Topic: Dropping weight

[littlebronco]

I have a '75 CB750F and I've gotten used to throwing 500 pounds around, but I'm naturally more of a minimalist. 

Has anyone weighed the different parts of the bike (forks, oil tank, stands, whatever else) to see where weight lies?

Also, has anyone dropped weight and felt any handling or performance effects?

[Killer Canary]

That's a 200 pound engine,it's about the heaviest I've lifted and carried by myself during a rebuild.
I've tossed all of my centre-stands, just kept one(and the pin) for all the Hondas that I temporarily re-install for chain adjustments. They just seem like too much dead weight to carry around.

[Uncle Ernie]

Go on a diet and wear spandex.

[seaweb11]

Didn't we get into this last week?

I believe the correct answer was helium in the tires

[jbailey]

There is one way to really lighten up your bike AND improve your handling, performance, comfort and just about every aspect of the whole motorcycling experience.  What you do is stop by the local dealer (any brand) and pick up a new bike.  My kids Ninja will run circles around my 550!  Interestingly he just bought a '73 CB450.  Why?  Because he likes the looks and the whole antique, nostalgic trip.

[Alan F.]

cut off the passenger peg mounts and cut off the frame hoop just behind the rear shock mounts....switch to a plastic front fender and rear too if you want a fender at all...get some ultralight motocross handlebars....ditch the stock rear brake pedal, just cut off the splines and weld on your own lighter version......find a smaller lighter battery.....ditch the starter motor, and kick every time....find an aluminium swingarm that'll fit, I've heard that yamaha FJR1100/1200 fit....switch to a 530 chain if you have a 630.....get the aluminium rim hoops from a 750A and lace them to your hubs....replace the stock steel brake stay rod with aluminium.....go to a 4 into 1 exhaust.....ditch the steel chaingaurd for a plastic one.....remove the stock directionals and find lighter plastic ones, taillight too.....switch to LED bulbs everywhere, and get one of those H-4 headlight bulb conversions........cut or gring off everything on the frame and swingarm you don't need (helmet hangers, chaingaurd mounts etc)......get an aluminium shifter and plastic clutch/brake levers.......make your own battery box (that holds the battery and hangs all the electricals under the left side cover) out of aluminium.....don't use a rear disk brake the drum is much lighter and works great......don't add any extra accessories like oil pressure guages or oil coolers.....stay with the single front disc, but drill it and swap fork legs left for right running the caliper behind the fork rather than in front......use a mini speedo and a mini tach........loose the "dashboard" panel, and use the simple clamps from a 77-78.....ditch the turn signal buzzer.....use the aluminium lower triple tree from a honda CBX-6cyl.....get a clutch lever with the switch at the lever and ditch the early style pressure switch junction block thingie, and just run one straight brake line.....use progressive fork springs and 15wt fork oil, after you've disassembles your forks and cleaned out all of the tiny valve holes......use a spin-on oil filter........get a set of OHLINS rear shocks (advice from a racer friend)......remove the rear grab bar....get a lighter, louder horn....and that's all that's coming to mind for now...but this should trim off about 20% of the weight of a stock bike, any other tips?

[Buffo]

hack up the seat...shorten the pan and thin down the foam.

dont even bother with turn signals

and I would get a small digital speedo and tach

dump the air box for stacks

[seaweb11]

Allan "You da MAN!

I read this one to the wife, we had a hoot. Thanks for the fun.

[cd811]

allan just described my bike ;Dlol

[CB750R]

my wheel conversion from comstars to FZR rims, and forks, made a 40lbs difference, add a D&D can onto my stock 4into1, and removed the stock chrome grab bar, new smaller gauges, pod filters, remove the center stand, and I'm down well over 50 lbs, but the 40 in the rims is awsome because its rotational wieght, wich will improve throttle feel, and such.

[LeoLegendATL]

my wheel conversion from comstars to FZR rims, and forks, made a 40lbs difference, add a D&D can onto my stock 4into1, and removed the stock chrome grab bar, new smaller gauges, pod filters, remove the center stand, and I'm down well over 50 lbs, but the 40 in the rims is awsome because its rotational wieght, wich will improve throttle feel, and such.

Hmm, tell me more about these FZR's? what bike do they come from? pics?

[CB750R]

There off a mid nineties FZR600, there's a thread on the mods I did to make em work for my bike, but I don't think it was really very difficult. 

[alfabeast]

The first thing I get rid of is the starter, ring gear and skim down the stator a lot  and shorten the alternator case.

I hard tailed one of my CB750s and it's much lighter and handles better then a stock bike, I'm not sure if it's the weight or stiffness or a combination of both that makes it handle better.