Topic: CB750 K5 Build - Project "We don't need no steenkin' name!"

[crysis]

There is a sand blast do-it-yourself shop here in Langley. It's real affordable too.

[srbakker]

I did not know that. What's it called?

[crysis]

http://www.langleyublast.com/
20677 Langley Bypass
Langley, BC V3A 5E8
(604) 530-0866

[lucky]

Getting those books was a VERY SMART MOVE!!!! 

[lucky]

Think about a name later. Not necessary. You do not need that distraction right now.
I would get it clear in your head what you are building.

That was sort of tongue in cheek.  I'm not really that worried about a name.  However - I am open to suggestions.  At this rate, it's going to end up being something like "Sausage Party," and I'll have to have someone laser etch little Germans in lederhosen all over the side cover or something.

There was this woman on another motorcycle forum that built a cool CB750 chopper. Her name was sweet sausage. Let me know if you like sausage. LOl...lol.lol

[brandEn]

subscribed!

[srbakker]

3 day turn around on my powdercoating - pretty good!  And priced as promised, so I'm happy.

Here's a few "just unpacked the van" shots - I'm unfortunately way too busy today to get much of anything else done today, but at least I should have a roller soon.

[srbakker]

Not much progress lately, life is busy as usual.

After a month of screwing around with Buchanan, they managed to see fit to send me the extra outer front spoke they apparently forgot in the original package.  I still had to drill out all the front rim holes.

The rear were very hard to lace as well. I paid to have it done and apparently the old 16" that was laced to this hub caused minor damage and spoke marks in the hub and made it a royal pain. 

I know not everyone digs black rims... But I do!





I also tore the forks down to repolish, replace seals and install emulators etc.

[srbakker]

Gentlemen, we have a roller!







At least it'll stop well in the rain.  We get a lot of that here. 



I cut and polished a new inner fender.  All those nifty stickers will be invisible when all is said and done, but at least I know they're there!
I do wonder about the clearance between the flat "inner fender" and the rear wheel.  I'll be able to test this better once the engine is in and I can more accurately gauge the load on the suspension.

[srbakker]

My muse.  I love the stubby, muscular look of this particular bike (if not the $38K price tag).  It's almost more pit fighter than cafe.  It's fairly similar to what I hope to achieve with my overall look.

[Retro Rocket]

I don't like the 17 inch wheels on that bike, but i love the overall look, thats exactly what i am doing but with wide 18 inch wheels, its more 70's superbike, nothing like a Cafe, i cringe when i see a bike like that referred to as a "cafe"... 
Can't wait to see the final bike SR...

[Itwillbefun]

Subscribed. How much did getting the rim laced cost? I'm thinking I'll have to do the same if it's something I can't do myself.
Looking good, congrats on the progress!

[srbakker]

Having the rims laced was not cheap, and convinced me to purchase the equipment and learn to do it myself next time.  I paid $300 for the set.  I have my eye on a mid 70s XL 125 that I'd like to turn into a real stripped down tracker/super moto style thingy, so maybe I'll practice on that. 

Re: the House Rockers CB750 above - I agree, it's no cafe.  Which is why I like it.  Don't get me wrong, I love a stripped down cafe too, but it's not what I'm aiming for on this - more of a retro mod muscle bike, I guess.  I don't care what people call it, it will be all mine!

Maybe I'll call it "Atlas."

[RHCP]

Awesome build. Your inspiration bike is same as what I hope to come close to. A far off dream at the moment though. I think that rear fender looks great and gives it a sporty look. Where did ya get it if you don't mind me asking? I'm looking to find one like it. Also, those rims look great in black. I'm not sure if I'll have the spare cash for mine after the engine rebuild, but they definitely make the bike look more aggressive.

[Itwillbefun]

Well that convinced me to go ahead and keep my 18" rim instead of upgrading to a 19". Thanks for the info

[srbakker]

OK, stupid question - I ordered a MAC baffle for my Kerker since the one in the Kerker was rusted in half.  I have actually never had to repack a muffler of any kind before (I know, I know, sign of the times).     Do I just basically wrap the baffle and stuff it down the megaphone and bolt it on, or should I secure the packing with something to keep it snugly around the baffle?  If I should secure it, what do I use that won't just burn away immediately?

Thanks!
Scott

[Free Booter]

Looks good, Really!

Finished up the front caliper and got my lines from Slingshot - really nicely made stuff.  Here's a few pics of the caliper - the bolts are titanium.  Found them on eBay for cheaper then I could find replacements.





