Author Topic: Tommy Rocket's Chop Shop (Read 11385 times)

TommyRocket · « **on:** February 13, 2010, 02:10:43 PM »

Just picked up two CB350F's today. Mint condition.

After a little work in the garage.

Wish me luck.

Oh, and the seller was a hipster...

CBJoe · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2010, 06:02:28 PM »

Welcome.....

What's the info on the front end in the last picture?? I like the look of that front end..... come with the build, or something you've added?

BTW... The carbs in the second pic seem to have a nice antique patina to them

Very steampunk

Cheers, Joe

TommyRocket · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2010, 06:22:35 PM »

The patina makes it worth more, right?

The forks are from a 2002-2003 Honda CBR954RR. Didn't come with the bike. I also own a CBR954RR and have spare parts. I've wanted to put a modern upside down fork on a CB Four for a while and finally found a bike to do it to. Direct bolt on. Just needs the stock steering stop cut off and new tabs welded on the side of the frame. I used to have a CB1100F with CBR900RR forks. They were cool, but were still standard forks. The USD forks just look beefy.

The only down side is that it will lose about 30 degrees of steering with the stock tank.

One bike is going to be a stock budget build. Basically some sandblasting, spray paint, bearings, and seals. The other bike is going to be custom. Only CB350F parts will be the tank, seat (maybe), and frame.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2010, 05:41:29 PM »

This is where I got to today. It's ugly, but it has spark and ran on starting fluid. I'll get the carbs on tomorrow and see what happens. The engine in the other bike only had 50psi of compression. Ugh...

On the custom bike, I wanted to run 17" Honda supermoto rims. I found out that my front axle diameter won't allow this. Now I'm thinking of using 6 spoke mags from a Honda crotch rocket.

I'm looking for some opinions on this. This is what they look like.

The front will be bolt on for the USD fork. The rear is going to take some modding.

greasy j · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2010, 09:34:36 PM »

those are pretty cool. modern, but so are the USD forks. I think they'll look good.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2010, 07:22:29 AM »

Thanks, I hope so. This is the look I'm going for: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/08/27/cb450r-cafe-racer-kits-convert-honda-crf450r-dirt-bike-to-street-legal-cafe-racer/. I even bought his kit to install the CRF450 engine.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2010, 02:08:50 PM »

Maybe one of you guys or gals could help me out.

How do you get the chrome cover off of the top of the lower fork?

Edit - I just found a post on this. Looks like they just get pried off. Ouch.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2010, 03:40:30 PM »

A couple teaser pics. The engine is just kind of sitting there. I'm waiting for some parts to finalize the engine mounting.

I installed tapered steering stem bearings and got the front end fully bolted on. The lower tree barely touched the bottom of the frame. I took about 1/8" off the bottom of the head tube. You could probably get away with as little as 1mm. No spacers or anything. Parts made 30 years apart and they almost bolt right on. Go Honda.

Still needs steering stops. Maybe tomorrow.

I think I'm going to start another thread for the other bike to avoid confusion.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2010, 06:28:23 PM »

Got some parts today.

Oh and for the purists - at least it still has one cam.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2010, 06:30:04 PM »

Clip ons or low rise bars? The clip-ons will be easier, but the bars will be free (already have them).

Flying J · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2010, 08:15:50 PM »

Clip ons! Your not building this bike for comfort. Your building it to look b!tchen. I can tell. Use the clipons.

greasy j · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2010, 10:23:02 PM »

yeah, clip on's

TommyRocket · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2010, 05:33:53 AM »

Then I've got good news for you. I've got a set of clip-ons coming from Ebay.

I really wanted to run a fat bar. My original intention was to just drill the stock triple clamp for the bar mounts. After realizing how thin the upper triple was I decided not to do this. I'd have to have a custom top clamp made and I've already spent about double of what I originally intended. There is a company that makes one but it is geared toward the stunt crowd and isn't very aesthetically pleasing.

I did a mock up with a set of clip-ons I had and it did look really cool.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2010, 09:34:30 PM »

MINT!!!!!

............Have fun with your project and keep us all updated.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2010, 02:44:34 PM »

It's supporting it's own weight. The shock mounts are just JB welded on and the rear wheel needs big work to fit the swinger, but it's a roller!

You can see where I cut out the original lower engine mounts and welded new mounts to fit the CRF engine. I also removed the factory exhaust hangers and inner fender mounts.

The shocks are from Ebay. They are NOS Red Wing shocks and are 13" long. They are really too short but will do for now. The front wheel is from a '00-'01 Honda RVT1000R and it cost me a fortune, but it's what I wanted.

Back to the grind...

chronic_rider_550 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2010, 03:02:16 PM »

Looks like an awesome build! Definitely will be keeping my eye on this build

scroggins5000 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2010, 08:45:45 PM »

This is gonna be crazy. Looking forward to this build..

TommyRocket · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2010, 06:17:39 PM »

Thanks guys.

I put the engine back in, mounted the coil, added the clip-ons, slapped on some mirrors I had laying around, and put on a different tank.

Here's a pic from today.

I spent most of the day puting my mini-lathe back together and working on making a brake lever. I'll post some pics of it when I'm done.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2010, 06:23:24 PM »

Coil mount.

bikerbart · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2010, 06:59:43 AM »

hipster huh?did he wear tight pants,ride a single gear bike and have a stupid lil mustache.I hate hipsters.I hope you stole it.

mgbgt89 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2010, 07:54:11 AM »

Jeeze, that frame looks dinky compared to the swingarm and forks. Should be a cool build!

Doctor_D · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2010, 07:57:18 PM »

Quote from: bikerbart on March 24, 2010, 06:59:43 AM

hipster huh?did he wear tight pants,ride a single gear bike and have a stupid lil mustache.I hate hipsters.I hope you stole it.

Careful, bud. No mustache or tight pants, but my fixed gear is my main form of transportation...

(For what its worth, I hate poser, fixie-kids as well.)

Flying J · « **Reply #22 on:** March 26, 2010, 04:04:23 PM »

I ride a fixed gear too. And my pants do seem to fit a bit tighter,.....but its not a fashion statement. Im getting old/fat.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #23 on:** March 26, 2010, 07:57:58 PM »

Easy guys. That was just a little joke started on another thread. No harm meant to anyone. I like to collect bikes, not enemies.

Flying J · « **Reply #24 on:** March 26, 2010, 11:01:43 PM »

none taken

Owned · « **Reply #25 on:** March 27, 2010, 05:42:09 AM »

Did your orange and black Halloween tank come off of eBay in the last year? It looks exactly like the one I unloaded!!!

TommyRocket · « **Reply #26 on:** March 27, 2010, 03:12:20 PM »

It could be. The guy I bought these from from said he got one of the bikes from Ebay. Did you sell an entire bike or just the tank?

Owned · « **Reply #27 on:** March 27, 2010, 06:18:05 PM »

It was just the tank. Ditched in for the one on my avatar.

TommyRocket · « **Reply #28 on:** September 24, 2011, 10:15:47 PM »

So I haven't updated this in a while and just wanted ya'll to know it isn't a dead project.

I took the 450R engine out and built a CRF450R with Aprilia RXV front and rear suspension.

I got a good deal on a disassembled '06 CRF450X engine and it is currently mocked up in the CB350F frame. I had issues with the 450R kicker hitting things and the electric start will make my life much easier.

And for anyone that's curious, the only difference between early ('02-'04) 450R engine mounting and 450X engine mounting is the width of the mounts. Some careful planning and a few spacers will allow you to use any (at least up to '08) CRF450 engine.

News:

Author Topic: Tommy Rocket's Chop Shop (Read 11385 times)