Author Topic: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer - au revoir (Read 139894 times)

Tsunami · « **Reply #250 on:** December 14, 2013, 01:31:53 AM »

Don, wanted to drop a quick Howdy, Merry Christmas! Kudo's the bike is the rats ass. Keep the rubber side down and we will see ya on the flip side. Greg

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #251 on:** December 14, 2013, 07:52:39 AM »

Quote from: Tsunami on December 14, 2013, 01:31:53 AM

Don, wanted to drop a quick Howdy, Merry Christmas! Kudo's the bike is the rats ass. Keep the rubber side down and we will see ya on the flip side. Greg

Thanks, Greg. We are right in each other's neighborhood. We'll have to meet up and ride once our bikes are ready for the road.

G3 · « **Reply #252 on:** December 14, 2013, 08:13:14 AM »

Wow, simultaneous builds and both look great!

Quick question for you...as an owner of an early and late model 750, can you tell me if the slimmer, late model oil tank will fit on an early model? I have a K1. My build is here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132173.0

Thanks for your help!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #253 on:** December 14, 2013, 04:39:56 PM »

Quote from: G3 on December 14, 2013, 08:13:14 AM

Wow, simultaneous builds and both look great!

Quick question for you...as an owner of an early and late model 750, can you tell me if the slimmer, late model oil tank will fit on an early model? I have a K1. My build is here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132173.0

Thanks for your help!

I've been following your build thread. Looking good.

I do not believe that the K7-K8 tanks will match up mounting hole-wise with the K0-K6 models.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #254 on:** December 14, 2013, 04:41:37 PM »

I stopped by Bondo's paint shop today. All of the parts are painted -- and they look terrific -- but we are still waiting for the clear to dry. The colder weather in California this last week has lengthened curing times for paint. I think we will be ready for reassembly tomorrow or Monday. I cannot wait.

tweakin · « **Reply #255 on:** December 14, 2013, 05:05:19 PM »

Looking forward to pics....

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #256 on:** December 21, 2013, 02:50:37 PM »

Pictures will be coming soon. 99.9% of the paint (fender, tank, seat, side covers) is done and looks great. The gas filler flap was a PITA. It worked fine before being painted, but even after sanding down to bare metal and painting, the hing side rubbed on the tank. Getting rid of the spring seemed to fix the problem and stop the rubbing. The exhaust looks beautiful in ceramic satin black, with a brushed metal baffle tip.

I am painting a replacement oil tank black to swap out the one with the a Union Jack. Cafe bike, or not, the British flags were out of place on the build, and not something I ever asked for. I replaced a number of pieces that had black and white checkers on them (front disc brakes, handlebars and grab bar), as they were a little too much. I also swapped out the pilot dash (that also had a Union Jack on it) for a NOS black one, and it makes the bike look MUCH better. The bike looks much more tidy.

I have a small oil leak on the alternator side and electrical gremlins are still annoying me. I've decided to swap out the harness for a new replica one from vintage 750. I've also decided to do some upgrading swapping in K&S controls (if anyone wants barely used NOS switches, now is the time to let me know -- they only have about 200 miles on them), a modern blade style fuse, and an Acewell gauge.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #257 on:** December 23, 2013, 11:00:28 AM »

An additional modification: I had my welder/fabricator create a metal inner fender to replace the stock plastic piece (since my stock inner fender was pretty worn). It will use the existing tabs and be painted black to match.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #258 on:** January 06, 2014, 10:31:44 AM »

A little bit of excitement. The wiring harness is being swapped along with the fuseblock, switches/controls and gauge.

I also notice a problem with the rear brake backing plate. The laser cut "Cafe Racer" vent apeared to be failing, especially on the a and e letters.

Perhaps it was a combination of the heat from using the brakes combined with the thin portion of aluminum holding the letters, but portions of the the metal were bending inward toward the brake drum. With the risk of a piece of aluminum falling into the drum and seizing the rear wheel (not an attractive prospect), I have decided to swap out the checkered plate for a new solid (black) one. Since the only black and white checkers left on the bike are on the headlight bucket, I am also swapping out the headlight bucket, too. It is one of those design choices -- like the Union Jack on the dash and oil tank -- that I didn't care so much about initially, but now I'm happy to edit out.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #259 on:** January 06, 2014, 10:57:48 AM »

Good choice on the changes...imo

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #260 on:** January 06, 2014, 11:04:09 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on January 06, 2014, 10:57:48 AM

Good choice on the changes...imo

Thanks! The elimination of the black and white checkers and the British flag is more suited to my style. I do like the ghosted ice pearl checkers over the seat, tank and front fender, as they are much more subtle. The prior design choices on the front and rear brakes had some significant safety issues, too. It's almost a different bike from four years ago.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #261 on:** January 07, 2014, 07:05:17 AM »

Yes, not just different but better.

Vincent · « **Reply #262 on:** January 07, 2014, 03:22:24 PM »

Don-

With the deletion of the Brit flag and checkerboard graphics, you've eliminated the only complaint I could have had about your bike. Not opposed to things British - I'm a happy Triumph owner - but it had nothing to do with the Honda. Now the bike is truly "of a piece." All elements are complementary, and surface treatments flow from one component to another. Tasteful mods that enhance performance. Excellent.

Meanwhile, I've made some small progress, and I'll post a couple of pics soon.

Vincent

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #263 on:** January 07, 2014, 09:59:33 PM »

Quote from: Vincent on January 07, 2014, 03:22:24 PM

Don-

With the deletion of the Brit flag and checkerboard graphics, you've eliminated the only complaint I could have had about your bike. Not opposed to things British - I'm a happy Triumph owner - but it had nothing to do with the Honda. Now the bike is truly "of a piece." All elements are complementary, and surface treatments flow from one component to another. Tasteful mods that enhance performance. Excellent.