Also making some progress on my engine plans.  Here's my list so far:

- Mike's Stage II port and polish w/ bronze valve guides
-bore, probably just first or second oversize, and new pistons/rings
-new cam - not quite sure what just yet
-new CycleX polished valves
-CycleX spring and hard anodized retainer set
-adjustable cam sprocket
-polish and shot peen rods, update to F2 rod nuts n bolts
-new HD studs (APE)
-new HD cam chain
-new cam chain roller/slider etc.
-of course, new gaskets and rubber bits
-clutch plates

I'm aiming at 70-75 hp.  Do those of you who do this frequently usually change the primary chains and primary tensioner as well?  Motor has only 19k miles on it.

Anything I'm missing?

Where did you get those bolts!/ Wait..Which bolts do you mean? I'm really needing the mounting bolts for the caliper to the fork leg.

[srbakker]

The Ti bolts are the caliper bolts (hold the halves of the caliper together).  I got mounting bolts at ronayers.com.

[srbakker]

Puttering in the garage tonight and got a few little details figured out.

Such as... Where and how to mount turn signals.  I wasn't really planning to use these signals, but they look a lot better than I thought they would.



My eBay steal, an Aprilia RSVR steering damper.  As shown it turns full lock to lock, just barely. 





I wanted to stick lift pegs on the swingarm, and as I was trying to decide how to drill for them, I realized they are a direct swap for the lower mounting bolts (m10 sized).  Only thing is they are a 12.9 grade alloy and I wonder if they will be prone to snapping when loaded up by the shocks.



And finally, a question... Anyone know if there's a way to get little dings like this out of an exhaust pipe?

[srbakker]

Hokay.  I have a headache, and I need a little advice from the experts.

I'm moving on to my motor build, and I think I've got a bit of a dilemma.

Namely, I have spent about $1500 in parts preparing for this build.  I have all the usual wear parts ready for replacement, and a nice set of 812 TRW pistons and a few other goodies to make this, hopefully, a really sweet street motor.  I'd like 80hp at the wheel said and done.

I was also planning to send the head out to MRieck for a nice port job.

However.  With the parts I have, MRieck's estimates of cost, and the things that I would have left to pay for, I'm looking at around $3500 total.  On top of that, I have no experience with engine building and a few things are making it look like this is more difficult than I anticipated.  Namely, my pistons may need to be further machined to fit, I have no idea what the state of the engine inside the cases is, oil pump should probably also be reconditioned, etc.  I'm sure I will manage to incur further expenses via inexperience or things I've simply overlooked.

I keep looking at the CycleX site and wondering about their Streetfighter engines, which would give me a nice 849 engine with a reasonable cam and probably right around the power I want on the street.  I don't need uber power - I have modern bikes for that.  That said, I also want the experience of learning to build an engine.  You know, to REALLY make it mine.

If I shell out the $ for the CycleX engine and sell off the parts I have, I probably come out better financially then if I try this myself.  But - I sort of want to try this myself.

So, for the experts - how hard is it going to be to try a complete rebuild myself?  If I'm careful, can I build this (probably near) $4K engine without having it grenade in a 1000 miles?  Or, if you were in my shoes, would you simply buy an engine built by someone who already knows what they're doing?  I could always tear down or sell my existing (running) engine as well.

Just looking for opinions here.  Thoughts welcome.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I can turn a wrench, but there's no way I'd rebuild my engine Han Solo.  I admire the guys who do, but I'd rather have more expert hands making sure everything has been gone over for reliability, wear, etc.  I don't want to have to pull the motor again and again.  Just my $0.02 from non-expert.

[srbakker]

Well, I appreciate that, being a non expert myself.  It's kind of the way I'm leaning, but it feels like copping out somehow!

To clarify, I reread the part where I was whining about pistons needing further machining - yes, I know there will be machining involved, boring, planing etc..  It was pointed out to me, though, that my TRW pistons often require further machining of the valve reliefs to avoid interference, which is a process I am completely unfamiliar with.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

If someone wants to tell me I copped out, so be it.  I want a reliable motor.  I don't expect people to do what I do for a living without the education and experience.

[srbakker]

If someone wants to tell me I copped out, so be it.  I want a reliable motor.  I don't expect people to do what I do for a living without the education and experience.

I hope what I said didn't come across that way.  Myself, I'm trying to decide if the experience of building my own motor is potentially worth $3-4K.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No worries.  I'm just saying that if someone told me I was copping out, I'd say, "So be it."  I think the experience of building your own engine could be extremely rewarding.  Then again, you could easily get over your head and/or not know what you should be looking for (as to wear items). 

As for me, I wouldn't want to hit those roadblocks where i get over my head. 

I'm just saying . . .