Topic: My project, "an updated CR750", far from being done... pics

[PhotoGeek]

Hi there,

My names Peter Lombardi and this is my first real post here, other than want adds and so forth, and this is my current project.

Here's how it looked when I picked it up,




And here's how it looks now,











So far here's the list,
'75 frame, being cut down to the bare minimums and having a little extra welded to it,
'06 CBR1000RR front forks, triples, wheel and ignition
_{^{(the stock cb stem had to be pressed out, extra material welded to it, and then milled down to fit, work done by
Zoran at TwinWorksFactory in Reno, NV)}}
'06 R6 front brake calipers
'06 Ducati Monster Fender, bracket's made in order for it to fit
'00 RC-51 kickstand, no idea if it's long enough yet
JMC swingarm for a 160 rear tire, unfinished for now, but will match the forks
RS250 17x4.5 rear wheel


There's a lot in the works, but I'm hoping for something that looks like a more modern version of Dick Mann's CR750.

It's also going to have a DOHC motor, so I hope you don't all laugh at me, I'm looking for a black '82 750F if anyone knows of one.

Here is my last project, not to everyone's taste I'm sure, but I love it, my version of an '03 SV650S,



I'm also a photographer,   


Wish me luck, thanks for all the great info so far on this site!
-peter

[cben750f0]

M8 i wish you more than that!!! like i wish you would hurry up and finish!!!!!

looks bloody awesome, i like the look of the SV also.... very nice



peace

[andy750]

Very nice Peter and very original! As I was looking at the photos I was thinking "great shots" and so when I read at the end you are a photographer that explained it!

Keep us posted! Those front forks look great! I hope you are going to replace the rear shocks though!

cheers
Andy

[PhotoGeek]

Thanks guys!

Sadly Ben it may take me a bit, as I'm headed for a trip in Japan come December, and then moving down to San Diego, CA in April. So along with student loan payments the bike is slowly progressing. It's allowed me, however, to solidify my goals with the project, and narrow down exactly how i want to get there. I'm a list maker, and this one's a long one. haha.

Don't worry Andy, the rear shocks are only on there to to keep the back end up, for now. Getting a rolling chassis was one of my firs goals. After I get it all together, it's going to come apart again, and the frame and swingarm, along with some other bits will get powdercoated, painted, etc. It's going to end up with a set of Wilbers Type 663 Classic Line's.

I'm also hoping to keep the bike a lot closer to the mid three hundred pound mark.

I had never heard of anyone doing the CBR1000RR swap, their heavily sprung and short forks, along with a set of triple that don't have a lot of rake built into them, so I was hoping they would give me what I wanted as an outcome. The '06+ have 320mm rotors as well, so they fit the really light R6/1 calipers.

Haha, thank you for the complements on the photo's as well.
-peter

[canyon750]

LOVE the way it's turning out!  Where did you get the swing-arm?  I would love to change out the stock unit i have with something a little more beefy.  The 160 series tire "BARELY" fits in the stock swing-arm but if you don't get the right tire and spacers it will rub right where the tread meets the sidewall.  I'm getting ready to upgrade a few items on my project and its nice to get a little inspiration from seeing your creation.  Love the VFR in the back ground too!    Keep us posted on your project!

[754]

Peter, cool bike.  To get in the 300,s will take a bit of money..

 Are you tracking weight saving by each part/assembly??

 That I would like to see..like stock forkxxlbs/ new fork xz lbs..

 Did the swingarm fit or is it modded/

[canttuckmyshirt]

Nice start. Can't wait to see the rest.

Any more info on the SV?

[PhotoGeek]

The swing arm is a custom job done up by JMC over in the UK, it's made to fit up to a 170. I wasn't very happy with their service though, it took them over four months to get it made (they quote you 6-9 weeks), they raised the price half way through saying that the online ordering had messed up, over one hundred dollars, and never got back to my emails.

You also have to deal through a nice lady named Maria in Puerto Rica, the US supplier. But every time you have a question, you have to ask her, then she has to ask them, and then you wait... and wait... and wait... and sometimes get a reply back. Overall it's a nice and light swingarm, but I was very unhappy with the service.

I ended up paying 700 something for it w/o the polishing (costs extra), and that was back when they were running a 200 dollar discount.

Sadly that was my Dad's VFR Canyon, and he just got rid of it for a 2001 (or something) Bandit 1200.

I haven't been tracking weight no, I figure it will end up being what it ends up being. I'm just trying to add the lightest bits I can so far. As it sits I can still pick it up and carry it around with one arm. Something I couldn't do when it was stock.

