Topic: Maduncle's brat style CB750F - now called "The carb eater"

[maduncle]

Are these the one's Cliff?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Honda-Goldwing-GL1000-CB-750-Koni-shocks-/260850323293?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cbbe40f5d

I don't think that parts are still available for the old alloy bodied shocks from Ikon, so be careful mate. Also, after so many years they'll need a rebuild, if the damping oil is still present it'll be like vinegar and the common problem with the alloy bodied shocks is that they weld themselves together with electrolysis.

I've got a pair here that another member sent me to rebuild for him, but I could never get them apart. I ended up sending him a NOS pair of Boge shockers, so if you want his old ones (no springs or collets, he took them off before he sent them to save weight, they're yours, for free. Cheers, Terry.

Um - yep they are the ones...

...and I was the only bidder, so what the hey - I will see what they are like when I get them I suppose!

[Terry in Australia]

No worries mate, if they're stuffed I've got a nice pair of later chrome steel Koni's here, that can be rebuilt, (not that they'll need it) that I'll sell you for cheap. Cheers, Terry.

[Syscrush]

probably one of the better quality shokers around.

At their price point, yes.  I don't think that they are comparable to higher-end units from folks like Ohlins or Penske.

[Really?]

Are you ready for BOTM?  You have been nominated. We still need a second before you accept, if you are ready. .

[maduncle]

Are you ready for BOTM?  You have been nominated. We still need a second before you accept, if you are ready. .

Sure thing - what an honour (I had better work on my speech...)

And while I am at it , I had better work out why my SOHC4 converted itself to a SOHC2 on the ride into work this morning (damn carbs...).

[Retro Rocket]

probably one of the better quality shokers around.

At their price point, yes.  I don't think that they are comparable to higher-end units from folks like Ohlins or Penske.

I don't know, a lot of guys race with them, expensive doesn't always mean good....

[maduncle]

Are you ready for BOTM?  You have been nominated. We still need a second before you accept, if you are ready. .

Sure thing - what an honour (I had better work on my speech...)

And while I am at it , I had better work out why my SOHC4 converted itself to a SOHC2 on the ride into work this morning (damn carbs...).

Checked it out at linchtime, running on 3 now.

Meh - carb #1 float is sticking and I think I need another float valve (after replacing the one in #2).

I should probably commit and do a full carb rebuild and clean - but that means not riding so I might waste money on small fixes over summer and them commit to a rebuild over winter next year.

Any advice on the best place to get a full rebuild kit for CB750F2 carbs?

[Terry in Australia]

There's not much that goes wrong with them Cliff, I've got a couple of spare sets of F2 carbs here, I've postponed my ride to Bairnsdale (doing it in work time next week instead.......) so if you want to drop over on the weekend and pick them up, let me know. Cheers, Terry.

[maduncle]

Thanks Terry!

(It's so good to have a local SOHC4 mate that I found via this forum).

Meanwhile - a box full of Raask rear set parts arrived in the mail today...

... holy crap - which bits go where? There are NO INSTRUCTIONS!

[Syscrush]

I don't know, a lot of guys race with them, expensive doesn't always mean good....

No, but good usually means expensive.

I'm not knocking the IKON shocks - I'm just saying that for $900 you get something better.

[Terry in Australia]

I've always maintained that putting Ohlins shockers on a CB750 is like putting a fur coat on a 10 dollar hooker............ 

But seriously, Ikon/Koni's are more than enough for any 1970's bikes, I've had them on just about every bike I've owned (and I've owned probably 40 motorcycles in 42 years) and they're fantastic. Spend more money on shockers if you can afford it, but they won't make any discernable difference, apart from maybe looking nicer. Cheers, Terry.

[Syscrush]

I've always maintained that putting Ohlins shockers on a CB750 is like putting a fur coat on a 10 dollar hooker............ 

I don't disagree with that.

But seriously, Ikon/Koni's are more than enough for any 1970's bikes, I've had them on just about every bike I've owned (and I've owned probably 40 motorcycles in 42 years) and they're fantastic. Spend more money on shockers if you can afford it, but they won't make any discernable difference, apart from maybe looking nicer. Cheers, Terry.

