BUMP - Anything more happen with THIS one? I'd never realized how some - SOME - of these 600 engines really don't look so bad!
Guess it's that Jean-Luc Borgetto guy's got me looking at all of these latter-era motors in a whole new light!
But what I was thinking is, if you're fixated on using a given tank, and seat, and stance etc or rear-sets - That's a really piss-poor reason for using the frame! The 600 would probably be a lot better off stuffed into a DOHC CB750K/'C/'F frame, or at least the SOHC CB750F or CB650K etc - Just based on the POWER it produces alone. Let alone the final weight of the whole bike, with bigger wheels & brakes even wire-spoke light-weight versions of which are gonna be substantial all tolled up. And all of those mods are gonna add up to the same damn weight anyhow so wtf why not go down to the local junk-yard, or look around for your local SOHC/DOHC nut-job, they'll have at least two spare frames in their garage if they're even halfway serious! Ha-ha. I know the INITIAL math doesn't add up, 600-350 vs 600-750, one's a plus the other's a minus. But look at it in terms of horse-power and torque, THEN it'll all start making sense!
That's not to say that it's impossible, I mean IF you could stuff the engine in there without bastardizing the frame TOO harshly, then great! But it'll need some serious bracing. If you're gonna be doing substantial welding on the damn thing though, the smart approach would be to replace everything behind the head-stock with an EGLI type "SPINE" frame. They're a simpler construction, they're hella cool, you get to see the whole unobstructed engine from underneath when it's leaned over - like an "up-skirt" photo angle, and the bike's got no panties on! No, seriously though, IMHO it's the real deal for DIY welded frame mods. Dunno why more folks don't build 'em? The chopper companies like Paughco etc, should be offering one for each and every type of engine in existence!
With the EGLI spine-frame, you could look around for the smallest possible head-stock that the CBR600F forks will stick through, maybe even weld new bearing cups at the top and bottom of it, the only portion you'll need to be concerned with is that the VIN # is sticking out clearly in front! Ha-ha. Could you picture all this being done with an S90 or C70 Passport? The PA50 Hobbit? Ha-ha. When you think about it, it might just be feasible to weld that steering stem into a closed-off tube maybe some type of dome cap to bring the sides in tight enough to wrap around the little moped head-stock? Probably still stronger to use a bigger steering tube in the first place, but the thought of REGISTERING the damn thing as such a small bike is PRICELESS - Or maybe it even DOES have a price, if and when you can register and insure the damn thing as a moped! Ha-ha.
Seriously though, I'm curious whether anything further came of this one - Anybody remember it?
-S.