When I pull it apart again, I'll compare the weights, I still have the stock front end sitting around. It felt like one stock fork leg weighed as much as the whole front end together with the wheel, haha.

What would you like to know Shirt? The list is really, really long, haha. Basically it has an '04/5 GSX-R750 front end, R1 Calipers with vesrah pads and a 19x20 brembo mc. That's a '98 F3 rear wheel with a spacer kit, again from Zoran (he's the man by the way). The exhaust is basically a race setup, it's a Leo Vince carbon fiber race can with pipes put together from '03 and '04/5 SV kits (different sub-frames), as there is no full high mount system for an '03 SV650. Sharkskinz bodywork that I had to make fit with my exhaust, a lot of cutting, haha. Replaced the airbox with a Renegade filter setup. Blah, blah, blah, haha.

Thanks again guys,
-peter

[754]

The reason I asked about the swingarm is I see people taking them off other bikes and modding them.. welding without re heat treating usually will come back to bite you.

I use a springscale to weigh parts, or a bathroom scale. We stripped down a 750 for ice racing long ago, stock wheels, no front brake etc.. think we got it to 425 or 440lbs, , costs a lot to get em light. But 750 stuff is freaking heavy, I compared two F discs to a k model and together they weighed less, I think maybe less than a lightened K disc.. carbs are very heavy too. Do you know how much your swapped engine weighs? is it any lighter..

[PhotoGeek]

I'm not sure, I haven't looked into the weight of the new engine, but I imagine it being slightly heavier as it's a DOHC. It's also going to become fuel injected. The only weight I have been able to find is for a 750 nighthawk, which isn't the same motor, and it weighted 179.2lbs. There is also a 61lb difference between the SOHC K and the DOHC F.



I have these waiting to be fitted and installed, 2003 GSX-R600 throttle bodies.

Yeah, that was one of the things that worried me about swapping for another swingarm and trying to make it work, I just decided it was safer overall to have one made up proper.   

Another reason the CBR1000RR front end is so great, one of the lightest production wheels made, 23lbs with rotors and tire installed, they're hollow-section cast aluminum. I can pick it up with one finger w/o anything on it. I'm also going to replace the rotors with lighter weight fully floating aftermarket ones.

The bike is also going to be getting a carbon tank and tail, and lighter projector headlight.
-peter

[Rhonda750F]

You're on a whole other level, man!  Very nice.
You have to keep us posted with this build.

[Irishguy]

OK...  I'll bite on this thread and ask the logical question:

Why didn't you just start out this build-up with a later model bike?

Not to be critical or anything, because you obviously do some killer work and have a great vision of what you want in a bike, but I thought the whole point in these bikes is that they are VINTAGE!     I mean part of the whole allure for me is that they are old, quirky, they don't stop all that well, they don't handle all that well, they don't accellerate all that fast, etc...  All things that many of us consider to be "character".  However what you are doing is basically taking an old bike and trying to make a new modern bike out of it.  You can certainly do what you want.  It's your money and your bike and your garage and I find it interesting and a learning experience to watch, but I still don't really understand the point.  It seems to me you are taking an old bikes with a lot of character, and then going to a lot of trouble to remove all the character.

Again, like I said earlier, I'm not trying to be critical, just trying to understand what you are trying to accomplish.  All you are really retaining after all is the frame.  Were the old CB750 frames something great regarding handling geometry or stiffness or something?

[PhotoGeek]

Haha, OK, let me try and answer this.

I LOVE the look of the CR, I always have had to have a project to keep me sane and mellow... basically I thought it would be fun. My bike will have it's own character. It's a one off. The frame is also going to braced up a bit, and has been cut up already; center-stand mount is gone, passenger pegs, and half of the tail is going to go as soon as I get some bracing in.

Nothing special about the frame, the geometry is kind of slow steering, it's "flexy," and heavy. But it is simple, and in that simplicity it's beautiful.

It costs as much if not more to restore sometime as it does to update it.

Can I just blame insanity? Or does age count (I'm only 26)? Haha

Thanks Rhonda750F, I'll do my best, lets just hope I can pull this off,
-peter

[Sam Green Racing]

   Put yer claws away Paddy  and welcome to the forum Peter.

There was a picture of a modern take on a CR750 doing the rounds a while back, I hope yours dosn't turn out like it.

OK I'm for keeping them as near to what they were but like Irishguy said, I'ts your bike.

If you want a target for weight mine weighs in at around 390lbs, you can see it in this thread.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=25400.0

Sam.

[PhotoGeek]

Thanks Sam, haha, Paddy can have his claws out, I'm not one to take offense easily.

