Author Topic: CB500 73 The Redfire Cafe (Read 5746 times)

Leafshutter · « **on:** April 18, 2013, 09:24:19 AM »

Hi all!

Time to get my own project on the forum, been working on a CB500 -73 that I bought in september last year, got bitten by the bug looking at all nice builds on this site and had to get my own idea of a mild cafe build going

The bike was in decent shape with the engine running ok, had been sitting in a garage for the last 5 years according the PO

Someone did put a lot of love on this bike in the late seventies for sure, fibreglass front and rear fender in some "custom" looking style
Handmade seat by a guy name Bengt Sandin who did aftermarket seats for the CB´s here in Sweden back in the days
Marzocchi rear suspension, high handlebars and a Swedish made 4-1 system from the seventies

Got the bike in to my garage and started to get her into small pices...

Leafshutter · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:30:51 AM »

Engine out and preparing for paint

Frame back from powdercoting , also had my front lowers powder coated in matte black

Frame back on the jack and new swing fitted

Front forks on the bike again

Time for a Beer!

strynboen · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:34:13 AM »

skål i tuborg...fine bike,, lækre detaljer/nice old parts

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:43:33 AM »

That's a great looking seat. Are you going to reuse it?

Leafshutter · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:43:55 AM »

Thanks

Nothing better than a Tuborg Grøn in the garage

Leafshutter · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2013, 09:55:36 AM »

Bankerdanny

No I am not using the seat on the bike, but I think i will hang on to it as it´s a pice of Swedish bike history

Leafshutter · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2013, 10:58:52 AM »

Engine back in the fram and Tarozzi rearsets on

Rear wheel bearings was a pain to get out... some minor injuries involved :-)

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2013, 05:24:35 PM »

Really clean bike. Nice paint and the engine looks pretty sanitary. I like the swing arm, triples, clipons and rearsets. Looking forward to the rest of your build.

Leafshutter · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2013, 02:51:57 AM »

Thanks,

The paint was in fairly good shape but new paintjob on the whole bike now... but I am keeping it red

Leafshutter · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2013, 02:55:42 AM »

Clip-ons, new controls for the switches and brake

Time to prep for paint... testing out the paint scheme using tape just to get a hint of it

And here are some just painted parts, Yummy!

kghost · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2013, 04:49:24 AM »

Very nice pictures and craftsmanship!

Glaede · « **Reply #11 on:** April 19, 2013, 05:06:24 AM »

Nice bike!

I'm in the middle of a very similar project and therefore looking for a cafe racer seat. What type of seat is yours and where did you buy it?

Men projekt og hej fra Danmark ;-)

Leafshutter · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2013, 07:49:06 AM »

@Glaede

The fibreglass seat is from caferace.com

But there is a much better story about it...

The mold was made by FunJimmy, a member here on the forum that has inspired me a lot by his build "the Interceptor" one of the most beautiful bikes I have seen and a big reason that i started my build

Did make the set pan/bottom of 3mm aluminum

Here the bottom side ready to be mounted

And the "seat" itself was pretty much done in the kitchen

Leafshutter · « **Reply #13 on:** April 22, 2013, 12:36:16 PM »

Parts back on the bike

The Motogadget Cronoclassic is alive!

It tok a lot of head scratching to get all the new switches and controls to work with the original wiring... but I think that ME was biggest problem... to many wires and different colors to keep in the head at the same time :-)

Leafshutter · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2013, 02:58:33 AM »

On wheels again!

new 4-1 exhaust fitted

It has been such a fun winter with this bike!

First time that I have done a tear down and build up on a bike and I have learned a lot on the way, this forum is a gold mine and a great inspiration!

strynboen · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2013, 06:29:10 AM »

super sport cool...this alu rim are they 18" rear and 19" motor cross or how faund you them..or are the photo just looks like alu rim
the closest i have to find the right stuff are old virehveeled yamaha rd..

is there a tudur batteri in the old volvo140 ;)can see it are a 1969-1972 modell

FunJimmy · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2013, 06:47:09 AM »

Quote from: Leafshutter on April 19, 2013, 07:49:06 AM

@Glaede

The fibreglass seat is from caferace.com

But there is a much better story about it...

The mold was made by FunJimmy, a member here on the forum that has inspired me a lot by his build "the Interceptor" one of the most beautiful bikes I have seen and a big reason that i started my build

Did make the set pan/bottom of 3mm aluminum

Thanks for the plug and kind words.
I'm honored to have inspired and influenced such a beautiful bike, so far from home.

Cheers
Jimmy

Leafshutter · « **Reply #17 on:** April 23, 2013, 07:00:49 AM »

Hi Strynboen!

They are wide shouldered Morad/Akront rims 3.0”x 18" rear and 2.50”x 18” front

Tires are Avon Roadrider 130/70 rear and 110/80 front

Leafshutter · « **Reply #18 on:** April 23, 2013, 07:12:06 AM »

Thanks FunJimmy,

Means a lot coming from you!

RAFster122s · « **Reply #19 on:** April 23, 2013, 08:11:54 AM »

Very nice build. Should draw a lot of admiring gazes and comments.

brandEn · « **Reply #20 on:** April 23, 2013, 08:15:17 AM »

sweet ride!

Leafshutter · « **Reply #21 on:** April 26, 2013, 03:22:06 AM »

Thanks!

Started her up a couple of days ago and what a great feeling, have some leaking from the carbs that I have to fix but soon I am going for the first testride

Here is a vid of the bike running

Honda CB 500 cafe

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #22 on:** April 26, 2013, 03:36:42 AM »

Very well done, beautiful bike....

Garystratos201 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2013, 06:00:56 AM »

Sounds wickedly sweet!!!.............Gary

syverter · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2013, 06:09:32 AM »

Awesome bike! Have fun!

Mercutiojb · « **Reply #25 on:** April 26, 2013, 06:23:33 AM »

I'm loving the look of that seat! You really nailed it

strynboen · « **Reply #26 on:** April 26, 2013, 08:14:23 AM »

great it runs...nov ..you have tubes on the overflow..so the paint job not are get destr...even it have gas safe klear coat it can be pittet ower time

Leafshutter · « **Reply #27 on:** May 08, 2013, 02:23:02 AM »

Finally got the time to go for a real ride on the bike, got the leaking carbs sorted... replaced the o-rings in the carbs

Have pods on the bike and Carpys 4-1 system and running a bit ruff... guessing I need to step up a bit on the jets

The pods where on the bike when I bought it and I have seen that using pod filters is not so good on these bikes... but if anyone have a suggestion on jetting please share

It did run fine with the pods before, but the 4-1 system that was on the bike when I bought it was much more restrective...

stuartni · « **Reply #28 on:** May 08, 2013, 05:00:39 AM »

great build and great looking/ sounding bike at the end well done

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Author Topic: CB500 73 The Redfire Cafe (Read 5746 times)