Topic: 1972 CB750 Steampunk(ish) Bobber Thing

[spotty]

just a thought, is there some sort of clear gel that you could use for padding with a clear vinyl 'skin' ? i know there are clear vinyls that are the same as or equivalent to normal seat vinyl

vinyl - you may see something you like here...

https://www.google.com.au/search?biw=1588&bih=742&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=-NkQW8fvHMar8QWLtq_ICw&q=clear+vinyl+skirt&oq=clear+vinyl+&gs_l=img.1.2.0l10.398498.400068.0.404894.6.4.0.2.2.0.640.1200.2-1j1j0j1.3.0....0...1c.1.64.img..1.5.1213....0.66CkQljV1k8

gel - sort of like this, this is just the first i found but bigger slabs must be out there

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-Pair-Of-Woman-Ladies-Girls-New-Clear-Gel-Silicone-Cushion-High-Quality-Soft-Shoe-Pads/32376028293.html

and of course dome headed brass upholstery tacks to nail it all down

https://www.google.com.au/search?biw=1588&bih=742&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=j9sQW4zIAYGo8QXZi76YCQ&q=brass+dome+head+upholstery+tacks&oq=brass+dome+head+upholstery+tacks&gs_l=img.3...1091804.1113595.0.1113995.32.29.0.3.3.0.282.4356.0j8j13.21.0....0...1c.1.64.img..8.11.1788...0j0i67k1j0i24k1.0.HkYA3EHtL28

all in all spectacular work though

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

At least there won't be splinters! 

[Noddy78]

Is the cover to be one piece,  or a open groove down the middle ?

I was considering some kind of two-piece upholstery. Still mulling on that...

vinyl - you may see something you like here...

Hmm.. I do indeed.. not sure how much pink will work on the bike though. Steering away from plastic as much as possible though, and would probably end up looking more like:

[jgger]

^^^^^Now THAT'S funny!

[Noddy78]

Seat's almost there, just needs some upholstering. Might sculpt some of the timber a bit more once I get the upholstery on there, but I'll wait and see how it looks. Oh, and I'll swap out the clear tail light for a red one I think, the clear looks a bit odd to me.

[Noddy78]

So finally got the upholstery done, in a nice Kangaroo leather... Bloody nightmare it was though... The wife and I ended up spending a good 12 hours last weekend going hard at it, but it resulted in a happy ending... We did it, and re did it, and re did it, about 5 times in the end I think, trying to get everything just right, trying get the right feel for how much foam, and what density, and getting the bastard leather to work the way I wanted, but we got there in the end. So now it's varnishing the timber time and hunting down some nice buttons to finish it off.

[Stev-o]

The wife and I ended up spending a good 12 hours last weekend going hard at it,
but it resulted in a happy ending...
We did it, and re did it, and re did it, about 5 times in the end I think, trying to get everything just right, trying get the right feel...

Are we talking about the seat??!!

'roo leather, who knew?  Looks good!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

The wife and I ended up spending a good 12 hours last weekend going hard at it,
but it resulted in a happy ending...
We did it, and re did it, and re did it, about 5 times in the end I think, trying to get everything just right, trying get the right feel...

Are we talking about the seat??!!

'roo leather, who knew?  Looks good!

Yeah, Noddy -- glad you got so much practice in with the wife! 

Kangaroo leather is super durable and requires less thickness compared to cowhide.  Professional race leathers (in GP and Superbike) use kangaroo leather because it has better abrasion resistance with thinner leather, resulting in lighter more flexible leathers.  But -- they are pricier than cowhide.

[dave500]

 I hope no kangaroos were harmed in making that seat! and you better have used recycled road kill roos as they are tenderised by b doubles to the point of being softer than kidskin,"whats that skip?someone just sat on ya face?"

[nvr2old]

Your attention to detail and to stay with a period look continues.  That seat upholstery looks like something you'd see in an old doctor's office or even a 19th century brothel.  Perfect.

[754]

I am thinking a 3/8 or 1/2 radius on lower edge of wood wil, give it a softer smoother look.

[Noddy78]

Yeah, Noddy -- glad you got so much practice in with the wife! 

That's what I keep telling her, practice, practice, practice!

