Author Topic: '80 CB650C Cruiser - Project Wraith - Another setback (Read 48264 times)

The_Crippler · « **Reply #125 on:** October 13, 2009, 09:19:17 AM »

Well, yeah...obviously I'm going to get fuel line. Remember that dense thing I mentioned above?

Mainly what i'm concerned with is getting something in lengths rather than "hey, here's the factor part, so we can charge you $15 more for it, rather than just let you buy some fuel line of the right diameter."

As for slipping off, that's why i want to replace my main fuel line. It's all slapped out, and I had to put hose clamps on it to begin with. (I'd also like a length about a half-inch longer.)

manjisann · « **Reply #126 on:** October 14, 2009, 05:53:32 AM »

The dealer I go to asks me how much I want, I don't think they have any sort of specific length listed. They get it in like 20 foot sections in a bag.

Brandon

The_Crippler · « **Reply #127 on:** October 14, 2009, 06:24:56 AM »

Sweet. Good to know. Thanks!

The_Crippler · « **Reply #128 on:** October 30, 2009, 11:28:30 AM »

No real updates, since there hasn't been any real work recently. Got busy, and now the Vulcan is in the shop unexpectedly.

Today, with the goal of fabbing a custom saddle, I bought a seat off ebay for $10 + shipping. Not too shabby. This way, I have something to work with and not worry about bunging up the really nice stock one I have.

The_Crippler · « **Reply #129 on:** November 06, 2009, 08:03:39 PM »

Okie-dokie...more planning. Sticking with the quasi-racer theme, I was looking at headlights. I want to do something a little different. I've always liked the look of the Speed Triple, so I've been thinking dual headlights. Here's an example of what I'm thinking, complete with high-rise clips and the bar-end mirrors I like:

And an example on an in-line four (not one of ours, but still.)

What do you guys think?

manjisann · « **Reply #130 on:** November 07, 2009, 04:27:03 AM »

I think you should hook one up to a toggle switch so you can wink at people

Brandon

The_Crippler · « **Reply #131 on:** November 07, 2009, 02:20:39 PM »

Good call. I'll take that under advisement

I got my order from BikeBandit and one of my eBay purchases today. There were a few engine bolts and that pesky taillight switch in the one...the other was a set of SS replacement bolts for the engine covers. Unfortunately, it was not packaged well, so it was destroyed by the Post Office. Several were bent beyond use. I contacted the seller to see what he is willing to do.

manjisann · « **Reply #132 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:23:23 PM »

Bummer about the bolts, but seriously, if the post office was able to destroy them what are they made of???

Brandon

The_Crippler · « **Reply #133 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:45:19 PM »

Yeah, I dig it...the bit of slack I'll cut the product on that is that they ran it through the canceling machine! What's up with that?

manjisann · « **Reply #134 on:** November 07, 2009, 07:56:12 PM »

you know, I've mailed a lot of packages and I always package stuff like the post office is out to destroy just my item. Sometimes I wonder if I over do it, like the tank I've got on ebay. The box is at least 2 inches bigger on all sides so I can cushion it adequately. I was wondering if I was paranoid, I mean it is fairly heavy sheet metal after all. Now that I've read your posts, not only do I feel vindicated, but I'm wonder if I should have bought a bigger box

When I first looked at the dual headlights on those bikes I thought they looked kinda funny, but the more I see them the more I'm really digging them. Wish they made some classic cafe looking fairings that did that, I'd seriously consider it!

Brandon

The_Crippler · « **Reply #135 on:** November 07, 2009, 09:46:08 PM »

Back when I built stage sets, we had a saying: When in doubt - overbuild. You're not paranoid.

Yeah, I really think that dual bug-eyes on a quasi-racer could really set it apart.

The_Crippler · « **Reply #136 on:** November 13, 2009, 05:30:08 PM »

I got my junk seat in the mail today. Exactly as advertised, junk:

But, that's okay, because I didn't care about the seat - only the pan.

I stripped everything off so that I can see what I'm working with.

The plan is, whether I go mild chop or racer, is to use this pan rather than trying to fiber-fab a new one.

The pan is in great condition, so there are possibilities.

Funny thing is, I finally get myself sold on the racer idea, and then I got on and tried to mock my riding position. Man, I am just too big.

Also, I have trouble visualizing where rearsets would fit with these pipes, but it's still a work in progress.

manjisann · « **Reply #137 on:** November 14, 2009, 03:56:40 AM »

With the way the seat dips I think these bikes lend themselves to chopper/bobber/cruiser style more than the racer. That was the biggest reason I bought mine was I wanted to build a cruiser style bike. I picked up the cb500 to turn cafe

Not saying it can't be done, but I imagine it'll take some frame mods to make it look right.

Brandon

The_Crippler · « **Reply #138 on:** November 14, 2009, 08:23:02 AM »

Yep...that was mine line of thinking as well. And given how hard it has been to locate rearsets....yeah, I think it would just be the way to go.

The_Crippler · « **Reply #139 on:** January 04, 2010, 11:32:08 AM »

Hey...remember me? Happy New Year, everyone!

I haven't deep-sixed this project, or anything...just haven't had much time to work with the holidays draining my time and wallet...plus, my garage is unheated.

I had been having trouble with the tail light either not working, or blowing a fuse and I hadn't been able to determine the problem. Well, my father was going to be in town this weekend, so I took the battery off the tender and threw it back in. Not sure what it was that clued me in, but I figured out the problem 5 minutes later.

