Topic: 1972 CB750 Steampunk(ish) Bobber Thing

[ozcaferacer]

It looks cool all raw, and this bike is so beyond the skills of mere mortals to be sure..but..I can't..not..throw in my opinion to finish it off in the way it deserves..please paint the body parts.  No bike of the era it represents would be left bare metal.  Think of all those great looking steam locomotives and how beautifully they were all painted and festooned.

You left out you are a painter, of course you would paint it!

Most locomotives stay out in the weather 24/7, I doubt this bike will. Apples/oranges.

I am indeed a painter, so yes, I would paint it.  Just because the steam locomotives stayed out in the weather 24/7 doesn't negate the fact they were painted beautifully as were all the passenger cars they pulled.  Think Orient Express.  I also look back on all those early 20th century Indians, Harleys, and other brands that had great colors on them adorned with hand painted pin-stripes and maybe some gold leaf.  To me, the paint would compliment the copper and brass parts and make it stand out even more  I love this bike, maybe one of my favorites of all that have been featured on this site.  The amount of work and attention to detail is astounding.  This gentleman is entitled to do what he wants and it will be loved by all who see it..either way.

I agree with nvr2old's view that a well thought out and executed paint job on much of the raw metal would compliment, and probably enhance, the copper, brass and leather.
I can also see the bare metal argument too, as the skills used to create this utterly gorgeous piece of machinery are well displayed in it's raw state. 
However, a "distressed" or "patina" look, both being fake, would just cheapen and make a mockery of what is a functional piece of art.
Finally, someone that has created this beautiful machine can surely be trusted to make the right decision and I look forward to seeing what that decision will be.

Thankyou Noddy78 for sharing your build with us.
   

[nvr2old]

Thanks for the support, Oz.  I just keep going back to this color scheme on a Triumph I painted.  To me this is such a beautiful, organic color that would fit so well with what has been done on this bike.  Hard to see, but there's a gold pin stripe between the white and the very fine metallic green.  Subtle, but in gold leaf, would look so cool in my opinion.

P1010002 by P1010007 by [img width=458
height=600]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7808/47270453001_931315a492_o.jpg[/img]P1010008 by P1010008 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos

[Stev-o]

nvr2old - you are truly a gifted painter, this tank ^^^ as well as others I've seen that you painted look superb.

But, when I think of "Steampuck[ish]" in my mind, I dont see envision fresh metallic modern paint work.

Obviously, everyone is going to have their own opinion and ultimately it is up to the own on what direction he will go.

[nvr2old]

Thanks for the compliment, Steve.  The metallic in that green is so very fine it's almost non-existent.  I guess the point I was trying to make was an organic color like that green (I agree, no metallic),  would look so good on this particular bike, the 2-tone only makes it better.  I'll stop pushing..I just enjoy this bike so much I would almost paint it for free just to be a part of it.

[Noddy78]

I'm planning to leave the painting decision until it's back together again with the frame done I think, but at this stage I'm leaning towards bare steel. Trying to keep with the ethos of everything looking like what it is.

So lots been happening that doesn't actually look like much... but all the fabrication is complete. All the timber is finished (and buffed and waxed to #$%*ing SHINY!). And I've been playing with bluing and browning the frame, and I'm now on to painting everything. Hopefully this week will be finishing off all the painting and I'll be time to go back together!

Frame butchery (blued, browned and first coat of paint):







All the other metal bits also blued, browned and undercoated:



Handlebars with the same treatment and then final satin coat, so this will be the final effect on the frame (and other bits and bobs - hopefully... all going well):





Shiny, shiny battery box...



And of course everyone's battery box should be leather lined:



So, that's the state of play.. nearly there! Nearly...

[calj737]

I spy an M Unit in the background... Planning on running push buttons on the bars? If for some reason you also plan on running the M Button, ditch it. It only creates problems as you’re running alloy bars.

