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Author Topic: Frankie goes to Hollywood  (Read 2036 times)

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Offline Old Moe Toe

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Frankie goes to Hollywood
« on: February 17, 2016, 01:22:13 AM »
I have never got it why people call their machines a human name. However since I bought this bike from a bloke called Frank Frankenfrank (name changed slightly to conceal real identity) it just got the name "Frankie".
At the time work was patchy and I had been placing "Wanted to buy" adds in the local newspaper looking for old motorbikes that could be fixed up, got going, sold, and hopefully a few dollars in the pocket to boot.
 When Frank Frankenfrank called seeing my add in the paper to say he had a 1972 Honda 750 four my ears pricked up.
Always had a soft spot for the Honda fours so went straight away to Frank's and bought his bike. It was pretty well priced for around here.
It would not start, but the fuel was 3 years old.
Looked like this.
Oh yeah, should mention that I intend to change this rather unsightly beast into something else. In fact have done a few modifications already and will try to string the thing into a understandable fluent post. Don't hold ya breath though.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2016, 03:23:10 AM by Old Moe Toe »
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Offline BPellerine

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2016, 09:57:40 AM »
looks like a good bike to fix up.bill
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1978 CB 750K ard and webers
another anfob

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2016, 11:06:28 AM »
It doesn't look to bad to start off with, especially if the price was "pretty well priced" as stated.
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2016, 11:46:55 AM »
The good things about the bike when purchased were,
Frame seemed pretty straight.
Fuel Tank was clean despite having old fuel in it.
Actually it presented reasonably well, even to me who knew little about this type of bike at the time.
The not so good things,.....
Both sidecovers shot.
Incorrect tachometer from a CB350 or similar.
Broken spoke or 2 on the rear wheel.
Ugliest seat in the world.
Foams in the air filters had big holes in them so it had in effect been running with no air filtration for who knows how long.
Front brake ineffective.
Engine number did not match the number on the last (3year old) registration papers. Did not realise this till I went to register the bike myself. In fact the engine number was way off CB750E 2613894 which does not correlate with any info I have found about engine numbers and what year/model they should be. I am thinking that the engine is either from a 1977 K or an F2 type. It has the accelerator pump type carbs and a front final drive sprocket that is held in place with a single central bolt.
The engine also leaks oil from head gasket and more than likely base gasket, blows a bit of smoke through the exhaust. However still runs in an acceptable if slightly clapped out manner.
Gearbox is twitchy and a little unpredictable but manageable.
Also the final drive sprockets seemed way too low geared, no matter how hard you revved the engine in top gear the bike just would not go faster than 60mph.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2016, 11:50:25 AM by Old Moe Toe »
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Offline Gene

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2016, 12:46:34 PM »
If it won't go more than 60 all the way revved it's not running on all four.  Still - looks like a great base.  And we've all seen uglier seats. ;)
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*1973 CB750K3 (Bow)

Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2016, 01:51:34 PM »
Decided from the start to get the overall look of the bike to my liking before I strip it down to do the motor.
First few jobs were...
To get rid of the ugly seat. I bought a cheap replacement/copy from fleabay.
I had also got a wider rear rim from a K7. It was a bit rusty and tarnished so I sprayed it with 2 pac paint and laced it up with some stainless steel spokes. It now is shod with a 17inch 130mm wide tire which I really like. The front rim will get the same 2 pac treament and stainless steel spokes down the track.
Also have put on new sidecovers with the little badges.
Oh yeah, I did buy a 4 into 1 pipe from Carpy which is on the bike in this picture. However I found it way too loud for my (and the cops) liking.
« Last Edit: February 19, 2016, 01:53:58 PM by Old Moe Toe »
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Offline 754

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2016, 02:38:04 PM »
Letme guess, the sprockets have wear on the sides but not the same side ?
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Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2016, 04:27:45 PM »
Quote from: 754 on February 19, 2016, 02:38:04 PM
Letme guess, the sprockets have wear on the sides but not the same side ?
No 754, they are not as you guessed. Well not the rear one anyway, I just went and had a look. It looks like it is wearing evenly enough to me.
Why would they be? I only changed the rim and spokes and kept the hub the same.
By the way, isn't your name Frank too?
« Last Edit: February 20, 2016, 12:50:03 AM by Old Moe Toe »
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Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2016, 03:51:58 AM »
Decided that the stock seat looked to fat-arsed. So got an upholsterer to take the cover off and slice the foam in half then put the cover back on. Also put another brake disc/rotor on the front after drilling it and changed the master cylinder to a Gold wing one from the same era. With some braided brake lines to tidy up the picture. As the front fender was dented with a broken stay and the chrome was pretty bad just bobbed the thing.
So am now up to here....
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2016, 11:54:23 AM »
I like the slimline seat much better than your typical brat-style seat.  Let us know how you like riding on it significant distances.
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2016, 03:22:04 PM »
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on February 21, 2016, 11:54:23 AM
I like the slimline seat much better than your typical brat-style seat.  Let us know how you like riding on it significant distances.
The seat IS  a bit harder on the rump when hitting potholes or bumps otherwise it is fine. The upholsterer who cut it for me did comment that the foam within it was the most low quality #$%*e that he had seen in a long time. If you go back and look at the picture you can see the bit he removed, it was kind of a conglomerate of thousands of little bits all glued together. I guess that is the price you pay for buying a cheap quality reproduction seat in the first place. I reckon if it was the original type foam the seat would be a bit comfier. Also an upholsterer would be able to make up another slimmer foam to suit from better quality and a more suitable density.

754, I am still curious as to why you think my sprockets are wearing unevenly.
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Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #11 on: November 05, 2020, 11:39:51 PM »
This project is still going.
This winter finally bit the bullet and took the motor out.
To cut a long story short, just put the motor back together this arfternoon.
It now has all new gearbox bearings, an 836cc Cruisin image piston kit installed.

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Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2020, 11:47:48 PM »
Also painted the front rim and laced up with stainless spokes to match the back wheel.

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Offline 754

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2020, 01:02:51 AM »
Just saw this again. If the late engine is used, and the 72  rear wheel, then the chain wont be running in a straight  line.
 And yes , my name is Frank...
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Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Old Moe Toe

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Re: Frankie goes to Hollywood
« Reply #14 on: November 06, 2020, 02:20:39 AM »
Yeah, i know you are Frank. Just missed you and the gang at the Delores annual get together by a day a few years ago.(2017).
Still kicking myself about that.
The rear wheel was sorted when I got it.
Cheers
Brad from Tassie

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