Topic: 1969 CB160 Cafe/Tracker Project - a.k.a The "Apartment Bike"

[ProTeal55]

Yo,

So since the CL450 project is along ways away from being started, I thought I would do a mini build “log” of the CB160 that has been sitting in my backyard since June. It has been named the “apartment bike” because it is going to end up in my living room of my new place once all is said and done. The bike will never move under it’s own power as long as I own it, hence it not having a title/wiring/a trans that works/etc. The bike is getting built in my kitchen becasue the small garage that I do have at my place is full of bikes (parked for the winter) and who really needs a kitchen table right ? 

As I said I bought this past summer from a fellow member of the board. I knew it was going to be rough when I agreed to buy it (sight unseen), but when I saw it I was alittle shocked at just how rough it was, but it’s nothing alittle primer/paint and elbow grease cant fix (see below):

The plan was to go all out with new wheels, powdercoated frame, rear-sets, and so on but as of now it looks like I am going to do a simple cleanup, ditch the front and rear fenders, give the thing a good 2/3 coats of paint, different headlite, and call it a day. I already have a “toaster” tank that will find it’s way onto the bike, just need to source some small/tight café seat to go along with it. Besides that the bike is going to be stripped of anything that doesn’t look good, maybe get a funky exhaust going like my last CB450 I did (maybe not), etc. As usual once the build starts to happen things will change..

I am excited to start tearing into the bike and get it looking the best I can. I am going off the bike below as a “model” of what a clean CB160 can/should look like:

The bike above is nothing crazy, but the simple/clean lines and the excellent fit/finish are what make the bike. Hopefully when I am done I will have something just as cool..
Stay tuned, I start ripping into the thing tonight when I get home. Gonna be allot of PB blaster-ing and dealing with rusty bolts but it will be a good way to pass the winter…

[DollarBill]

I love the idea of turning an old bike into a piece of artwork!  Can't wait to see it done. 

[nickjtc]

Is that the original paint job, or a PO's work? Never seen one in white before. If you want to ditch the headlight/speedo let me know how much you want for it. Nick

[ProTeal55]

Not sure if it is factory or it was a repaint.
It doesnt look bad in white, but I think I am gonna go with a bright red for the frame and bodywork (like the Jason Lee bike above). That bike just looks right exactly how it is. I will prob. do gloss black wheels to hide the "imperfections" the wheels currently have. I am gonna have to suck it up and put new tires on the thing (Avon Speedmasters maybe ?)

[Frankenkit]

This is going to be a dumb question, but if it's 'just' an apartment bike, and just for looks... why pop the money for Avons?

[ProTeal55]

This is going to be a dumb question, but if it's 'just' an apartment bike, and just for looks... why pop the money for Avons?

I like the way Speedmasters look, and since the bike isnt gonna have any fenders the tire will play a huge partin the bike's overall look when completed. I need to look into different tire tread designs, maybe I will get lucky and find something that looks vintage and is cheap ?

Need to get the thing tore down & built first before I worry about tires...

[tbpmusic]

Is that the original paint job, or a PO's work? Never seen one in white before. If you want to ditch the headlight/speedo let me know how much you want for it. Nick

CB160 "Slopers" typically had almosteverything painted the basic color, red, black, blue, or white....

bill2

[CBGhia]

This is going to be a dumb question, but if it's 'just' an apartment bike, and just for looks... why pop the money for Avons?

I like the way Speedmasters look, and since the bike isnt gonna have any fenders the tire will play a huge partin the bike's overall look when completed. I need to look into different tire tread designs, maybe I will get lucky and find something that looks vintage and is cheap ?

Need to get the thing tore down & built first before I worry about tires...

Cheng Shin tires have a very vintage look, and are dirt cheap compared to Avons. 

http://www.jcwhitney.com/Street-Tires/GP_2003949_N_111+10211+600014323_10111.jcw

[Frankenkit]

Bingo! That's what I was thinking. that was exactly the vintage tread, too.

[ProTeal55]

CB160 "Slopers" typically had almosteverything painted the basic color, red, black, blue, or white....

"Slopers" ?

[ProTeal55]

Is that the original paint job, or a PO's work? Never seen one in white before. If you want to ditch the headlight/speedo let me know how much you want for it. Nick

Once I get it off the bike I will shoot ya an email (it's all yours)...

[Hinz]

wait, a bike you don't ride? i don't get it... 

[tbpmusic]

CB160 "Slopers" typically had almosteverything painted the basic color, red, black, blue, or white....

"Slopers" ?

PT -

They're called that because of the angle the top end pointed forward. Like on the CB/CL/CA 72/77.
The first 175's were also "slopers" - later they used a more vertical orientation on the top end.

bill2

[ProTeal55]

wait, a bike you don't ride? i don't get it... 

