Topic: CB750 K4 Build - The Cafe Tracer

[budman]

Stunning bike, lots of skill to create something like that.
My little resto is pretty much "make it like it was built" with a few aesthetic changes to make it like my K0 back in the day.
Steve

Thank you.

[palepainter]

Ok, so it's not motorcycle related, but this is my newest acquisition.  A 1978 Engelhardt C1.  I picked it up at the Dallas Guitar Festival on Saturday.  Lovin' it.

Nice.
  I just picked up a 1938 Juzek that needed some work on the soundboard and bass bar.  I have a buddy who makes a piezo system for these and I run it through a Marshall stack.   

[budman]

Nice.
  I just picked up a 1938 Juzek that needed some work on the soundboard and bass bar.  I have a buddy who makes a piezo system for these and I run it through a Marshall stack.   

Nice!  I bought new strings for mine and had it set up by a pro shop.  I didn't like the strings or the setup.  Should have done it myself, but it's a different world to electric bass building.  I've already made some adjustments.  Now that I have a baseline I'll do it all myself next time.

I replaced the new strings with some nylon Weed Wackers.  Super low tension. Easy to play and slap.  I still need to get some pickups and a preamp.  I'm going to get a bridge piezo and a fingerboard piezo and run them through a dual channel preamp.  I've got an old Trace Elliot head and two 1x12 neodymium cabs.  Should do well.

[palepainter]

Nice.
  I just picked up a 1938 Juzek that needed some work on the soundboard and bass bar.  I have a buddy who makes a piezo system for these and I run it through a Marshall stack.   

Nice!  I bought new strings for mine and had it set up by a pro shop.  I didn't like the strings or the setup.  Should have done it myself, but it's a different world to electric bass building.  I've already made some adjustments.  Now that I have a baseline I'll do it all myself next time.

I replaced the new strings with some nylon Weed Wackers.  Super low tension. Easy to play and slap.  I still need to get some pickups and a preamp.  I'm going to get a bridge piezo and a fingerboard piezo and run them through a dual channel preamp.  I've got an old Trace Elliot head and two 1x12 neodymium cabs.  Should do well.

You need to call me Bud.  I will get you hooked with a unit called the Swordtail.  A very good friend makes them. 


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[budman]

You need to call me Bud.  I will get you hooked with a unit called the Swordtail.  A very good friend makes them.

Interesting.  The preamp is in the tailpiece.  When I'm ready I'll give you a shout.  I've got motorcycle parts and a vacation to pay for.

[budman]

Did the 500 mile oil change last weekend.  Everything looked normal.  Did a little searching and decided to to try out some Denso U-groove spark plugs.  I installed them this afternoon and had to take a test ride.  I noticed a significant improvement in overall performance as well as the engine seeming to run smoother over the NGK's.  Think I'll stick with the Densos for now.

[Stev-o]

Did a little searching and decided to to try out some Denso U-groove spark plugs. 

What is this u-groove plug, Bud?   I looked up an image but looked identical to NGK. 

[budman]

What is this u-groove plug, Bud?   I looked up an image but looked identical to NGK.

It has a groove cut on the inside of the ground electrode.  Hard to see in a photo.

Denso X24ES-U
$1.33 each at Rock Auto.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/denso,4099,spark+plug,721

[MauiK3]

Budman
What shocks are you using? I want to go to progressive springs front and rear on my K3.
Steve

[budman]

Budman
What shocks are you using? I want to go to progressive springs front and rear on my K3.
Steve

I bought them off eBay.  There were advertised as a motorcycle shop brand, but I'm pretty sure they are Emgo shocks.  They're supposed to have some unique color combination that's exclusive to the shop.  They're kind of stiff, but not as stiff as my  rigid frame bobber.

[Stev-o]

What is this u-groove plug, Bud?   I looked up an image but looked identical to NGK.

It has a groove cut on the inside of the ground electrode.  Hard to see in a photo.

Denso X24ES-U
$1.33 each at Rock Auto.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/denso,4099,spark+plug,721

Oh, I see it now.    Great price on the plug...

[budman]

So when I replaced the burned out speedometer bulb I replaced it with a bulb of the same wattage and amperage ratings, but the bulb was about an 1/8" longer than the old bulb.  That 1/8" difference was all it took to melt the tripmeter wheels and now they don't spin.  Always something.

[MauiK3]

What a bummer, too bad an LED couldn't fit, less heat.

[RAFster122s]

Bud, gorgeous how it turned out.  I was following and then missed an update and they don't show you all your subscribed threads for notification/that you are following.  Another couple forums I am on have that capability.

Sorry I will miss seeing it in person and meeting you at the reunion...really gorgeous how the tail and seat came out.
Love all the details.

David

[budman]

Bud, gorgeous how it turned out.  I was following and then missed an update and they don't show you all your subscribed threads for notification/that you are following.  Another couple forums I am on have that capability.

Sorry I will miss seeing it in person and meeting you at the reunion...really gorgeous how the tail and seat came out.
Love all the details.

David

Thanks, David.  Sorry you can't make it.  Got the Tracer running pretty good.  I hope it likes the mountains.

[budman]

The Tracer in the Rockies.

[MauiK3]

I really like living here on Maui but boy do I miss when I could go out on the road for days. One time I was chased across the continental divide by a snow storm. Fun stuff. Another time I did San Francisco to Seattle in one non stop run, just stopped for gas and bathroom. I also once did Jacksonville Fla. to San Francisco in not quite 4 days, on my K0 back in the day.
The desert at night is awesome.
Beautiful bike, what skill.

[budman]

I wish I could say I rode it up to CO and back, but I didn't.  My wife, son and I had been trying to get up to Durango to visit my sister, who used to live in Kihei, HI.  Well, we finally made it this year.  The trip coincided with the SOHC4 family reunion in Dolores, CO so I towed the bike up there.  I was able to break away from the family vacation for a day and meet up with some of the forum members.  I was able to put about 240 miles on the bike up in the Rockies which included a ride up to Telluride with the reunion organizer, Bankerdanny.

Was a cool vacation.  The train ride from Durango to Silverton was cool as well as seeing the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Beautiful.

[Stev-o]

The Tracer in the Rockies.

Lucky you, Bud.  Hope it was cool up there.

I've been to Mesa Verde too, quite remarkable....

[budman]

Lucky you, Bud.  Hope it was cool up there.

I've been to Mesa Verde too, quite remarkable....

The weather was pretty much perfect for riding.  Was wearing my leather jacket, but wasn't too cold or too hot.  No rain.  Lots of bugs though.

[budman]

Met Dennis Gage today, of "My Classic Car" fame.  He was very complimentary of the CB750.  He's an avid BMW motorcycle collector.

[Stev-o]

Hey Bud....thats pretty cool.  I've enjoyed watching that show but havent seen it lately.

How'd you happen to meet?

[budman]

I haven't seen the show much since the Speed Channel disappeared.  It's on Velocity, but on Saturday mornings, so I rarely see it.  They're filming a segment at our company.  We advertise with him and have done several segments on his show, but always at his studio.  He's the same in real life as he is on the show.

[budman]