Author Topic: 72 CB500 Restomod - Update Sold! (Read 47585 times)

DurangoCB · « **Reply #75 on:** April 23, 2018, 05:56:04 AM »

I just got a phone call from Frank a few days ago, so he’s still in business. Good luck!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #76 on:** April 23, 2018, 08:18:41 AM »

Those tubes are TOAST. Frank is still in operation. Still old school -- no internet, no voicemail, no web-site. Call in, send your order with specs and a money order/check and receive the goods!

Scramps · « **Reply #77 on:** April 23, 2018, 08:23:47 AM »

What’s a good contact number?

DurangoCB · « **Reply #78 on:** April 23, 2018, 08:31:02 AM »

There actually is a website. Just google it.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #79 on:** April 23, 2018, 11:48:47 AM »

If I were to guess, someone else got involved in Frank's business to modernize their operation.

Stev-o · « **Reply #80 on:** April 23, 2018, 02:30:59 PM »

Quote from: SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan on April 23, 2018, 11:48:47 AM

If I were to guess, someone else got involved in Frank's business to modernize their operation.

I thought Frank died?

http://franksforks.com/

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #81 on:** April 23, 2018, 04:08:29 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on April 23, 2018, 02:30:59 PM

Quote from: SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan on April 23, 2018, 11:48:47 AM
If I were to guess, someone else got involved in Frank's business to modernize their operation.

I thought Frank died?

http://franksforks.com/

It sure is possible that he passed or retired and someone took over and modernized the operation. I think I last called him 2 years ago (?) and ordered by phone, sent a cashier's check with my specs and got my fork tubes.

Scramps · « **Reply #82 on:** April 23, 2018, 04:12:41 PM »

Well if so, that’s a bummer.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch;

Ignoring the Horrendous paint runs on the tank, I did a little mock-up to see how I like the looks of the thing. I do.

The seat hinge issue is a real thorn in my side, which I don’t know if I’ve mentioned anything about it. Long story short, the hinge was shaved off the frame by the PO, so now the stock seat will not mount up without frame modifications. Since it’s already powder coated, I’m disinclined to pursue that. Instead, I’m thinking about going with one of these:

http://4into1.com/the-belmont-brat-seat-ceramic-brown/

Since it more or less fits the aesthetic I was aiming for, is affordable, and will require very little modification to fit the bike (if my measurements are correct).

I’m making good progress, and I think the only major hurdles left are tires, front forks (thanks for the info), seat, and exhaust.

Another thing I don’t know if I mentioned, that crummy 4-1 exhaust I have was tweaked a little by a fabricator friend, and it will fit now. I can probably make that work on the temporary until I can afford something nicer.

As for tires, anybody have any recommendations for where to buy?

Scramps · « **Reply #83 on:** April 23, 2018, 06:40:18 PM »

You’re absolutely right. That hinge is pretty rudimentary, I can probably make something happen there

Scramps · « **Reply #84 on:** April 26, 2018, 04:31:25 PM »

So I finally got around to calling our local upholstery business. I told the guy that I’d like to get my seat diamond-tucked and gave him some basic dimensions. His off-the-cuff estimate was $150.

These guys are primarily marine upholsterers, and they do very good work, so I have to put it to my good sohc4 friends. Do you think that’s too much?

Stev-o · « **Reply #85 on:** April 26, 2018, 06:49:19 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on April 26, 2018, 04:34:49 PM

Sounds reasonable from my experience.

+1. Does that include vinyl?

Scramps · « **Reply #86 on:** April 26, 2018, 07:47:16 PM »

That’s turnkey, so to speak

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #87 on:** April 27, 2018, 08:13:16 AM »

Quote from: Scramps on April 26, 2018, 04:31:25 PM

So I finally got around to calling our local upholstery business. I told the guy that I’d like to get my seat diamond-tucked and gave him some basic dimensions. His off-the-cuff estimate was $150.

These guys are primarily marine upholsterers, and they do very good work, so I have to put it to my good sohc4 friends. Do you think that’s too much?

The price sounds reasonable. What material? Leather, alcantara, vinyl, other?

Scramps · « **Reply #88 on:** April 27, 2018, 08:15:44 AM »

I asked for marine-grade vinyl, something that’s not going to wear out or fade quickly

Scramps · « **Reply #89 on:** April 27, 2018, 04:06:57 PM »

Dropped off the seat pan at my friendly neighborhood upholsterer's shop today. Had a brief chat with the owner, and we landed on a design more or less like this:

I reckon we'll see what it looks like when I get it back eh?

I didn't ask for an ETA, but these guys typically don't drag their feet.

DurangoCB · « **Reply #90 on:** April 29, 2018, 07:05:12 AM »

That's the exact seat I bought recently off of eBay via China. I like the diamond stitch. Can't wait to see how your seat turns out from a professional upholstery outfit.

That price seems fair to me. I couldn't afford it personally, but it seems fair.

Scramps · « **Reply #91 on:** May 01, 2018, 10:07:35 AM »

Anybody got a good lead on a rear rim for a cb500?

Figured I’d ask here before I put up a wanted ad.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #92 on:** May 01, 2018, 12:29:31 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on May 01, 2018, 11:13:20 AM

I believe I have one bouncing about. Let me look-

Bill Benton -- you have company!

Scramps · « **Reply #93 on:** May 01, 2018, 03:18:27 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on May 01, 2018, 02:47:30 PM

Bummer. The spare new rim I have is a front, not rear. Sorry about that. Yours if you need a front though.

I appreciate it, my front rim is actually in pretty good shape. Thank you for looking!

Scramps · « **Reply #94 on:** May 05, 2018, 11:24:12 AM »

Our boss at my day job told us (in so many words) to take some vacation time since we are all getting pretty burnt out. So I am taking this week off as a birthday present to myself. I used to do this every year for my birthday, but it's not always an option.

Anyway, I figured an update was in order.

Still waiting for my seat from the upholsterers. I stopped by their shop yesterday out of curiosity, but there didn't seem to be anyone there.

I've been working diligently to finish my wiring modifications, and I'm kicking myself for making this way more complicated than it needed to be, but oh well. I'm changing out all of my old bullet connectors for those little plastic plugs that I showed in a previous post. There's not really any advantage to them over the bullets, I just had several that were corroded and/or loose-fitting. With any luck, I should be able to finish that job up this weekend.

All of my control cables have been replaced. I bought some stock-style throttle cables, which were way too long for my lower handlebars, so I bought some shortened ones to replace those. The clutch cable that I had was from a 550, which made it about a foot longer than it needed to be for this bike. I bought a correct one of those as well.

A fellow forum member is getting me some forks and wheels cleaned up and ready to roll, which is hugely helpful since my fork tubes and rear rim were roached to the max.

I cleaned and painted my exhaust, and a friend of mine from work is trying to find a different muffler for me to put on it, since there's a hole rusted through mine. I would like to be able to pass a state inspection and get this dude on the road sometime this season.

I have new tubes and tires on standby, and there's just a few other finishing touches that I need to address, like fuel drain lines, fenders, light mounting, line routing/securement, and finishing up the paint and trim and whatnot.

I'm getting very close, and I'm very excited! I should have more to report and more pictures to share throughout the rest of this week, so stay tuned!

Scramps · « **Reply #95 on:** May 06, 2018, 07:22:53 PM »

I’ve made a lovely bouquet of terminal connector plugs for you

Scramps · « **Reply #96 on:** May 07, 2018, 06:24:33 PM »

So I’ve got the whole wiring harness reassembled, except for a few peripheral components like the rear lighting, and I’m blowing fuses. Kind of a frustrating way to end the day, but I’ll try again tomorrow.

DurangoCB · « **Reply #97 on:** May 07, 2018, 09:53:14 PM »

I know that feeling- just remember that even when it's two steps forward and one step back, it will still deliver you to the finish line eventually. Keep at it.

Scramps · « **Reply #98 on:** May 09, 2018, 12:37:22 PM »

Trying again today, probably going to just run checks for continuity to ground on everything to make sure that nothing is shorted. Then, who knows!

Scramps · « **Reply #99 on:** May 09, 2018, 01:02:26 PM »

Ok! So my ignition power (black wires) are shorted to ground somewhere

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Author Topic: 72 CB500 Restomod - *Update* Sold! (Read 47585 times)

Author Topic: 72 CB500 Restomod - Update Sold! (Read 47585 times)