A bike you enjoy when you get home from riding your other bikes 
Like I said, I am doing this as more of a "art piece" than anything else, and also becasue I have always wanted a Motorcycle in my living room, and becasue I can..

CB160 PROGRESS AS OF 12/16/08
Didnt have allot of time to work on the bike, as the snow storm here in Chicago made my 45 min drive home take 2 1/2 hours !!
After PB Blaster-ing every nut and bolt, I started removing stuff. Headlite, rear fender, chain guard, battey box/tray, all wiring, little tabs and crap, etc (see below)

Everything on this bike is rusted to hell. I am still surprised that the bolts are coming off as easy as they are. Before I go any farther I am gonna spend the time and Simple Green the hell outta this thing and get it as clean as I can. Then I can break out the sawzall and wire wheel and start griding/cutting the frame smooth. Also made the decision last night that the motor and trans are going to be pulled and gutted of all internals to lighten the bike up. And, if I am gonna go this far I might as well powdercoat everything (inc. the motor) and do it the right way..

[HondanutRider]

I like your idea of the "living room".  Last winter I completed a resto of a little Super Cub and it spent some time in my poolroom.  I also have a CB160 that I acquired in restored-to-nonstandard form, although it is closer to original style than you are maybe contemplating.  It has a powder coated frame with candy red paint that is clear-coated.  It also has a five-speed tranny and a speedo (showing five shift ranges) from a CB175, I believe.  It runs, as does the Super Cub.  They are nice to look at, but a lot more fun to hear running and to take for a spin.

[Johnny5]

You're using PB Blaster in your living room?? Ugh, that stuff smells wierd. You're single, right? 

[ProTeal55]

Nice scoots ya got their..
I am def. leaning towards doing the bike the right way.
Powdercoat instead of paint, one off exhaust rather than a stock system, etc..
Might as well go all out for something I am building to sit and stare at right ?

You're using PB Blaster in your living room?? Ugh, that stuff smells wierd. You're single, right? 

Kitchen actually 
And yes, that crap does stink. But having the window cracked along with a few Glade plug-in's around the apt and you cant smell a thing ! My place is pretty big for just me living their, so it is actually working out really well..

[Johnny5]

Im in envy. Looks like a fun project doing mostly just cosmetic stuff.

My wife will be really happy when Im done with the painting part of my build....not to say all the misc parts laying around the stairs, kitchen table, living room area....

[Spikeybike]

i still really like the idea of filling the tires with Great Stuff and cutting them, making it look like it's driving into the wall/floor   

can't wait to see what you actually do turn it into

[ProTeal55]

Looks like a small turbo is going to find it's way onto the bike before it's all said and done

[jaguar]

ive always wanted to do this.
i loved your CB450...still the back ground on my laptop

i gota hear more about this small turbo.....and see pics

[ProTeal55]

ive always wanted to do this.
i loved your CB450...still the back ground on my laptop
i gota hear more about this small turbo.....and see pics

Thanks for the kind words on the CB450.
I ended up selling it to my buddy Danny, so it is still around and I get to ride it whenever...
This bike is going to have a more "classic" look to it (i think). As usuall once the thing starts to come together it will get a look all it's own.

As far as the turbo goes, I am still sourcing one out. Looks like I might be getting one outta an old eagel talon AWD. Sure it will be huge but it will def. add
to the "shock factor" of the bike. I mean, having a motorcycle in my place will be cool, but having one with a turbo on it will be that much better!

[ProTeal55]

12/26/08
Had the day off today so I figured I would break out the sawzall and start cutting some stuff off the bike.
Things that met their maker were:

Front fender - stock battery tray deal - exhaust - coil braket - rear fender mounts - belt guard tabs - misc brackets - etc..

I am prob. going to cut the footpegs off the bike to try and keep it "tight" as possibile. I could just see walking thru my place and night and getting a foot peg
to the ankle ! I would of kept on going but I need to eat and my head is killing me (freakin sinuses). Next on the agenda is to get the wheels and the
swingarm off the bike so I can start cleaning them up, deal with the front-end, and start getting things sanded/grinded smooth for primer. After
allot of thinking I have decided to not powdercoat the bike, but that decision will prob. change as the bike gets closer to that step 

Stay tuned !

[ProTeal55]

And here's a quick mockup of the bike with the toaster tank and "style" of seat that will eventually find it's way onto the bike.

The toaster tank is the wrong year, but I am gonna make it work. Needs to be streched alittle to fit over the backbone, and a couple pirces welded to make it
fit with the front of the bike better than it does now. The seat in the above pic is the one offa my old CB450. Seat fits this bike perfectly so I guess I need to order one up..

[ProTeal55]

Quick pic before I called it a night --->

Put my 21'' front wheel on the bike just to see how it looks.
Def gonna go back to a drum brake setup (for looks of course)...