Author Topic: Jessezm's CB400F cafe (Read 49034 times)

jessezm · « **Reply #75 on:** August 17, 2010, 04:15:51 pm »

Quote from: Syscrush on August 17, 2010, 02:00:40 pm

Oh man, turquoise would look awesome. All you have to do is add some small accents in the same color somewhere else on the bike - a pinstripe here and there on the tank and seat, maybe your brake & clutch levers, etc. It's a great idea. That tank and tail are too special to be bolted up to a black or grey frame.

Beautiful work so far, watching with MUCH interest!

This is kind of where my head was at with the turquoise (well, more like teal...)

Syscrush · « **Reply #76 on:** August 17, 2010, 06:45:41 pm »

Quote from: jessezm on August 17, 2010, 04:15:51 pm

This is kind of where my head was at with the turquoise (well, more like teal...)

I know - my first thought when you mentioned it was the Paul Smart edition. It's an amazing looking bike, and that color adds a lot of flair. Bianchi bicycles and motorcycles were/are sold in a similar color, it just has a great self-assured European cool about it.

Seriously, that color on your frame plus some accents done by a pinstriper who's as good as whoever hammered out your tank would look absolutely incredible.

DO IT!!!

jessezm · « **Reply #77 on:** August 17, 2010, 07:02:25 pm »

That is dangerous talk, my friend, because I am really thinking seriously about it now!

RickB · « **Reply #78 on:** August 19, 2010, 11:46:12 pm »

If you're going with the turquoise, then have a look at the 'greenframe' Ducati's. I like the yellowey/brown stripe on the tank. Maybe you could work that in somehow?

The below is from: http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/1974_750_greenframe.html

Arguably the most desireable Ducati of them all... the 1974 750 Super Sport "Greenframe".

The exact number of original "greenframes" produced is hotly contested. The commonly accepted figure in the US is 200, but elsewhere most agree the number is higher, possibly as high as 411. Likely this stems from the idea that originally Ducati wanted to build only 25, then 50, then 200 then 250 and after that they gave up commenting and just built as many as they could sell. Which certainly sounds like Ducati. Regardless of the exact number produced many survive to this day, occasionally they come up for sale, and usually for exorbitantly inflated prices. Desirability sets it's own price, with motorcycles as with all rare and beautiful things. Oh well, it's nice to imagine "what if"...

jessezm · « **Reply #79 on:** August 20, 2010, 05:15:26 am »

Yep that is exactly what I had in mind, though I was looking at the Paul Smart repro, and hadnt yet pulled up a photo of the old '74. I like this one even better! The only think is that there are a few red accents on my bike already--red coil leads and red coping on my seat. I think the mustard might be pushing the color capacity!

Syscrush · « **Reply #80 on:** August 24, 2010, 08:09:57 am »

Quote from: jessezm on August 20, 2010, 05:15:26 am

Yep that is exactly what I had in mind, though I was looking at the Paul Smart repro, and hadnt yet pulled up a photo of the old '74. I like this one even better! The only think is that there are a few red accents on my bike already--red coil leads and red coping on my seat. I think the mustard might be pushing the color capacity!

Forget the mustard. Some red & green pinstriping and you're riding around on an insanely hot CB.

jessezm · « **Reply #81 on:** September 06, 2010, 08:37:09 pm »

Well, it was Monster Garage weekend at my friend Bobby's house, and finally, after months of waiting, I made some real progress! Everyone loves pictures of progress, right? Here we go:

I needed to make a rear loop for the frame. After several failed attempts with 16 ga. 1" tube from Tractor Supply, and being told by every machine shop in Macon that it couldn't be done, we had a relative victory. Here's what I started with:

It's a bad picture, but I made some lugs for the frame to help hold the loop by cutting up the old handle bars. the were a perfect tight fit, but I had to turn them down to accept the loop, which I ended up making out of sch. 40 steel pipe.

To make the loop, we cut a die out of plywood. The first one burned up to fast under the torch, so I lined a second one with a metal saw blade to protect it a bit from the flame. Here are a few shots of the process (from both failed and successful attempts):

Success! Well, it aint absolutely perfectly symmetrical, but it's damn close enough for me!

jessezm · « **Reply #82 on:** September 06, 2010, 08:41:42 pm »

Once I got it cut to size and fitted into place, I had Bobby weld it on for me. I just started learning to weld and recently bought a small MIG welder with an argon/CO2 mix. I'm loving it, but I didn't want to weld this part on myself...

And here it is after I got it all cleaned up:

jessezm · « **Reply #83 on:** September 06, 2010, 08:52:51 pm »

Next I had to fabricate something to hold all the electrics. Started by welding on a pan (I did this and the rest of the welding myself--hope it holds!!!):

Then I made a tray that could fit everything in/on and around it...

