Author Topic: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer - au revoir  (Read 139897 times)

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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #325 on: February 10, 2014, 03:46:51 PM »
Well look at that!
Mucho better! :)
Nice work man.



Thanks, Cameron.  In the last three weeks, I have traveled to Omaha, Nebraska and Seattle, Washington -- parts of the world where they have a REAL Winter season.  As a Southern Californian, we are spoiled with year-round riding weather, even if we complain when it rains or the temperature drops below 60.  I kept in mind how lucky I am (to not have to shovel snow) as I got to enjoy giving the girl a proper shake down ride Saturday and Sunday in the sunshine.  Keep warm out there!

Ya ya. Don't rub it in... Hahahaha. Kidding.

Thats awesome you're putting miles on miss lovely. Thats what its all about. :)
She looks and sounds great!! Many many years of turning rubber and big smiles full of bugs to come. :) lol be proud man.

Perhaps if I can get my #$%* together... Or dig my way outta this igloo. Hahahaha. I'll ride west and turn some rubber with ya. Lord knows its over due.
Untitled by cameron.bateman, on FlickrRustyOlive, on Flickr

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #326 on: February 12, 2014, 12:09:53 AM »
Drove home tonight and when parking in the garage was greeted by a welcome sight.

I remember when this bike was really trying my resolve a year ago (after discovering all the screw-ups that had to be fixed).  My buddy Vincent on the forum encouraged me to stick with it.  And, here we are now.  What a difference. 

Now the bike gives me something to really look forward to the weekends!

1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Tsunami

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #327 on: February 12, 2014, 01:25:51 AM »
Hear, hear Don, must be a great feeling.  And well deserved I might add.  I trundle on with mine but am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Just about to sent a new post as well.
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CL450 early 70's
New 1973 CB750 Flake Sunrise Orange
CB350 Chopper early 70's
CB350 Cafe' early 70's
Honda Cub 90cc late 60's
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Offline Roach Carver

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #328 on: February 12, 2014, 01:55:09 PM »
you have built a nice, solid, purposeful machine. You deserve to be proud

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #329 on: February 12, 2014, 02:32:38 PM »
Hear, hear Don, must be a great feeling.  And well deserved I might add.  I trundle on with mine but am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Just about to sent a new post as well.

Thanks, Greg.  I really like the way your K8 is coming along.

you have built a nice, solid, purposeful machine. You deserve to be proud

Thanks, RC.  I can't wait to ride it more this weekend.  I even moved my RC51 into my storage space for the time being, so I have the K7 ready to roll.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Vincent

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #330 on: February 12, 2014, 03:52:44 PM »

Don-

Finally! The end of the road for construction, and the beginning of all the SoCal roads you'll be carving on this most stylish bike. Of the various incarnations the bike has been through, this is the most coherent and eye-pleasing. I have to say I'd be happy to have it in my garage.

Vincent

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #331 on: February 15, 2014, 04:57:52 PM »
I made a quick stop at the Orange County Vintage Bike gathering in Huntington Beach last Sunday. The people were very nice and seemed to like the bike. Here's a couple of shots from their photo gallery:







1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Tsunami

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #332 on: February 16, 2014, 12:05:16 AM »
That's stylin' Don, must have been a gas.  I meant to ask how you braced the the back end of your pipes?  Is that it on the end of the pipe to the passenger peg mount?
[Tsunami Build Link]
CL450 early 70's
New 1973 CB750 Flake Sunrise Orange
CB350 Chopper early 70's
CB350 Cafe' early 70's
Honda Cub 90cc late 60's
Other's

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #333 on: February 16, 2014, 12:57:11 AM »
That's stylin' Don, must have been a gas.  I meant to ask how you braced the the back end of your pipes?  Is that it on the end of the pipe to the passenger peg mount?

Exactly. There's a powdercoated bracket attached to the passenger peg mount.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Kemp