Kangaroo leather is super durable and requires less thickness compared to cowhide.

Yep, it's apparently really good toughness vs thickness, I just think the hide I got was just a bit too thick for ease of pleating (not overly known for it's furniture applications... not sure how many roo hide couches are out there!?). But I reckon if I ever bin this thing, the seat will hold up better than just about anything else... that thing is solid!

I hope no kangaroos were harmed in making that seat!

I'll be honest, I think at least one of them might have had a bit of a bad day... or is at least feeling a tad cold...

That seat upholstery looks like something you'd see in an old doctor's office or even a 19th century brothel.

Same, same...

I am thinking a 3/8 or 1/2 radius on lower edge of wood wil, give it a softer smoother look.

Yeah, I toyed around with how much to radius the edge. A few things impact it though, I didn't want it rounded off where the pivot mount attaches as it would look a bit 'floaty', and I couldn't really round it off where the brake light is as there's not enough meat in the timber, so I ended up kind of sculpting the leg inserts a bit (can't really tell from the photos) and sort of grading up to the pivot mount and the rear section. Might be able to see it better once it's varnished, but it is pretty subtle.

[Gurp]

It just keeps getting nicer and nicer

[KB02]

Recently back on the boards after a long hiatus and new to this thread. I love the steam punk theme. I was thinking of doing a Steam punk cafe for my next bike, but then I had kids, yada, yada...

LOVE that seat! Looking great.

Oh, and I'll swap out the clear tail light for a red one I think, the clear looks a bit odd to me.

I would agree with the red lens, too.

[Noddy78]

Brakes time! Best make sure this thing will stop.. if it ever actually goes...

[Noddy78]

A few other bits and bobs...

[dave500]

ahh with a machine such as this I would expect to see the finest imported asbestos used for the brake material?

[Noddy78]

I was thinking maybe a bit of 2x4 bolted in the middle?

[dave500]

asbestos impregnated 2x4?like the smell in the old days when trains pulled up to the platform.

[nvr2old]

The spirit of Jules Verne inhabits your soul....love this bike.

[Noddy78]

Brake lines and indicator mounted (Not indicators... only one done so far)! Indicator mounts courtesy of me ol' Dad and his mate with a lathe. Pretty much only number plate mount, control cables, tank and electrics to go!

[RAFster122s]

The front MC is pretty crazy...cable operated mc controlling the MC hydraulics. That is going to be some funky feedback at the lever.

That indicator globe is quite gorgeous...spun formed or cut from copper on the lathe?

Spin formed parts are unique and I am told are not super difficult techniques to learn with just a little practice you can start turning out useable parts once you quickly get the hang of  working with the metal.  What kind of bulb are you using behind that huge magnifying lens?

David

[Syscrush]

Hard to think that this build had so much controversy at its beginning over 4 years ago! Keep at it, Noddy.

With every bit of progress, I feel more proud of being an early defender of this project.

That's gonna have to be my claim to fame, because I'll never be capable of actually doing work to this standard. Keep up the great work, Noddy.

[Noddy78]

He did a lovely job turning that globe 

That indicator globe is quite gorgeous...spun formed or cut from copper on the lathe?

I think there is some slight confusion here... the indicators themselves are old copper wine goblets (trawling back through 30 pages of #$%*-fighting to find the post): http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,136511.msg1672308.html#msg1672308  Dad's mate lathed up the mounts, not the indicators themselves.

The front MC is pretty crazy...cable operated mc controlling the MC hydraulics. That is going to be some funky feedback at the lever.

Yeah, not idea how it's all going to feel, but 80s Beemers and some Yamahas did it, so we'll just have to see.

With every bit of progress, I feel more proud of being an early defender of this project.

Heh, thanks. It was nice to have a few folks on my side...

[Bankerdanny]

The turn signal housing is amazing. I hope you plan on entering some shows when you are done because I see a lot of trophies and magazine features in this bike's future.

Do you think that the hard line running over the fender will push the caliper a bit to the left and cause the inner pad to drag?

Since the line normally runs parallel to the caliper arm and attaches to a rubber line that wouldn't be an issue, but with your setup the line will want to pull the arm out unless your bend is such that it naturally pulls the caliper to the right like the spring on the adjuster screw.