[Noddy78]

Hey Cal, yep M-Unit, yep push buttons on the bars, and yep M-Button. Handlebars are steel though... that said I've installed the M-button under the indicator panel/handlebar clamp which is ally, as the cables for the inverted levers and routed through the handlebars. I've had it all wired up and working, what's the thought behind ditching the M-button? Is it generally sketchy and/or cantankerous?

[calj737]

Can be cantankerous, especially if not isolated within the steel bars.

It’s been my experience that wiring directly to the MU is much more flexible. For instance, if you decide you wish to change the orientation of the push buttons for ergonomics or intuition, you simply move the wire at the left side of the unit to a new location. Done. With the MButton, you have to cut and splice two wires to do so. In the end, it’s not a great deal of wire savings with the MButton anyway and with their tendency for flaky behavior, I’ve abandoned using them.

[Noddy78]

Ah cool, thanks Cal. I've actually wired the buttons via plugs to the M-Button, so if I want to change the button functions around it's just plug and play at the handlebar mount set up. I'll leave it as is for now, but if it starts playing up I should be able to run the extra wires without too much drama and ditch the M-Button.

[Bankerdanny]

Hey Noddy. No updates in 6 weeks. You are in the home stretch. How's it going?

[Noddy78]

Heh, tell me about it! They say the last 5% takes half the time don’t they? I have got it all back together but had a few issues with the tank paint so had to strip it and start again. I’ve also been waiting for a few of the last bits to arrive by post and to finalise the electrics. Given I get about a half day a week to work on it, and for the last 3 weeks I haven’t had any days, things are a bit slow! But it’s almost there, a couple more coats of clear on the tank and then it’s just finalising the wiring. So soon, very soon... just in time for winter...

[spotty]

And that's taswegian winter .....

[Noddy78]

Baby steps...

[nvr2old]

Is that a chrome paint application to the tank and fenders..?

[Noddy78]

No, clear coated bare steel.

[Gurp]

Noddy how do you get that nice color on your frame are you just heating the metal to the point of color Distortion with a rosebud or?

[Noddy78]

No, it's a couple of gunsmithing chemicals: Mark Lees Express Brown #2 (https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/blackening-browning/express-brown-2-prod41671.aspx) and Birchwood Casey Perma Blue (https://birchwoodcasey.com/content/perma-blue®-liquid-gun-blueing-3-oz-32-oz). The browning first after heating the steel, then a few coats of the bluing solution. Then a few coats of Penetrol, then a few coats of marine satin polyurethane.

[Noddy78]

And that's taswegian winter .....

Almost as bad a Melbourne one! But not quite... 

[dave500]

ahh!gunsmithing chemicals,keep ya powder dry,ye ram each open end of ye handle bars with black powder then jam a lead ball on top wrapped in cheese cloth,dare any land lubber to pass then ye let him have it when in range beside ye,be sure the wind is favourable to not blow the wick out!

[Syscrush]

Baby steps...

God damn, Noddy. 

[Noddy78]

OK, final wiring almost done and we have lights (again)! Hopefully this week it's getting it all into the battery box and hooked up to the m-unit and we (should) be away! Also been playing with tarnishing all the brass and copper bits as it was kind of looking like a Christmas tree with them all shiny...

[nvr2old]

This bike is a beauty to behold.  I know I've said it before, your attention to detail is mind boggling.  Most full-on restorations, (which are cool in their own right) have a specific place for every nut and bolt, where every color and texture is pre-determined, are a breeze compared to this undertaking.  Few threads have me continually salivating for updates after all these years quite like this project.

[Noddy78]

Thanks so much mate, I really appreciate the kind words. Oddly enough I'm not so sure about it all now, I may have gone a touch overboard... Aaanyway, I just hope the damn thing goes at this stage!

[Bankerdanny]

Noddy, PLEASE do a video walk around of the finished bike so we can take it all in.

[dave500]

let it be I who lauches the champagne bottle against this fair lady of the road upon its solid hull,for it is one hell of a masterpiece of dedication let alone engineering!,safe tidings to all who ride astride this marvel of complexity.