(UPDATE 10-16-2012- Summer photos and concrete induced modifications)[Warning, lame backstory! Skip a head for the build!]
I remember being a kid and seeing the old cafe racers. They were cool ass bikes and I had fallen in love with the styling. My grandfathers nick name in the family was "Honda" (given to him by my uncle after 50ish year old grandpa knocked some kid out who was riding a Honda at a traffic light fight) and I am the 2nd to his name... so it kind of fit that I would take the nick name a step further for him.
My 1st real motorbike was a 78 CB550k barn find basket case that I restored back to the stock trim. Learned a TON about bikes from that build and my friends helping me. Picture
Here! 2nd bike was a 1988 Honda Hawk GT650. I would say it is the bike that changed my life. Through about 3 major revisions, 1.5 years building, and too much time and money to count.... I have turned this $100 project bike into something great, looks and motor wise. Picture
Here! 3rd bike was a deal and I couldn't pass it up. My buddy owed me a chunk of change and I was looking for a bike, he sold me his 2003 Triumph Daytona 955i for a great price and we cleared his debt. I use this for my long haul trips where comfort is a factor. I also have 2 other Hawks (1 for parts) and a YZ250.
But all those bikes never gave me the goosebumps like the old CB550 cafes do. CB750 were cool, but something about the 550 gets me... and since it was my 1st bike the 550s have a place in my heart. So it was great to have a buddy of mine up in Michigan offer up a little bit of a trade. He had a garage of 2 CB500s parts tied up to the ceiling. There was 72 and 73 cb500 rolling frames, a sad cb500 motor with jugs off, a cb550 motor, full electrics for one, cb500 carbs, and seats and tanks for both. We made a deal that I would get one running and "restore" it for him, he would pay for parts, and for the labor I would get whatever parts were left over. Sounded like a pretty sweet deal since I was in need of a little project. Got her running and gave her back. Learned a lot of restoring techniques this time around too. Soda blasters are awesome! and how to and not to paint stuff. Finished piece
Here![/Lame back story]
So on to the 500 in question. I knew it was going to take a while and this thread may become slow to update, but here is where I am at so far.
Here we are bringing both the 500 frames and parts to Atlanta from Detroit. We also brought this CL360 scrambler home too my buddy won on ebay.
After getting it home with the 550 motor in frame I started to clean up the frame.
After plotting lines and looking at different tank combos, I found the passenger seat pillion from my triumph made a nice tail section. And it went well with the CB750 boxy toaster looking tank I had.
I called up looking for another triumph cover because I didn't want to mess up mine. Detroit triumph had a old one sitting on the shelves special edition blue. I got it for like $40, but its the shape I want.
At this time I was still trying to find a motor and carbs. I wasn't looking hard but I got lucky one day. Buddy at the motorcycle shop called me... "Dude! 77 CB550 at the shop. Its got 140psi+ compression on all cylinders. It is a complete bike and will keep idle just needs TLC to get it running right. Is poorly painted rattle can black though. $400!" I was all over it, it answered all my problems. I needed parts for my buddy's 550 motor into a 500 frame like the wiring harness, non-chopper forks, and what not... and I also needed a motor and carbs. WIN! I ended up stripping the bike, keeping all the good stuff, and selling the frame with a basket case 500 motor and extended forks for $150. So $250 for a motor and carbs for me, and all the bits and bobs for my buddies bike.
Finally got around to more time with the CB frame last few nights. Got the welder out and started to make up my tail section. The plan is to hide all the electrical under the seat hump and try to run most of the wiring through the frame. All non-essential wiring will be gone. Head light and tail light only. Key and any switches (hi-lo maybe) under the seat, and not sure if a kill switch or not. I want to have most things minimal, clear, clean, and smooth.
Here is where I left off last night. Tank isn't secured yet, but sits where it will go. Added the extra bit of tubing to the rear hoop and welded in a seat pan and fender under the tail. Thinking of adding rearsets to the frame. Explored the possibility of using a set from an extra hawk, but I may order pegs and arms from Tyga and just make my own jump plates. Weld on some bungs to the frame to attach that.
I will add more info and pictures as I continue. Enjoy.
