Author Topic: '73 CB750 Completed... (Read 5609 times)

033A2 · « **on:** September 02, 2009, 04:48:50 PM »

After 18 months, my project is finally complete. I did a complete teardown and rebuild of the bike. Couldnt have done it without the things I learned from this forum.

Frame, swingarm, rims, and hubs were powdercoated. The bike was lowered 2" both front and rear using shorter shocks and fork tubes. The tank emblems were shaved. The paint color is Viper GTS pearl blue. Too many things to list. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Check out the before and after pics and let me know what you think; I tried posted the pics directly but it would not cooperate for some reason. Had to resort to a photobucket account:

http://s859.photobucket.com/albums/ab153/033A2/

medic09 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2009, 04:53:12 PM »

That's a really handsome ride! Worthy of the old gatherings at Laconia.

tomsweb1 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2009, 05:00:19 PM »

love the racing stripes, nice touch!

wannabridin · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2009, 05:22:08 PM »

i like what you did with the rear hub, the black on natural finish looks good! one thing though, get some nice white gauge faces, that'll really make the top of the front end pop like the rest of the bike!!!

bucky katt · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2009, 05:24:14 PM »

what type/brand is the paint? i REALLY like that color

stainy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2009, 06:02:38 PM »

Dude that bike looks sweet! understated but sporty I love it!

bgfootball67 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2009, 06:37:01 PM »

Nice work, especially the before and after.

johnyvilla · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2009, 07:48:38 PM »

I dig it. Like the black hoops.

Johnny5 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 02, 2009, 08:00:49 PM »

Great looking ride! Super clean lines and nothing is over done. I like it.

033A2 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 03, 2009, 04:24:19 AM »

Quote from: bucky katt on September 02, 2009, 05:24:14 PM

what type/brand is the paint? i REALLY like that color

Bucky Katt, Not sure what the paint brand is. The shop that did it mixes their own paint and can produce any color you want. The blue color is from the Dodge Viper GTS. The white is simply the brightest white he could find.

andy750 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 03, 2009, 06:29:02 AM »

Very nice! I like the headlight touch.

see you in NH sometime ;-)

cheers
Andy

Chris Elliott · « **Reply #11 on:** September 04, 2009, 07:53:56 PM »

did you just take the wheels apart and have the hoops painted? I want to go for the black look on my bike but I'm not sure what the best way to do it is.

dagersh · « **Reply #12 on:** September 05, 2009, 07:17:57 AM »

Gorgeous work! The bike looks really clean and mean!

033A2 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2009, 09:33:26 AM »

Quote from: xedgedubx on September 04, 2009, 07:53:56 PM

did you just take the wheels apart and have the hoops painted? I want to go for the black look on my bike but I'm not sure what the best way to do it is.

I did take the wheels apart. The spokes were ratty and the chrome on the rims had a lot of pitting and rust. I took the front and rear hubs completely apart as well, and then had everything powdercoated. Once I got everything back I had all new wheel bearngs pressed in and then laced up a new set of spokes to them. In my opinion, doing the hubs with the rims really made a big difference in the look.

033A2 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2009, 01:29:30 PM »

Test pic. Had trouble posting pics to the forum. Think I may have figured it out.

timeguy87 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 08, 2009, 02:21:21 PM »

That is an awsome bike!!!!

ben.cb500 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 09, 2009, 01:48:52 PM »

I really like the stance of this bike. I'd like to lower a cb500 near the same amount. Do you think you could take a moment to go into a little more detail on how this was done and how it changed the handling, if any.

Much apprecited.

033A2 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 09, 2009, 05:10:50 PM »

Quote from: ben.cb500 on September 09, 2009, 01:48:52 PM

I really like the stance of this bike. I'd like to lower a cb500 near the same amount. Do you think you could take a moment to go into a little more detail on how this was done and how it changed the handling, if any.

Much apprecited.

It was actually very simple. I ordered a lowering kit from CycleXchange for $99.00 (plus S&H). The kit comes with front fork tubes and shocks two inches shorter than stock. The rest was simple mechanics. The only difficult part was getting the shocks onto the upper mounts; had to grease 'em up and pound 'em on.

Because the bike was lowered equally front and back, it handles perfectly. I live in the northeast, home of potholes and frost heaves, and have not had any bottoming issues. I check in at about 180 lbs. Any other questions, please let me know. Happy to share.

ben.cb500 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2009, 06:22:24 PM »

Much appreciated, thank you.

