Topic: Do's and Don'ts of rebuilding a Cafe Racer

[Green7]

Hey guys, I'm BRAND NEW. I know little about how to rebuild/restore bikes. I'm currently looking into buying a bike now. Perhaps you all can give me some 'Do's and Don'ts" so I don't MESS this thing up. Ready...GO

[Roach Carver]

DONT go buy a pristine bike and cut it up.

DO get a good/decent runner that looks bad as you likely wont be using any of the cosmetics anyway.

DO use the search function before you ask a question. Most likely it has been discussed around here already in great detail.
 
look at pictures and save them. inspiration thread (here) is a great place to start.
take lots of progress pics and start abuild tread when you find your bike.

now ...  ......... GO.

[Syscrush]

DO plan the work in phases.

DO make the phases as modest as you can while still being worthwhile.

DO start with a bike that runs.

DO take photos and label parts as you do your teardown.

DO consult people experienced with these specific bikes.

DO expect to go over budget.

DO NOT get depressed when you experience the inevitable slowdowns in progress due to time, tricky problems, or money.

DO NOT compare your first build to some of the amazing pieces you see on here.

DO plan your work, and work your plan.

DO have fun and build what you want.

DO research your changes and think them through.

DO ask for advice & opinions on here.

DO NOT let others dictate to you how to build the bike (except for safety issues)... It is yours, after all.

DO NOT switch to pods with stock CV carbs and then wonder why the bike doesn't run right.

DO upgrade the ignition.

DO NOT get sucked into religious debates about Hondaman vs. CDI.

[sangyo soichiro]

DO invest in some good tools to work with.

DON'T think that I was referring to Harbor Freight.

DO start with a very specific goal in mind.

DON'T be afraid to deviate from that goal.

DO expect some glitches along the way.

DON'T let those glitches get you down.

DO look at every bike and project thread here in this forum.

DON'T put checkers and the word 'cafe' on everything.   

DO save money by buying a runner, but one that's not in the greatest cosmetic shape.

DON'T buy a bike without a title.


Now GO...!

[jaguar]

dont take the bike apart your first day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO get the bike running and riding 100% stock before doing anything
Dont put clubmans on the bike and call it a cafe
Dont mess up a nice stock clean bike.
Do forget what ever budget you have in your head
Do buy good parts
dont think you will sell it on for a profit.
Do start talking to people here. they are great

[Green7]

Ha, you guys are awesome! These are all real good things that I'm going to refer to when I start officially working on it. I'm actually looking to buy this bike

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=73991.0

from a member on here. I'm talking to him (he's slow to respond unfortunately). But this is what more information he gave me about it.

"I haven't sold a single part off of it yet. Most people wanted internal engine parts and I want to keep the engine together to sell it as a whole.  It is about 90% all there and together. I have had it running, but not since last year. You are welcome to tinker with it or bring your compression tester. It will turn over if you jump the starter solenoid/relay. Will need to be towed away, the front brakes need to be rebuilt, the back brakes work ok. The tank is dented, it does have good side covers and many good other parts, including extra carbs, the gauges. I also have a seat for it, but it's not the original seat. I don't have a title for it, I would have a Carfax done but they can't check anything before 1982. I can send you the VIN so you can check it if you would like. Feel free to shoot me an offer, I really want this out of my garage so I can begin work on my Mustang. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,"

This to me seems like a good starter bike (you guys tell me cause I resolve to know nothing). But if I take the motor to a shop and have them clean it up and get it to where it runs then I feel like this should be a good learning bike for me.

ready....go!

I love how you guys kept that going.

[traveler]

PERSONALLY...I wouldn't touch a bike that isn't running and ridable the day I pick her up.....but that's me.  I'm too old for hopeless basket cases....they made a GAZILLION of these bikes...buy a clean bike....buy the best bike you can possibly afford, and you will be miles ahead.  All this talk of "don't cut up a clean bike" is bullocks.  Unless it is a 1969 Sandcast CB750, it ain't worth that much.  BUY THE BEST BIKE YOU CAN AFFORD, and forget about all this "it's in pieces but ran a year ago" bull$hit.  That is a nighmare waiting for a victim....don't walk away from it....RUN!

AGONY awaits you with these bikes......best thing to do is leve the stock airbox and exhasut pipes on it.  Anything else you do is cool, but once you remove the stock airbox, things go all to hell QUICK.

I'm speaking from my personal experience.

