Author Topic: Vote for Bike of the Month - August 2014 (Read 6149 times)

cheftuskey121 · « **on:** July 15, 2014, 05:14:01 PM »

Alright guys, I spoke with Sam on the phone the other day and he is doing better. Finally got his glasses so I am sure he will be along to read and post. Love ya Sam! Now let's all vote!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2014, 07:34:05 AM »

Here are some pictures of Seth's CB750 aka Ruby

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=131294.0

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2014, 07:35:08 AM »

And Chaser60's 1975 CB550K spruced-up 2-seater with a cool Harley Softtail bobbed rear fender

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2014, 07:37:38 AM »

Seth and Chaser,

Can you post a summary/recap of your builds with some pictures (maybe where you started and how it ended), and some info about the build experience and your impressions of the bike now.

cheftuskey121 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2014, 07:56:55 AM »

what the crap, why won't the embedded link work when I post it, but it works just fine for you? haha. thanks though. yes summary and build pics please!

edwardmorris · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2014, 11:36:28 AM »

Good thing its not a paint job contest

that would have been too difficult. Amazing looking bikes, both of them, but my bias for the 750s helped me decide

bill440cars · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2014, 04:37:24 PM »

Wow, what a Beautiful Pair Of Bikes, to chose from! Sure glad it is only 2. Now, if only they BOTH weren't so Awesome looking!

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2014, 11:45:58 PM »

Done

Chaser60 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2014, 04:16:24 PM »

Sorry I have been off the forum a while. Had a week of travels for work...which is where the story of this bike begins. I am between jobs after the business where I worked was sold. After 30 year of same company, I needed to clear my head before diving into the job hunt. I had dirt bikes and a few street bikes from time I was 13 until about 24. At the time, the CB550's and 750's were some of my favorites that I sadly had never owned. Then careers, marriage, kids, lots of things took me away from motorcycles. So flash forward almost 30 years, and I go hunting for either a 550 or 750 as a project. I didn't want to get into an engine rebuild so looked for a titled, runner. I had some ideas for a resto-mod project.

Found this bike, rented a pick up, drove to central PA and it followed me back to VA

It ran well overall. So I rode it for a couple months while stalking this forum to get my plan together. Wanted to retain 2 up riding and did not want to cut the frame up since it was a pretty solid bike with only 8000 miles. Tank was dented, rusted and had bad redcoat from a PO, side covers were nasty aftermarket with no badges, all metal needed a polish and etc etc

So I set out to strip it all down. First had to build a stand and convert my wood shop (another hobby lost for a while) into the bike shop

Here was my plan...

My build thread is in my signature, so I wont post a ton more pics about that. I had great help from several forum members and used others build threads to help me. It was a great and therapeutic project for me. In fact the bike is called Therapy. So many firsts for me. I had never laced and trued wheels. Did it !!! with the help of posts here. Never had shaped a seat pan and foam mock up. Did it !! with help of posts here and other places. And on and on the build goes. Great support here every time I got stuck and great feeling of accomplishment every time a part went back on. I have no painting nor sewing skills so I had to have the seat cover, paint, powder coat and ceramic coating done by others. The rest I did myself as I said, with much support on this forum.

Here are a few other before and after pics.

I have put about 500 miles on it. I cant stop smiling about it. Only things I might do different would be the seat is not exactly as I had the prototype. I wanted it a little lower for primary driver and it is HARD as a board. And oddly enough, after choosing the CONE engineering quiet core mufflers, I wish I had picked the standard versions. It is a bit quieter than I had imagined, but still sounds pretty damn good. I had budgeted 6 months and it took about 7 1/2. I way overspent my budget, but some of that was tools that I will use over on the next one. These projects are never done. Today I fab'd a stainless steel chain guard, but it is not polished so no pic's of that yet.

Thanks for the nomination. It is amazing to be in the same group as a bike like seth's.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2014, 07:31:47 PM »

Chaser,

You did a great job, with very tasteful modifications to the seat and fenders, and beautiful paint. Riding my bikes is my therapy from the stress of the work week. It sounds like building your bike was also therapy for you. You did a fantastic job, and brought another bike back to glory. Have tons of fun riding the heck out of it and picking the bugs out of your teeth because you are grinning so wide. Awesome project.

Don

Chaser60 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2014, 09:58:44 AM »

Thanks ! Smiles per mile are indeed high ! C

edwardmorris · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2014, 10:25:03 AM »

Someone should start a poll on these two paint jobs alone, just to mess with people

How do you pick!!?? They're both insane....

greenjeans · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2014, 03:02:31 PM »

Gentlemen, A hearty well done. Paint work on both is both subtle and beautiful. Tough vote.

sethdhawkins · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2014, 06:17:29 AM »

The beginning.

The first version.

The final version.

I've had this thing for like 8 years. It has an 836 kit, cam, flatslide carbs, Dyna 2k ignition, and a GSX-R frontend. It goes good

There's a full build spec sheet in my project thread.

Many thanks to all whom helped and inspired me.

Seth

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2014, 06:49:15 PM »

I have a soft spot for K bikes with F tanks.

Chaser60 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2014, 08:37:44 AM »

Seth, Congrats ! your bike is exceptional.

sethdhawkins · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2014, 09:10:50 AM »

Thanks, Chaser! I can guarantee that your bike is so much more comfortable to ride!

edwardmorris · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2014, 09:18:13 AM »

Congrats Seth, great bike.

Chaser, great bike and work, blown away by the paint job on both beauties.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2014, 11:41:04 AM »

Congratulations to both of you. I loved both paint jobs and the distinctly different designs. I hope they both provide great rides and memories to come.

VERY WELL DONE!!

Chaser60 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2014, 11:54:55 AM »

CB750CRF - thanks and thanks for the nom !

Really? · « **Reply #20 on:** August 10, 2014, 09:47:02 AM »

Hey Seth, can I post a pic of Ruby on the SOHC4 page on FB? A bunch of the folks that frequented the FB page liked the idea of posting the BOTM winners there for a month.

sethdhawkins · « **Reply #21 on:** August 10, 2014, 10:01:33 AM »

That would be entirely acceptable.

Really? · « **Reply #22 on:** August 14, 2014, 03:24:23 PM »

Seth has 42 likes on FB. hmmmmmm Might need to run BOTM from there.

News:

Poll

Which bike is your favorite?

Author Topic: Vote for Bike of the Month - August 2014 (Read 6149 times)