Topic: My 74 350F Cafe (RE) Build Begins*On the Road the build Nears its End*

[veloracermike]

So some of you may recognize this bike:


Well It's mine now I picked it up today.  Sadly it's not quite the bike in those pictures. The bike was located about 3h south of me so after sending pics and much talking over the phone and via email we negotiated a price and I headed down this morning.  The whole time we were talking he kept telling my how I wouldn't be disappointed, well we go into the garage and he pulls off the cover and man was this bike a mess.  I'll post pics tomorrow but it's been neglected. 

I took it for a test ride and the carbs are not jetted right (main jet to small?), had to run the choke half on the entire time or the bike just wouldn't wind up.  The tank has a leak which has caused some paint to lift on the frame in that area.  The battery isn't 'attached' in any way it's just sitting on the tray.  That's just the first things that I could pick up.

On the plus side the clutch feels solid, when choked properly the bike really pulls hard, the gear box is solid and it has new(er) tires.  So after taking it out for about 30 min I came back and just told him I couldn't offer him what we negotiated.  He asked me what I could I really hit him with a lowball, he countered at 200 below our original offer and I came back with 100 above my lowball.  He said no and I said okay and headed for the truck.  Then the guys wife comes out and asks him where I'm going and he says I'm not buying the bike. She says you sell him that bike NOW.  So he takes my offer. 

So I'm tearing the bike down and cleaning it up, going with a stock tank and a Roc City Interceptor seat.  I've got pretty good list of things I'll pulling off and replacing.  I had hoped to ride the thing for a few bit while the tank and seat were at the paint shop but now I'm just going to jump right in and start the "Rebuild"....lots more to come.

[Tews19]

Is it a former members? The bike looks great in the pics. I love the style of the tank and the early Daytona seat fab. If you dont mind how much did you get it for, how much was he asking?

[dawdish]

Way to play it.Why cant people just tell the truth and be up front about their stuff. Well done, it "was" a nice looking ride, in the pics.

[veloracermike]

Is it a former members? The bike looks great in the pics. I love the style of the tank and the early Daytona seat fab. If you dont mind how much did you get it for, how much was he asking?

If you google "CB350F cafe bike" this bike is in about half the photos.

I was going to trade him for one of my Rolex's.  The watch was worth about $2800-$3100, he took the watch and I got the bike and 800.00.   He's also buying back the tank and the seat, I'm going to a more classic Cafe look. 

[veloracermike]

I've got some questions for you all.

Where can I find shorter throttle cables and clutch cable.  With the clip on's the cables are really long.  Also I'd like to replace front brake line with steel braided lines.  The first one goes to a sensor for the brake light, then the second one goes to the caliper.  The second one doesn't connect with a banjo bolt though.  Is there some one who has a kit to replace these with shorter hoses?

[Tews19]

motion pro for cables

[Greggo]

Shaun with Slighshot Cycles (a forum member) sells custom length braided hoses for a discounted price to other members.  He's got a thread at the top of the Parts For Sale section.  Show us some pics of the bike now if you can.

[veloracermike]

I got caught up in cleaning the bike and forgot to take picks of it dirty.  I spent two hours with a pressure washer on this thing and it's far from clean.


Battery, just sitting there.  Going to have to figure out a solution for mounting the battery..open to suggestions


No baffles. I need some this bike is stupid loud.  Can anyone identify these pipes or someplace I can get some baffles?


Lots of corrosion on the forks, will be pulling these and buffing that out.  Also will be replacing the 'ears' with some billet units.


Here you can see the mess the wiring and the brake hose is. 


So after washing the bike I tried to fire it up and got nothing.  Checked for spark and nada. I'm pretty good with mechanicals but electric is not one of my strong points.  I pull the #4 spark plug wire to pull the plug and the boot falls to the floor.  I push it back in and pull the plug they it's black as coal.  Double check for spark. Nope. So now I'm trying to find my way through this rats nest of wiring with my test light.  I unplug and re plug and notice I have no tail light or brake light. I start pulling those wires and unplug one set and the light comes on...brake light too.  On whim I hit the starter and it fires right up.  Let the bike warm up and this time I open the choke all the way the thing just spins right up.  I have no idea what I did but it worked.  I'm thinking there might have been a short in the tail light and/or the #4 plug wire wasn't making a good connection.  Regardless I'm taking this bike to someone who knows wiring and having them wire it and remove all the useless wires.

So here is whats on the menu:
New tank and seat/bobbed front fender/paint
New tail light
Black ceramic coating on the headers
New controls (front brake and clutch)
New electrical buttons and re-wire.
Front brake hoses
Shorter clutch/throttle cables.