Lou N · « **Reply #19 on:** September 09, 2009, 07:20:28 PM »

Love the bike as well. Perfect timing, I'm working on a '72 and I was wondering if they could be lowerwed w/o too much trouble. I will be checking into the CycleXchange kit since my forks are leaking and the rear shocks are shot.

Did you have the original rims powder coated with the pitting? They look great if so; any issues taking the wheels apart, ie. the rim wanting to twist out of shape? I used to live in Vermont and the roads in the NE can definitely get nasty - I despised those frost heaves and the tar snakes

Lou

Chris Elliott · « **Reply #20 on:** September 09, 2009, 11:49:00 PM »

is the rear suspension adjustable more than just an inch or so? How did you end up lowering the rear so much?

033A2 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 10, 2009, 04:28:13 AM »

Quote from: Lou N on September 09, 2009, 07:20:28 PM

Love the bike as well. Perfect timing, I'm working on a '72 and I was wondering if they could be lowerwed w/o too much trouble. I will be checking into the CycleXchange kit since my forks are leaking and the rear shocks are shot.

Did you have the original rims powder coated with the pitting? They look great if so; any issues taking the wheels apart, ie. the rim wanting to twist out of shape? I used to live in Vermont and the roads in the NE can definitely get nasty - I despised those frost heaves and the tar snakes

Lou

My rims did have rust and pitting, but they werent really all that bad to begin with. There were a few minor spots I was concerned about, but it appears powdercoating hides a lot of evils as they look really good. Not perfect mind you, but we're not building show bikes. No problems with the rims twisting out of shape. I actually used my power driver and removed every nipple by hand as opposed to cutting everything out with bolt cutters. Even with the powdercoating the new spokes slipped in easily once I figured out the spoke pattern I was working with.

033A2 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 10, 2009, 04:32:28 AM »

Quote from: xedgedubx on September 09, 2009, 11:49:00 PM

is the rear suspension adjustable more than just an inch or so? How did you end up lowering the rear so much?

The only thing I did to the rear to lower it was shorter shocks. The ones from CycleX are two inches shorter than stock and that, along with the shorter fork tubes, gave the bike its current stance. I was concerned about scraping the rear tire on the inner fender, but I've had no issues with it yet.

750Caferider · « **Reply #23 on:** September 11, 2009, 12:44:11 AM »

She's a beaut! Nice work! Can't wait to get started on mine... Need more funds... That reminds me, I have a charity that I would like all of you to donate too! Not a tax right off per say, but definitely Worthy!

wrenchman · « **Reply #24 on:** September 11, 2009, 02:24:29 PM »

sweet looking ride

can you put up a link to cyclexchange, ive got a 82 i wanna do something with. thanks

033A2 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 12, 2009, 08:32:29 AM »

Quote from: wrenchman on September 11, 2009, 02:24:29 PM

sweet looking ride can you put up a link to cyclexchange, ive got a 82 i wanna do something with. thanks

http://www.cyclexchange.net/Honda%20Page.htm

Lowering kit is $199.95 + s&h.

wrenchman · « **Reply #26 on:** September 14, 2009, 01:45:49 PM »

Quote from: 033A2 on September 12, 2009, 08:32:29 AM

Quote from: wrenchman on September 11, 2009, 02:24:29 PM
sweet looking ride can you put up a link to cyclexchange, ive got a 82 i wanna do something with. thanks

http://www.cyclexchange.net/Honda%20Page.htm

Lowering kit is $199.95 + s&h.

thanks, one other ? where did you find the chrome bar end mirrors, all ive found is black ones

033A2 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 14, 2009, 03:43:36 PM »

[/quote] thanks, one other ? where did you find the chrome bar end mirrors, all ive found is black ones
[/quote]

Got them at Cycle Gear for $39.99. They're not chrome though, more of a flat finish silver. Look like they can be easily painted though.

Here's the link: http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=MRX_MBM1

033A2 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 14, 2009, 04:13:31 PM »

Quote from: 750Caferider on September 11, 2009, 12:44:11 AM

She's a beaut! Nice work! Can't wait to get started on mine... Need more funds... That reminds me, I have a charity that I would like all of you to donate too! Not a tax right off per say, but definitely Worthy!

Could I at least claim you as a dependant then?

750Caferider · « **Reply #29 on:** September 24, 2009, 07:55:47 PM »

Sure, I don't think the IRS will have a problem with that, what with me being a few years older and all...

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Author Topic: '73 CB750 Completed... (Read 5609 times)

timeguy87

Lou N

wrenchman

wrenchman