Topic: CB500 coming back after a 33 year nap.

[3457fl]

Posted a hello in the new member section but decided since it’s a project it should go here.

I have owned this 1971 CB500 since 1976 .Rode it for while in a slight custom stock form and in 1978 built it in a Amem softtail frame bought from the Honda dealer in Ashville NC. The only custom bike shop was a tiny little shop in Waynesville, NC about a 1hr around trip. Built it with nothing but hand tools, but there was a local Chrome shop that would do Aluminum. Drove it around in primer to make sure everything worked well; I was 21 at the time.

Moved to Atlanta in 1979 and feel asleep on it about 2 am and went off the side of a 2 lane road and did a bit of damage to so another rebuild. Changed it around a bit and painted a nice metallic brown.   

Spun a bearing in 1982 after I moved to Orlando and parked it in my tractor shed and life just went on by. Just last week stumbled across a low mileage 71 500 motor for $70 and pulled the poor guy out of the shed after a long (33 year) nap.

Could just buy another bike to ride but have a history with this guy and going to rebuild in yet another form. Going to keep the Amen frame, dropping the 8” forks and maybe doing a bobber style but not sure yet.

Have no idea how long this will take, last thing I need is another project. I have quite a few running right now.

But this one will be a fun project to do.

Have a replacement triple tree coming and a stock set of forks to mock it up and see how it sits.

Sorry for the poor pics..

[70CB750]

Following 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Great pictures and story. Will definitely follow.

[3457fl]

Had a couple extra hours today so started stripping it down some, gauges, lights, battery box , etc.. Everything came off without a struggle, like it has just been put together.
Think it was saying Hi, where the hell have you been?? I molded the frame back in 78 and it still looks great no blistering at all.
Did pick up a (cheap) stock 750 set of tubes and replaced the 8" over that have been on it since the start. Really like the way it sits low, feels nice.

[rb550four]

Time is not our friend when it comes to these machines.
Always loved the Amen frame, never lucky enough to find one.
I was thinking , because it is setting at a nice height for you now that you may want to put some weight in the cradle to see if it stays the way you like it.

[3457fl]

Yea, was going to drop the new engine in it for a while to have it settle and see. I bought mine from the Honda dealer in Ashville which ordered in for a customer that backed out of the sale, was new in the wrapper.

[3457fl]

Took time the other day to dig out all the other parts that were stored; they were packed in a vintage storage trunk. It tuned out to be the largest varmint nest I have ever seen. Everything is in very bad shape, good I found a complete motor. The only bright point was the carbs were still tripled wrapped in plastic bags and in good shape, still function great and should just need a rebuilding.

I should have checked on these every 10 years or so..  Did find the skull of one occupant while I was digging though. I did the seat pan and all the sewing on that seat back in 1980 when I was doing custom interiors with a buddy on mine. It’s a blast from the 70’s-80’s.

Set the motor, older tanks seat, etc.. on it to see how it sits with a stock front end, I like it. The new tank will be a high tunnel mustang style tank which will sit much lower on the frame and a single seat. Would like to get the new tank and seat on and all modifications done before I tear it down, thinking Silver paint with black motor and trim.   

[Stev-o]

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[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That trunk looked like it might have smelled worse than it looked.