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #334 on: February 16, 2014, 09:04:07 AM »
I'm curious as to how the handling has changed with the GL1000 front end. The offset is different on the GL (45mm) than the CB750 F (50mm) or K (60mm). These bikes with more offset have less trail and thus a bit more responsive to corner entry but less stable at high speed. If your bike started out as a K model then you should really feel a difference, probably more stable at high speed but less "Flickable" in the corners (ie less willing to turn quickly, corner entry, or change direction from left to right). I'll be making triples to mount a GL1000 front end on my 69 K model frame. I've been thinking of increasing the offset to 50mm (less trail than the GL1000) to make it flickable but still stable at speed. In combination with reducing the front wheel diameter to 18" the bike should turn even quicker but still be stable as offset of 50mm will give it more trail than the 60mm stock forks. The 18" front wheel will effectively reduce the rake by maybe 1/2 a degree which should make the bike turn even a bit quicker but the 50mm of offset will improve stability. If the 45mm of offset offered by the stock GL triples are good and you don't feel the bike is sluggish or slow to respond (as compared to stock) then that says a lot about what the correct geometry could be.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #335 on: February 16, 2014, 04:37:06 PM »
I'm curious as to how the handling has changed with the GL1000 front end. The offset is different on the GL (45mm) than the CB750 F (50mm) or K (60mm). These bikes with more offset have less trail and thus a bit more responsive to corner entry but less stable at high speed. If your bike started out as a K model then you should really feel a difference, probably more stable at high speed but less "Flickable" in the corners (ie less willing to turn quickly, corner entry, or change direction from left to right). I'll be making triples to mount a GL1000 front end on my 69 K model frame. I've been thinking of increasing the offset to 50mm (less trail than the GL1000) to make it flickable but still stable at speed. In combination with reducing the front wheel diameter to 18" the bike should turn even quicker but still be stable as offset of 50mm will give it more trail than the 60mm stock forks. The 18" front wheel will effectively reduce the rake by maybe 1/2 a degree which should make the bike turn even a bit quicker but the 50mm of offset will improve stability. If the 45mm of offset offered by the stock GL triples are good and you don't feel the bike is sluggish or slow to respond (as compared to stock) then that says a lot about what the correct geometry could be.

Kemp,

I don't know if I really consider the CB750 to be a very flickable bike in comparison to a modern supersport bike or superbike. That said, the standard CB750 has in my opinion a fairly wobbly front. The GL is a drastic improvement in terms of having better feeling and stability, especially when you include a fork brace. The brakes are also a major major improvement. Note also that mine is a K7 frame which is more akin to an F Super Sport in terms of geometry than a 69-76 K.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Kemp

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #336 on: February 17, 2014, 07:13:17 AM »
Yes, your K model would have 50mm of offset just like the F. Without riding the bike it's really difficult to know if less offset is actually better still. The fact that the GL forks are much stronger and that you've added a fork brace will really give the sense of a more solid front end. The stock 35mm forks would have been overtaxed with the weight of the bike and the high center of gravity. From what I've measured, the GL forks and the 750 forks are the same overall length so that is constant. The CB550 uses 45mm of offset with 35mm forks and pretty much the same rake angle. It is quite stable and yet turns well and with the substitution of an 18" front wheel it actually is "flickable" but still stable at speed. I think I might just make robust Triple Trees with 45mm of offset but use a flat top triple which will drop the front end about 1/2-3/4 inch and effectively tighten the rake up by 1/2 a degree. This should be very stable at speed but turn just a little quicker than stock.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #337 on: February 17, 2014, 01:04:22 PM »
Yes, your K model would have 50mm of offset just like the F. Without riding the bike it's really difficult to know if less offset is actually better still. The fact that the GL forks are much stronger and that you've added a fork brace will really give the sense of a more solid front end. The stock 35mm forks would have been overtaxed with the weight of the bike and the high center of gravity. From what I've measured, the GL forks and the 750 forks are the same overall length so that is constant. The CB550 uses 45mm of offset with 35mm forks and pretty much the same rake angle. It is quite stable and yet turns well and with the substitution of an 18" front wheel it actually is "flickable" but still stable at speed. I think I might just make robust Triple Trees with 45mm of offset but use a flat top triple which will drop the front end about 1/2-3/4 inch and effectively tighten the rake up by 1/2 a degree. This should be very stable at speed but turn just a little quicker than stock.

Let us know how your trees work out.  There are a number of people interested in aftermarket trees.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #338 on: February 17, 2014, 01:15:08 PM »
Enjoying the President's Day holiday.

I replaced the relay with a digital relay (for the LEDs), so now they are flashing properly, and also installed a microswitch for the front brake master cylinder.  I wish this was an option on all MCs; I think it's better than the pressure switch.  It just plugs into the bottom of the MC and triggers the lights off the lever. 

