Author Topic: Foale frame CB750 (Read 36210 times)

RupertB · « **Reply #200 on:** July 16, 2012, 01:14:17 PM »

The bike is currently languishing in the mother in law's garage awaiting Nigel to have some garage space and me to have some spare cash to get the project into the next phase - so thought in the meanwhile I would post a few slightly better pictures of the beast so far. Have to say I am pleased with it but of course the nearer completion you get, the smaller the jobs get so less obvious but more crucial they become. I love it really I think - especially things like the caliper mounts which Gremlin Racetech made - exquisite! I just don't like seeing it with no chain on - the chain will be synonymous with completion I think...

Ecosse · « **Reply #201 on:** July 16, 2012, 02:32:59 PM »

this is just a great bike. love how it's progressing.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #202 on:** July 17, 2012, 01:10:35 AM »

G'Day Tom, looking good mate, I love those brake mounts, good to see that you can put better brakes on stock CB750 forks without firing up the welder! Cheers, Terry.

ivanhoew · « **Reply #203 on:** July 17, 2012, 08:32:11 AM »

that looks stonking tom ,well done , i would have the zorsts much more aggressive and upswept ,but that about it ,and only personal taste ..the rims and ally all looks realy cohesive .

RupertB · « **Reply #204 on:** July 17, 2012, 01:54:41 PM »

Agreed - the exhausts need to be upswept, and they also have to clear the sidestand when it is fitted. As it is at the moment I will have to lean it against a lamp post if I need to stop! There is then the dilemma of not making them stick out too far, making sure they don't foul the rear wheel spindle, and not sweeping them up too much. They were put on for the show it went to as a 'work in progress' so lots more fun decisions to come! Glad you like it and thanks for the comments. I must say I think the spoked wheels beat the Henry Abe alloys hands down.

ivanhoew · « **Reply #205 on:** July 17, 2012, 10:32:32 PM »

tom ,a few pics here , i really like the short ones stopping before the spindle ,but anyrdup ,a few choices of angle to peruse ..

http://caferacers.wordpress.com/category/parts/

Dyrden · « **Reply #206 on:** July 17, 2012, 10:42:37 PM »

Love the raw look of the steel and aluminum together.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #207 on:** July 18, 2012, 01:01:53 AM »

Quote from: RupertB on July 17, 2012, 01:54:41 PM

Agreed - the exhausts need to be upswept, and they also have to clear the sidestand when it is fitted. As it is at the moment I will have to lean it against a lamp post if I need to stop! There is then the dilemma of not making them stick out too far, making sure they don't foul the rear wheel spindle, and not sweeping them up too much. They were put on for the show it went to as a 'work in progress' so lots more fun decisions to come! Glad you like it and thanks for the comments. I must say I think the spoked wheels beat the Henry Abe alloys hands down.

Yeah, I guess it's a matter of taste Tom, I really liked my Abe's (and so did that Japanese chap who paid me over 1000 bucks for them, thanks to you) but I like my original Borrani rimmed wheels that are on my bike now, even though they aren't as "striking" in appearance as the mags. And yep, get those pipes swept right up, they almost look like they're pointing down at the moment? Cheers, Terry.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #208 on:** October 01, 2012, 03:54:59 PM »

I've got a question for those of you in general watching this thread. What's the main benefit of having the oil tank integrated into the frame, other than making room for the single shock setup? I would think the extra weight up high wouldn't be beneficial. I realize this is a street bike from what I gather so it's not that critcal of a choice here, but the design surely had its origin in racing.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #209 on:** October 03, 2012, 03:12:40 AM »

I don't think that 6 or 7 pounds of oil located in the top frame rail would make much difference in a race bike either mate, many race bikes had much larger than "normal" fuel tanks mounted in the same location for endurance races, (I rode an Army version of Yamaha's TT600 with a stupid 40 litre "saddle tank" once, and that was scary) but I think Fritz Egli, Tony Foale etc, saw some convenience in using the large "spine frame" top tube as an oil tank.

The Egli frames in particular were designed to accommodate just about any big Jap 4 cylinder engine of the era just by swapping engine mounts, so not having to design and manufacture a separate oil tank just for CB750's was a good way of keeping costs down. As it turned out, it wasn't the best of ideas as there were oil starvation problems inherent in the design, but they usually only manifested in racing conditions.

"Oil in the frame" designs weren't new even back then, most of the British Motorcycle manufacturers had built bikes with their oil tanks mounted in the frame at one time or another. Cheers, Terry.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #210 on:** October 03, 2012, 03:55:04 AM »

Good info Terry, thanks.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #211 on:** October 03, 2012, 05:55:41 AM »

No worries Tim, now where's Tom at with his build? His last post was in July, so his bike must be well and truly finished by now! I hope he's not waiting for the rain to stop, he lives in England, so he better not hold his breath waiting!

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #212 on:** October 03, 2012, 08:58:09 AM »

Funny enough, it's been nice for the last two days

Last week, everwhere was flooded

Sam.

