldn't like the feel of them either. I think I'm going to go with some clip on's...


After a few ideas running through my head I wanted to make a custom oil tank.
I "borrowed" a few fuel filters from work.
Cut the top off the filter.


Mocked up




After debating it in my head, I've decided I'm not really feeling it. So I scrapped that idea.

It's trial and error so far!

Next thing I did was made the hard decision of cutting on the frame.
So I got this...


Fit...


And stick.




I know it's extended back I little farther than normal, but I'm going to make a 2 up seat so my wife can ride with me. Her ass isn't the smallest btw... Haha shhhh!

Well that's all I have for now. I wanted to wait to make this build thread until I actually so material to post. MANY plans for this bike! It is my first bike/bike build. I've been messing with cars since I was 16 and now I'm 27. Figured its time to learn something new.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nate,

If you don't like how your back and wrists feel with Clubmans, you might not like standard clipons.  I would recommend you get the Tarozzi high-rise or low-rise clipons from Fast from the Past.  If you don't like the feel of those, you might want to switch to drag bars.

[CB_Jeff]

....or check out the Norman Hyde M-bars....classic look and kind-ish on the back and wrists.

[SHORTROUND]

I used a set for a 550 with 4.5 cetermount; rotated them down a little and its really comfy. It has less drop than the 750 bars and fits tight to the triple.

[Pinkley]

Nate,

If you don't like how your back and wrists feel with Clubmans, you might not like standard clipons.  I would recommend you get the Tarozzi high-rise or low-rise clipons from Fast from the Past.  If you don't like the feel of those, you might want to switch to drag bars.

A buddy of mine has a 550 with clip on's. he has the fork tubes pulled up through the triples just enough to mount the clip on's on top. I thought it was a lot more comfortable for me than the clubmans. I might try that. 

It's going to be a trial and error build.

[Pinkley]

....or check out the Norman Hyde M-bars....classic look and kind-ish on the back and wrists.

I'll check them out. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Pinkley]

I used a set for a 550 with 4.5 cetermount; rotated them down a little and its really comfy. It has less drop than the 750 bars and fits tight to the triple.

Nice bike!
I messed with the angle quite a bit... I just didn't like the feel for some reason.

[Pinkley]

Finally got te bike broke completely down. I took the frame, swing arm, and oil tank to get sand blasted. Currently have the swing arm and oil tank in primer and curing. I have some tab removal to do yet with the frame and going to weld some small brackets for the rear blinkers I'm going to be using. I'll post up some pics when I actually get some good ones.

[Pinkley]

Here are some updated pics. It's not much but I'm getting there...

I got the frame, swing arm, and oil tank in primer for now. Letting it all hang in my basement while it cures. It has about 3 more days and I'll lay down the base coat then clear. I'm using the VHT rollbar and chassis paint. I buddy of mine used it on his bike frame a few years back. It still looks good to this day so I figured I'd give it a try.

[Pinkley]

Got the frame painted and cleared. Been having truck trouble so most of my time off has been towards working on it. So here is a #$%*ty pic of the frame...

[Pinkley]

I'll keep this short and sweet.
Oil tank is done!

[Greggo]

That's a nice blue..using the same for the tank and covers?

[Pinkley]

That's a nice blue..using the same for the tank and covers?

Thanks! I really love this color! I will be doin the fuel tank the same. I'm not going to run side covers. I really like the look of a bare oil tank. I'm workin on a custom battery and electronics tray which I will probably also do in blue.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Awesome looking blue!

[Raymax]

That is a really great color! Is it a factory (automotive) color?

[Bankerdanny]

Great color.

I had clubmans on my Enfield. They are great over 45 mph where the forward lean into the wind reduces the weight on your wrists, but less great in traffic. They are also not great when combined with standard footpegs and an um...less that flat stomach.

To test the position, sit in an office chair high enough so your knees are at a 90 degree angle and your thighs are parallell to the floor. Then lean forward until your torso is about 45 degrees to the tops of your legs. That is the Clubman position with standard pegs. Not being a Men's Health cover model myself, I can feel my stomach pressed against my legs in that position.

