Topic: First serious build ever - CB750 K7 Café

[cb750tr]

I'm pretty much done with the top triple. Just need to get some more details ironed out, such as the diameter of http://jokermachine.com/products/cafe-racer/honda-cb750-parts/cb750-steering-stem-nut.html to incorporate it. It's cheaper to purchase that than to manufacture a one-off nut.



The closer I get to getting it done, the more I'm starting to second guess my decisions with it...

[cb750tr]

Things are really going along nicely!

Bryan Warren at jokermachine.com hooked me up with a killer top nut ( http://jokermachine.com/products/cafe-racer/honda-cb750-parts/cb750-steering-stem-nut.html ) and a replacement steering stem nut ( http://jokermachine.com/products/honda-cb750-triple-tree-black.html ). I've adjusted the top triple now to sink the top nut down, kind of like they've done here;



Which means I can finally start the process of getting it milled. SO STOKED! The front conversion is the biggest rebuild of my entire bike, and I can almost see the finish line!

I also ordered an Acewell 4554 today. Heard a lot of great things about this tach, so I hope it lives up to the expectations!

http://www.acewell-meter.co.uk/Acewell%20Speedometers/ACE-4xxx/ACE-4554AB.htm?action=full&id=42

[Mace]

I like the tacho you have there, how are you mounting it exactly?

Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk

[cb750tr]

I like the tacho you have there, how are you mounting it exactly?

Sent from my E2303 using Tapatalk

I haven't decided yet! Will make a bracket and thread into the top triple.

[cb750tr]

I've decided on a color. The frame will be black, and the tank and seat will be deep gun metal, with silver details.

Like this;

[cb750tr]

Got the items from http://jokermachine.com today! Can't wait to get my entire setup together, this is frickin' awesome! Alloy top nut and steering stem nut. It's going to be killer!

Still waiting for the material (ended up with 7075 T6 aluminum) which will most likely turn up in the end of next week which means I should have this whole thing assembled in the coming 2-3 weeks! Absolutely stoked, and damn sure that I've messed something up so that this triple becomes a fancy paper weight...

Anyway, here are the nuts, last piece of the puzzle!

[cb750tr]

Woot woot!

[cb750tr]

FINALLY received the triple!!! And of course he forgot to thread the steering stem.

Oh well, that's easily done. Time to go and see how it looks!

[calj737]

And of course he forgot to thread the steering stem.

That could be a problem. If the OD is equal to the minor dimension of the threads, it won't fit. If its equal to the major, then chuck it up and thread it.

[cb750tr]

And of course he forgot to thread the steering stem.

That could be a problem. If the OD is equal to the minor dimension of the threads, it won't fit. If its equal to the major, then chuck it up and thread it.

The issue is that I sent him the step-files, and he didn't double check what should be threaded. If I'm correct, I believe that the step-file sets the outer diameter. At least I definitely hope so. I already sent it back, and I didn't think to measure it first. Worst case scenario, the steering stem is cheap. The milled top and lower triple are about ten times the price.

[palepainter]

Some great looking pieces!!!

[cb750tr]

What's the best way to express your feelings about this?

When I started fabricating on this, I reached out to a company / guy that makes custom triples for various projects. I asked if they had the measurements for a CBR1000F, which they did. 210mm CC.

Well, obviously I should have double check this measurement. It's actually 190mm (from what I measured with a straight ruler).

This absolutely sucks. Especially since the guy who was to make it for cheap got a new job, so I had to pay a regular shop to do it (it all ended up costing me $820 - they quoted about 400-500 at max). $820 for something that doesn't fit. $820 for something that I've waited for the past three months, and something that I was EXTREMELY happy to finally receive, so I could continue my project.

On the way home (and feeling blue was an understatement) I figured I could possible make some spacers between the wheel and the forks, and either space out the brake rotors or calipers. I really hope that could work...

[slikwilli420]

You could definitely space the forks out and make everything work, but depending on what wheel/tire you are using, there might be a lot of space between the inner fork and tire, which is not very visually appealing.

Im really bummed to see someone trying to do a custom build get screwed over like this. For future reference, I can make triple trees and will be substantially more competitive on price than what you quoted above.

I hope you can get everything worked out and make more progress on your build.

[calj737]

I wouldn't do that. It will throw a great deal of alignment issues into the fray (calipers, rotors, etc). You can reach out to CognitoMoto and see if they have a triple tree setup already for your bike and get that sent over. Cheaper than re-cutting locally even with exchange and shipping rates.

