Author Topic: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE  (Read 4100 times)

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Offline cxtecs

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78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« on: April 09, 2009, 11:51:04 AM »
I've been documenting my build on another forum, so I figured I may as well post the build on this forum as well.  I'm aiming for a cafe style bike when done.  I bought the bike in the Fall of 2008.

Here's the before shot:



I started accumulating parts for my project on ebay.  Here's a few pics of the first mock up with new goodies put on.











What you can see:
GL1000 front end with dual disk and aluminum wheel
Drilled rotors
CBR600 master cylinder
Markland fork brace
Woodcraft clip ons
fiberglass tank (Rickman?)
fiberglass tail
Progressive shocks
Alphabet air cleaners (vintage 70's bling)
Kerker headers

What you don't see:
Dyna coils
Hondaman ignition
MSD wires on NKG plugs
Progressive fork springs
Adjure Tribar H4 headlight
Trimmed GL fender
GL aluminum 17" rim laced to CB hub

I spray canned the tail section white to match the tank and slapped everything together just to ride it a bit at the end of fall -kind of a shake down run before the winter tear down.  I didn't have a chance to snap a pic of how it looked then.

When the snow started falling, I took out the engine, stripped down the frame:





Stripped frame in hand, I proceeded to chop and modify -passenger peg mounts removed, turn signal mounts shortened, oil cooler tabs welded on.  For the engine, I unbolted all the aluminum covers for polishing and/or modification:





At that point, I was staring at a dirty and paint-flaking engine, so in an effort to be "efficient", I attempted to bead blast the engine in my driveway  -that was a mistake.  I ended up getting glass bead in places where they shouldn't be which required complete engine disassembly and cleaning.  The engine was running great with no leaks and only 9600 miles on the clock -I didn't plan on taking it apart.

Here's the cases on the stand getting ready to be clearcoated (Eastwood's Extreme Diamond clear) and a pic of the engine getting put back together:





With the frame back from the powdercoater, I mocked it up again:



Also added stainless braided oil lines:







I'm currently reassembling the bike.  The fiberglass still needs paint, but I'm dealing with the tank seeping gas through one of the seams -that will need to be addressed before I send the stuff off to the painter.  Our first local bike night is at the end of this month (April), and I'm hoping my bike will be good to go by then. This is where I'm at so far.








Offline kghost

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Re: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2009, 12:32:45 PM »
Looking very nice.

Where did you get your oil line to engine fittings?

Gonna grind the bar mounts of that top triple tree?
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Offline rachet

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Re: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2009, 01:37:16 PM »
That's a great build.  Top Quality for sure.  And what about that CX500 Cafe' in the back!?!

Thanks for sharing!
But I need Tacos!  I need them or I will explode!

Offline bgfootball67

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Re: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2009, 01:44:37 PM »
Very clean, love the lines.  Definite improvement...
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Offline DollarBill

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Re: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2009, 04:51:49 PM »
Can you tell me about the air filters?  Can you take a photo of them....they look quite different.  I really like the way this bike is coming together.  AWESOME!
1975 CB750F Project Yellow Jacket - CBR600rr Swinger GSXR 600 Forks
1955 BMW R25/3, 1966 Honda CA160, 1975 CB400f, 1975 CB550, 1976 CB550

Offline cxtecs

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Re: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2009, 10:20:45 PM »
Looking very nice.

Where did you get your oil line to engine fittings?

Gonna grind the bar mounts of that top triple tree?

The fittings on the tank-to-engine oil lines are the original ones painted with that Metalcast paint (fake anodizing).  I connected the braided hose to them with those imitation AN style clamps (actually worm drive clamp with AN covers).

I did grind down some of the top triple tree, but the GL top has hollow handlebar clamps, so I couldn't grind down all the way without weakening it.  This is what I ended up with:




Offline cxtecs

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Re: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2009, 10:31:18 PM »
That's a great build.  Top Quality for sure.  And what about that CX500 Cafe' in the back!?!

Thanks for sharing!

The CX was my first bike which I purchased in the fall of 2007.  I did the cafe thing to it over the winter, and rode it back and forth to work during the 2008 riding season.  It was fun to ride as a cafe bike, but not practical enough for a daily commute.  So the CX has since been transformed into something more like a Euro standard with Bates saddlebags.  The CB will be my new cafe toy. Here's a pic of the CX as a cafe:


Offline cxtecs

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Re: 78 CB750 K8 CAFE
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2009, 10:39:43 PM »
Can you tell me about the air filters?  Can you take a photo of them....they look quite different.  I really like the way this bike is coming together.  AWESOME!

The air cleaners are Alphabet brand....apparently from Australia (that's what the badge says).  These happened to come with the bike when I bought it.  Once, a while ago, I saw Carpy selling a set of these on ebay....I think they ended up selling for around $80.  I haven't seen any other like these since.  Here's some close-ups: