Topic: Project Anna-CB500

[Bluegreen]

Hello all,

  I guess a little about me, this is my first bike and I bought her in late September off a friend who had her for 6 years. I've put almost 900 miles on her since and it's been raining for the last month (it's Vancouver ). This is my favorite part of the SOHC forum, I've spent a lot of time lurking on the build threads.

  Now the bike, her name is Anna, she's a '73 CB500 and I'd like to continue the cafe theme my buddy started quite a while ago. This is how she looked on day 1. I'm not planning on re-inventing the wheel, I'll be going for a fairly stock cafe look because that's how I like em  I guess the only non standard thing I'm going to try and do is make a removable rack that will fit over the back of my seat for long distance camping trips.



 The plan is over the winter to do mostly cosmetic changes and regular matinence, enjoy riding for a year then next winter tear her down, PC the frame rebuild the motor etc.

I've already started with paint and tonight I am waiting on my seat auction on eBay to end to find out if I have my seat pan. Also waiting on my new shop, in a very crowded single car garage and moving into a space 4 times bigger at the end of the month. Here is the progress so far






List of things I want to get done before trip to Texas in Feb:
Order,fit and install bump seat
Ditch rear fender
Smaller signals and Brake light
Build Removable Rack
Shocks
Build Camera mount
Exaust wrap
Misc cosmetic cosmetic changes

[Bluegreen]

Have my seat from eBay, now I just need my shop. Can't wait. I've got 3 or 4 different ways I'm considering of attaching it, although I'm really weary about welding the frame for some reason, trying to avoid it.

[Bluegreen]

So I guess it's time for a bit of an update, I've been busy. Most of my original list is done and moving onto more mechanicl things I guess, including a front forks rebuild.

This is how I mounted my seat. A front bracket made out of some flat stock that slips under the frame. The bracket in the hump has a hole in it that a carrige bolt attached to the hoop on the back of the frame fits into. I can get my had in there and screw down a wingnut. And then bondoglassed the rubbers off the stock seat for stability. Very happy with how secure it ended up.


Seat on, painted and cut polished.


Engine running strong, just wanted to polish up a bit, may rebuild next year.


Engine in, exaust wrap on.


New Progressive shocks!! And lincence plate bracket. Stop light is in too!! Did a 35 LED strip just below the seat. Works great.


About to finish with the rear swing arm bushing install tommorw. It's back in, just need to re-tension chain. I also put a 16t front sprocket on before I did this and took her out for a spin, what a difference, felt like free horsepower

[westondc]

wow that bike looks alot better now, the paint looks great! i like the exhaust thats on it. she's looking pretty sharp, keep up the good work.

[rickmoore24]

Wow, great job! She looks like a totally different bike. Ireally like the silver paint.

[kck3]

Bike looks really good.  Who did you go thru to get the progressive shocks?

[Little_Horse]

looks good, you said you were from Vanvouver WA?

[Bluegreen]

Thanks everybody! The funny part about the exaust is they are Harley mufflers.

@kck3 I went though a local dealer, I get a good deal there and usually get parts the next day.

@cornandp Vancouver BC, although I guess it rains a lot in both places.

[YogiBear]

Looks a hell of alot better from the start. Ive got a CB500 im going the cafe route on, and I gotta ask you, how is it to ride with clubmans and stock pegs? I noticed the shifter is pointed down a little. Ive got clip ons on mine with stock pegs, but im not able to ride it yet. Thanks.

[KB02]

I'm surprised you painted the seat black. I would have thought you would painted it silver to match the rest of the bike.

Great looking ride so far. Very classy.

[CU2151]

Wow, that is looking great!  I'm looking for the same kind of look for my cb550.  What kind of rear signals did you go with?  I bought some cheap-o led ones off ebay and they are completely worthless and don't put out nearly the light needed.  

Also, could you post a link to the seat you bought?  Looks real good on the bike.

[westondc]

 
Also, could you post a link to the seat you bought?  Looks real good on the bike.

that is a nice looking cafe seat, i'm also interested in where you located it. i'm guessing you probably had to pay some real dough for it.

Also, i've noticed in this thread and others that the old paint is stripped before the new coat is to be applied. what do you use to strip off the old paint??

[CU2151]

I've seen a lot of folks strip it like that using that aircraft paint remover stuff.  I hope that's what you used cause I just picked up a can of it at Walmart for $8 and am looking for good results.  It's in an aerosol spray can.

[Bluegreen]

Thanks for the complements!!

Looks a hell of alot better from the start. Ive got a CB500 im going the cafe route on, and I gotta ask you, how is it to ride with clubmans and stock pegs? I noticed the shifter is pointed down a little. Ive got clip ons on mine with stock pegs, but im not able to ride it yet. Thanks.

I didn't mind the stock pegs when I still had the stock seat and clubmans but now that I have the new seat I'd like to move them straight back a few inches.

I'm surprised you painted the seat black. I would have thought you would painted it silver to match the rest of the bike.

Great looking ride so far. Very classy.

I'm trying to balance beauty and some toughness. For some reson in my mind this is part of that balance along with the exaust wrap.

Wow, that is looking great!  I'm looking for the same kind of look for my cb550.  What kind of rear signals did you go with?  I bought some cheap-o led ones off ebay and they are completely worthless and don't put out nearly the light needed. 

Also, could you post a link to the seat you bought?  Looks real good on the bike.

The signals are Emgos, I think 20 something a pair. The seat I got off of a guy who sells them on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cafe-seat-Yamaha-Honda-Kawasaki-Suzuki-XS-CB-KZ-GS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem255889beb5QQitemZ160399212213QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 
Also, could you post a link to the seat you bought?  Looks real good on the bike.

that is a nice looking cafe seat, i'm also interested in where you located it. i'm guessing you probably had to pay some real dough for it.

Also, i've noticed in this thread and others that the old paint is stripped before the new coat is to be applied. what do you use to strip off the old paint??

Circa 1850. I think you can find it at any hardware store. Worked great. Apply a layer, have a ciggarette, strip, apply a layer, have a ciggarette, strip, rinse repeat.

[Bluegreen]

Thought I'd throw up a fe more photos

This is my rear taillight and bracket. You can also see the carrige bolt with the wingnut sticking up. This goes into a a hole I drilled in a bracket that is attached to my seat. I got this idea from someone on this forum who did the same thing with a cutting board attached to his seat.


New coils and leads. Pretty much the only thing on Anna that isn't silver or black.

[YogiBear]

Ok, I gotta ask. Where did you get that Tailight Strip?? I like that alot. Is it a tailight and brakelight? Oh and btw, the motor looks gorgeous. 

[Bluegreen]

Ok, I gotta ask. Where did you get that Tailight Strip?? I like that alot. Is it a tailight and brakelight? Oh and btw, the motor looks gorgeous. 

http://www.bikerhiway.com/radiantz-flexible-led-light-strip-red-leds-p-310.html

They also sell the little unit that turns it into a taillight/brake light, works like a charm. And I picked up my DOT approved electronic flasher control unit there as well for my signals.

Thank you btw

[boulder74]

Nice ride.  I just stumbled upon your thread, I have a '75 500 myself and it's actually in getting painted silver (with black racing stripes) as I type.  nice to get a sneak peek of what my bike's gonna look like when they are done.   I saw you changed out the front and rear shocks, where did you get them?  I'm gonna tear down the entire bike this fall and go 'frame up' on it. 

Cheers

[Bluegreen]

Well thank you. I got them at a local shop that just closed down. I'm kinda bummed about that. I guess I should update with some photo's, she looks quite different now.

[Bluegreen]

Well I've had this bike for almost exactly a year now. Looks a little different now. As time has gone on handling has become the obsession. I have a 550 motor sitting on the bench waiting for my Rocky 555 pistons to go in, a 650 cam and a general overhaul. But handling has come first. The front forks are off a '78 550. The Progressives fit much better in those and they have the dual disc tabs. I liked the look of the clubmans the bike came with but they had to go, they made adjusting the forks difficult and lowering the front end impossible. Anyway a few pics I guess.

I think we did 6-7000 miles together this year. The best trip being a 2000 mile journey through eastern Washington and Oregon. The 395 is amazing !!

IMG_4380 by _bluegreen_, on Flickr


Rearsets. Fun.

IMG_4006 by _bluegreen_, on Flickr


Mods to underside of my new to me Rickman.

IMG_5003 by _bluegreen_, on Flickr


Drilled these myself. The whole dual disc thing seemed a little daunting, was pretty easy in the end. I do recomend getting a master meant for duals, the stock is very soft with this setup.

IMG_5011 by _bluegreen_, on Flickr



I wish this photo was better, but it's all I've got.


IMG_5012 by _bluegreen_, on Flickr

So what's next? Steering damper sitting on bench waiting to be installed and Avon Roadriders going on this week.

[sinister902]

I LOVE those rearsets, what brand are they or where did you get them?

[rickmoore24]

Yes, more info on the rearsets please. She looks great!

[HedNut]

Wow... bike looked great! But with that tank on there...she's set RIGHT OFF!! Looks killer and it's awesome that you put the miles to it and ride it like it should be! Great stuff!!!

[Bluegreen]

 These things are totaly ment to be ridden

Rearset info as requested:
http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/the-112/Rearsets--Fixed-Rubber/Detail

[YogiBear]

That's a very nice looking fender bob, Bluegreen.