[cb750tr]

You could definitely space the forks out and make everything work, but depending on what wheel/tire you are using, there might be a lot of space between the inner fork and tire, which is not very visually appealing.

Im really bummed to see someone trying to do a custom build get screwed over like this. For future reference, I can make triple trees and will be substantially more competitive on price than what you quoted above.

I hope you can get everything worked out and make more progress on your build.

You're probably right. If I make the effort and put down the money that I'm planning to do, this will forever bug me...

If I send you a CAD-design, would you be able to mill it? I can send you a step or part-file in that case, and you could check how much it would cost?

This absolutely sucks. Got a pair of extremely expensive coat hangers I guess...

[calj737]

Uh, by the way, I'd have them NOT thread the stem yet either 

[cb750tr]

Uh, by the way, I'd have them NOT thread the stem yet either 

Never would I have thought that the non-existing thread would be the minor issue...

[slikwilli420]

You could definitely space the forks out and make everything work, but depending on what wheel/tire you are using, there might be a lot of space between the inner fork and tire, which is not very visually appealing.

Im really bummed to see someone trying to do a custom build get screwed over like this. For future reference, I can make triple trees and will be substantially more competitive on price than what you quoted above.

I hope you can get everything worked out and make more progress on your build.

You're probably right. If I make the effort and put down the money that I'm planning to do, this will forever bug me...

If I send you a CAD-design, would you be able to mill it? I can send you a step or part-file in that case, and you could check how much it would cost?

This absolutely sucks. Got a pair of extremely expensive coat hangers I guess...

It would likely be easier for me to just redraw it based on your specs. I have trees rough cut on a water jet, then finish in a manual mill, so I would not be able to do the pocketing on top, but the rest is cake. I don't charge any design fees so no worries there. $175 for a 1" thick tree and add $15 for every 1/4" thicker you go over 1". So a 1.5" thick bottom tree would be $205.

[754]

190 is on the narrow side, depends on your components, I put a 6 piston caliper,on a Ceriani, that is  175 or 180.  And had to use the  complete bag of tricks to make it work.
If everything works with 190get just a upper made.
But if I was mixing parts, i would go 200 or 205.
A big problem is mounting wire wheels, and some caliper need a lot of clearance.

[cb750tr]

Alright, I've had some time to recuperate.

After a closer look the front fork is narrow enough that I think it will be possible to widen it without it looking off. So I will make some spacers and see how it looks. If I like it, I'll make custom caliper brackets.

If I'm not pleased, I'll just have to manufacture another set of triples, nothing to do about it! The show must go on, etc etc.

[budman]

Measure twice, cut once.  If you make some spacers won't you need a longer axle too?

[cb750tr]

Measure twice, cut once.  If you make some spacers won't you need a longer axle too?

Or in my case, at least measure once... :p

Yeah, new spacers, a longer axle and new caliper brackets.

[budman]

Got the items from http://jokermachine.com today! Can't wait to get my entire setup together, this is frickin' awesome! Alloy top nut and steering stem nut. It's going to be killer!

Still waiting for the material (ended up with 7075 T6 aluminum) which will most likely turn up in the end of next week which means I should have this whole thing assembled in the coming 2-3 weeks! Absolutely stoked, and damn sure that I've messed something up so that this triple becomes a fancy paper weight...

Anyway, here are the nuts, last piece of the puzzle!

So you got that steering head top from Joker Machine?  I can't find that part on their site.  If you search for 090305-25 nothing comes up.  If you search for 090305, their complete CB750 triple tree setup comes up.

[cb750tr]

Got the items from http://jokermachine.com today! Can't wait to get my entire setup together, this is frickin' awesome! Alloy top nut and steering stem nut. It's going to be killer!

Still waiting for the material (ended up with 7075 T6 aluminum) which will most likely turn up in the end of next week which means I should have this whole thing assembled in the coming 2-3 weeks! Absolutely stoked, and damn sure that I've messed something up so that this triple becomes a fancy paper weight...

Anyway, here are the nuts, last piece of the puzzle!

So you got that steering head top from Joker Machine?  I can't find that part on their site.  If you search for 090305-25 nothing comes up.  If you search for 090305, their complete CB750 triple tree setup comes up.

Send them a mail, it's not a separate product on their website. You can see it as a product choice on the complete triple. Tell Bryan I sent you 

[budman]

Send them a mail, it's not a separate product on their website. You can see it as a product choice on the complete triple. Tell Bryan I sent you 

I see it now.  Shows up on the black triple tree page, but not on the clear triple tree page.  Thanks.