Author Topic: PROJECT "SPEEDHoLE"-1974 HONDA CB450 HARDTAIL/RACER BUILD-LAST UPDATED 1/28/08  (Read 18328 times)

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Offline ProTeal55

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PROJECT "SPEEDHoLE" - 1974 CB450 CAFE/RACER PROJECT

I am picking up the new project bike in a few weeks, so I thought I would start another build thread to document my progress..Please let me introduce you all to Project "Speed Hole" --->
The starting point is a super clean 1974 Honda CB450 I picked up from fellow 1/2 Faster Indy
John. The bike is super clean, complete, and has 13,000 original miles on the clock.
The plan is to strip the bike down and remove/get rid of/toss EVERYTHING that doesn't need to be their. I want to make this bike as light (and light looking) as possible to go with the whole hardcore cafe/racer look I have in my head. If you think Project "Slim" was stripped, just wait till u see this bike when I am done with it ! Their will be a heavy use of Speed holes on this project (much more than the last). I also have some really cool ideas I am gonna use on this project that I don't wanna give away (until they are actually done on the scoot)..
As on my last two bikes, I plan to keep this thread updated as much as I can, and as always will answer whatever questions may come up..

Stay tuned (this should get interesting)....
« Last Edit: January 28, 2008, 03:25:04 PM by ProTeal55 »
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends

Offline kirkn

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Re: PROJECT "Speed Hole" - 1973 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2007, 09:31:23 AM »
**cringe, cringe, shudder, shudder**

Why molest such a pristine, complete survivor?  Can'tcha find something less, say, complete?  A 'bitsa' bike?  Bitsa this, bitsa that?

I mean, I'm all in favor of the project - that is, the end result.  But, I'm enough of a purist to think what a shame that would be for an otherwise complete survivor.

But, of course, it's YOUR machine...

Good luck, and I'll be looking forward to following your build, every cringe of the way... :)

Kirk

Offline mkramer1121

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Re: PROJECT "Speed Hole" - 1973 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2007, 02:32:08 PM »
Yeah PT, it is your bike, but modifying a clean, complete bike, that's a waste...Why not sell it and keep 1/2 the cash and buy a basket case???

Offline Tim.

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Re: PROJECT "Speed Hole" - 1973 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2007, 05:20:08 AM »
The beauty of chopping up a survivor is it frees up good quality spare bits that can be sold of to a) finance a project and b) allow someone else to bring their restoration project to completion.

If everyone restored and maintained the survivors out there, it would be next to impossible to find a nice original exhaust, tank, seat etc. for sale.

And all the 1950's, 60's, 70's era cafe racers, choppers, race bikes etc. were at the time brand-new.  Is it a crime to modify a brand new bike?

The idea of a true survivor is as appealing to me as anyone.  I have a 1975 BMW R75/6 that is like it came from the factory.  Was in storage at a dealer for 20 years and has 36,000 miles on it.  Original everything, no dings, no rust, perfect paint.  While I have no plans on modifying it, it would make a LOT of people very happy if I was to sell off the tank, sidecovers, seat, wheels etc. and it would make me a LOT of $$$.
Roule comme dans les annĂ©es 70...   Roll as in the Seventies...

Offline KB02

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Re: PROJECT "Speed Hole" - 1973 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2007, 05:37:41 AM »
The beauty of chopping up a survivor is it frees up good quality spare bits that can be sold of to a) finance a project and b) allow someone else to bring their restoration project to completion.

That is a good point.

Alright Joe... lets see what you've got!!

(Happy Thanksgiving!!)
1978 CB750K Project
2000 Ducati ST2
...and a pedal bike

Join the AMA today!!

My project thread Part I: K8 Project "Parts Bike"
My project thread Part II: Finishing (yeah, right) touches on Project "Parts Bike"

Offline DarkRider

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Re: PROJECT "Speed Hole" - 1973 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2007, 06:27:46 AM »
Besides...the more bikes that are modified it makes the originals worth more in the end as well..
'84 Chevy C10
'73 MGB Roadster
'69 Ford F250

Currently a rider without a bike

Quote from: heffay
so, you say just tie myself on with this... and steer w/ this?   ;D ;D  ok.  where's my goggles?   8)

Offline ProTeal55

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Re: PROJECT "Speed Hole" - 1973 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2007, 12:19:28 PM »
Alright Joe... lets see what you've got!!