Meanwhile, I've made some small progress, and I'll post a couple of pics soon.

Vincent

Vincent!
I had very little input on the prior paint job, especially all of the black and white checkers and the British flag. With the last "rebuild," it has given me license to edit. I've been trying to refine the design.

And to think it bought this bike to be my rat bike.

Now, let's see your CR750!!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #264 on:** January 11, 2014, 07:50:37 PM »

Progress report:
New brake plate is out to powdercoat. It's a good thing, too, because the "Cafe Racer" lettering on the plate snapped off and fell into the drum brake. That would have been bad news if it happened on the road!!

I would have been sliding along the pavement with my bike sliding next to me with a locked up rear wheel!

The Acewell gauge is mounted. Richard at Joker Machine was nice enough to sell me one of his extra gauge housings, similar to the one he used on his CB750. I've ditched the K7/K8 ignition switch altogether for a frame mounted switch. The bike is currently being re-wired. I also swapped out the signal/indicators for some Joker LED models, since the taillight is also a LED. My logic is that the LEDs will be brighter and draw less.

I'm also going to try using a Truck Lite High Intensity LED headlight to replace my halogen. If it's not bright enough, I'll switch back to the halogen.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #265 on:** January 14, 2014, 12:24:32 PM »

Since the Acewell gauge has all of the lights for indicators, oil, high beams and neutral, and its size isn't really compatible with the K7 pilot light dash/key, the ignition is going to be frame mounted and the new dash will go into my spares collection.

The New Acewell 3962 Gauge will be mounted square to the DCC billet upper triple tree.

The housing for the gauge was machined by Joker Machine. I wanted something to protect the gauge that looked finished, rugged and industrial. I knew that Joker made one for its CB750 show bike, so I asked if they could machine one for me. Unfortunately, their production schedule is so busy, they could fit in a "one off" piece like that, but I spoke to Richard at the Cafe Racer Ride In show last year, and he said he might have a couple of spares left over from his project. Richard came through and was super cool in selling me one of his spares (even better for me, mine is plain billet to match the triple tree and Rob "Voxonda" pre-load adjusters). The housing protects the gauge and IMO improves its look, while preserving all the functionability of the display, lights and mode buttons. Those guys at Joker are really nice. Here's a picture of the housing on Richard's/Joker Machine's show bike:

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #266 on:** January 17, 2014, 08:55:07 PM »

Photo update -- or iPhone photo update:

Wiring is complete!! The new LED headlight is VERY BRIGHT and signals are installed along with some Hong Kong knock-offs of Rizoma Reverse Retro mirrors.

Here's what the bike looks like head on:

Here's a picture of the mounted Acewell gauge and its housing:

And a shot further pulled back for perspective:

The brake plate is still at the powdercoaters, so the rear wheel is still off, but here's a teaser picture of the paint for the tank (now featuring a silver pinstripe outline to highlight the knee dents) and the matching seat made by Ian Halcott.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #267 on:** January 18, 2014, 08:55:58 AM »

Oh yeah, and I'm also ditching the "cafe racer" brake stabilizer and chain guard -- I think I know it's a cafe racer, right -- and the red chain.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #268 on:** January 18, 2014, 09:38:52 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on January 18, 2014, 08:55:58 AM

Oh yeah, and I'm also ditching the "cafe racer" brake stabilizer and chain guard -- I think I know it's a cafe racer, right -- and the red chain.

wrong again...without all that goofy stuff it has become a vintage performance motorcycle

andy750 · « **Reply #269 on:** January 18, 2014, 10:26:05 AM »

Great photos! I really like the black paint with subtle pin strip - very nice!

If it were me I might be inclined to make the gauge mount and triple tree black to blend it all in.

Cant wait to see this finished!
good luck
Andy

calj737 · « **Reply #270 on:** January 18, 2014, 10:37:03 AM »

Looks so much better now. You need to ditch that cheap MC reservoir for a Rizoma-style billet one. Finish up the upgrade of your styling....

BPellerine · « **Reply #271 on:** January 18, 2014, 11:01:49 AM »

Don the bike definitely looks way more purposeful and has a little of that don't mess with me look!bill

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #272 on:** January 18, 2014, 08:59:25 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on January 18, 2014, 10:37:03 AM

Looks so much better now. You need to ditch that cheap MC reservoir for a Rizoma-style billet one. Finish up the upgrade of your styling....

THANKS, GUYS for the vote of confidence.

Calj737, I WISH the reservoir was cheap. That's a genuine Brembo reservoir, even if it is just plastic. It pairs with the Brembo radial MC for a Ducati 1098. The nice thing about the MC is that it comes equipped with a built in brake switch.

Maybe I'll look into a Rizoma down the road, to add some more billet eye candy. Right now I just want to get her back on the road.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #273 on:** January 18, 2014, 10:02:32 PM »

I'll have to say that I am duly impressed with the Truck Lite LED headlight. It's not the lightest thing -- it has a die-cast aluminum housing and robust polycarbonate lens -- but it is nice and bright. A significant improvement from the halogen in brightness, so it will help provide some better visibility for me and for others to see me.

The Joker Machine signals/indicators are small but also very bright. I will need to add an electronic flasher relay so they function properly.

calj737 · « **Reply #274 on:** January 19, 2014, 05:26:11 AM »

the comment about "cheap looking" was meant only to describe the plastic. Everything else on your bike is billet; hence the Rizoma reservoir comment. I love the Joker stuff too. Used it on my 550.

Not sure which is more expensive, Joker or Rizoma?!?!?! They are both beautiful product lines

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Author Topic: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer - au revoir (Read 139894 times)