1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Tsunami

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #339 on: February 17, 2014, 06:29:39 PM »
I don't know about you Don, but my site is a flick free zone!  NO FLICKING ALLOWED!  See what happens when you start letting people peruse, then they want to flick too.  Something about that word "Flick" kind of reminds me of a gal I used to know.  Then there's "shrubbery". We are the Knights of Flick, flick-flick-flick!  I will flick in your general direction.  Sorry its Presidents Day, seems to always make me try to be funny, try, you know throw it against the wall and see what will stick, thank god for Jimmy Fallon.  He's on tonight, much funnier than me. Stay well everyone. I'm going to go out and throw my bike around some curves.  That's a pastime we old guys used to do when we rode. No flicking, just throwing.  That's why were still here and the flickers are on to better things.  LOLROTFL ;)
[Tsunami Build Link]
CL450 early 70's
New 1973 CB750 Flake Sunrise Orange
CB350 Chopper early 70's
CB350 Cafe' early 70's
Honda Cub 90cc late 60's
Other's

Offline calj737

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #340 on: February 17, 2014, 07:09:17 PM »
Somebody have that guy drug tested...
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #341 on: February 17, 2014, 08:21:40 PM »
I don't know about you Don, but my site is a flick free zone!  NO FLICKING ALLOWED!  See what happens when you start letting people peruse, then they want to flick too.  Something about that word "Flick" kind of reminds me of a gal I used to know.  Then there's "shrubbery". We are the Knights of Flick, flick-flick-flick!  I will flick in your general direction.  Sorry its Presidents Day, seems to always make me try to be funny, try, you know throw it against the wall and see what will stick, thank god for Jimmy Fallon.  He's on tonight, much funnier than me. Stay well everyone. I'm going to go out and throw my bike around some curves.  That's a pastime we old guys used to do when we rode. No flicking, just throwing.  That's why were still here and the flickers are on to better things.  LOLROTFL ;)

Hope you got out to throw the bike around some curves.  I got mine out today -- it just makes you whole day better!
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline DustyRags

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #342 on: February 18, 2014, 07:59:09 AM »
Somebody have that guy drug tested...

Hahahaha, my first thought was "go ride? You're clearly drunk!"  ;D
1976 CB550K- sold
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 500- sold
2000 CB750 Nighthawk - sold
1975 XL350 - crashed
2004 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - sold

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #343 on: February 22, 2014, 03:38:40 PM »
I have a leak in one of my front brake calipers so I'm replacing the caliper seals.  I figured it was an opportune time to swap my stock GL rotors for a pair of EBC rotors I purchased.  According to Doctor Dave, the EBC's are lighter and provide a stronger braking response. 

Unfortunately, my head gasket has been weeping.  Something tells me I might have to pull the motor (yet again).  God, I hope not.  If that turns out to be the case, I might make use of my Gordon's frame kit.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Tsunami

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #344 on: February 22, 2014, 07:55:00 PM »
Ahhh Geeezzze Don that's a bummer.  In fact that's the nightmare I have that I go through all this and something eats my engine.  Well at least with the kit you can start at the top and work your way down.  Try re torqueing the head before you pull it.  I find something like that needs to be sat in front of with a beer, a shot of Jack and a good think on it helps ease the pain a bit.  I've been known to go out and beat a big tree or light post with a stick helps sometimes as well.  By the way, did you put a Guardian Bell on  your bike?  My wife gave me one for Xmas.  I keep it in the shop and ring it when I'm leaving for the day just incase those rode gremlin's try to sneak in and do some dirty work overnight.  Hey, I'm just saying?

 The Legend of the Guardian® Bell

 Many years ago, on a cold December night, a crusty old biker was returning from a trip to Mexico with his  saddlebags filled with toys and other assorted trinkets for the kids at a group home near where he worked.

As he rode along that night thinking how lucky he had been in life, having a loving riding partner that understood his need to roam the highways and to his trusty old pan that hadn’t let him down once in the many years they had shared the road together.

Well about 40 miles north of the border, in the high desert, lurked a small group of notorious little critters known as road gremlins. You know, the ones who always leave little obstacles like, one shoe, boards, and pieces of old tires on the road, and also dig those dreaded potholes for bikers to run over and crash, thus giving the road gremlins a chance to rejoice over their acts of evil.

Well, as the  lone wolf of a biker rounded a curve that moonlit night, the gremlins ambushed him, causing him to crash to the asphalt and skid before coming to a stop next to one of his saddlebags that had broken free. As he lay there, unable to move, the road gremlins made their way towards him. Well, this biker, not being one to give up, started throwing things at the gremlins as they approached him. Finally, with nothing else to throw but a bell, he started ringing it in hopes to scare off the dirty little gremlins.

About a half a mile away, camped in the desert, were two bikers sitting around the campfire talking about their day’s ride, and the freedom of the  wind blowing in their faces as they rode across this vast country. In the stillness of the night air they heard what sounded to them like church bells ringing, and upon investigating, found the old biker lying along the roadside with the gremlins about to get him. Needless to say, being part of the biker brotherhood, they preceded to ward off the gremlins until the last ran off into the night.

