Topic: Noob buys first bike... wants to build cafe racer

[xanaphyst]

Nice!  I have a Monterey 268SS, almost boating season here...


[/quote]

Nice boat !!! I'm wanting a tower like that myself but its too close to boating season now. That will have to wait until this coming winter.

[newday777]

Getting there,, still some work to do, needs frame hoop and lights

That rear brake pull isn't installed correctly. Not sure if you realized or not.

Thank you for the heads up !!!  I don't see what is wrong. Can I have a hint

[Doobie]

If you've never ridden much before, spend your time learning how to ride well and safely.

[xanaphyst]

Getting there,, still some work to do, needs frame hoop and lights

That rear brake pull isn't installed correctly. Not sure if you realized or not.

Thank you for the heads up !!!  I don't see what is wrong. Can I have a hint

I must be blind cause I'm still not seeing the problem. 

[bryanj]

Looks to me like the torque arm is way too short, i dont remember the triangular lower part on the brake plate facing forward so much

[Ellz10]

Brake arm should be in the 6:30/7 o'clock position. Brake panel should be around the 5 o'clock position.

I recently went thru all this whilst installing my custom brake strap and brake pull.

[Tracksnblades1]

This 750k in the service manual looks more like 4:30 too..?

[exponent]

If the bike in the first picture is the one you bought don't you dare cut it up. Only do bolt ons and keep all the original parts

[xanaphyst]

Well in the end it took a bit longer than I expected but its pretty much all done now......even have a title !!!!   Last bit is to tune the new VN34 4-2 carbs and then get it registered. It ran pretty good with the stock carbs but not having the factory airbox really restricted their operation.  For my first ever road bike and first ever bike project I'm satisfied with the way it turned out. One of my disappointments was finding a guy on youtube called Classic Octane that does lots of old Hondas and lives close to me but I couldnt get him to respond to anything I tried.....not once. I even signed up online for his carb service.....zero....crickets.  But hey in the end I got it all done and love it.

Hondaman ....... Thank You for the engine build !!

[MauiK3]

That's quite a project!

[Stev-o]

Looks good!

[Alaxy Galaxy]

Looks like a solid build. Good on you for going through with it and thank you for choosing a project bike initially.

I am a bit worried of the strain the exhaust is going to put on the head without any downstream support. Just my .02$

Don't know what the weather is like where you are, but if it's nice, go out and have fun riding and be proud of your build.

[Kelly E]

I agree with Alex.

Without a rear exhaust mount you will probably be breaking exhaust studs. It's a lot of load when you hit a big bump or pothole especially with firmer or less suspension travel.

[campbmic]

Im in Dallas and have a 1975 CB550 I bought for $300 (?cant remember) and turned it into a cafe racer. If you search through some of my older posts you'll find a pic of it. I'm rebuilding it now after a fire. I'm planning on doing a better build this time around. However, for my first time I bought clubman handlebars and cleaned up the "triangle" (where the airbox is). Clubmans will make a pretty drastic change immediately.

The triangle is a bit more work. I removed the airbox and purchased "pod filters" online. Many engineers smarter than you or I designed the airbox to work with the engine and putting pods on a bike will change that. Your bike will likely not run as well (might not be super noticeable) and you can help this by experimenting with the jets in your carbs and needle position. The next step is purchasing a smaller batter and relocating all of the all of the wiring/electrics in the triangle. My bike was kickstart only and I was able to use a battery for home security systems from batteries plus and it worked great. I cant remember all of the specifics but someone can likely help you with what amps/volts you'd need. I then paid someone $20 to weld a metal box I could fit under the original sit to house everything. Alternatively, you can buy a cafe seat and relocate it all to the hump in the back.

[Floshenbarnical]

Im in Dallas and have a 1975 CB550 I bought for $300 (?cant remember) and turned it into a cafe racer. If you search through some of my older posts you'll find a pic of it. I'm rebuilding it now after a fire. I'm planning on doing a better build this time around. However, for my first time I bought clubman handlebars and cleaned up the "triangle" (where the airbox is). Clubmans will make a pretty drastic change immediately.

The triangle is a bit more work. I removed the airbox and purchased "pod filters" online. Many engineers smarter than you or I designed the airbox to work with the engine and putting pods on a bike will change that. Your bike will likely not run as well (might not be super noticeable) and you can help this by experimenting with the jets in your carbs and needle position. The next step is purchasing a smaller batter and relocating all of the all of the wiring/electrics in the triangle. My bike was kickstart only and I was able to use a battery for home security systems from batteries plus and it worked great. I cant remember all of the specifics but someone can likely help you with what amps/volts you'd need. I then paid someone $20 to weld a metal box I could fit under the original sit to house everything. Alternatively, you can buy a cafe seat and relocate it all to the hump in the back.

Alternately you can learn how to make fiberglass molds and make a cafe seat with a hump all by yourself

[campbmic]

Im in Dallas and have a 1975 CB550 I bought for $300 (?cant remember) and turned it into a cafe racer. If you search through some of my older posts you'll find a pic of it. I'm rebuilding it now after a fire. I'm planning on doing a better build this time around. However, for my first time I bought clubman handlebars and cleaned up the "triangle" (where the airbox is). Clubmans will make a pretty drastic change immediately.

The triangle is a bit more work. I removed the airbox and purchased "pod filters" online. Many engineers smarter than you or I designed the airbox to work with the engine and putting pods on a bike will change that. Your bike will likely not run as well (might not be super noticeable) and you can help this by experimenting with the jets in your carbs and needle position. The next step is purchasing a smaller batter and relocating all of the all of the wiring/electrics in the triangle. My bike was kickstart only and I was able to use a battery for home security systems from batteries plus and it worked great. I cant remember all of the specifics but someone can likely help you with what amps/volts you'd need. I then paid someone $20 to weld a metal box I could fit under the original sit to house everything. Alternatively, you can buy a cafe seat and relocate it all to the hump in the back.

Alternately you can learn how to make fiberglass molds and make a cafe seat with a hump all by yourself

This is true! I was looking online tonight and there are some pretty affordable deals on alibabaexpress for cafe seats/pans too!

[xanaphyst]

Well it’s been quite a while since my original post and I thought some of you may be able to help me. After the build was done I only rode the bike a few times because of an ongoing problem. It seems like the engine is getting hot and locking up. I tried a different set of carbs thinking maybe it was running lean but I still have the same issue. I put some larger jets in but it still does the same thing.

[pjlogue]

You'd be crazy to chop that bike up. Find one in rough shape, not that one, unless that picture makes it look better than it really is right now.

I would second this thought.  Once a bike is chopped up it is ruined and the amount of $ needed to restore it is far more than it would ever be worth. 

-P. 

[bryanj]

More likely bad oil flow than carbs

[Tracksnblades1]

Well it’s been quite a while since my original post and I thought some of you may be able to help me. After the build was done I only rode the bike a few times because of an ongoing problem. It seems like the engine is getting hot and locking up. I tried a different set of carbs thinking maybe it was running lean but I still have the same issue. I put some larger jets in but it still does the same thing.

Sorry to hear about your engine seizure troubles..

Have you drained a little bit of oil out to see if you have the dreaded metallic glitter in it…???
Like Bryan indicated, oil may be more likely your issue… Oil pressure psig @ lock up ??
Insufficient clearances is another, but the dreaded metallic glitter in the oil will let you know how big the problem is…

PS: I wouldn’t ride it until you remedy the engine locking up…another member had a similar condition and questioned or placed blame on the camshaft bearings….but they looked alright from my lazyboy armchair…. I’m not remembering now what he determined? Digging deeper after any type of lockup should leave a easy to see telltale sign of what was responsible for it…
 

[Tracksnblades1]

Well it’s been quite a while since my original post and I thought some of you may be able to help me. After the build was done I only rode the bike a few times because of an ongoing problem. It seems like the engine is getting hot and locking up. I tried a different set of carbs thinking maybe it was running lean but I still have the same issue. I put some larger jets in but it still does the same thing.

Bump..

Xana:

What have you been able to find out?
Oil pressure psig?
Was your engine doing this before the build?

[BenelliSEI]

Well it’s been quite a while since my original post and I thought some of you may be able to help me. After the build was done I only rode the bike a few times because of an ongoing problem. It seems like the engine is getting hot and locking up. I tried a different set of carbs thinking maybe it was running lean but I still have the same issue. I put some larger jets in but it still does the same thing.

If Hondaman rebuilt your engine I doubt it seizing. Pull the oil filter and check to see what you find in the pleats of the paper element. If there is “glitter” don’t keep running it….. is your oil pressure light coming on?

[Tracksnblades1]

Well it’s been quite a while since my original post and I thought some of you may be able to help me. After the build was done I only rode the bike a few times because of an ongoing problem. It seems like the engine is getting hot and locking up. I tried a different set of carbs thinking maybe it was running lean but I still have the same issue. I put some larger jets in but it still does the same thing.

If Hondaman rebuilt your engine I doubt it seizing. Pull the oil filter and check to see what you find in the pleats of the paper element. If there is “glitter” don’t keep running it….. is your oil pressure light coming on?

Oh I didn’t realize it had been rebuilt. I’ll read the other pages to get up to speed..
Wonder if he test runs them before shipping?

[Stev-o]

It seems like the engine is getting hot and locking up. 

Can you plz be more specific on the "locking up"?   Does the motor just stop running?  Or does it not want to start back up after turning off?  Will it kick over?

Typically, if a motor "locks up" it has sustained a major mechanical malfunction. And if riding, it could cause the rear wheel to abruptly stop and cause a skid. Doesnt sound like this has happened.

[Tracksnblades1]

It seems like the engine is getting hot and locking up. 

Can you plz be more specific on the "locking up"?   Does the motor just stop running?  Or does it not want to start back up after turning off?  Will it kick over?

Typically, if a motor "locks up" it has sustained a major mechanical malfunction. And if riding, it could cause the rear wheel to abruptly stop and cause a skid. Doesnt sound like this has happened.

I think he’s working abroad on a large project for a few more weeks..