Topic: Vote for Bike of the Month July 2017

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Scott S' 1973 CB500 Restomod (4th Time is the Charm!)
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,161158.0.html


















Flatlander's 1976 CB550F
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,134863.0.html






Frode2's CB750F/JMR 1000cc Street-Beast
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,163983.0.html

Mr Greenjeans 1970 CB750 Café
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,165654.0.html

[sinister902]

how the hell are we supposed to pick one!?

[Stev-o]

how the hell are we supposed to pick one!?

Good question!  Why is Scott "4th times a charm", Don?

[joeyvans]

Jeez.... I'm going to need the full 2 weeks on this one.  Are you kidding me??!!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

For those owners with bikes nominated, please post up a quick summary of your build -- what you started with, what work you did, who helped out, etc.  And feel free to post additional photos, too!

[flatlander]

will post up something - just let me get back from greece first

[Bankerdanny]

I was able to choose pretty easily as one of them struck an immediate emotional note with me. That said, I won't be disappointed if one of the others wins, they are all terrific bikes.

[Ecosse]

this is brutal.

[Scott S]

how the hell are we supposed to pick one!?

 I know, right? Really strong field here and I'd be glad to own any of them.

[Scott S]

how the hell are we supposed to pick one!?

Good question!  Why is Scott "4th times a charm", Don?

 I've been nominated four times. Came really close to winning once. Maybe the fourth time is the charm?

[przjohn]

Very tough choice but one did stick out for me, great job everyone!

[Stev-o]

... let me get back from greece first

Where are you?  I loved Santorini & Mykonos...

[Scott S]

For those owners with bikes nominated, please post up a quick summary of your build -- what you started with, what work you did, who helped out, etc.  And feel free to post additional photos, too!

 Cribbed from the nomination thread:

 I found out about my bike at breakfast one morning years ago. I was on my '78 and a guy came up to me. After exchanging numbers and actually going to look at the bike, it was probably another three years before I was able to actually buy it. Time was not kind to it. It sat in a leaky, mosquito infested shed since 1981, the year his daughter was born. Eventually, code enforcement came down on his property and he called me, ready to sell. This is "As Found".





 I stripped the bike down to the bare frame and rebuilt the top end of a spare CB550 engine I had. Some porting and polishing, oversize valves, CB650 cam, some vapor blasting, some coatings, and the piece de resistance, the exhaust. I contacted the Benelli Club of Spain after doing some internet searching for the sexy, curved factory race style exhaust. They agreed to make a set for me.




 Did an R6 front end swap, modified the triple tree for risers (using all Honda parts... CB350 riser, CB400F bars, Goldwing brake line splitter, etc.) and modified the Lester mags.



 Designed my own Speedhut gauge face.



 Installed an NOS seat, modified CB400F footpegs and brake lever, 550F kicker. Based the paint scheme on a Japanese market CB750 color scheme. Used stock style but smaller turn signals and tail light (which is actually a CL350 unit i had chromed) and went for the subtle look.

[flatlander]

... let me get back from greece first

Where are you?  I loved Santorini & Mykonos...

zakynthos. the relatively empty and quiet end of the island. flying out today 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

For those owners with bikes nominated, please post up a quick summary of your build -- what you started with, what work you did, who helped out, etc.  And feel free to post additional photos, too!

 Cribbed from the nomination thread:

 I found out about my bike at breakfast one morning years ago. I was on my '78 and a guy came up to me. After exchanging numbers and actually going to look at the bike, it was probably another three years before I was able to actually buy it. Time was not kind to it. It sat in a leaky, mosquito infested shed since 1981, the year his daughter was born. Eventually, code enforcement came down on his property and he called me, ready to sell. This is "As Found".





 I stripped the bike down to the bare frame and rebuilt the top end of a spare CB550 engine I had. Some porting and polishing, oversize valves, CB650 cam, some vapor blasting, some coatings, and the piece de resistance, the exhaust. I contacted the Benelli Club of Spain after doing some internet searching for the sexy, curved factory race style exhaust. They agreed to make a set for me.




 Did an R6 front end swap, modified the triple tree for risers (using all Honda parts... CB350 riser, CB400F bars, Goldwing brake line splitter, etc.) and modified the Lester mags.



 Designed my own Speedhut gauge face.



 Installed an NOS seat, modified CB400F footpegs and brake lever, 550F kicker. Based the paint scheme on a Japanese market CB750 color scheme. Used stock style but smaller turn signals and tail light (which is actually a CL350 unit i had chromed) and went for the subtle look.

Spectacular build -- a bike that pretty much every forum member would want to have in their stable.

[Fezzler]

All the bikes this month are beyond nice.  Here is what I like about Scott's ride:

1. Resourcefulness - He sourced those great pipes, overseas no less

2. Executed his Vision - He absolutely nailed the vision of a "stock-at-first-glance" ride but nicely tweaked under the hood for performance and with subtle style twists.

3. Tastefully Done - The design is so darn clean, balanced and has nice touches - like the smaller rear tail lamp and instrument gauge - but without looking overly ostentatious.

Overall, to me, it looks like it was designed that way at the factory to appeal to the masses.  Like one they may have produced in later years.

Tasteful performance in classic style.

[Franky]

Great to se the finished bike, Scott! I hope that R6 fork performs well. I rode mine on a weekend trip just last week. Small, twisty, rural swedish roads where I found myself thinking of just how much I love that amazing brake power :-)

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[Scott S]

 The brakes are amazing. No doubt about that.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

All the bikes this month are beyond nice.  Here is what I like about Scott's ride:

1. Resourcefulness - He sourced those great pipes, overseas no less

2. Executed his Vision - He absolutely nailed the vision of a "stock-at-first-glance" ride but nicely tweaked under the hood for performance and with subtle style twists.

