Author Topic: Bought an 81 CB900C! V&H pipe (Read 7115 times)

Don R · « **on:** November 22, 2014, 01:25:54 PM »

It has short handlebars, needs the carbs cleaned, front fender or brace, side covers and mufflers. I'm deciding between 4 into 1's and looking for stockers.
It's dark color so I think carbon fiber sidecovers would be cool. Maybe a carbon wrap on stock fenders.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2014, 01:36:34 PM »

What's she look like Don?

Don R · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2014, 02:01:57 PM »

I'm going to pick it up in under an hour, I should be home before dark. I'll post a pic. or 2.

Markcb750 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2014, 02:23:02 PM »

Great bike. I chased one till I found my 900F I think they are one of the best looking classics.

MoMo · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2014, 03:36:34 PM »

They are nice, smooth mid-size tourers Don. Only slight drawback is the valve adjustment procedure(goofy gasket and shims needed )-

grcamna2 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2014, 04:30:54 PM »

Quote from: MoMo on November 22, 2014, 03:36:34 PM

They are nice, smooth mid-size tourers Don. Only slight drawback is the valve adjustment procedure(goofy gasket and shims needed )-

The valve adj. interval is many miles before needed

MoMo · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2014, 04:39:33 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on November 22, 2014, 04:30:54 PM

Quote from: MoMo on November 22, 2014, 03:36:34 PM
They are nice, smooth mid-size tourers Don. Only slight drawback is the valve adjustment procedure(goofy gasket and shims needed )-

The valve adj. interval is many miles before needed

Very true and that is a saving grace. Also, the valves rarely need adjustment when checked

Don R · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2014, 08:08:22 PM »

It got dark before I got her home. Pics tomorrow. She's a low mile example, the po put on some low bars that are abusing the tank. I'm thinking euro bars, I have two unfinished bikes with cb400F bars, I may give one of them a try. The mufflers rotted off so It has the entire stock head pipes. I'm weighing my options but leaning toward a set of Vance and hines. For the price of headers I could buy a long radius die for my Hossfeld bender.

750cafe · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:35:35 AM »

Several people have replaced the rotted factory mufflers with the Dunstall copies that J.C. Whitney sells with great results.
Do a google search for more info/pic's.

Eric

Don R · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2014, 08:53:26 AM »

I passed a JC whitney link recently I'll go back for a peek. I checked the JC whitney page, It doesn't navigate very well. They show me lots of harley headers. The only dunstall replicas I saw were single mufflers. I still need to get from 4 to 2 pipes to use them. CycleX has some interesting pipes for the twin cams.

Don R · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2014, 03:08:11 PM »

Water in the gas. The cap mounts flush and the PO rode in the rain. I'm thinking vandals but he thinks no. I filtered it into a race jug with a clear pouring tube on the cap. I flipped it over to see the fuel and when I sat it down it air locked in the hose then the gas and water seperated.

Don R · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:35:07 PM »

Don R · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:37:26 PM »

I'm thinking of making a carbon fiber fork brace and side covers and painting the tank graphite grey or with Eastwoods cast iron paint.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:45:25 PM »

Don,

I've seen quite a few 900 DOHC Vance and Hines 4 into 1's used on the SOHC4's. They look really nice and are not expensive at all but they seem to ride low on the SOHC4's. Chrome looks great.

Don R · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2014, 09:26:05 PM »

Sometimes when I bring one home it's like rescuing a dog from someone that doesn't appreciate him. The battery was dry but the gas was wet. L0L!

The right side clearance is my big concern with the V&H. I gave CycleX's pipes a good look too. I wonder if sohc drag pipes fit.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2014, 09:30:40 PM »

I know what you're saying about feeling like a 'dog rescue' person when getting a used bike from most PO's who seem to treat them like an old junked out lawnmower

I always enjoy 'Liberating' another one from a PO and start installing some fresh 'positive energy' restoration work.

cb650 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2014, 03:23:09 AM »

Nice find. Few members here with them. Few threads on them.

750cafe · « **Reply #17 on:** November 24, 2014, 10:06:56 AM »

The carbs tend to be the weak link as they get gummed up rom sitting and the floats are NOT adjustable.
I recently repaired two of them with similar problems and made a way to adjust the floats.

$160+ for 4 new float assemblies to cure them was not to my liking.

Eric

Don R · « **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2014, 01:00:10 PM »

I'll use my imagination on the floats. I need to get the XS850 Yamaha finished before I start on the honda. It's kinda slow here, must be the cold and snow.

Don R · « **Reply #19 on:** December 02, 2014, 09:44:28 PM »

Has anyone swapped out the handlebars on a 900c? What worked well? I'm not concerned with a restoration on this one, it's gong to be a nice rider. Lots of black already so a black tank and a few carbon fiber parts will set it apart from the crowd.

HondaMan · « **Reply #20 on:** December 02, 2014, 10:36:48 PM »

Quote from: Don R on December 02, 2014, 09:44:28 PM

Has anyone swapped out the handlebars on a 900c? What worked well? I'm not concerned with a restoration on this one, it's gong to be a nice rider. Lots of black already so a black tank and a few carbon fiber parts will set it apart from the crowd.

Do you know...there are almost 340 parts in those carbs?

I recently fixed up a dual-range-gearbox version of one of those for a guy here. It had 750K8 handlebars on it. He liked the 'pullback' seating position it gave him. The wiring was a hair short, but still reached from the switches to the headlight. It just got sort of "gappy" looking as the cables stretched to reach the headlight.

There were several electrical issues that I have found common on them, too: one of the biggest is the connector to the CDI box. It is barely sized to carry the +12v current, and if it gets the least bit corroded it gets hot and melts things. I replaced the female contacts on this one, and cleaned up the male sides with emery paper. The connector(s) were getting a little warped from the heat!

Tugboat · « **Reply #21 on:** December 03, 2014, 08:59:13 AM »

^Good tip - something to check on my CB1000.

Don R · « **Reply #22 on:** December 03, 2014, 02:02:42 PM »

Thanks for the hot tip. LOL, see what I did there? I'm thinking lower bars, I might space up the drag bars with some old modified handlebar caps and leave them. The key switch surround is the issue there.

jas67 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 07, 2014, 06:19:19 PM »

You asked who's next, you mean to get a DOHC4?

I recently picked up a 1979 CB750 Limited, 10th Anniversary Edition.

Removing the sissy bar is the first thing that needs to happen. Then, I need to get a brake caliper.

750cafe · « **Reply #24 on:** December 08, 2014, 03:05:16 PM »

That looks like an excellent starting point there indeed. Sweet!

Eric

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Author Topic: Bought an 81 CB900C! V&H pipe (Read 7115 times)

Markcb750