Topic: European special frames for Honda 750 Four

[bwaller]

Probably everyone has seen this article Tintop mentioned, but in case not.

http://www.curtisracingframes.com/articles/cycle-canada.html

[RupertB]

I may have missed it somewhere in this thread so apologies if duplicated, but nobody seems to have mentioned Tony Foale and his frames. Egli-esque with the oil in the spine tube, but arguably prettier than the Egli. I have been in touch with Tony by email and he reckons he built around 40 frames for CB750s, though mine (you knew I had a vested interest) is number TF048, so maybe he made 48 or so. At  the moment mine is a bit of a mess but serious work will start quite soon, just as soon as I have recovered from my visit to Maxton suspension to discuss fork and monoshock prices. I know quality isn't cheap, but the days of a pair of Hagons costing about 50 quid have never seemed so far away! Then again, Maxton stuff is irresistably beautiful, so I reckon the bank balance is due for a big hit.
All I have to do after that is buy wheels, discs, brakes, tyres, electrics and bodywork and it is pretty much done....

(Those of you who saw these pics some months ago may think that nothing has changed since then. You'd be right)

[Retro Rocket]

Probably everyone has seen this article Tintop mentioned, but in case not.

http://www.curtisracingframes.com/articles/cycle-canada.html

Thankyou, very interesting...

[RupertB]

Just a few extra pics to show the design of the Foale frame in general, and the poor state of mine in particular. The thing is sitting a bit 'nose-down' but you can see the front downtubes which are simply bolt-on to the engine at one end and the frame at the other. You can also see that there should be a sort of footrest hanger on each side, but the left hand one has been broken off, apparently by a mixture of corrosion and damage of some sort. The rest of the frame seems very sound anyway.
The yokes are as Tony Foale made them - standard Honda ones with a stub of threaded stem in each one, joined by a thin metal rod under tension. Odd, but it seems to have worked.
Finally you will see Pixie, an 8 month old Jack Russell. Hairier than many, very sweet, and as you will observe she appreciates a good frame.

[Jon]

The yokes are as Tony Foale made them - standard Honda ones with a stub of threaded stem in each one, joined by a thin metal rod under tension. Odd, but it seems to have worked.

Would you have any pics of this?

I like Foales work & putting together a track bike @ the moment.


Thanks
jon

[RupertB]

Attached are some pics I took which show the setup a bit better - maybe not perfectly but they give the general idea. According to Tony Foale it looks much as he made them apart from the top nut which looks like a bodge. I don't think he soaked the thing in white paint either, but then it stood under a tarpaulin for about 17 years before a friend swopped some work for the bike, then sold it on to me, so history etc is rather unknown!
Let me know if there are any specific bits that you want highlighting.

[Howell]

Carton Honda made in Belgium

[jaguar]

Whatisit?

I really want a special frame bike...

[RupertB]

Don't want to sound disrespectful but it looks a bit like a wheelbarrow! But looks amazing all the same. Possibly Ceriani forks, brembo discs and calipers, looks like the wheels off my Jota and the nut on the end of the swinging arm spindle looks identical to the one on my Guzzi Le Mans. So I'll guess Italian and mid to late 70s, possibly early 80s. I am perfectly happy to be shot down in flames as I am routinely wrong, just ask my wife...

[Tim2005]

Yep, Italian, here's a Laverda engined version to drool over

http://www.laverdafreunde.at/English/Reload.html?http://www.laverdafreunde.at/English/Dektereff.html

[Ecosse]

from what i know it's Italian and they made frames for laverda and others. wish i knew more and i couldn't find (surprisingly) any info on the satanic mechanic page.

curious... and very cool.

[RupertB]

I wasn't far off - quite impressed myself there! The Laverda engined frame is incredible - probably doesn't need two people to lift the bare frame like the standard one does (almost). Have any been sold that would take a Honda SOHC motor? Make a nice garage mate for the Foale.....

[RupertB]

Speaking of which, this pic is on the restoration thread I started but it serves as an update from the earlier pictures of my frame. This is it with an unpolished version of what wil be the final tank, and the seat unit as a prototype. Trying to get it finished in the next two months...!

[cavebear]

Will you be running the oil in frame?

CB 750 stressed member frame made by Moto Martin about 1975.

[img width=600 height=449]http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad53/cavebear16

[jaguar]

Anyone know of an interesting frame for sale in the US?

[Ecosse]

I think Framecrafters would make anything you want.

No first hand experience with them I'm sorry to say but they are in the U.S.

[RupertB]

Re the oil in frame thing, I agonised for ages but in the end have decided against it for two reasons. One is that Tony Foale is (with hindsight) not a fan of it and reckons there were a few problems with oil surge starving the engine, the other is that my chassis sat outside in someone's garden under a tarpaulin for up to 17 years, so given that a fair bit of money has been spent on the engine I didn't want to risk wrecking it with a piece of long-dead woodlouse getting into the main bearings. However I still want to show off the monoshock so didn't want a standard oil tank in the sidepanel area. As it stands, the new tank will have a dummy side, inside which will be a separate oil tank. So all being well I will have the best of both worlds. Collecting the tank at the end of April so more pics as ever.

[phactory]

Hello All,

 Started my 1974 Rickman CR750 today!!!

Rickman Video

SOON to be on the road!

Cheers, Phil

[lucky]

Frame and parts to sail few months ago for 750 Four price 3000 €

I really like that seat side cover combo!!!
Are those currently available??

[GEORGES]

Yes ithink, you must ask to Georges MARTIN, after the price can various with aditionnal parts.

georges.martin11@wanadoo.fr

[GEORGES]

You can say to him that it's Georges give you the link

[RupertB]

Just in case I haven't bored you with my other posts elsewhere, and while work has stopped for a short while to allow ideas and funds to build up, here's the latest stage of my Foale project as it gathers a light coating of dust in the mother-in-law's garage.

[turboguzzi]

looking pretty good man

just not sure about that super straight shot silencer, would introduce a kink in it somewhere....

[andy750]

looking pretty good man

just not sure about that super straight shot silencer, would introduce a kink in it somewhere....

+1 on the exhaust...an upswept Norton-style peashooter exhaust would look much better Aside from that bike looks very very good!

[RupertB]

Should have said about the pipes - there are actually two each side and they have some bending to be done - there is about an eighth of a milliletre clearance between the rear sprocket and the inner pipe so that will have to change, and the sidestand won't fit with things as they are - good suggestions folks, and an upsweep is coming in due course. I also have to work out whre the rearsets are going as well. So much to decide! Pic of the rear view shows the silencers - although the term 'silencer' is a relative one. They are Swarbrick pipes and have a bit of perforated metal and some wadding shoved down them to keep the noise fascists at bay. Should be a laugh!   
The only thing with the monoshock is that the pipes will look very high and wide from the back when they are clear of the swing arm, but I suppose that's just a penalty of the frame design and I'll get used to it. Come to that if I'm riding it I won't have to look at them!