Problem one: The rear brake switch was a bit of a snug fit, and the plunger was slightly pulled at all times.

Problem two: The idiot who last had this bike on the road had re-wired it so that everything worked off the front switch.

Problem one plus problem two were shorting my system and blowing fuses. It's all working now. (Dad was a little disappointed he couldn't help.)

kslrr · « **Reply #140 on:** January 04, 2010, 11:53:44 AM »

Welcome to the New Year and congrats on finding the problem.

The_Crippler · « **Reply #141 on:** February 04, 2010, 07:58:56 PM »

I'm back again! I've finally pointed myself in a firm direction and am taking steps to head in that direction. I've weighed a lot of pros and cons with different styles for this project:

Cafe: Love the look and want one someday, but the stance of the bike doesn't lend itself to it as well as a 750 or 500. Also, parts like rearsets and such are too hard to source for this model

Bobber: Really love the look, but I'd have to nix so many of the important features to conform with PA law that it wouldn't be worth it.

Cruiser: Fits me a lot better, both in personal style and body type. I can source parts, it is within my skill level, looks good and will be the most comfortable. We have a winner!

In that spirit, I bought the first item, and that would be some twelve-inch black bars from TC Bros. The look is good, the price was fair and their shipping was super fast. Their tolerances are a bit out of whack, as the powder coating makes the bars just too thick for the stock controls, and the finish chipped a bit while I was monkeying with them. Over all, I'm pleased with them and feel that I got what I paid for. I am also planning to source some forward controls and link rods from them later this winter.

Pardon the pic quality - my garage is a mess, and my camera is not the best in the dark.

As you can see, I remounted the stock controls, minus brake line and cables. It is amazing how much more comfortable those extra four inches made for me.

I'm still planning on blacking out a lot of the shiny bits - Fenders, pipes, case covers, etc - and painting the tank and side covers a charcoal gray. That, coupled with the fact that someone commented that this ride is "as quiet as a ghost," has prompted me to christen this: Project Wraith.

A bit melodramatic, I know...but screw it, it's my bike.

As always, thanks for having a look!

The_Crippler · « **Reply #142 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:54:56 PM »

Brief update: I dropped my pipes off at the powdercoater today. I'm getting them done in high-temp, satin-finish black. They should be done in a week, so I post pics and such when I get them back.

Hush · « **Reply #143 on:** March 01, 2010, 09:48:34 PM »

I had a set of black 4 into 2's that had been powder coated on my 650C and they looked sweet as.

The_Crippler · « **Reply #144 on:** March 01, 2010, 09:54:36 PM »

That does look "sweet as." That's almost exactly the kind of blacked out look I'm going for, though I plan to do the tank and fenders in a charcoal as well.

I tell you, Hush, if you weren't on the other side of the world, I would love to stop by and see your "stable." You keep pulling out slick rides.

The_Crippler · « **Reply #145 on:** March 08, 2010, 11:49:33 AM »

Here we go, the newly powder-coated awesomeness:

Word of advice: When rolling a bike with no front brakes out of the garage, remember to use the rear one. Glad my car was parked there.

The finish looks fantastic, and there were no clearance issues with the additional coating thickness. The turn around was a week (when they quote three on their site) and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I was going to just hi-temp paint the engine covers, but now I think I'm going to spend the extra cash to have them coated as well.

(Also, BTW, this is not technically powdercoat on these - they used a hit-temp ceramic on them.)

Zaipai · « **Reply #146 on:** March 25, 2010, 07:04:18 PM »

Looks great.. Great idea about the powder coat. Can't wait to see what you do with the seat.

.: Scott :.

The_Crippler · « **Reply #147 on:** March 26, 2010, 06:25:42 AM »

Thanks for stopping by!

Glad you like it. I'm very pleased with how the powdercoat turned out, which is why I'm going to go back to them to do more.

The seat is probably going to end up being one of the last things I do, because I'm really struggling with the logistics of it. I've priced out the closed-cell foam and leather, and I have a plan of what I want to do with it, but not quite sure how to accomplish it.

I never ride two-up, so I'd really like to cut it back to a solo saddle just north of the shock mount points. The problem with this is that I can't figure out a way to mount the rear of the seat securely. I do not have access to a welder or anyone that does, so I can't affix anything that way. Another though was to just secure it at the shock mounts, but I don't want to have to remove my suspension any time I need to get under the seat. So...until I get that problem licked, the seat's on the back burner.

Besides, there's still plenty of other stuff to get done before I have to worry about sitting on it.

The plan this weekend is to try and figure out what length cables and hoses I need with those bars.

cb650 · « **Reply #148 on:** March 26, 2010, 06:35:31 AM »

Heres what I did to one of mine. Just cut it after the rear mount and a friend covered it in leather and a thin foam. http://gallery.sohc4.net/main.php?g2_itemId=3057

The_Crippler · « **Reply #149 on:** March 26, 2010, 06:42:21 AM »

Looks good.

Much like the reasons why I decided not to go "bobber" on this project, cutting the frame will cause inspection issues here, unfortunately.

EDIT: Excuse my stupid...it's still early for me. I realize what you meant now.

News:

Author Topic: '80 CB650C Cruiser - Project Wraith - Another setback (Read 48264 times)