Topic: Had a few questions for y'all....Lets see what I get.

[PrestonNB]

  I haven't been on here in a while. Mostly because my son was born and I couldn't ride much lately. Anyways, here are my questions for you guys.
  Alright, I have the 1979 CB650, so not sure if everything is the same for other bikes (most likely not). So anyways, the mounting bracket for the head light is riveted to another bracket behind it. What I am wanting to know is if that second bracket supports the forks in any way or if it can be pulled out or moved. Looking at it, I wouldn't imagine it did anything other than support the head light and the gauges (if that even). But I don't want to pull it off and have the forks go opposite directions on me or something.
  Second question: Does the rake appear to be adequate for control if I was to put clip on bars on it and move the foot pegs and pedals back? I want to build it more on the lines of a cafe racer/street fighter. Now I know there are some purists out there that wont like the idea, but I like messing with things.    I have completely worked out the set up for moving the pegs and what not, so that isn't an issue. I just need to know if the rake would kill any chances of handling even after I lighten the whole bike and move everything I need to move. If it will, I wont spend the time and money doing it all. I imagine putting clip on bars would require a different tank. Would I be right in that assumption? I have this funny feeling that when I change one thing, I will have to change about a hundred other things to make that first one work. lol
   And lastly, would it be worth it to put a hydraulic rear disc brake on the bike? I can run that no problem. If it wouldn't be worth it then I wont do it and just leave the old brake system on it.
   Any help y'all can give would be much appreciated. Thank you for reading and I hope I get some good information.

P.S. sorry about no pictures of the bracket I was talking about. I can't get a clear picture of it without pulling the whole head light off, and I just put it back together and don't feel like pulling it back apart again.   

[KingCustomCycles.com]

You can remove everything on the front except the upper and lower tree and be just fine.  Clip ons or clubmans are shorter and provide less leverage and this will show up as heavy steering at low speeds but nice high speed feel.  If you can run a hydraulic rear easily, it will improve braking but I doubt it will be the cake walk you think it will be at this point. I hope this helps. 

[PrestonNB]

   Thanks KingCustom. I know Hydraulics will be a major pain in the a**, which is why I figured using the old gear would be more fun. I asked about that because I don't want to have weak brakes as I intend to run it on a track.
   You probably know quite a bit, so I am going to pester you a bit. The stock rake wouldn't destroy hopes of handling would it? I heard from a few it wouldn't be worth the time to even bother doing it. As far as I can tell though, there are some high performance bikes out there that have near the same rake....so not sure there.
   Now here is a good question for you. If I was to pop the rivets out of the head light mounting bracket and flip sides to lower the light, would that work? I imagine it would since it would just be about 2 inches.

[Bankerdanny]

I think it's worth noting that bikes ran with drum brakes front AND rear for years on the track, some at speeds that your bike is unlikely to reach, without a problem.

IMHO, if better track day braking is the goal, dual disks up front, where most of the braking is done, are a much better and easier upgrade than a disk rear.

[PrestonNB]

Bankerdanny: So basically, leave it alone is what your saying?
   What I am planning on changing mostly relates to riding position. So the other stuff I am throwing around to decide if I should do it. I thought about it because honestly, I might as well consider things while I have it all pulled apart. It would be much easier than doing it after I put it back together. You know what I mean? I have it pulled apart right now because when I bought it, I was told it was rebuilt, and stupid me, I believed it.....it wasn't. It started spraying oil at me. So to the garage it went and off came everything. lol

[PrestonNB]

On another note, besides the body modifications, I am planning on building an exhaust for the bike. While I am at it, I am thinking of putting in a "hot" cam from a 550 as they are pretty much a direct swap. Also, finding a jet kit for the carbs, which may be a chore since a lot of places stopped making them. Anybody know a good shop that still makes them? I will probably have some work done on the head and what not (the usual). Now here is the tough spot I am in. Will I need to get new valve springs and retainers? Basically will I need new internals or will the stock stuff work as long as I don't go to drastic?

[Bankerdanny]

I'm just saying that adding the rear disk wil be much more work than you think, changing or modifying the swing arm, a different rear wheel, attaching the master cylinder etc.

The dual disk conversion requires a lot of that too, but it is more straight forward and the front brakes do most of the work anyway and will provide a greater improvment for the required effort to convert. More bang for your buck as it were.

[PrestonNB]

I understand what your saying. There is alot of work in most of what I am planning. I already have the exhaust designed and ready to build. Now for the front dual discs, what all would I need to change to make it work?

[Bankerdanny]

I'm afraid I don't know much about the 650, but assuming it's not that different geometry wise, an early GL1000 will bolt up and give you dual disks.

[PrestonNB]

Hmmm, I'l look into that. I'm not sure if they are a match or not. But I will find out. Thanks Danny.