Topic: Gold Digger '72 cb500 klunker to funker

[vonvendetta]

Today starts the thread of something I have never done before. I have been riding bikes for a few years including drag strip but I have never worked on them other than changing oil.
Originally I was looking to build a brat style bike but I stumbled upon this site and squirley's bike. i fell in love with the cafe style so went looking for a cafe type bike. I wanted to spend max $500 for a bike but the problem was most that I found didn't have a title. North Florida, rather Florida in general is a bit more pricey. Well, I found a '72 cb500 that was owned by a retired Navy guy with only 8,200 miles. Looked rough and has not been started in 8 years.



Look at that shield, massive blue horns, 550 cover lol, brushed on blue paint on parts of the frame, rust everywhere, spray painted tank, tape for shock covers. Doesn't run but the *cough, the guy said it did before he parked it in the garage. $500 and it is mine with TITLE!

Getting it all torn apart. Took a while with those rusty nuts and ... odd extensions? Not sure what this guy was thinking.

[Vinhead1957]

The beginning of an obsession

[vonvendetta]

Started by cleaning up the frame. I ended up buying aircraft paint stripper and that is the sh**! It took of the brushed on blue paint along with 3 other layers within a few hours of that and sanding. Once I sanded it all down I started cutting all the tabs inside the triangle, back hump, center stand, and any other tab that wasn't required anymore. Lastly I primered it white.
Going to do the frame, swingarm, tank and kickstand in white. Gold Gsxr forks, and blue-ish metallic paint for the motor will look clean. Was also thinking about putting a fat and thin strip of gold of-centered down the tank. Not sure about that yet though.



The norm is black frame and so on, but I really want this to pop and be different.

[vonvendetta]

K, this is where a lot of people have questions. FRONT END CONVERSION? WHY YES!  It was actually really easy. I found a set of gsxr 1000 forks and triple tree from an '01. I then went to allballsracing.com and clicked on front end conversion where I then selected my bike. Scrolling down the list it showed me all the dimensions and which bearings I would need to complete the conversion. I ordered the top and bottom which also came with the race for each side.
You knock out the old race on the cb frame. To get the bottom on just take a flat head from the top and just do the opposite for the top race.
Then remove the race and bearing from the stearing stem of the gsxr. I had to use a dremel to cut it off but it wasn't hard at all.
I then put the new race that I got and with a pvc pipe hammered those into the frame.
Put on the bearing on the bottom stem, push it through and then just screw it on the top. At first the bottom bearing won't fit on the stem but as you screw the top tree on it will press it in.

The wheel is just the stock wheel sitting there. Not actually attached. Is there a way I can use the stock wheel?

[vonvendetta]

My buddy is building a bobber and he has a garage so he is always helping me out with my project. I ordered a carb gasket kit for like $44 for all 4 to replace those rock hard seals, had to pry them out of there. We took the carbs apart and soaked them for a few days in carb cleaner, they were mostly clean to begin with but wanted to make sure there was nothing hiding in there. I also got a set of emgo pod filters on ebay for $30. Had velocity stacks on it before but without the proper jets... Shame on you old guy. 

Got them all cleaned up and put back together as well.

[vonvendetta]

Only have 1 other post after this. I should have started this a few weeks ago when I got the bike but I have just been ... lazy... 

Here are a few pictures of what the engine looked like before I started cleaning it up. Some pretty rough build up.


Then here it is with some minor cleaning. Still took many many hours but I wanted to make sure the paint job was not just going to stick but look smooth and last.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

K, this is where a lot of people have questions. FRONT END CONVERSION? WHY YES!  It was actually really easy. I found a set of gsxr 1000 forks and triple tree from an '01. I then went to allballsracing.com and clicked on front end conversion where I then selected my bike. Scrolling down the list it showed me all the dimensions and which bearings I would need to complete the conversion. I ordered the top and bottom which also came with the race for each side.
You knock out the old race on the cb frame. To get the bottom on just take a flat head from the top and just do the opposite for the top race.
Then remove the race and bearing from the stearing stem of the gsxr. I had to use a dremel to cut it off but it wasn't hard at all.
I then put the new race that I got and with a pvc pipe hammered those into the frame.
Put on the bearing on the bottom stem, push it through and then just screw it on the top. At first the bottom bearing won't fit on the stem but as you screw the top tree on it will press it in.

