Topic: my cb650 cafe project

[daniel son]

so i decided to pull the engine after a good years riding because she started to smoke at idle.
heres a pic of what she looked like before.



and finally i got the engine out, took about 2 hours or just over.

[kghost]

So whats the plan....Freshen up the top end?

Complete rebuild?

Max horsepower?

A few subtle mods?

Hard part of the rebuild is half done....getting it out.

Your gonna make a clean spot...dangerous ground....next thing ya know its all in pieces 

[daniel son]

well that was a few weeks ago now, just got round to putting it on here.
the plan is to build a cafe racer, but not the conventional one! i like to be different you see, i like to take little bits from loads of bikes to make something unique.

i dont think it will be a complete rebuild, sorta half!

[daniel son]

whilst i was stripping down the engine at work i didnt manage to get too many pics, i was doing it in my lunch hour and at the time eating was more important than pics!
anyway i got the engine stripped down, and masked the casings and sprayed them.
some pics of doing the top half



i painted the block whilst i was waiting for the package from david silvers spares to turn. i ordered a gasket set, a set of piston rings and 2 new coils and 1 new cdi unit(i replaced 1 earlier in the year), 4 new ht leads and caps and a rear brake light switch



didnt like how it came out in gloss so i did it again this time in matt black!

[daniel son]

went out and got some more VHT paint and started again on the block.



was happier with finish i got with matt black and it covers better than the gloss.


so i went on and fitted the new piston rings after cleaning the tops and polishing them, and seated my new base gasket and put the block on.

[FunJimmy]

Lookin good.
I was planning on the same thing, but been to busy to get at it.

[LoopsAndLogic]

If you don't mind me asking, what application did you get those headlights off of??

I really would appreciate it.

Also, I use to have a 1981 CB650 Custom. I wish I would have kept her.....

LL

[daniel son]

the headlights are from an aftermarket shop, so they are quite universal. they are called twin dominator round headlights, you can get them from most streetfighter places and they are very good, both light up on dipped and main and both have sidelights! i think i got mine from a place called streetfighterstoreonline.com or something like that around £55.  you can get them cheaper now though

[daniel son]

i liked the finish i got on the block with the matt black so i got spraying, and heres the head

i decided to contrast the colours on the exhaust brackets



next i decided to build the head up, lap in the valves and a general internal clean up, sadly no pics of this as i stayed late at work one night to do so and didnt get in until 8.00pm

here is a pic of the engine with the head and rocker covers just rested on

[daniel son]

whilst the engine was out and at work, these turned up from ebay!!


and these


im not too keen on the shocks at the moment, i will see what they look like on the bike.

[daniel son]

so i got the engine finished and all bolted together not long ago and heres the finish product!!




im pleased with the contrast in colours on the engine.

[Soos]

Looks nice!
I'm interested in seeing those shocks on your frame.
They can be nothing but an improvement either way!
What year 650?

is that a '79 motor, or a later one with '79 tappet covers?

l8r

[daniel son]

yeas its the 79 model, wasnt standard when i bought it thats why i decided to modify it even more.
the shocks are on the bike now, so ill try and get some photos of it for you. i wasnt too keen on them witht the blue and red bits so sprayed them silver, dont look too bad, they are quite soft tho.

[daniel son]

i got the engine in last saturday and got her running on sunday, there was a few little oil leaks, which i expected anyway, and she run like a dream, and most importantly no smoke at idle!

unfortunatly this is the only pic at that stage.

but i got the seat finished finally and the new LED rear light, looks quite good i think

[daniel son]

another of the rear and i got the new shocks fitted



oh and the pod filters



take a look at what i found in the carb bowls whilst fitting the main jets!!!!



its still running lean with 102 mains in at the moment but runs ok with the choke on around a quarter to half. i might go up to 110's or 112's next.

[daniel son]

and heres the bike so far!

[bill440cars]

         Sure like the way that your 650 is coming right along there! It has a distinctive looks going, all it's own.


                                  Later on, Bill
         

[voraciousc]

The bike looks great.  I especially like the headlights and how they fit with the speedo and tach.  My only critique would be the painted carbs.  Is there a story behind that color of orange?

[daniel son]

thanks to the guys who like it, i know its not for everyone but i like it. not really, they were that colour when i got the bike and havent been off the bike since so, i just left them that colour. iv got to rejet again soon so i might take them off and paint them a diff colour. might go red or just paint them silver instead.

as for the dpeed o and tach, i was thinking of changin them but now you have pointed that out voraciousc i may leave them some pics coming soon

[daniel son]

i got this painted today and all ive got to to before it goes on is rub down and polish



it was off a cb25 rs and i shortened it a bit

also got some polishing done on the weekend.



and heres a pic of the handlebars and exhaust wrapped while im here




and that the progress so far!
i hope to get it finshed in the next couple of weeks

[rachet]

Your bike is looking Tight!  I love wrapped pipes.  where do you get the wrap?

[daniel son]

i got the wrap from ebay for £15 for 25 feet by 2 inches with 4 lockties had to get 2 lots of it though. ill see if i can get a link for you. oh and i sprayed it black becaue it came in a white colour

[daniel son]

i couldnt find the ones i bought but i did find this, although mine was an inch thicker.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Exhaust-Wrap-1-x-50_W0QQitemZ230227420829QQihZ013QQcategoryZ36680QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[rachet]

I appreciate the info Daniel!

I'm state side but can easily do a Google search for that brand and see what comes up.  Did you decide to wrap because it's cool looking or for performance reasons?  And, Is this the first bike you've wrapped?

I've always like the looked, but I know there are some benefits as well, so I'm curious what motivated you.

Last question (I promise), what did you paint them black with?

Thanks!

[andy750]

Very nice and original Daniel! What shocks are they on the back? Look very nice....another Ebay find?

cheers
Andy