Topic: My '74 CB750 bobber (edit) /cafe?

[ratty750]

Well, here she is. My '74 CB750. Two years in the making. I wish I had documented the build to where she is now, but I didn't know this place existed and I had some long breaks between. By the time I figured this place out, she was pretty much where she is now. Anywho, she's pretty much done. Here are some pictures. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

Nathan









I know there is no front break. I need to get one. So if anyone has an extra one laying around or know of an aftermarket one that works well, let me know. Also, in the pictures, she looks way lower than she really is. I mean, she sit real low, but due to her being in the grass, she looks way lower.

I'm not completely done with her. Right now she's running a little funny. But I just need to find time to tweek some stuff. Thanks for looking. This winter, I'll probably take her all apart, get her painted and completely rebuild the motor and polish everything.

[haggeo]

looks nice but i'd get a new seat.

[Jinxracing]

I dig the vibe, especially around the rear fender/whitewall tire. But man, that seat has got to go. Everything else is looking good!

[ratty750]

Haha... yeah... a new seat will be made shortly. It was something I just threw together.

[MidTNJasonF]

I agree with everyone else. Change out that seat and get some brakes on that thing. I dig the grips and the overall look. I wonder if it would not look a touch better with a contrasting color on the tank emblems. Looks a touch washed out with the white badge on the white tank.

[ratty750]

A new seat will be in the works tomorrow. As well as a small front fender. I should have a front brake by the end of the week. I'm also thinking of painting it something else. Any suggestions?

[MidTNJasonF]

A new seat will be in the works tomorrow. As well as a small front fender. I should have a front brake by the end of the week. I'm also thinking of painting it something else. Any suggestions?

If the paint on it now is good quality I would leave it. Just some fine detail like color to the side badges, something on the oiltank/side covers, or even some simple pinstripe work could set it off nicely.

[ratty750]

Well, its just a rattle can paint job so, I'm not too worried about it. Also, a buddy of mine an I are going to make a cafe rear section for it. I feel like the rear fender is too little for how wide the back is. I'm thinking a darker green with a white center strip and a black separating pinstripes would look nice. Also a small front fender would look pretty nice, I think.

The side covers I have are junk. The PO used wrinkle paint on them I believe. I can not, for the life of me, get them to smooth out. But ill have some new ones shortly, so I'm not worried about it.

[jacquesleclochard]

That thing is coooooool! You can drive around without a front brake, however drive around like you are driving a car: brake time go up. And it's stupid as hell. 

Hey, a question. You have a bigger size tire, lowered the bike, and adjusted the shocks. How much do the shocks damp before it hits the rear wheel? I will install smaller shocks on my bike to lower it, but I do not know how it will work out.

[ratty750]

That thing is coooooool! You can drive around without a front brake, however drive around like you are driving a car: brake time go up. And it's stupid as hell. 

Hey, a question. You have a bigger size tire, lowered the bike, and adjusted the shocks. How much do the shocks damp before it hits the rear wheel? I will install smaller shocks on my bike to lower it, but I do not know how it will work out.

Thanks. I appreciate that. Its my first bike and build. So I'm super happy with it. I just made the cafe cowl today out of a old cb360 tank and I'm super pleased with how it will look. I should have a front brake here real soon. Pretty scary without one.

About my shocks, I have them on the stiffest setting they will go. Now, I only weigh about 160 and when I sit on the bike, it drops only a tad bit. But I looked under the fender the other day and there was a little bit of rubber marks from the corners of the tire. But I also have the fender dropped a little too. My brother and the same shocks on his 77 750 that was pretty much stock and he didn't have any problems with it. I hope this helps you.

[MidTNJasonF]

I just noticed something I missed before and have to comment on. I know the tail light location and tag location looks good but it looks a little unsafe to me. If you are going to put on a new seat with a bump why not move the light there for a higher more visible location?

Riding a bike on the street is dangerous enough already thanks to 4000lb idiot cage drivers on cell phones. Why hide the brake light on the lowest and left most point on the bike? I can just see some soccer mom changing lanes behind you from your right just as you have to hit the brakes for traffic. She would never see that light unless she was looking hard for it and we all know they are not looking for a bike much less a small round light on a bike.

