Just picked up a '73 CB500four of Craigslist for not very much $
Can't complain about that. I've been toying with the idea of building a Cafe Racer for while now but never could find the right bike at the right time. A couple of weeks ago this one popped up. It was close, it was cheap enough, had a title for once and most importantly, the weather wasn't totally crap! I work entirely too many days, 6 a week, so I don't have all that much time to work on it. So, when I do have time, I try to make the most of it. Working on bikes or projects is nothing new. So here she is:
The Day we picked her up. That's my daughter. She's my little helper
The PO bought it and never really did anything with it. He started it and parked it since gas came pouring out of the carbs. The guy before that mounted that tank, for whatever reason. Might be an old ATV Tank or of a XL something....not sure, but it was the first thing to come of lol
Of the truck:
Like that Tank? It's for Sale
Miles? uhmmmm...
It is Nebraska in the winter so trying to heat my shop wasn't gonna happen...so the Garage it is. Sorry Honey but you have to park outside for a little while
Of course to do it right I built me a little work table:
My other addiction: VW's
Got the Table all built and quite a bit done on day 1:
Really like that exhaust:
A couple of days later another Craigslist Score. All of that for $80
Drill press and grinder, new in the box:
This is going to be priceless this time of the year!
Finally got a little time in the Garage again and pulled the carbs.
Not as bad bad as I thought:
The Front Brake has seen much better days though:
Couldn't resist. Had to try the buffer out real quick
The Tank I bought here. Thanks again, joshuanagao. Good guy there!!!!
Looks much better!
Exhaust came off without a glitch as well. Gotta like that.
Weight savings:
Manual downloaded and printed. Thanks to the sleeves it'll always be grease free.
Stainless steel Hardware for the Carbs courtesy of Fastenal.
Finally got the engine out. That was not all that much fun by myself.
More to come really soon. I want to have this thing on the road by spring. Still have to fix my compressor so I can start painting stuff. Rattle can doesn't cut it.