The CB750 is a bigger bike than the Enfield, and you may be smaller than my 6-4. But I found that once I was moving I almost always moved my feet back to the passenger pegs, similar to where they would have been if I had installed rear sets. That way the top of my legs were at more of a 90 degree angle to my torso like they would have been with regular bars. The forward lean made me feel much more secure when riding on twisty roads at a sporting pace too.

I also think the stretched out position of clubmans is actually easier on the back, at least if your feet are far enough back.

I am considering the M-bars on the bike I am planning right now. They seem like a great compromise.

[chris mcshifty]

Great color did it come for summit

[Pinkley]

Awesome looking blue!

hat is a really great color! Is it a factory (automotive) color?

Great color did it come for summit

Thanks for the complements guys!
This is actually a VHT High Temp paint. The base coat of the tank was the same flat aluminum as the frame. The blue is a Anodized spray that they have. After I get the fuel tank done it will all go to my buddy's shop (powder coats for living) and be baked in his massive oven.

[Pinkley]

Great color.

I had clubmans on my Enfield. They are great over 45 mph where the forward lean into the wind reduces the weight on your wrists, but less great in traffic. They are also not great when combined with standard footpegs and an um...less that flat stomach.

To test the position, sit in an office chair high enough so your knees are at a 90 degree angle and your thighs are parallell to the floor. Then lean forward until your torso is about 45 degrees to the tops of your legs. That is the Clubman position with standard pegs. Not being a Men's Health cover model myself, I can feel my stomach pressed against my legs in that position.

The CB750 is a bigger bike than the Enfield, and you may be smaller than my 6-4. But I found that once I was moving I almost always moved my feet back to the passenger pegs, similar to where they would have been if I had installed rear sets. That way the top of my legs were at more of a 90 degree angle to my torso like they would have been with regular bars. The forward lean made me feel much more secure when riding on twisty roads at a sporting pace too.

I also think the stretched out position of clubmans is actually easier on the back, at least if your feet are far enough back.

I am considering the M-bars on the bike I am planning right now. They seem like a great compromise.

I have sold my clubmans. Still debating what route to go as of now. I have a feeling It's going to be one of the last minute decisions. Haha
And I'm 5'9" 190lbs btw. 

[Pinkley]

Nate...a member on this board (jerry) is looking for the grab bar with the rear blinkers. Let me know if you want to sell it and I will PM him.
PS...paint is great.

I'd be more than happy to! They aren't in the beat of shape but are not junk. Have him pm me for some pics. I can get them first thing in the morning.

[Pinkley]

Just got a reply from Jerry and another member just sent him one. Thanks Nate.

  notta problem!!

[Pinkley]

Did a little work today.
Stripped the tank I got off eBay. It was a good buy for as good of shape as it was in.





...untill I stripped it down and found all kinds of filler under that pretty paint. It was expected where the badges mount but I found all kinds of little dents. And to top it all they put the filler over paint.



On the right side of the glare there is a Mickey Mouse shaped dent!


Using my new work station I built in the basement. 
All sanded down top and bottom. Washed with soap and water. Left some of the old filler. I beat on it with a rubber mallet and it didnt fall out so I'm going to let it be.


New filler!



I put it on rather thick. I have most of it knocked down and smoothed out. I need to get some spot putty tomorrow and hit a few little spots with it. Not bad for being my first filler job!

Hopefully tomorrow ill get it in primer and ready for a base coat.

[JC Blues]

Pinkley this build is looking awesome I will be another to say that color is the bees knees! Great work!!

[Pinkley]

Pinkley this build is looking awesome I will be another to say that color is the bees knees! Great work!!

thanks man! its coming along very slow. i have a crazy work schedule (8-12's) that keeps me from putting more time into it than i would like. so i just work on it on my days off.

[iron_worker]

8-12s ... yikes.

IW