Being grateful to the two bikers, the old road dog offered to pay them for their help, but as all true bikers do, they refused to accept any type of payment from him. Not being one to let a good deed go unnoticed, the old biker cut two pieces of leather from his saddlebags tassels and tied a bell to each one. He then placed them on each of the biker’s motorcycles, as near to the ground as possible. The tired, old road warrior then told the two travelers that with those bells placed on their bikes, they would be protected from the road gremlins and that if ever in trouble, just ring the bell and a fellow biker will come to their aid.

So, whenever you see a biker with a bell, you know that he has been blessed with the most important thing in life—friendship from a fellow biker.

The Purpose of the Guardian® Bell

Many of us have heard the story about Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride, and they’re also responsible for most of your bike’s problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work; your battery goes dead, the clutch needs adjustment, or any of several hundred things that can go wrong. These problems are caused by Evil Road Spirits.

Evil Road Spirits can’t live in the presence of the bell, because they get trapped in the hollow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is supersensitive, so the constant ringing of the bell and the confined space drives them insane. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed? The bell has served its purpose.

If you pick up a Guardian® Bell of your own, the magic will work, but if your bell is given to you, the power is doubled, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you.

So, if you have a friend who doesn’t have a bell,  why not give them one? It’s a nice feeling for the recipient to know you care. The bell, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bikes owner, will help eliminate Evil Road Spirits.

Polishing the Guardian® Bell

It has been a tradition among some of us for a long time to attach a brass bell to our left swing arm, to remember our brothers and sisters who have gone down riding.

It’s a small thing, but the reason a brass bell is chosen is that, as we ride, it gets dirty and tarnished. Every time we get down to wash and polish it, we are reminded of friends lost, and our thoughts turn to the meaning of being in the wind.

As we ride and hear the bell ring, we know that our brothers and sisters are riding with us, and how easy it would be to join them with a single mistake.

And maybe, just maybe, the next time a situation comes up; they will be there to help us...as long as we remember them by polishing the bell.
[Tsunami Build Link]
CL450 early 70's
New 1973 CB750 Flake Sunrise Orange
CB350 Chopper early 70's
CB350 Cafe' early 70's
Honda Cub 90cc late 60's
Other's

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #345 on: February 22, 2014, 11:54:54 PM »
Fun story Greg. Maybe, just mabe I'll get one of those bells. I'm trying to find a silver lining each time I find something wrong on this bike to fix it and improve it. The leak appears to be the result of a bad rebuild job from a pro wrench - using Hondabond on the head gasket and preventing a tight seal between the jugs and head.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Tsunami

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #346 on: February 24, 2014, 01:01:05 AM »
I think you found the culprit, will he stand behind his work?  If I remember right ( and that's always subject to verification ) I got my zooper gaskets from cycleX and they recommended a dry fit? 
[Tsunami Build Link]
CL450 early 70's
New 1973 CB750 Flake Sunrise Orange
CB350 Chopper early 70's
CB350 Cafe' early 70's
Honda Cub 90cc late 60's
Other's

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #347 on: February 24, 2014, 07:39:27 AM »
I think you found the culprit, will he stand behind his work?  If I remember right ( and that's always subject to verification ) I got my zooper gaskets from cycleX and they recommended a dry fit?

Under normal circumstances, I would call him on it but I do not trust him to ever touch any of my bikes again.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #348 on: February 24, 2014, 09:24:34 AM »
Send it on to me, Don. I'll take care of it for you... :-)
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer
« Reply #349 on: March 03, 2014, 06:27:14 PM »
Well, some good news to report. 

The engine is out of the frame and it does, in fact, have a Wiseco high compression 836cc kit in it, a pretty kick-ass port job on the head, and a hot performance cam.








The bad news:
The head gasket was a copper race gasket sealed with excess gasket sealer, the rubber pucks, seals and gaskets appear to the originals along with a pretty worn and apparently original cam chain tensioner.  And the head looks like it was sanded, but not decked.  Because the surface was not decked flat, there was probably ZERO chance the very thin copper race head gasket was ever going to provide a good seal, so oil was squirting past the gasket sealer and out all over and onto the cylinders and top of the head.   :o

Fortunately, this means the engine just needs new seals and gaskets and for the head to be decked before reassembly.  I'm also making good use of my spare M3 Racing heavy duty cam chain tensioner. 

« Last Edit: March 03, 2014, 09:14:34 PM by CB750 Cafe Racer Fan »
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold