Topic: my intro!

[wadarush]

Hello hello,

About a month ago now my boss gave me a 72 cb500.  He had enough projects on his hands to last him a life time and he new he would never get around to this one so now the buck has been passed.  Here she is....  Check out the exhaust pipes! 

I'm not much of a chopper fan, yet.  If anyone is interested in trading me an original front end for these monster raked out forks let me know!!!  Also, if anyone wants that excentric seat I'm willing to part with it. 
So I have a lot to learn about this classic honda.  It doesn't need much to become a reliable driver.  On my list of need to do's is adjust the valves, make sure the carbs were assembled correctly by the previous owner, check the points, and the front brake system is completely gunked up with solidified brake fluid, so that'll need a real good cleaning and maybe some new parts. 
For the past couple years I've been elbow deep in restoring a 73 Suzuki gt185.  It's just a small bare bones two stoke... nothing fancy about it but I decided it would be a great first motorcycle and so far it has been.  I've put nearly 1,200 miles on her since the rebuild that I just finished 5 months ago!

well I better start talking about Honda's again before I make someone angry!  I'd like to attempt a cafe project with the cb500.  From what I've read online they are a great subject for "cafeing" and also the bike has quite a power to weight ratio.  If anyone has any input give me a shout I'd love to hear some suggestions. 
well I've said enough for now, see you all around the board. 
Craig

[333]

I need a boss like that.  Are there side covers to match that tank?  Reminds me of my first bike.  A CB450K4 with 6" extended forks and apehanger handlebars.  PO had the original forks, and were back on the bike in 4 days.  Are you looking to go all the way back to stock, or just make it handle like stock?  Wish I could help oyut on parts, but all I have these days is 350F stuff.

BTW, don't stop with the Suz talk, that's what the "Other Bikes" section is for.  It looks cool too!

[wadarush]

Yep I've got the side covers that match the tank.  I'm looking to return the bike to somewhere near stock looking but with some cafe twists here and there.  I'll cruise it around like this for awhile until I get all the needed parts....

[malcolmgb]

welcome to the forum.
Yes try to get the CB looking stock again I'm not a fan of that pseudo chopper look, and carry on riding that Suzuki it looks great, perhaps show us a pic of it before you rebuilt it.

[Ecosse]

Yeah I like that 'other' bike as well... and is that a MOPAR I spy in the garage? Remember to post pics on updates!

[SOHC steve]

Welcome,that little Suzuki looks really nice.The CB is a great candidate as well,should clean up nicely...by the way like Ecosse said...is that a MOPAR? Big block?
         Steve

[78 k550]

Welcome,
I got my bike almost exactly the same way. 8" longer front fork, same seat.
Must of been a 70's thing
I got mine looking stock again. way more sexy stock.

Paul

[malcolmgb]

excuse my ignorance from here in the UK, but what is a MOPAR?

[wadarush]

MOPAR it is... well spotted.  For the unknowing a mopar is anything dodge, chrysler, jeep, eagle, or plymouth.  It was a popular term back in the muscle car days.  I've owned that silly car for 6 years now.  It's a 74 Plymouth Roadrunner with a 360ci engine, automatic tranny.  I bought a 440ci to stick in it but after some dissapointing news this weekend I'll just be parting out and selling everything for the car.  I had an autobody shop come out and take a look at the body.  He said that the frame is nearly see through on this unibody car and fixing the thing would cost nearly $20,000.  Of course their are cheaper ways around that like spending a couple grand on a tube frame chassis.  Sadly, I've just lost interest in it and I would rather sell it off, pay off some debt, and fix up the Honda. 

[dusterdude]

damnit,that sucks.

[SOHC steve]

Shame to hear about the roadrunner I guess salted roads claim another old classic.Im a bit of a nut for old cars,mainly Mopar and Ford and even in the relatively mild/dry climate of Australia rust is a major problem,like you said,selling it at least gives you $$ and time to build the Honda......you will be riding it long before you would have ever even got close to removing all that rust from the roadrunner...and still be cruising in a classic! Good luck with the CB,Steve

[bill440cars]

       Welcome to the forums there wadarush,

                                Had a buddy clue me in to the "74' runner" and it's a real shame about the rust and all. I can fully identify with the "Wants" to build that one up. 74' was the last year that the road runner was on the Belvedere (or Satellite body). 75' was a waste, in my opinion. I've got a little MOPAR history myself (as do several others here). I've got no real Mopar Classics now but have owned 2- 66' Dodge Chargers (one had a 383/4sp/posi), 2- 69' road runners (that's how I met my wife to be, she had one and so did I, 36yrs ago), 1- 76' Volare' road runner, 74' Dodge Royal Monaco (ex state police car), & a 56' Plymouth sedan. Her 69' runner was the last one to go (things got tight and couldn't afford to keep it)

                                 Glad you're here with us. cool about getting the Honda. Great job on the Suzuki! Sharp looking little bike and I'm sure that it's a pretty snappy runner too! Feel the place out, check out the members bikes and get on with fitting in (which will be no real problem, I promise).

                                                           Later on, Bill

             
     

[burmashave]

Ahhhhh, Roadrunners.  Miss 'em.

You know, that is one funky seat you've got on your chopper.  It reminds me of the seats that knights would put on their horses so they wouldn't get tossed off while jousting. ;-)

[Dougy Dougy Dune Buggy]

Hey Welcome & cafe that 500, i like the GT185 also...i'm a Suzuki fan from my motocross days but the 185 is clean
i'm knee deep into a redo of a 72 CB500 also, mine was a craigslist $1 dollar find and he lived an hour away from me but 3 miles
from my Dad..i had my Dad pay him the $1.00 !! it will be worth it when finished....post pix of progress cuz we all love that
later,
DWYJ-DoG[img]

[74cb750]

Looks like a nice project. Go cafe.

I love the GT185 , maybe even more than the Honda.

I had a GT250 that I rode everywhere, NH to Florida in 1975.
Great bike for areas with no hills, esp. with the ape-hangers and all....
nice.
Peace,
michel

[cben750f0]

MY FIRST BIKE WAS A GT185!!!!!!..... mmmmm loved that bike.... oh.. and the chopper is nice....


peace


OH... and welcome!!!!!

[wadarush]

Thanks for all the welcoming!
A few guys wanted to see a before shot of the gt185, here she is...

I picked it up off ebay for $200.  It came with it's heartaches, the motor was junk and a few important parts were no longer produced but in the end it all came together.  I learned so much useful knowledge from restoring this bike:
Never ever take anything back to the paint shop that charged me $600 for a crappy paint job that wasn't finished for six months!!!!!
If you have the engine split on a two stroke and you have any doubts about the condition of your crank seals.... REPLACE THEM....   I didn't replace them the first time and had to crack the engine open a second time, ugh.
Wear a mask when buffing... I couldn't believe the amount of buffing compound I was blowing out of my nose for months, hehe.
Another buffing tip, be very careful when using a bench grinder style buffing wheel when attempting to clean up the chrome on the headlight ring, there are a lot of sharp edges on the ring that love to attach themselves to the buffing wheel and shoot across the garage at an approximated 80mph.
etc, etc....
There's nothing more therapeutic than shining up an old motorcycle... except maybe riding it.

[cben750f0]

M8 real good job..... you have brought back the youth ....

peace