RupertB · « **Reply #213 on:** October 03, 2012, 02:01:44 PM »

Hi folks - update time. Autumn is here, I know because the rain is getting colder again. I think I will start growing fins and scales at this rate, what a truly cr*p summer we have had. I got out on the Jota and went to see Richard Slater at his place in Hereford. By pure chance his brother was over from Canada (forst time at the shop for about 15 years) so I have a highly prized photo of my Jota with the two Slater brothers standing beside it - priceless!
With the Foale I am afraid nothing has moved for a bit for a couple of reasons. Principally Nigel the bike building guru is busy and can't get to work on it due to a huge backlog, and from my point of view I need to save up a few sheckels because the next phase should be the final one, so it won't stop till it is finished. I would hate to have to tell Nigel to stop work due to lack of funds and the damn thing absorbs money almost as freely as a horse does! I hope work should restart reasonably soon, but then again it ain't going on the road till next spring - can you imagine the effect of road salt on all that shiny metal!!!!
in the meanshile I am doing a guest appearance at the Burton on Tremt branch of the Vintage Motorcycle Club to talk about the book, and also about Police stuff and bikes. Hope they don't throw any heavy stuff at me. 9th October about 7.30 pm I think.
Will update again when there is news.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #214 on:** October 03, 2012, 02:11:02 PM »

Thanks for the update Tom, good to know that both Slater brothers are still alive and kicking, and what a thrill to meet the guys responsible for the creation of the legendary Jota, I've never owned one but I've ridden a couple, and they're a truly wonderful bike.

Take plenty of copies of your book mate, obviously the faster you sell them, the faster you get your bike finished! Enjoy your weather, my son will be in England later this month and I've told him to take a raincoat! Cheers, Terry.

RupertB · « **Reply #215 on:** October 03, 2012, 02:20:12 PM »

Stuuf the raincoat - tell him to bring a snorkel and flippers! Tell him to drop by if he needs boring to death, and give him my email if he gets stuck or anything.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #216 on:** October 04, 2012, 12:11:59 AM »

Quote from: RupertB on October 03, 2012, 02:20:12 PM

Stuuf the raincoat - tell him to bring a snorkel and flippers! Tell him to drop by if he needs boring to death, and give him my email if he gets stuck or anything.

Ha ha, thanks for that mate, his mum and I are a little nervous about his big adventure obviously, so I will pass your details to him, just in case. I'm sure he'll be very interested in your stories, and unlike me, he won't drink all your beer and try to knock off your Jota! Cheers, Terry.

RupertB · « **Reply #217 on:** February 06, 2013, 12:20:31 PM »

Happy New Year to all of you out there in Hondaland! I haven't lost interest or sold the bike - I polished the metalwork the other day and it is scheduled to go into the workshop at the start of March with a view to getting it finished and possibly even back on the road (for the first time in maybe 20 years) around April. So cross fingers, legs and eyes and I hope to have soe fresh pics in maybe 6 weeks or so!

Syscrush · « **Reply #218 on:** February 06, 2013, 12:36:27 PM »

Tease.

RupertB · « **Reply #219 on:** May 14, 2013, 01:16:31 PM »

OK so it is mid-May and nothing finished, but today the bike went into the horsebox (appropriate for a Foale frame) and off to Nigel's place in Staffordshire for what could well be its last workshop stint before completion. I may (possibly) consider selling it to thin out the collection when it is ready, so if anyone wants to make a seriously extravagant offer for a road registered K4 engined Wiseco 836'd 1976 Foale monoshock with Grimeca calipers on custom mounts with the most unique and gorgeous alloy bodywork, oil in fuel tank set up, with Keihin 29mm CR carbs and a Swarbrick 4-4 exhaust, then stand by for completion. Possibly. Depends how I feel when it fires up!

Greggo · « **Reply #220 on:** May 14, 2013, 04:12:00 PM »

I've just come into possession of the deed for the Golden Gate Bridge here in California, and I will TOTALLY trade you straight up

Seriously though, that is a beauty. I hadn't checked in here for a while, and it is looking amazing

I can't imagine what you're keeping if you're selling this off

Cheers!

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #221 on:** May 14, 2013, 05:36:48 PM »

Quote from: Greggo on May 14, 2013, 04:12:00 PM

I've just come into possession of the deed for the Golden Gate Bridge here in California, and I will TOTALLY trade you straight up

Seriously though, that is a beauty. I hadn't checked in here for a while, and it is looking amazing I can't imagine what you're keeping if you're selling this off

Cheers!

I'll see your bridge and raise you an Opera House....

RupertB · « **Reply #222 on:** May 15, 2013, 07:35:15 AM »

The Golden Gate and the Sydney Opera House? Not sure if the Golden Gate would fit over a garden pond but it would be a hell of a conversation piece. As I say, not 100% sure I will sell as I am so pleased with the result (so far!) but daughter wants to study to be a vet and may have to go abroad to do it if she doesn't get into university in the UK. The foreign (taught in English) courses are ten thousand Euros a year for five years just in tuition fees, so may need to plan ahead. So I'd certainly take 50 thousand euros for the bike (even if it is a Mickey Mouse currency) - or maybe an offer to be part of a really successful team of bank robbers.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #223 on:** May 17, 2013, 02:14:37 AM »

No worries Tom, send your little girl and that bike over here and I'll put her up while she gets the best of Aussie education, and I'll even tell the University that she's my kid with just a weird speech impediment, and we'll get her turned into a vet for free! Of course, if you'd rather have a bridge or an opera house, I'll totally understand..........

RupertB · « **Reply #224 on:** May 17, 2013, 12:51:58 PM »

Tempting! Check your messages by the way - should be one about an alternator cover.

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Author Topic: Foale frame CB750 (Read 36210 times)