Oh, and CB750 1973-1976 "K" model is the best.....more parts are available for that model than anything else.  Several companies still build custom engine pices for them.  If you go with another model....as I did....then you get to play the "make it fit....make it work" game.  It sucks.  

Sorry to be a downer....but when you ignore me, and a year from now your in the dumps, remember I told you so.

Old CB's require a mechanic for an owner...be forewarned!

P.S.  CB650???  Only thing on that that is worth a $hit is the motor (for a cafe build at least).  And the charging system on those motors SUCK a$$.

Don't fk around....if you want a cafe, buy a CB750, again the best you can buy, and go from there.

Yes, I'm blunt...but I'm trying to save you a hell of alot of heartache.


~Joe

[fantino]

I would take Joes advice into serious consideration... find a runner, unless you LOVE pain

If I weren't completely and utterly emotionally attached to the pile of parts I've been working on (which in reality will be about 1/2 to 2/3rds of the parts I started with, haha), I would have saved myself a ton of time and *money* and started with a decent runner.

I love 500s and 550s a great many reasons, but after a year of scouring the internets for NOS and aftermarket parts, 750s are just so, so, so, so much easier and cheaper to find parts for.

Buying a CB is like catching a bus. If you miss one, just wait around a little and another one will come along.

Good luck!

[HedNut]

I would have to agree from experience about finding a runner to buy.... check out my build for some of the "suprizes" over what the PO said.... "I only parked 2 years ago it because I got a new bike", "it's never been down"....  Turned into...siezed engine, completely fried electrical system and a gaping "elequently hidden" hole in the cases....not to mention dented n' scraped side covers and a bent foot pet! (peg....I would change it but FOOT PET sounds funny)...(I commited to buying it site unseen...400 miles away....another LESSON Learnt!!)  but I know now!  If anything...it was and is a fantastic learning experience througout! and this FORUM and it's people ROCK!!! and helped me through a lot of it.

That said...what Traveler and fantino said is good stuff!  
I'd be miles ahead had I sprung an extra $1000 for a decent runner.

Just my thoughts!!  But it's WAY COOL...and a Fun thing to get into!! I'm already pondering my next bike build....and it's gonna be another CB750K...but in the 73-76' range.

CHEERS! AND ENJOY THE CRAP OUT OF IT!!

[Frankencake]

DON'T buy a cb650
DO believe me now or believe me later

[Syscrush]

they made a GAZILLION of these bikes...buy a clean bike....buy the best bike you can possibly afford, and you will be miles ahead.  All this talk of "don't cut up a clean bike" is bullocks.  Unless it is a 1969 Sandcast CB750, it ain't worth that much.  BUY THE BEST BIKE YOU CAN AFFORD, and forget about all this "it's in pieces but ran a year ago" bull$hit.  That is a nighmare waiting for a victim....don't walk away from it....RUN!

Agreed 100%.

AGONY awaits you with these bikes......best thing to do is leve the stock airbox and exhasut pipes on it.  Anything else you do is cool, but once you remove the stock airbox, things go all to hell QUICK.

I'm speaking from my personal experience.

Has it been bad since you switched to the CR's?

[traveler]

not at all....but it cost 900 bucks to do that.

[boulder74]

I agree with the above, I've got a CB500 and it's a pain to find parts for it as it changed a tiny bit each of the three years it was out.  The 750 is the way to go...parts are everywhere and that means lower costs; you won't be bidding online for a $150 side cover that comes up once every 18 months.

Also, make sure that it runs like a top (or as near as possible) and that you ride it a bit before breakdown to see what else might need to be fixed such as brakes, slipping clutch, bottoming-out suspension, etc. Then you'll have a better idea what to fix while you have it torn apart for the build.

[scroggins5000]

Don't buy an F (Super Sport) model if you want to be able to find parts easily. Many parts from other models will work, but some rare things do not. I couldn't find pistons for my 750F to save my life, and ended up having to use a big bore kit.
Do stick with standard CB750 (K models) and standard 550's. They are the most popular out there.
Don't open up the carbs until you have studied and practically memorized how to dismantle, clean them properly, and adjust them.

[Syscrush]

not at all....but it cost 900 bucks to do that.

Bah - I paid that much for 3 Givi hard cases for my other bike - the CR's are about 1000x cooler!

No reason to feel bad - the CR's, alloy bodywork, and Lesters on your bike aren't tacky throw-ons, they're awesome differentiators done tastefully.

[Green7]

not at all....but it cost 900 bucks to do that.

You mean the engine cleaning?

[RAFster122s]

no the CR carbs are 900