For a mostly-stock 70's era bike, I agree.

Suspension is funny, though. I thought the stock damping-rod forks on my first bike were just fine until I swapped in RTCE's, then I realized that the stockers were garbage.  Then I thought that the RTCE's were awesome until I swapped in a modern cartridge fork from an R6, then I felt like the RTCE's were good but not great.  My main ride now has WP suspension front & rear, and hoo boy it's even better than the R6 stuff on my last bike.

With all that said, I won't be going down that road with my CB, and I agree that the IKONs are great product for the money.

[maduncle]

Well...

The day started well with a trip up the road to visit Terry, always a pleasure.

Then over to another garage for a non committal comment on what to do next to get the bike back on all four cylinders.

Then home to fit the Raask rear sets...

... only to find the don't 'bolt up' as there is NO WAY the brake side bolt up one one fixing point! So they got re packed and are ready to send back to the suppliers for a a refund.

But then - a PM from Terry and I am a happy man again.

[jinx2350]

I'm really into that seat/fender/tail light/licence plate combo you've got going there!!

What's the story with the fender?

Where'd you get the tail light?

I'm totally taking a photo of your seat to a local seat builder as inspiration!

Thanks!

[maduncle]

Hi jinxs,

(couldn't resist that one).

I will post some seat pan construction photos here in a day or so for you, the tail light and the tail light holder were supplied by Christian at Modern Motorcycle Company here in Melbourne - here is the link to his eBay store where you will see the tail light lens and bracket.

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Modern-Motor-Cycle-Company?_rdc=1

Christian also fabricated the base bracket that bolts to the chassis under the seat, and holds the taillight and rear licence plate.

The rego holder tube is held to the bottom edge of the licence plate with a short length of aluminium L channel that I fabricated to do the job.

So there is actually no rear fender, just a bracket, a tail light, a licence plate and a rego tube.

So - more photos of the whole set up soon.

Meanwhile - this forum and its supportive memebrs continue to keep my bike on the road, Terry here has taken on my carb problem this week with the intention of having me running constantly on 4 cylinders by the weekend.

By the way - despite being a great guy, Terry also has one of those great garages, with about ten bikes in bits all over the place and so many tools...

(I wonder if he would consider adopting me?)

[jinx2350]

Thanks Maduncle!

rego tube = Australian for: something they don't require here in the states.

Anyone seen a good source for similar small electronic bits stateside? Not sure I feel like waiting/dealing with ordering from Auz.

And maybe I'm just a newbie here (<<--very possible), but there's a bracket, light, plate, rego-whatever...and it's aaallll sitting on what on that bike??  Sure looks like a short black fender to me??



 

[maduncle]

Thanks Maduncle!

rego tube = Australian for: something they don't require here in the states.

Anyone seen a good source for similar small electronic bits stateside? Not sure I feel like waiting/dealing with ordering from Auz.

And maybe I'm just a newbie here (<<--very possible), but there's a bracket, light, plate, rego-whatever...and it's aaallll sitting on what on that bike??  Sure looks like a short black fender to me??

Aha, that's the photo I took the day the bike was inspected and registered, so it did have a temporary short black plastic fender cable tied on to pass the inspection - which came off once I got home.

If you have a look at the photos I took last weekend and posted in the October Bike of the month voting thread, you will see an absence of fender.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=95822.0

The last photo shows the rear end.

The 'rego tube' is a clear cylinder with the Australain registration sticker rolled up inside.

The tail light and bracket on sale in Australia are available elsewhere too, have a look on the Dime City website - I am sure they have them.

[jinx2350]

Awesome! thanks for the feedback. Dime City does have the lighting stuff covered for sure!

Except I REAALLLYY hope this is a mis-print:
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-electronic-lighting-parts-mini-retro-gloss-black-led-bullet-turn-signals-blinkers-ag330-537-blk.html
$135 for LED Signals?!?!?!?

I'd really love to grab some of these somewhere as well:
http://www.bricksite.com/wrenchmonkees?id=195046&catalogue_selected=110821_9027#110821


But no more thread -jacking. Love your bike. Much inspiration.  I'll get around to posting my photos of the start of my bike along with some inspiration photos soon.