Including this awesome super tiny battery! But.... I made the tray adjustable, so if this battery doesn't do the trick, I can simply move two bolts and it expands to accept an AGM battery I have as well.

I didn't take pictures of this part, but I finished building the wiring loom so that everything tucks up neatly under the seat. I also installed a relay for the coils. Just about every terminal on the harness was replaced, and all the spliced wires are soldered and shrink-wrapped, and then taped. I tested out the electrics and everything worked, so I loaded up the bike to take it back home, and an hour later, the frame is just about ready for paint!!!

I finished up a couple welds that I couldn't get to with the back wheel on and cleaned things up as best I could. But can anyone tell me how smooth a frame needs to be to look good once painted? Are the places where I got a little happy with the flapper wheel going to stick out like a sore thumb?

What do you all think so far?

jessezm · « **Reply #84 on:** September 06, 2010, 08:58:36 pm »

Oh yeah, I forgot to add a pic of the Monster Garage! If Bobby can get his dirt bike running tonight we're hitting the track first thing tomorrow!

jessezm · « **Reply #85 on:** September 07, 2010, 04:55:32 pm »

Dropped off the frame with my powdercoating guy this morning. Should be ready by Friday!
Hoping to have it all put back together by the end of the weekend!

CoffeeRacer · « **Reply #86 on:** September 08, 2010, 01:31:19 am »

Sweet build!! I'm really diggin' your color choice for the engine. Thanks for the inspiration!!

jessezm · « **Reply #87 on:** September 08, 2010, 05:27:03 am »

Thanks! I think I stole my inspiration for the engine paint from Architect--you should check out his build!

spatman · « **Reply #88 on:** September 08, 2010, 09:39:57 am »

What color did you decide on? I kinda liked the idea of a two-wheeled espresso machine...

jessezm · « **Reply #89 on:** September 08, 2010, 10:02:36 am »

HaHa! I was set on the teal/turquoise actually, but I chickened out at the last second and went with gloss black. Oh well!

RickB · « **Reply #90 on:** September 11, 2010, 12:08:19 am »

Jesse,

Great photos on the frame loop. I've been thinking about doing a similar thing to mount my tail light on. Thanks for the photos, the wooden jig you made up is a great idea.

I can't believe you chickened out on the color. Pussy.

Rick.

Syscrush · « **Reply #91 on:** September 11, 2010, 12:23:54 am »

Quote from: jessezm on September 08, 2010, 10:02:36 am

HaHa! I was set on the teal/turquoise actually, but I chickened out at the last second and went with gloss black. Oh well!

With time, you will learn: it's not what we do that we end up regretting. It's what we don't do.

I'm sure it will look great gloss black, though.

jessezm · « **Reply #92 on:** September 11, 2010, 05:25:53 am »

Well, you tell me:

Kwality · « **Reply #93 on:** September 11, 2010, 06:36:40 am »

Wow! Looks fantastic! Well done!

Syscrush · « **Reply #94 on:** September 11, 2010, 07:50:51 am »

Quote from: jessezm on September 11, 2010, 05:25:53 am

Well, you tell me:

Very beautiful.

RickB · « **Reply #95 on:** September 12, 2010, 03:09:15 am »

Jesse,

Well done mate, it looks fantastic. Are you happy with it? How does it run?!

I was joking about the color, I would have done the exact same thing!

Good work,
Rick.

jessezm · « **Reply #96 on:** September 12, 2010, 02:02:30 pm »

Thanks man! It runs incredibly....on cylinders 2 and 3. No spark on 1 and 4--I've traced it back to a bad pickup on the Dyna -S ignition. Have to send it in this week. More waiting!

Greggo · « **Reply #97 on:** September 12, 2010, 02:28:19 pm »

Bummer on the more waiting part, but she looks incredible! Seriously looks like this '65 racer I saw yesterday around the corner from my house. I think it had started off as a Dream, but it'd been slightly cafe'd...sexy.

jessezm · « **Reply #98 on:** September 13, 2010, 12:54:30 pm »

Thanks! Since I hate waiting I came up with an excuse to order a new ignition while I wait for mine to be replaced under warranty: I recently bought a '72 CB750 K2 that is in need of a tune up and replacement points. Since my 400 was a late model, it uses the same dyna rotor that slips over the advance shaft of the CB500/550/750. So now I'll be able to use the warrantied ignition on my 750, while I ride my 400 as soon as the new ignition gets here (probably wednesday)! Killed two birds with one $128 stone...

jessezm · « **Reply #99 on:** September 19, 2010, 08:44:35 am »

No way! In the running for Bike of the Month! http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=77086.msg860026#msg860026

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Author Topic: Jessezm's CB400F cafe (Read 49034 times)

CoffeeRacer