New bar end mirrors
New rear sets set up

[Tews19]

You dont like the tank or seat combo? I really like the look. It cleaned up nice too. May put some concern on how rusty the uppers are on the fork.

[veloracermike]

You dont like the tank or seat combo? I really like the look. It cleaned up nice too. May put some concern on how rusty the uppers are on the fork.

No I like it, just rather go with a less track oriented Cafe build. Also not interested in dealing with a fiberglass tank.

The uppers are coming off and I'm putting some TLC into cleaning them up.  My buffer will be getting a big workout during the week.

[Tews19]

If you dont mind, how much you looking to get for the tank and seat?
Pm price if you dont mmind

[hoodellyhoo]

Glad to see that bike is back on this site but sad how the bike was negelected. The original owner (after okie built it) was very proud of it.

[heffay]

They ALWAYS show better in pictures.  I still wouldn't shun the bike outa my drive!  Mine photographs well but has quite a "patina".  I'm sure most of ours are that way.  That's the charm in my opinion.

[veloracermike]

If you dont mind, how much you looking to get for the tank and seat?
Pm price if you dont mmind

The tank leaks.  When I got home there was a nice little puddle on bed of the truck. I called the seller and he's buying the tank back from me.  I told him without the tank I didn't want the seat either so he bought that as well. 

My original plan was to ride the bike for a bit while the new tank and seat were being painted. My painter gives me a great deal as long as I don't push him on time.  So now the bike will be sitting in garage for a bit, but it will give me time to get some of the other stuff finished. 

[veloracermike]

Just dropped my pipes off at the media blasters to get them ready for paint, I figure 100 bucks spent now will be money well spent when I'm not seeing the paint flake off in few weeks.

I called my local guy here who is good with fiberglass. He said he could fix the tank for under 100 bucks so I'm willing to sell it if anyone is interested.  I can fix it and charge you more or you buy it as is and fix it yourself and pay less.  PM me if you have any interest.  I'm keeping the seat though. 

I think I'm going to sell the 400 Super Sport tank and go with an aluminum CR tank instead. Keep the vintage racer look, it's starting really grow on me!

[heffay]

DIBS !  DIBS!  ooo oooo pick me pick me!

[veloracermike]

Let me make sure the PO doesn't want it back...I'll PM you here shortly.

So flat black or satin black for exhaust paint?  I was going to go with VHT Flame Proof but it only comes in flat black.

[veloracermike]

So I've decided to go with the CR style tank but in alloy.  I have a very nice 75 CB400 tank that's in great condition   Zero rust with cap and key.  $235.00 shipped.

[heffay]

oof, little too steep for me.  I really just wanted a back up for one that I have in decent condition, minus 2 small dings.  Passing along the DIBS.   
Not saying its not worth it, just more than I want to spend.  Post a picture.

[veloracermike]

oof, little too steep for me.  I really just wanted a back up for one that I have in decent condition, minus 2 small dings.  Passing along the DIBS.   
Not saying its not worth it, just more than I want to spend.  Post a picture.

I'll post a pic when I get home.  I'll probably just put it back up on eBay (thats where I got it).  I had thought you had dibs on the CR tank on the bike!

[heffay]

I think I'm going to sell the 400 Super Sport tank and go with an aluminum CR tank instead. Keep the vintage racer look, it's starting really grow on me!

That's what I wanted   

[veloracermike]

I'm selling some other stuff off the bike pretty cheap..mirrors, tach, LED tail light.

[veloracermike]

So I'm removing the battery from the bike and taking measurements for my new battery box when I bump one of the K&N pods...it just falls off. I check the others and only one is actually secured to the carbs.  The other two were loose as well and the one had a small gap to the carb.  It's a wonder these didn't just fall off when I test rode it and further explains why this thing ran so crappy. 

It's becoming more and more apparent that the PO took pretty #$%*ty care of this bike. I'm going to have to do a comprehensive safety check, along with oil/filter/plugs.  I doubt if I'll be riding at all before the first of the year.

[veloracermike]

Waiting for stuff sucks.  Won't have my seat till next tues and the rest of the bits till the end of next week.

Did get my pipes back from the sandblasters last night.   Came out great.  Will paint them on thursday and post up some pics.

[veloracermike]

Painted the pipes black..thinking of wrapping to the megaphones..whatcha think?


Cleaned up and painted the front brake caliper.  Question why does mine have the center bolt? What does it serve?


I drilled the lower triple for new stops and cut off the brake light switch mount as I'm going with a master that has the switch built in.


I cleaned up the corrosion on the fork tubes and they look much better. I was thinking of painting the fork legs black, what kind of paint would work best for the that?