The "chopping" will begin soon. And yes, it is a nice survivor of a mid 70's CB450, but to me it is just that, a mid 70's cb450. Believe me guys I am ALL about keeping things stock/original that deserve it, but in my eyes these bikes NEED to be modified for me to have any intrest in them. To each their own...

As in my last build, as I remove stock parts I will put them up for sale. Pretty much everything on this bike is a 8 outta 10 in the quality dept. The fenders are mint, as is the exhaust. 

NOTE: I am currently in need of a set of CL/Scrambler headpipes for this project. If anyone has a decent pair (no mufflers needed) shoot me an email @ Saytin72@aol.com and lets work something out...
« Last Edit: November 22, 2007, 12:25:50 PM by ProTeal55 »
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends

Offline ProTeal55

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Re: PROJECT "SPEEDHoLE" - 1973 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2007, 12:31:06 PM »
Not sure if this is odd or I am just hungover from last night, but I took this pic of the Green CB450 project exactly one year ago today --->
And now exactly one year later I am talking about building another CB450 based scoot..
I need a nap... 8)
« Last Edit: November 22, 2007, 12:54:38 PM by ProTeal55 »
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends

Offline ProTeal55

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Re: PROJECT "SPEEDHoLE" - 1974 HONDA CB/CL/CR450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2008, 05:35:45 PM »
PROJECT UPDATE 1/01/08

Happy New Years !
I figured I would update this alittle to keep an accurate log of this build..

I had been tossing the idea around of making this bike a hardtail, and after seeing a mockup pic of another users 350 project I was/am sold (see below) -->
So now the plans for the brown CB450 are gonna be a badass little racer/bobber deal.
Not like it is a change from how my other bikes have rode (with being so low to the ground), but no matter what you do you cant beat the look of a hardtail..Plus with me living in the city come spring this will be the perfect bar hopper. And if I ever need to actually put some miles on a bike I always have the Monster...

So the plans are to hardtail the the thing, prob. do a 21'' front and 19'' rear (or something along those lines), and do another funky routed exhaust as I did on the green CB450. Besides the major changes, I am going to go as simple as possibile on this build (atleast to get it rideable). All switches will be tucked away in the headlight bucket, as I want the bike to be as clean as possibile. I plan to run a small solo/spring seat with some sort of ribbed rear fender (no front of course) to keep the "bobber" look going. I am going to keep the electric start becasue I know how I am, and dont see myself ever owning a kick only bike (don't have the patience nor the back for that)..So a small battery box will have to be built and tucked somewhere on the rear section.

I will post some pics once I pickup the bike, and we get the thing torn down.
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends

Offline ProTeal55

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Re: PROJECT "SPEEDHoLE" - 1974 HONDA CB450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2008, 07:43:59 PM »
* * PROJECT UPDATE 1/17/08 * *

The first of many purchases for the new project --->
The 21'' wheel/dual disc setup is gonna go nice with the whole speedster/racer look I am going after.Either going to stick with the stock 18'' out back, or relace the 19'' from the front for the rear (not sure as of yet). Once I get the hardtail rear section on the bike I can mock everything up and see how it looks.

Going to start ordering parts for the build, and as usual will document my progress..
Stay tuned...
« Last Edit: January 28, 2008, 03:23:40 PM by ProTeal55 »
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends

Offline ProTeal55

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Re: PROJECT "SPEEDHoLE" - 1974 HONDA CB450 CAFE/RACER DEAL-E-O THREAD
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2008, 03:22:28 PM »
* * PROJECT UPDATE 1/28/08 * *

Got my sidecover back from Terry @ Team Hansen Honda today (I like having Terry less than a hour away ;D) --->
I had him install two bungs (along with some inside baffeling) so I can mount up a oil cooler on the new project. Not that my last 450 ran hot, I just feel the addition of some nice AN lines and a slim/techy cooler will add to the "racer" look I want this bike to give off. I am going to try my hardest to have this bike just look fast while it is parked..I def. need to cleanup the welds alittle more (i told Terry to leave them alone)before I send the cover out for powdercoating, but that can wait till later. I am thinking I am going to have each side cover powdercoated black and leave the rest of the motor brushed, but thats still up in the air..

Other parts I still have to order are some clip-on's, smaller battery, and the hardtail rear section. I am going to pick up the bike this coming weekend, so once that is done I can start ripping parts off it to sell, and start trying to recoup some $$...
Joe a.k.a ProTeal55 a.k.a JoeyCocks a.k.a Maker of Friends