Topic: Café/brat CB500 K3 -77, can't hold my fingers from it

[AlBundy]

Many newbies also do not know that tires have a shelf life, too. 

Avons, Bridgestones, Pirellis, Continentals all make good tires that will work well with tubes for these classic bikes.  If you are looking at Classic Attacks, you are not likely looking to do a restoration.

What do you mean eith not likely do a restoration?

I have read that the Firestones are bad. They only look good and that is that. They are also very expensive.

Think I will order the CA, just because they are a safe card and it's my first bike.

[AlBundy]

Does anyone know if a fork from a BMW K75S 1992 fits my bike? I can get one for a very good price and its with dual discs and brembo brakes.

Edit: The fork comes with the tripple tree and the whole kit thats on the fork.

[calj737]

I would strongly suspect that the K75 forks are much longer than your bike's. As for swapping the triples over, you'd have to at least source conversion stem bearings from All Ballz or similar. The K75 stem might be much too long as well and would need to pressed back, or cut off, or both.

I had a K75s for many years but never contemplated such a swap with a CB, so I have no clue. If you are looking for a more modern upgrade, you can source mid 90s conventional forks from CBR600s and the like and perform the swap that way. But you will then encounter needing to deal with mating the stock front hub/wheel to the newer fork, or use the wheel from the CBR which would not be spoked.

You can search the Projects section for all types of fork swap info.

[70CB750]

Did you check AllBalls?

http://www.allballsracing.com/index.php/forkconversion

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Many newbies also do not know that tires have a shelf life, too. 

Avons, Bridgestones, Pirellis, Continentals all make good tires that will work well with tubes for these classic bikes.  If you are looking at Classic Attacks, you are not likely looking to do a restoration.

What do you mean eith not likely do a restoration?

I have read that the Firestones are bad. They only look good and that is that. They are also very expensive.

Think I will order the CA, just because they are a safe card and it's my first bike.

AlBundy,

The Continental Classic Attack tires are more of a performance tire for classic bikes, and they were not an OEM supplier or clone for the bike's original tires.  That indicates that you are not trying to do a by-the-book restoration but something else  -- custom, restomod, etc.  That's what I meant.

[AlBundy]

Anyone who can tell me which of these shop manuals I should use for my bike?  http://www.honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/shop-manual

CB500 K3 -77

[AlBundy]

I have been doin some work on the bike. The front fork tubes has been painted in black and the oil and seal is on its way to be replaced. I am also working with the seat pan which I will take to car interior maker so he can make fine work with seat. What do you guys think? Is the seat too long? Will it look weird? The yellowish on the seat pan is made out of Styrofoam just to see how it could look like.

[AlBundy]

The seat is now finished! Ordered also some new candy for the bike. Will pick it up today after work Will update the post as soon as i get the parts on the bike. The mudguard on the pic is just hanging loose. Will paint it in black and cut it to fit nice!

[AlBundy]

Bad and good news. The Swedish post has lost my package they are searching for it. Since the government sold the postal services it have become (excuse my language) #$%*! I hope they find it so I can continue with my work. The good news is that I have taken my driving license we did the polygon driving on Koenigseggs test track so we saw and listened to some prototypes. Very cool! We were not allowed to take any pictures though.

To be continued!

[AlBundy]

It's been a while since I posted last time but now I have some materials to share with you. I have been on vacation for four weeks. Three weeks in the southern Europe and the last one in the garage. We traveled by car to southern Europe and to not lose time with my project I took some parts with me for painting.

This is what I have done (plus extras) with the bike:
New All Balls steering bearing.
Painted the rims to black with spray ( they will be PC on the winter and the spokes will be replaced)
New speedo/tacho Tumbleton & Twist
New tires Metzeler Sportec Klassik
New LED taillight, LED mini flashers and headlight
New oil and seals for the  forks
+ more

Tried to install the LED flashers with resistors but that didn't work so good so I bought a flasher relay instead (much better). Bought the resistors because I couldn't find a store that sells the relay. Didn't want to wait for the flasher relay....

The color of the bike is BMW Donington grey metallic.

I hope I'll finish the bike today. To mount the front wheel, exhaust and hide the wiring in the headlight is what's left to do.

To the winter I will powder coat the frame and check the engine and eventually paint it. The bike ran good before the rebuild so I have not put any time on the motor and carbs.
 
Here are some pictures.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Did you replace the 40-year old fork springs?

[AlBundy]

No I didn't. It has progressive springs. Is that stock and should I replace them?

[AlBundy]

A better picture of the bike. Need to install the plug for tacho wire. Arrives next week I hope. Need to order new handgrips also.

What do you guys think about the design? Want some feedback

[calj737]

I like the paint and the pipes. Personally, not a fan of flat seats at all. 

[AlBundy]

A video of the exhaust sound

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No I didn't. It has progressive springs. Is that stock and should I replace them?

Not stock. Hard to say if you should replace them. Yes, if they are not providing sufficient dampening.

[AlBundy]

No I didn't. It has progressive springs. Is that stock and should I replace them?

Not stock. Hard to say if you should replace them. Yes, if they are not providing sufficient dampening.

The dampening feels pretty good. Compared it with my friends new Z800. It´s not as good as his but it works. The rear shocks feels hard as stone though. Should they be like that?
 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No I didn't. It has progressive springs. Is that stock and should I replace them?

Not stock. Hard to say if you should replace them. Yes, if they are not providing sufficient dampening.

The dampening feels pretty good. Compared it with my friends new Z800. It´s not as good as his but it works. The rear shocks feels hard as stone though. Should they be like that?

I think you might be overly optimistic about your front end.

The rear should not be either overly stiff or soft.

[AlBundy]

No I didn't. It has progressive springs. Is that stock and should I replace them?

Not stock. Hard to say if you should replace them. Yes, if they are not providing sufficient dampening.

The dampening feels pretty good. Compared it with my friends new Z800. It´s not as good as his but it works. The rear shocks feels hard as stone though. Should they be like that?

I think you might be overly optimistic about your front end.

The rear should not be either overly stiff or soft.

Okey. The bike has not been on the roads since 86. If  the springs isn't stock, they can not have been used so much I would guess. Or do they become less good when just standing and aging wthout being used?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

It might be okay.  I was just kidding because there's no way it could be in the ball park of a modern sport naked bike. 

Seals and fork oil degrade over time.  Make sure to service your forks if you haven't with new oil, cleaning and seals.

If the shocks feel too stiff, wooden or too soft, replace them. 

[AlBundy]

It might be okay.  I was just kidding because there's no way it could be in the ball park of a modern sport naked bike. 


Seals and fork oil degrade over time.  Make sure to service your forks if you haven't with new oil, cleaning and seals.

If the shocks feel too stiff, wooden or too soft, replace them.

Thx for the answers. It's okey :p I have replaced the seals and the fork oil. The Honda dealership here in Swe told me to use 15W Motul oil, so I bought that.

[AlBundy]

Did a compression test today to be sure that the engine is in good condition. Bike was warmed up and I used the starter button and it was dry.  Got these numbers #1 150psi, #2 155psi, #3 155psi and #4 160psi. What I've understand the difference should not be more than 10%, but what about the pressure? What should the numbers be?

Thx in andvance. This forum is the best!

[calj737]

You're fine and those are good numbers. Ride that thing!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Al.  Your bike is looking and sounding great.  I ditched the 77-78 exhaust on my K4 because it was rusty, but yours looks and sounds nice. 

[AlBundy]

Thanks guys. Will ride it for sure! More questions will be asked at the winter period when I tear i down.