Sorry to sound like a safety nazi, which I am not, but I see this on bike and just wonder why. I am not saying to light this thing up like a 80's Goldwing covered in chicken lights but a little bit more visibility goes a long way.

[DedHed]

Hey Ratty,
I like it, I am a brand new owner of a 74 750.... Orange Sparkle, I was thing of ratting mine out, but what is original on it is in good shape, Going to SLOWLY attempt a Resto-mod with the nickles I can hide from the wifey....

I could have a very good home for your left side cover!

PEACE and have fun with it!
Phil

[ratty750]

I just noticed something I missed before and have to comment on. I know the tail light location and tag location looks good but it looks a little unsafe to me. If you are going to put on a new seat with a bump why not move the light there for a higher more visible location?

Riding a bike on the street is dangerous enough already thanks to 4000lb idiot cage drivers on cell phones. Why hide the brake light on the lowest and left most point on the bike? I can just see some soccer mom changing lanes behind you from your right just as you have to hit the brakes for traffic. She would never see that light unless she was looking hard for it and we all know they are not looking for a bike much less a small round light on a bike.

Sorry to sound like a safety nazi, which I am not, but I see this on bike and just wonder why. I am not saying to light this thing up like a 80's Goldwing covered in chicken lights but a little bit more visibility goes a long way.

I actually was thinking about that the other day. Putting my light and plate on the bump.once I get my cowl fixed up, ill figure it out. Thanks for the input.

Dedhed,
These covers look kind of bad, but if you're doing a restore, I'm sure you can fix them up. Do you not have any side covers?

[DedHed]

Hey Ratt -
I have the right (Oil tank) cover but the left was long gone. I have not hit the local junk-shops yet and have found some on Flea-Bay...

Best made plans, you know, I had every intention of hitting some local "Chop shops" to see what they had instead I ended up riding and rubbing on the bike all day. A trip out to Barber's Motor sport museum, Joe Bruton's shop...

I appreciate it Ratt, but I'm sure (Sort of) I can find something local. If not... I may indeed hit you up.

My "Build" pictures, for what their worth are listed under "Just a lump of coal"
Spent a whole $500 on mine and is pretty strong and just needs some cosmetic stuff. I will likely wait until winter as I am having too  much fun riding this girl now.
Thanks and I have this thread marked... Good stuff.
Phil

[ratty750]

Hey Ratt -
I have the right (Oil tank) cover but the left was long gone. I have not hit the local junk-shops yet and have found some on Flea-Bay...

Best made plans, you know, I had every intention of hitting some local "Chop shops" to see what they had instead I ended up riding and rubbing on the bike all day. A trip out to Barber's Motor sport museum, Joe Bruton's shop...

I appreciate it Ratt, but I'm sure (Sort of) I can find something local. If not... I may indeed hit you up.

My "Build" pictures, for what their worth are listed under "Just a lump of coal"
Spent a whole $500 on mine and is pretty strong and just needs some cosmetic stuff. I will likely wait until winter as I am having too  much fun riding this girl now.
Thanks and I have this thread marked... Good stuff.
Phil

Cool. Well, I should be getting some new ones here soon, so if you need them, i'll have them. Just let me know.

On another note, I should have pictures of the seat cowl I made out of a cb360 tank in the next day or so. Hopefully I should have a froint brake set up by the end of the week. Also, I cut up a front fender to make it smaller and put that on. I think it looks much better now. I'll put pictures up tonight of that.

[ratty750]

Alright. Well, I edited the title because I made this earlier this week. Made it out of a cb360 tank. I'm pretty stoked on it. Still needs to be finished. These pictures are just mock ups. I'll post some more pictures once I get the seat pant made.





More to come soon.

[DedHed]

Interesting, being new to this game, I never considered getting a POS tank and turning it in to a seat. GREAT!

I am now struck with paralysis by analysis..... I should get off my duff and do something...