3. Tastefully Done - The design is so darn clean, balanced and has nice touches - like the smaller rear tail lamp and instrument gauge - but without looking overly ostentatious.

Overall, to me, it looks like it was designed that way at the factory to appeal to the masses.  Like one they may have produced in later years.

Tasteful performance in classic style.

Scott's bike is very-well thought out.  Not meant to be an over-the-top show bike, but it has the right tweaks to make it a perfect restomod rider.

[flatlander]

this one may be a bit of an odd one on here, as it’s neither a meticulous stock restoration nor a cafe or full-on performance build. my goal was a bike that looks as close to stock as possible, while adding some significant improvements affecting handling an performance and making sure it stays reliable and sturdy, to suit my use for shorter, quick fun rides, as well as longer tours that include camping, and the occasional long-distance commute. as it's based on a survivor don't mind a bit of patina as long as everything is well sorted and looked after.

here’s an overview of the bigger things that i did:

2013 - all stock
bought the bike after a long search for a relatively unmolested stock bike in good condition. my idea was to be able to ride it while working on it, and gradually add modifications as i go along.
initially i just cleaned the carbs, did the usual tune-up, had the tank and side covers re-painted in original flake sapphire blue. then just rode it totally stock. this was nice to get to know the bike but soon showed some handling flaws, especially at higher speeds.





2014 - chassis work
changed all chassis bearings and had a fork brace made to fit over the stock fender. also replaced the fork internals, adding progressive springs.
handling became much more controlled and confident, immediately making the bike more fun and safer to ride with luggage.



2015 - engine mods
i wanted an engine with as much torque as possible (for a 550) and generally increased power, while keeping it strong and reliable. after consulting with a few local classic race engine tuners and mike rieck, i went with mike’s recipe: higher compression pistons, a head ported by mike with oversize valves and a megacycle cam. the bottom end checked out solid so i didn’t touch it. the clutch that started slipping is upgraded with OEM parts to 8 plates.
with these changes the bike turned into a little cannon compared to stock, and the previous chassis work made sure it was all usable. 








2016 - intermission
not much changed. i had the gauges rebuilt by marcel.
the bike developed a hesitation at high revs. it was a bit hard to figure out the cause but investigating the stock 4-1 exhaust which was restrictive for this setup, anyway, it seemed like internal rust had caused further restriction. went shopping for another exhaust…



2017 - exhaust
after seeing the 4-4 exhaust that scott had sourced, i fell in love with it had one of those made for myself. fitting was quite some work, though, and needed modification of the frame, side and centre stand. to suit the black coated exhaust i also recovered the saddle.
now the engine can get rid of it’s gasses and actually runs better than ever. i’m still not fully done with the jetting but once the carbs are totally sorted, expect it to put something in the mid-50s on the rear wheel.













and the future?
well, these things are never finished, right? i’m sure i’ll be tinkering with it further


and here the hard facts:

pistons: wiseco 59mm 10:1 CR
cylinder top decked -0.004in

MLS head gasket 0.030in

head:
mike rieck porting stage 2.5
-0.004in decked
serdi cut valve seats
+1mm intake valves
tapered guides
kibblewhite valves/springs/ti retainers

camshaft: megacycle hardweld 126-00
hardweld rockers

intake manifolds matched to ports

carbs: stock 069A

original airbox, currently with stock airfilter

exhaust: custom benelli/honda RC replica 4-4

ignition: boyer-bransden micro power

relay mod: battery to coils
AGM battery

clutch: 8 plates mod from OEM parts

front brake:
dual OEM discs/calipers
slingshot steel braided lines
speed bleed nipples

fork rebuilt with wilbers progressive springs and seals
t-kat forkbrace

shocks: vintage koni

conical headset bearings

new wheel bearings

swingarm bushings replaced with roller bearings

all rubber parts replaced with OEM (where available)

saddle: re-covered with OEM replica cover from old-skool-covers, re-padded

the build thread is here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,134863.0.html

thanks
needless to say, the content and people of this forum were an incredible help. a few guys offered especially lots of support, be it with technical advice, encouragement or the occasional kick in the arse. in no particular order, these are:

Stev-o
SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan
strynboen
calj737
bwaller
MRieck
Scott S
HondaMan

wouldn't have made it here without you!

[Sam Green Racing]

A nice bike and a well documented write up Flatlander, good luck in the competition.
From the info you have given, it sounds like you have a good strong motor that should give you many miles of fun riding.
Where are you in the Netherlands ? I raced there at a place called Uden many millions of years ago. hahaha.

Sam.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

For those who haven't heard these beautiful Benelli replica pipes, they are nothing short of amazing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5RVOSoI78N2c2RJSFA1VEtsSVk/view

flatlander and Scott S scored with these awesome sounding and looking pipes.

[Stev-o]

A nice bike and a well documented write up Flatlander, good luck in the competition.

+1.  Glad the kick in the arse I gave helped you!

[flatlander]

sam, i'm in amsterdam.

[Sam Green Racing]

sam, i'm in amsterdam.

I didn't get to see much of Holland as it was night time when we arrived and very early morning when we departed.
I had been selected to represent the UK and the whole squad were picked up from the Hook and transported by coach to various places around the venue at Uden. All this was done in the dark so sight seeing was out of the question.
The people and what I did see of Holland was very nice.

Sam.