G'day Forum members,
Apologies for the delayed response , well not really as I was away on a break and it was bloody awesome.
Story goes, I acquired the CB as a former race bike (2000/1) with the intention to have a go at some post classic as moderns where massively stretching the budget. The classic scene is no real different now days as you know.
After an initial rebuild and tidy up it was parked as funds then motivation was lost.
It was originally built by Bill Snelling of Westgate Racing and past many hands. Bob Blight, Geoff Clatworthy, Bobby Campbell.
3 years ago I came across a 70's edition of Two Wheels and the cover bike was a Read Titan CR kitted CB750 with funky metal flake paint and murals.
The motivation was set as I dig 70's full faired bikes and funky paint. Also the scene was flooded with caf racers and I rarely came across classics that were fully dressed.
The plan was to run the race motor with 4mm over sized high comp pistons, low lift cam, head had the works, larger valves etc, Dyna ignition. The lightened crank had to be replaced with a stocker as it had the spline removed therefor no charge system. I would also have to run stock carbs and replace the KO750 carbs as they run no idle or choke circuit. Budget doesn't allow for CR's.
Bottom end was rebuilt with a crank supplied by Dave500. Russell from Dominator's acid bathed, linished the crank, fitted rods and bearings, blueprinted and balanced the whole shebang.
Stock carbs sourced and hydro blasted by Dave Mac. Carbs where re built with new kit.
Headers where made by a balustrade joint in stainless but then fettled and manipulated by Phil O'Brien. Phil's apprentice (Greg Ball) at the time fabricated the exhausts originally back in the 80's. Exhausts are ceramic coated.
Phil also built the fairing and headlight bracket, tailight/# plate bracket and fitted the side stand. Another gentleman in Phil's workshop did some fuel tank repairs and pressure testing.
A Read Titan replica fairing was fabbed up by Mick from Moto Tumbi retro race glass. I messed around with reshaping and fitting of the fairing and screen.
A work colleague and former sheet metal worker Greg Brown and Mat Walters from Walter's Engineering did a massive amount of fabrication, Machined up the tacho surround, speedo mount, fork stays, battery/electrical box, ignition mount, re alignment of tank and tail piece to acquire a better line, sub frame mod, rear brake light switch mount, side covers and various spacers for rear sets and indicators.
Electrical's have had an overhaul with new harness, reg/rec, solenoid, plugs, sub wiring harness, kill switch, light switch & lithium battery,
Chassis has had more hits and work than Micheal Jackson, sorry I couldn't resist. Laurie Alderton checked for alignment and found only the swingarm out of whack. I pumped roughly 35hours into linishing, tidying welds, body filling, sanding chassis, triple clamps, side stand and fairing in prep for a lick of 2 pac with painted pin stripes by Jake from Mototech, The blue/green is as close as we could get to the original Honda blue/green using a paint code from a Suzuki Vitara with a hint of candy. Tank sticker is from a CMX250.
Seat was upholstered in a vintage blood oxide by Mark from Finny's Upholstery.
With invaluable advice from Luke at Ultimate shine I have polished forks, fork stay's, tacho surround, valve inspection caps, stator cover, sprocket cover, engine mount brackets, Monza cap and side covers before deciding to hit em some black. Exhaust brackets were chrome plated, fasteners and various bits n bobs zinc plated by Chris at Elite plating.
The biggest shout out goes to my brother Jules (former mechanic turned earth mover) Jules pretty much has pumped endless hours disassembling, rebuilding, re assembling, removing, trouble shooting, wiring, re wiring the whole kit and kaboodle. Yes, on more than one occasion I've had to wrestle the lighter and fuel soaked rag out of his grasp and although a collaboration, dead set if it wasn't for his patience and assistance in funding, this would still be parked as furniture.
How's she go you ask,
Apart from going like the clappers it was running very smokey, excessively from the head breather and a couple of the cylinders. Gearing was out so I dropped one tooth on the front which has improved moving off. It was decided by Jules and John Harding who also had a part in rebuilding that we return to a stock top end as the valves had extensive modifications with evidence of over machining and although piston ring clearances checked out there was a possibility of blow by. I could risk pumping more coin and still it would remain a pig or tap out and return to stock for ride ability.
To the disgust of some, using my spare donk, I've had the top end hydro blasted, stock pistons cleaned and new rings fitted, head reconditioned, valves cut re set etc, mild porting. The bike now as you would expect runs, idles and is carbon emission friendlier. Initial carby over flow issues have been sorted with re setting of float heights and general going over.
Currently racking up the miles and running in. Surprisingly not a massive reduction in horses. Pleasant power for the street, riding position is bloody murder.
Here is an article on Return of the Cafe racers
http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/2017/11/honda-cb550-racer.html#disqus_threadNo it's not a 550, it's worth a third of what it cost to build not cost a third of what it's worth!! and Jules like's how he "lent a hand"
And on that note, Curva will never leave the stable, bugger that!! The gremlins and hurdles just feed my sick mind and motivate to nut em out.
Massive thanks to all forum members who gave a thumbs up, provided feedback and advice. Cheers
Dave Mac - Hydroblasting - Castle Hill
Mat Walters - Walters Engineering for all your machining - Penrith
Conwire for all your cabling - Milperra
Phil O'Brien - FJ metal Products for all your fabrication particularly exhausts - Kirawee
Mick Jones - Moto Tumbi for all your fibre glass fairings - Morrisett
John Harding - top notch mechanic - Fairfield West
John Allman - Mototech for all repair and paint - Smithfield
Laurie & Dave Alderton for all your frame and rim straightening and repair - Smithfield
Mark Finney - Finney motor trimming & upholstery - Kemps Creek
Pioneers plating - Chroming - Moorebank
Chris from Elite Plating - zinc plating - Smithfield
Marcus from Hi Octane Performance coatings - ceramic coating - Rydalmere
Luke from Ultimate Shine - polishing - Liverpool
Other goodies
TZ Yammy alloy tank and rims
Suzuki GT750 4LS front brake
Lockhart oil cooler
Steering Dampner
Doherty quick action throttle
close ratio gearbox
Koni rear shocks
Benji's rear sets
Good luck Andy, you're bike looks mint.
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