Thanks for the feedback.

[maduncle]

No problem jinx, my bike is only as good as the ideas and advice I get from this forum, so I look forward to seeing your build thread.

Make sure you have plenty of 'before' photos taken of the bike, so you can see just how far you get.

[maduncle]

Okay jinx, here are some seat pan construction photos from my archives.



Flat aluminium sheet, cut with a jigsaw and bent in a vice. I bent up the front part and shaped it to match the cut out in the CB500 tank I used.



Here is the pan I was making, next to the original pan.



Then I decided to bend up the rear of the seat to give it a cafe style look. This meant I would be shaping the rear of the bike chassis to match. This photo shows the finished pan, with aluminium angle riveted around the edge of the pan. I notched and bent the angle to curve around the back, and then used car body filler to smooth out the edge.



Here is the underside of the pan. You can see the aluminium angle fitted around the edge, the plate with two lengths of threaded rod fitted which went through two holes in the bike chassis and allowed me to bolt the seat to the bike, and the metal strap I added to the pan to strengthen the bend I put in the rear of the pan.



Here is the pan on the frame, with the new tail loop added to match the profile of the pan. One of my favourite parts of the bike.



The finished seat, after it came back to me from the upholsterers. This guy did a great job, it is dark brown vinyl over automotive seat foam, and I wanted the ribbing and stitch detailing just the way he did it.

I hope that helps with your seat plans - let me know if you need more info.

[maduncle]

Update on the carbs,

Terry has done a great job for me with a replacement set of carbs on the bike and all four cylinders running as they should be.

The bike is loud, it coughs, it burps, it grumbles and generally behaves like an old man.

I love it!

[Retro Rocket]

The bike is loud, it coughs, it burps, it grumbles and generally behaves like an old man.

I love it!

Sounds like me getting up in the morning.....

Good to hear it's all running well, Terry's a great help....

[maduncle]

The bike is loud, it coughs, it burps, it grumbles and generally behaves like an old man.

I love it!

Sounds like me getting up in the morning.....

Good to hear it's all running well, Terry's a great help....

I forgot to add - it farts too, and they smell.

I reckon I need a new exhaust, so I will go hunting online to see what I can see. Mac headers seem to pop up everywhere, on the DCC website, on the Cycle exchange website, on the MAC website...

I know nothing about exhausts, except I want to keep my Lossa muffler so I will need the same as stock OD on the pipe end and I will want to cloth wrap whatever I buy because I like the look. So any and all advice welcome.

[maduncle]

Meanwhile...

I totally scored on eBay by picking up a mint and fully complete set of 2007 GSXR1000 rear sets for a mere $44.

So before I go mucking about with the exhaust, I will get these rear sets on the bike with a decent pair of home made brackets, and then see what the new space provides for an exhaust.

UPDATE:

Those rearsets were too good to be true. The poor bloke selling them had to put up a last minute notice in the item description to let all bidders know that they had been stolen. So that is why I won the auction on only one bid and there was no 'bid frenzy' at theend - 'cos I failled to read the update and let my bidrun through to the end.

So now I am back to square one, chasing GSXR or CBR919RR or CBR600F4 rearsets for my build.

[maduncle]

Okay - third attempt at getting some rearsets seems to have worked.

I went to the local bike wreckers today and the guys were good enough to let me look over all the bikes being wrecked to see what the different rearsets were like. I had a good look at Honda CBR ones, and various Yamaha ones, and various Suzuki ones and I decided that a pair of Hayabusa rearsets would do the trick.



One pair of Hayabusa rearsets, complete with all foot pegs, levers (including a spare offset gear change lever), linkages and brake parts. I stripped them down, polished all the bare metal parts and sanded, polished and clear coated the 'wings' on the brackets.



I like these rearsets because the design suits the CB750, they look less racy and lightweight and more rounded.

And the rubber capped footrests look like CB750F2 footrests too.

So now I need to work out where they need to sit on the bike, make up a pair of steel mounting brackets and fit them off to the bike. I think I have seen a Hayabusa set on a CB750 somewhere here on the forum, so time to go snooping.

Finally, rearsets!

Finally