Thanks for the nom fellas. This is going to be great, win lose or draw. Good luck to Pbellerine and Koendd.
Here is what I started with. If I did not have to get a safety inspection, I would have ran it as it for a year or two. It ran fine, Just lots of blue smoke. It had fresh paint, new clutch discs, a Dnya S. It failed inspection with a mystery bent frame claim. So I tore off all the parts, found a titled frame and built the bike in the next picture.
It had potential. I still like cafe bikes. I could not quite decide on a look and that seat just didnt soften road rumble enough. It was fun to ride. After some soul searching, I decided to go back towards stock, get closer to original but with upgrades.
Powder coated goodness. This was the original frame that I could not believe was bent. After a lot of measuring, I moved ahead with it.
A lot of polishing and fresh paint
My photo skills do not do the color justice. I love how brilliant this color is in person. Local painters were unsure they could duplicate K5 Flake Apricot Red so I turned to the internet, studied many photos, and found this set on our favorite
auction site. It was a fiasco getting it here but I was persistent and didnt give up.
This pic high lights the Yamiya No number 4 into 4. I love the sound. I think of myself, not as a bike builder, but an assembler. It's really just bolting all together to spec.
Here is a shot from today. Out shaking it down.
Restoration specs:
New parts are almost too much to list but here is the high lights.
-Frame off, nut and bolt resto-mod
-Powder coat frame and parts
-Tank and side covers painted Flake Apricot Red for 1975. PO said the bike was originally Red.
-Yamiya No number exhaust.
-Reproduction handlebar controls, signal lights, tail light, wiring harness, Fork headlight holder and reflectors. Tank and cover badges, both gauges, dash board and jewels (Yamiya or Z1 Parts mostly) The goal was to make the bike look new. Taillight perch, grab bar, handlebar, headlight trim are original but polished.
-Hagon Rear Shocks
-Progressive fork springs
-Cycle x upper fork tubes,
-SS brake hoses
-Drilled front disc - you know how that big single brake pad can lay down the heat right... lol.
-All balls tapered stem bearings and front and real axle bearings.
-New brake pads front and back
-GL1000 master brake cylinder, rebuilt.
-KN air filter
-Bronze swing arm bushing
-Oil filter adapter
- I applied peanut oil to the filter box. It was heavily oxidized.
Many Oem parts... just to list a few
-Carb rebuilt with all Honda parts - needle,jets, o-rings, gaskets
-New Oem rubber carb intake boots.
-Many new Oem nuts and bolts
-Honda fork boots
-Honda Seat and fenders
-Most anything rubber. Shock mounts, tank mounts, side cover grommets.
- I am forgetting a lot.
Engine:
MRieck stage two port and head work, SS valves, HD spings, new seals, guides and mill work associated. Web 41a cam. Adjustable cam sprocket.
Bored to 65mm for 836cc. Used the Ebay pistons that surfaced a couple years ago. Stock compression 9:1 IIRC.
New cam sprocket, HD cam chain, New Primary Chain, New chain roller guides-both ends, HD Ape cylinder studs.
Many new o-rings and seals from top to bottom.
Extensive polishing of all aluminum cases.
Biggest obstacles.
-Most everything until I searched the forum for answers.
Then it often didnt make sense until I completed it and was left satisfied how easy it was. I marveled at the simplicity.
-The fear of rebuilding the engine. But I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Mind you, I left the heavy hitting to Mike Reick. Dis assembly was scary but easy. Re-assembly took many PM to Mike before things sunk in. My deepest thank you Mike.
- A bent frame that was never bent.
Thanks for many people who talked me through testing it.
- My Flake apricot tank and side covers was stolen by Fbays Global international shipper. Long story and I am still a bit bitter.
and with help of a friend, It got sorted out. Long story.
- My dementia - I keep repeating myself. Long story.
- I really sweated the pending safety inspection. Passed with flying colors. Fresh paint and polish does wonders to a bent frame.
Credits- no order of importance.
-The Sohc4 Forum
-Many un named members I PMd from time to time.
-Mark Paris and his book. An amazing guide and reference. Worth every penny.
-My patient wife.
Poll