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Author Topic: Wildcat Cafe racer  (Read 2522 times)

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Offline Wavedancer

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Wildcat Cafe racer
« on: November 27, 2012, 10:28:16 AM »
So I have been wanting to start my cafe racer project for many years, in fact since the 1970's. then one day I see "elly" a 1974 CB750K4 for sale and 1 hour later its on. My vision is a Carpy/Dunstall look cafe racer, slimmed down, powered up and very unique. So here we go.
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Offline Wavedancer

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2012, 11:06:02 AM »
so this site is already driving me crazy, keeps bumping my posts as too large even with one low res photo. My thread may not last
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Offline iron_worker

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2012, 12:02:12 PM »
I load my pictures to photobucket.com (it's free to make an account) and then link to them here.

IW
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2012, 12:04:31 PM »
Me too. ^^.  There are other ways as well, but Photobucket made sense to me.

You can do it.
Curious, that bike has been completely apart to paint the frame? No VIN Plate? SB on rt side of steering neck.

have fun.   :D
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Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline Wavedancer

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2012, 12:53:45 PM »
OK here goes with photobucket. By the way - yes its freshly (before I bought it powder coated- which is a #$%* to get off), unfortunately in battleship grey. No idea where the plate went, but the bike is so far from stock now nothing matters. so here is the frame;



so I got a tank and seat from carpy, cut a side panel from cardboard and started to get a feel for the look.

here is a close up of the panel

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Offline Wavedancer

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2012, 12:58:34 PM »
and here are the seat tank and panel



Now time for the panel mounts



time for the grinder, fun times!
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Offline Wavedancer

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #6 on: November 27, 2012, 01:39:45 PM »
Now time to figure the oil tank out. ugliest part of a CB750, what were honda thinking? I want in inside the frame, with the max capacity. Means relocating the electrics to the rear seat, under tank, and in any other gaps. But the oil tank I decided to get built custom.











a few weeks later













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Offline kerryb

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #7 on: November 27, 2012, 04:02:40 PM »
That's a great start on your project.  With such a custom oil tank, do you need side covers?  Maybe just a few well-placed race stickers on the tank.
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intrigued by the wail...seduced by the scream.

Offline srbakker

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2012, 04:18:54 PM »
Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with Kerry.  Powder coat that sucker in a contrasting color or just polish it up and call it good.  Don't cover up that nice custom work!  In my not so humble opinion, of course.   ;)

Corollary question - who made the tank for you?  Or did you weld it up yerself?
« Last Edit: November 27, 2012, 04:23:21 PM by srbakker »
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1975 CB750 K5
2007 Triumph Tiger
2007 Triumph Speed Triple
1971 Kawasaki F7 175 Enduro
2000 Honda VFR800 (gone but not forgotten)

Offline Wavedancer

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #9 on: November 27, 2012, 04:29:35 PM »
Yes I know, but I have plans for a really cool paint job and a need to hide wires and cables. In reality I didn't realize how nice the oil tank would be when I planned it out. Maybe on the next project.
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Offline Killer Canary

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2012, 04:30:51 PM »
Quote
Now time to figure the oil tank out. ugliest part of a CB750, what were honda thinking?
Honda was thinking, "let's design a well-engineered oil tank that won't ever fail since it's such an essential component; then we'll design a beautiful, colour- coded side cover to fit over it and blend with the rest of the machine's design, who would fault us for this?" ;)
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If it's worth doing at all it's worth over-doing.
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Offline Wavedancer

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Re: Wildcat Cafe racer
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2012, 05:30:46 PM »
In reality the options were limited. I can only do this with a lithium ion battery thats 1/4 the oem size and a solo seat with just enough space in the rear to jam the electrics. So the wife stays at home. Honda did a great job with what they had and what they wanted to build.
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