The wheel is just the stock wheel sitting there. Not actually attached. Is there a way I can use the stock wheel?

If you want to use the stock wheel, you will need to make a custom axle OR use the GSX-R axle and adapt the hub. Or you can use a Harley hub to fit the new axle and rebuild the wheel.

[vonvendetta]

Last update for the night. We did a compression test and found them range from 119-123. Seems to be very consistent but maybe a little bit low. After getting it all cleaned up I set it up on some logs and started with the primer. Glad I spent the days cleaning it well. I think the first couple coats already look great. I ended up painting the chain cover just to see what the color would look like. I think it will be an awesome combo.

The budget is to be under $1,300 when completed. At this point I am around the $850-900 mark. Gets expensive when having to buy $50 here and $50 there :p. Still gives me around $400 more for paint supplies, front wheel options, and rear bearing rebuild.

[Mo]

Don't worry too much about compression numbers yet. They don't seem too low, and for a bike thats been sitting for a while, this can be normal. Spray some marvel oil into the cylinders through the spark plug holes, and after riding it for a while, check the numbers again. If they're still very low, it could be time for a time end rebuild, but until then its difficult to know.

[vonvendetta]

Don't worry too much about compression numbers yet. They don't seem too low, and for a bike thats been sitting for a while, this can be normal. Spray some marvel oil into the cylinders through the spark plug holes, and after riding it for a while, check the numbers again. If they're still very low, it could be time for a time end rebuild, but until then its difficult to know.

Glad you say that. Had a few friends that ride sport bikes telling me that it was way too low while others said as long as it is consistent I am fine. I am going to take your advice and do that!

[Retro Rocket]

K, this is where a lot of people have questions. FRONT END CONVERSION? WHY YES!  It was actually really easy. I found a set of gsxr 1000 forks and triple tree from an '01. I then went to allballsracing.com and clicked on front end conversion where I then selected my bike. Scrolling down the list it showed me all the dimensions and which bearings I would need to complete the conversion. I ordered the top and bottom which also came with the race for each side.
You knock out the old race on the cb frame. To get the bottom on just take a flat head from the top and just do the opposite for the top race.
Then remove the race and bearing from the stearing stem of the gsxr. I had to use a dremel to cut it off but it wasn't hard at all.
I then put the new race that I got and with a pvc pipe hammered those into the frame.
Put on the bearing on the bottom stem, push it through and then just screw it on the top. At first the bottom bearing won't fit on the stem but as you screw the top tree on it will press it in.

The wheel is just the stock wheel sitting there. Not actually attached. Is there a way I can use the stock wheel?

Not quite that simple, you now have reduced trail due to the smaller offset of the GSXR triple trees, you have reduced the offset by around 20mm which gives you more trail which will slow the steering response of the front end, some people that have done this mod report the sensation of the bike wanting to fall into corners. I use custom made triple clamps on my conversions to allow the bike to retain close to the stock offset. It gets quite confusing at times but basically, you don't want to screw too much with the stock geometry of the bike unless you really understand what the changes effect.... Not trying to talk you out of it, just telling it how it is....

[vonvendetta]

Not quite that simple, you now have reduced trail due to the smaller offset of the GSXR triple trees, you have reduced the offset by around 20mm which gives you more trail which will slow the steering response of the front end, some people that have done this mod report the sensation of the bike wanting to fall into corners. I use custom made triple clamps on my conversions to allow the bike to retain close to the stock offset. It gets quite confusing at times but basically, you don't want to screw too much with the stock geometry of the bike unless you really understand what the changes effect.... Not trying to talk you out of it, just telling it how it is....

I was actually reading that in a post where a person went in depth about the rake and so on. I was a bit worried about that but have heard that people will swap the back out to a modern swingarm to help with that. I have been riding for only about 6 years which were mostly modern street bikes. The stock forks were completely rusted and pitted to the point where I would have to buy a whole new setup. Really the only reason I went with the conversion instead of rebuild. Think a damper would help?

