Topic: CB750 K4 Build - The Cafe Tracer

[budman]

That has turned out very nicely! The combination of two species to emulate stripes is also a very subtle, but clever touch. I'd only worry about the radiant heat from motor attacking the wooden triangles and causing them to become brittle over time. Hope you left some room in the fastener area of those pieces for shrink/grow cycles?

What finish are you thinking? Urethane over oil?

Thanks.  I'll probably use some polyester or epoxy resin to seal the wood then finish it off with clear urethane.  I've actually had some success in the past gluing metal and wood together.  I'm going to think about that a little bit in this case, though.  There's a steel base that the wood piece attaches to, which gets fastened to the frame and then there will be a separate seat pan with foam and leather that goes on top.

[budman]

My buddy who gave me the bike and who also owns a machine shop helped me radius the tubing for the rear hoop.  Just need to cut it up and make it fit.

[budman]

The rear hoop is welded to the frame.  Just need to weld in another cross brace.

[Restoration Fan]

I'm really enjoying this build just because of how different it is and your skill.  The woodwork you did on the seat is amazing!

[budman]

I'm really enjoying this build just because of how different it is and your skill.  The woodwork you did on the seat is amazing!

Thanks.  Having a blast.  I'm waiting for some electrical parts to arrive, then I can finish up all the brackets and hopefully get the frame painted before too long.

[timbo750]

I would love to see a timber tank to match. Make the outer shell that we see and ghe line it with fiberglass,  no boubt it would be one of kind.

[budman]

I would love to see a timber tank to match. Make the outer shell that we see and ghe line it with fiberglass,  no boubt it would be one of kind.

Someone else can tackle that one.  I've got a lot of time invested in a heavily modified GT750 tank for this project.

[budman]

Doesn't look like I did much but I spent all day making the bottom pan mounts and getting the wood rear section/fender attached to the bike.  Threw the swing arm and tire on for grins.  I'm beginning to see the beginnings of a motorcycle.

Also got the TC Bros. kickstand tacked on, but I'm probably going to cut it off and rotate it down a bit.

[Stev-o]

Lookin like a fine motorcycle, Bud!   What is your plan for a seat?

[budman]

Thanks, Steve.  I sill have some minor shaping to do on the wood section, but I'll make a seat pan out of 16 gauge steel sheet metal and roll one end to fit the wood section.  I got some foam samples from some place I found on the Internet that's supposed to be great for motorcycle seats.  I can't remember the name of the site at the moment, but I'll probably order from them.  I'll cover it in black leather.  I did the seat on my bobber.  Shouldn't be any harder than that.  It should end up looking like a cafe/tracker type thing with a hint of chopper thrown in when done.

[Stev-o]

Black leather - good choice. 

[budman]

The Eastern Beaver PC-8 fuse block and start relay kit arrived.  This thing is really neat.  Super compact, which is what I need.

[budman]

The Spiegler Street Bars I ordered came in today.  Not sure I'm digging them.  The finish is not what I was expecting.  It's like a sandblasted finish with a real thin powder coating.  I thought they would be smooth and shiny.  I could blast them and have them redone, but I would be into them for more than the cost of another set of bars.  Not sure what I'm going to do yet.

[budman]

I made an ignition switch housing.  Small part, but it came out really clean.  This is the last part of the frame mods.  I just have to weld it to the frame.  I'm hoping to blast and prime the frame this week.

[budman]

Freshly blasted frame.  I used one of our dustless blasters with crushed bottle glass.  Now that it's all clean I can see a few spots that need a little touching up.  I'll prime it in a few days.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Freshly blasted frame.  I used one of our dustless blasters with crushed bottle glass.  Now that it's all clean I can see a few spots that need a little touching up.  I'll prime it in a few days.

You may want to hit it with some type of primer or sealer while you wait. Otherwise, you will have flash rust which will inhibit the paint from properly adhering to the steel.

[budman]

You may want to hit it with some type of primer or sealer while you wait. Otherwise, you will have flash rust which will inhibit the paint from properly adhering to the steel.

The dustless blaster uses water and a rust inhibitor that removes the chlorides from the water.  You have 72 hours before it starts to flash rust.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You may want to hit it with some type of primer or sealer while you wait. Otherwise, you will have flash rust which will inhibit the paint from properly adhering to the steel.

The dustless blaster uses water and a rust inhibitor that removes the chlorides from the water.  You have 72 hours before it starts to flash rust.

That's cool.

[Stev-o]

You may want to hit it with some type of primer or sealer while you wait. Otherwise, you will have flash rust which will inhibit the paint from properly adhering to the steel.

The dustless blaster uses water and a rust inhibitor that removes the chlorides from the water.  You have 72 hours before it starts to flash rust.

That's cool.

Fantastic!  Do "we" have a frame color yet?   And it appears the head races are still in the frame, are you upgrading to tapered bearings?

PS. The MotoGP races are in Austin next weekend, you should consider coming up.

[budman]

Gloss black for the frame.  I am upgrading to tapered roller bearings.  I left the old races in because I didn't want to damage the internal surface of the head when I blasted the frame.  I'll knock the old ones out at some point before I paint the frame.

The races sound like fun, but I'll be out of the state that weekend.

[budman]

Question...I bought a Rick's solenoid and it has a slightly larger diameter than the stock solenoid.  I had planned on using the stock circular mounting bracket, but it won't close with the ends flush around the Rick's.  Is there a bracket from another year that might be slightly larger?

[budman]

It's a tensioned bracket. Slip a washer in between the tabs and clamp it down.

That might work.  It's a pretty wide gap.  Would take 2-3 washers at least.  I was thinking about splitting the bracket and welding a little filler piece as an alternative.  It's piddly stuff and it won't be visible, but I spent a lot of time getting all those parts stuffed in there.

[budman]

I primed the frame today.  I'm supposed to go for a long ride tomorrow, but it's supposed to rain.  If it does I'll probably stay home and prime some more parts.

[budman]

Sanding the frame.

[budman]

I haven't done much in the past few weeks, but today I finished sanding the frame and got the second prime done.  I just need to wet sand it with 400 and it's ready for paint.

I'm going to have to put the 750 on hold for the next couple of months and concentrate on the v-twin bobber.  I've got to get it into shape for Sturgis.  I ordered a new front end and new tires for it this week.  I really need to strip it down completely and paint the frame, but I don't know if I'll have the time.  I was planning on starting on the v-twin at the beginning of the year, but got caught up in the 750.  Now I have to hustle.  Next Saturday will be the last ride in its present form before I start ripping into it.  I would like to get it done by the end of June or the beginning of July so I can do a Hill Country shake down before heading off to Sturgis.  That's the plan anyway.