Topic: 1972 CB750 Steampunk(ish) Bobber Thing

[tshrey]

Did you make your exhaust or buy it?  Your collector location is exactly where I want mine to be.

[Noddy78]

That's a bought one. Cycle X Rapid Fire http://www.cyclexchange.net/Performance%20Pipes%20Page.htm. Fitment is good, just sticks out further forward than I'd like (and from what I can tell, than it really needs to) so I'll have to modify it, but I'm sitting a fair bit lower than stock so I doubt it'd be an issue on stock heights.

[Stev-o]

Looks amazing Noddy...

[Noddy78]

Thanks Stev-o, I'm pretty stoked with how it's coming together! Still so much to do though...

[63SSRagtop]

Have some cool sight guages i was going to use on a steam punk build on a GS550ES.. find some of these old compressor sight guages and could actually use copper pipe or possibly water pipe with joints for the wiring.. i was going to actually make the frame look like it was sweated together and color it like copper pipe.. think that would have been super coolio!

[Noddy78]

Have some cool sight guages i was going to use on a steam punk build on a GS550ES.. find some of these old compressor sight guages and could actually use copper pipe or possibly water pipe with joints for the wiring.. i was going to actually make the frame look like it was sweated together and color it like copper pipe.. think that would have been super coolio!

Hey mate, so what happened to that build? Is it somewhere still in progress? I ended up copper-plating my last bike frame to get that look, looked great (IMHO). Oh, and funnily enough I have a sight-gauge that I'm hoping to use on this one too.

Ok, so house is nearly complete, work is getting a bit slow... must be bike time! I've been busy ordering all sorts of bits and bobs to get a good go at this thing over the Xmas break. I've got some custom fender blanks coming from Western Australia, I've shortened those pesky exhaust headers (just waiting on some bling before I weld them back together), stripped the tank and split it in two because I thought it was full of rust (it wasn't, but still needed to split it for other things anyway), learnt to lift-start TIG (how nice is TIG welding!?), and made some handlebar switches.. twice. Well, 1 and half times anyway. I think that's the bulk of progress so far...













Switch-housing attempt no. 1:









Sooo... attempt no. 2!













Success! And then my inherited el-cheapo bandsaw broke so I'm waiting on some new tyres for it to split the switch housings...

[Noddy78]

Yep, great idea. I've been fiddling around with silicon bronze for some of the brass stuff (with not whole lot of success there) but works beautifully on steel. I hadn't thought of using it for putting the tank back together as I am planning to copper-plate it, but doing a quick search looks like plating on silicon bronze is fine, so that's a great idea. Probably be good for repairing the badge dents and stuff too.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yep, great idea. I've been fiddling around with silicon bronze for some of the brass stuff (with not whole lot of success there) but works beautifully on steel. I hadn't thought of using it for putting the tank back together as I am planning to copper-plate it, but doing a quick search looks like plating on silicon bronze is fine, so that's a great idea. Probably be good for repairing the badge dents and stuff too.

I bet aesthetically, the silicon bronze rod fits right in with the rest of the project, too.  Win win.

[Noddy78]

Cheers, mate. The tank is so thin at that point anything above about 20amps seems to blow right through the damn thing though! The SilBr is working OK though I think.

Fenders arrived yesterday, need to be shaped and modified to fit right, but it's starting to look like a motorcycle (just dropped a few other bits on there for mock-up):

[nvr2old]

Call me crazy, but I think those fenders look really cool extra long.  Round off the ends, maybe roll a bead on the edge and you'll have a look unlike any other bike.

[JoeCooley]

Call me crazy, but I think those fenders look really cool extra long.  Round off the ends, maybe roll a bead on the edge and you'll have a look unlike any other bike.

I agree! This bike is looking sweet! Good Job Noddy!

[Noddy78]

Call me crazy, but I think those fenders look really cool extra long.  Round off the ends, maybe roll a bead on the edge and you'll have a look unlike any other bike.

Yep, I'm really liking the extra long fenders too, I reckon I'll go with it, clearances-willing. Turns out I got my measurements a bit skewiff so they're currently winging their way back to WA to get opened up bit more. Hopefully get them back in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, been busy over the holidays mostly with fabrication type stuff and haven't really taken many photos of the progress. Cut down the exhaust system and re-positioned and re-welded so it all fits nice and snug and hopefully leaves enough clearance for the front suspension travel (and added some extra bling). Finished off the switches and finally got the oil tank brazed together. Ended up getting me ol' dad to give me a hand on that one after a few botched attempts, but has come together beautifully (IMHO). Also been getting some more wooden bits together to start on the seat and for a few other detail pieces. Also been butchering the tank repair a few times, but I think I've got it sorted now, so that's the next thing to try and finish up. Hope is to have this thing on the road within 6 months... Aaannyyway, a few pics:

[Stev-o]

Beautiful workmanship...

[FuZZie]

yea X10 Stev-o!

[JoeCooley]

Just like artwork this thing is amazing. So beautiful

[Dr. Noisewater]

WHAT?!

[Noddy78]

Thanks guys, getting a bit itchy to get this thing done now it's starting to really take shape!

WHAT?!

What?

[Stev-o]

Thanks guys, getting a bit itchy to get this thing done now it's starting to really take shape!

Do you realize you started this thread nearly four years ago?!

[Dr. Noisewater]

Thanks guys, getting a bit itchy to get this thing done now it's starting to really take shape!

WHAT?!

What?

I was simply blown away by the craftsmanship. Beautiful bike

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Noddy78]

Do you realize you started this thread nearly four years ago?!

Sure do... 1 sold house, 1 bought house, 1 renovation, 4 house-moves in-between, 1 wedding, 1 honeymoon and 3 years without a garage later I'm actually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...

I was simply blown away by the craftsmanship. Beautiful bike

Heh, cool, thanks mate.

[tshrey]

You happen to remember what the starting dimensions of your switch blocks were?  I started to do this same thing but nothing looks as well proportioned as what you did.

[nvr2old]

I love this bike.  Have from the very start.  Truly magazine, show worthy..and it's not even done yet.  The attention to detail and the craftsmanship involved is just so beautiful.

[Noddy78]

You happen to remember what the starting dimensions of your switch blocks were?

Yup, started as a block of 50x50x25mm. Mostly because that was the smallest I could go and still mount the switches.

I love this bike.  Have from the very start.  Truly magazine, show worthy..and it's not even done yet.  The attention to detail and the craftsmanship involved is just so beautiful.

Hey, thanks mate. I got to the point of kicking my stupid tank all over the garage floor last night, not sure how much craftsmanship is in that, trying to patch this goddam thing is a nightmare, I swear it's basically made of tin foil... Might be looking like a custom tank in the near future...

[nvr2old]

You have the temperament of an artist.  That's the point of being one.  You will always have struggles to overcome, and you will always be your own worst critic.  Sorry, it goes with the territory..now get back to work on the tank.. 

[dave500]

nay ye land lubber,be I am noddys worst critic,the tank kicking is fair for these unchartered waters,never has a man gone so far to achieve as much distain as I for the brass and copper contraption before ye all,behold as I also admire the determination and skill full metal and iron work that is unfolding before our very eyes,carry on noddy,fair seas await you!