[Retro Rocket]

Yes, there's a lot of misinformation on the web about these swaps, everything to do with suspension has fairly critical measurements, even choppers, or you just couldn't ride some of them. A longer swingarm may even up the steering, as in slow the rear input as well but once again its a measurement, not just throwing in a modern swingarm, which are usually up to 6 inches longer than stock, far too long for a good handling bike. The 500-550 actually have a longer arm than the 750's which a lot of people don't know, if i were to go longer on the rear i would be looking for something an inch longer or round abouts, There's a guy {Carpy} that makes boxed 750 swingarms in 2 inch over, on a 500-550 they would be about an inch longer. In saying all that, I would leave it as it is for now anyway, build the bike, ride it and see how it feels to you, if you don't ride aggressively at all it may feel ok to you. You shouldn't need to use a steering damper as the longer trail adds stability, so it should not need one. Once again. thats will depend on how the bike feels to you, i use dampers on all my bikes but i still like to ride quite hard now and again and i have used them since the early 80's on every bike i've owned....

[vonvendetta]

Time to add another progress post. I ended up cleaning all the bolts so I wouldn't have to buy each one. Came out like new on the brush wheel. Also painted the exhaust with the VHT header paint. Bought some white exhaust wrap so that will look great. Then finally painted the engine. Letting it cure for a week and then clear coat goes on. So hopefully I'll have the engine back in the frame within two weeks.

comparing cleaned shock vs not

[Brady]

did u get the bike running before you started doing all that work?

[vonvendetta]

Ha, no. It needed gas tank cleaned, rewired, carbs rebuilt. It would turn over so I hope it does. 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[vonvendetta]

Between last night and tonight we ended up getting a lot of work done.

We cleaned and painted the carbs. This color looks just awesome. It is a gold without the ghetto.


Next we started with mounting the motor.

You can see in the above image we still have to work on the tank but we already gave it the knee indents. The entire thing will be done with a rattle can. I have to say, I am very impressed by the quality of VHT and the dubli-color exact match. The exact match clear coat comes out strong and clear, unlike a few others I tried. Some of you might say that I should have just gotten it powder coated but as of right now I am at about $120 for all paint cost.

Hopefully this week I am will be able to get it wired up and finish up on the tank. Total cost right now I am at only $1,100. I am looking to spend about another $300 which only puts me over by $100 of my original goal.

[vonvendetta]

So yesterday we put on the rear tire but am having second thoughts. I am thinking about trying a modern swing arm instead to upgrade to disc brakes and extend it 1" to make up for the front conversion. I have a zx-6rr swingarm from my 04 which fits quite well but I would need to convert it to monoshock and am also worried about sprocket/chain tension.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[vonvendetta]

Today was a day to try things out. I put on the rear swingarm from my 04 zx6rr. That and a small items I have left from a part out. I flipped the swingarm upside down to use the current tabs for the shocks. I had to either bend the chock bracket or cut the swingarm bracket a bit so I decided to cut down a bit so it still looks ok. It fits nicely but the problem is the chain clearance. I think I would need to add a spacer and a bigger sprocket onto the motor side to make sure it clears and that the chain is aligned properly. I will toy around with it a bit more to see if I can get it to work out.


I also just threw on part of the rearset. I think I can get that to work easily as well if I just make a small bracket.

Here is a vulcan guage and a neutral light I will try to use.

[Kyne]

Pretty sweet garage your buddy has subscribed for updates so I don't have to keep looking to see if you've updated this.

[Greenmeanie]

I'm working on doing the same front end conversion on my CB500 and I'm having trouble finding a speedometer drive that will fit the 1inch axle. Have you addressed this issue yet on your project?


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[vonvendetta]

Been a while since I updated because of wiring it up and getting it ready for a start. Well, today we took the carbs apart again to check and found the idle jet clogged completely. Cleaned it out, put it on and BAMMMMMM!!!!!!!

Honda cb500 with gsxr swap First start

[vonvendetta]

I'm working on doing the same front end conversion on my CB500 and I'm having trouble finding a speedometer drive that will fit the 1inch axle. Have you addressed this issue yet on your project?


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No idea at the moment. Was going to try a bike speedo and see if it works till I figure something out. :p

[vonvendetta]

Recently I have been very very busy with everything but the bike.
I know have it start on first try and it idles pretty good. The problem is when I give it any gas at all, no matter how little, it jumps right up to 5k rpms. It won't drop even if I return the throttle. What should I do next? P.S. Yes, that is a German accent.

Thanks!!

Honda cb500 Idles high

[bjbuchanan]

air leaks at the carb to head rubbers and check your advancer mechanism. A sticky advancer or weak springs could cause the idle to hang because there isn't enough spring tension to return the advancer to lower