So a couple of members asked me to put up a build thread for this project, and who am I to say no? Haha.
Ever get tired of working on rusty things? Just want something to get on and ride without having to think about it? Then you're going to like this project. It started when I got fed up working on a old motor, and just wanted something new to ride. Through what is a long winded story, ended up saying to myself, why not do what car guys have been doing for years, and use an old bike, with a new motor?
Long story short, here is the parts list:
1972 cb450 frame
1972 cb350f tank
2007 suzuki sv1000 front end
2014 cbr500r engine
The sv1000 front end was a near perfect replacement for the cb450 frame. Length was near perfect, and the steering stem was "close enough" as well. I think the only minor change was an extra washer under the bottom race.
The motor fits the frame surprisingly well, well, maybe not that surprisingly considering it's almost the same bore/stroke, similar weight, and near identical hp. I chopped the cradle off the frame, and am intent on using 1 of the motor mounts that lines up as a starting point to rebuild the frame. In order to do this, I had to offset the mount (apparently this motor is not perfectly centered in its factory frame) and since the mount wil bet getting a 3/8 bolt instead of the 12mm it was build for, I needed to get rid of the slop. Unfortunately I no longer have access to a lathe, where I could have made some pretty sleeves to weld into the mounts. The down n dirty solution was to weld 1/8 inch steel to the ends of the mounts, and drill new holes. To make sure they lined up properly, I tacked the bolt in place and fitted the pre drilled plates to it.
The next chore was figuring out the motors angle. Factory called for the barrels to be at a 20 degree angle, and unfortunately we're gonna have to compromise a little. After adjusting the frame to what will be ride height, I need the motor as tight to the frame as possible for ground clearance. Even reducing the angle to 15 degrees, I only have 4 inches of ground clearance from the bottom of the oil pan. It'll have to do.
Not that that's all done, the next step will be building new downtubes. The motor will be used as a stressed component of the frame, with 4 mounts there's plenty of strength for that. I picked up the correct frame for the cbr motor off ebay and hacked up for the mounts. Saves some time fabricating, and gives me an idea of the strength required for each mount as honda wanted it for the motor.
This brings me to pretty much where I am now. The goal is a very light (3-325 lbs), slightly juiced up (60hp) little beastie that stops on a dime (4 pistons with 2 rotors of braking up front) and be a joy to ride. AND let's not forget it's fuel injected as well as liquid cooled. I plan on putting a lot of mIles on it once done. Oh, and let's not forget it'll still be registered as a 1972 cb450 and get classic insurance
Here's a bunch of photos