Mines only a couple of weeks old. Changing the oil, new filter, clean the screen, change the oil pan gasket, new plugs then a carb clean. first things first.

Phil

[ratty750]

I'm pretty new to the game as well. I actually got the idea to turn an old tank into a seat cowl from the inspiration gallery.

[mystic_1]

I've seen this mod done a few times on different bikes, using CB/CL 350 tanks, and they've all looked really good.  Yours does too!  Just don't rush or cheap out on the upholstery, that can ruin an otherwise nice seat.

Keep up the good work.

mystic_1

[ratty750]

I've seen this mod done a few times on different bikes, using CB/CL 350 tanks, and they've all looked really good.  Yours does too!  Just don't rush or cheap out on the upholstery, that can ruin an otherwise nice seat.

Keep up the good work.

mystic_1

Thanks. Yeah, I've been doing a lot of research on how some of the fellows on here have made their seats plus some other sites. Also, I've made a few already, so I kind of have that "trial and error" thing going. I think I'll have a pretty nice seat when it's done. But I guess we'll see when that time comes.

On another note, I took my bike to a local shop to get wired. They decided to put these hose clamps on the petcock that were different. I've never seen them before, but they aren't the screw type hose clamps. Anyway, from taking the tank on and off a few times to figure the carbs, it had made a slit in my fuel line. Basically I had gotten gas on my tank and screwed my paint up. So, painting is happening this weekend. Probably rattle can it again. Right now, I just want the bike to look decent so I can ride it for the rest of the riding season. This winter, everything will be getting a nice cleaning and fresh, professional paint job.

I guess that's it for now. Thanks.

[Flying J]

I used a yamaha tank on my 750F for a seat.

[ratty750]

I used a yamaha tank on my 750F for a seat.

Yeah dude!  Its a lot of work, but I think it'll all pay off in the end. Your bike looks great. I saw that you did the paint. What kind of spray gun and paint did you use? I'd like to do my own paint but it wont hold up, ill just have someone who knows what they are doing do it.

[Flying J]

I used a HVLP gun from harbor freight and Duplicolor

but in red. Worked well but if i did it again i would use some metallic.

[ratty750]

Does that hold up well in case gas gets on it? And when you say metallic, do you mean like a metal flake?

[Flying J]

I holds up ok if you get gas on it. You have to spray it with clear.
Yes metal flake.
That paint is a whole system. you use their primer, color, and then can add metal flake or peral then you shoot clear.

[ratty750]

Jeez... so basically I would have to spend over 100 bucks on just paint and clear and then say another 100 for the sprayer and compressor. I might as well just ask my buddy who works at a paint shop to paint it. I'm all down to do it myself, but if it'll cost me just was much to get it done by someone else,  ill let the people who know what they are doing do it. Haha...

Thanks for the info. I do appreciate it.

[Flying J]

It all depends on your situation. If i had a buddy at a paint shop then F it. I would let him do it. But i dont have a buddy that paints. But i do have a comressor. Paint is $25 a can. Primer, color, metal flake, clear and you at a $100. Gun is $40. So for me it was cheaper. But my next bike, its going to a shop. I want it to look professional!

[ratty750]

Yeah. Ill have to ask him. I can probably get a trade or barter off him. Depending on turn around time, I might just have to rattle can it for now until winter.

[ratty750]

Well, it looks like a good paint job is going to have to wait until winter.  330 bucks for paint and supplies and another 100 per panel. So I can't wing that right now. So rattle can will have to do until then. Oh well.

[ratty750]

So. It's been a minute since I've posted anything. But I got some new pictures. Let me know what you think.





She runs pretty good. This winter I'm going to tear her apart and rebuild the motor. But other than that, She's a quick little b!tch.

[lordmember1969]

Looks god

[DHolbrook]

Like the look Ratty, are you going to clean up that rear rim before you get a professional paint job?

[ratty750]

Thanks. I'm real happy with it.

Yeah, both the wheels will be cleaned up. I'll probably paint those black as well. Not sure yet though.