That's a beautiful bike Sam!! Sounds awesome!! I hope mine will turn out as nice.

Haha, I'm hoping I have good taste too, I like to convince myself that I do at least ("I DO have good taste! I DO have good taste!").

I can't leave anything well enough alone.
-peter

[Sam Green Racing]

Marks OK Peter, I was only joking, enjoy your time on the Forum, lots of decent guys and girls on here.

Sam.

[KB02]

Not to be critical or anything, because you obviously do some killer work and have a great vision of what you want in a bike, but I thought the whole point in these bikes is that they are VINTAGE!     I mean part of the whole allure for me is that they are old, quirky, they don't stop all that well, they don't handle all that well, they don't accellerate all that fast, etc...  All things that many of us consider to be "character".  However what you are doing is basically taking an old bike and trying to make a new modern bike out of it.  You can certainly do what you want.  It's your money and your bike and your garage and I find it interesting and a learning experience to watch, but I still don't really understand the point.  It seems to me you are taking an old bikes with a lot of character, and then going to a lot of trouble to remove all the character.

Again, like I said earlier, I'm not trying to be critical, just trying to understand what you are trying to accomplish.  All you are really retaining after all is the frame.  Were the old CB750 frames something great regarding handling geometry or stiffness or something?

My responce to this would be, "Have you ever seen a Hot Rod?"     The die-hard restorers still kringe when someone pulls an old '30 ford out of the woods and throws a 350 in it. Same thing here. Just two wheels instead of four.

I actually watching this as I am currently thinking of doing the same thing with my K8 (this is like the thrid revision in my mind of what I want to do with this bike).

Great lookin' ride so far Peter. Keep us up to date!

[PhotoGeek]

I hope you got that I was joking along with you Sam,

I'll do my best KB02, Thanks!
-peter

[Irishguy]

Not to be critical or anything, because you obviously do some killer work and have a great vision of what you want in a bike, but I thought the whole point in these bikes is that they are VINTAGE!     I mean part of the whole allure for me is that they are old, quirky, they don't stop all that well, they don't handle all that well, they don't accellerate all that fast, etc...  All things that many of us consider to be "character".  However what you are doing is basically taking an old bike and trying to make a new modern bike out of it.  You can certainly do what you want.  It's your money and your bike and your garage and I find it interesting and a learning experience to watch, but I still don't really understand the point.  It seems to me you are taking an old bikes with a lot of character, and then going to a lot of trouble to remove all the character.

Again, like I said earlier, I'm not trying to be critical, just trying to understand what you are trying to accomplish.  All you are really retaining after all is the frame.  Were the old CB750 frames something great regarding handling geometry or stiffness or something?

My responce to this would be, "Have you ever seen a Hot Rod?"     The die-hard restorers still kringe when someone pulls an old '30 ford out of the woods and throws a 350 in it. Same thing here. Just two wheels instead of four.

I actually watching this as I am currently thinking of doing the same thing with my K8 (this is like the thrid revision in my mind of what I want to do with this bike).

Great lookin' ride so far Peter. Keep us up to date!

Yeah...  I've seen a hot rod.  I've built a few.  I've always considered a "hot rod" weather it's a automobile or a bike to be something that someone bought for cheap, stripped down and threw in whatever they could afford, scrounge, steal, make work, etc...  to make it go faster and look cooler, all in the confines of their home garage.  I think the same spirit was true of the original cafe bikes.  They were bikes that young guys built with whatever parts, and money they had. and could afford.

I think a few of the posts are misinterpreting my post and thinking that I am some sort of purist or something.  This is not the case.  Take one look at my CB500 cafe project and you will see.  I was just curious why PhotoGeek chose the older CB750 frame and why not at least opt for the slightly newer CB750 DOHC frame since he is wanting to put a DOHC motor in it anyway. 

I thought that one of the main things that made our bikes sort of unique and special was the SOHC4 motors.  I guess it's kind of like when I was into the BMW E30 sedans and this guy on the BMW forum was taking out the BMW inline 6 and putting in an inline 6 out of a Nissan Skyline, modifying the Skyline transmission, to remove the extra output shafts, etc...  All that trouble and the BMW 6 was a pretty cool motor to begin with...  I just didn't understand.

I think it's really cool what he is doing.  I just don't understand.  That's all.  I'll stay tuned and watch the progress.

[PhotoGeek]

I agree with you on your classification of a "Hot Rod" Irish.

A SOHC motor was originally planned, I have a '73 motor and '77 auto as well in the garage (that I now have to get rid of), but they're torn apart, and I don't have the money to buy the parts to fix it up. Originally I was hoping to build a 90-100hp monster; an 888 when I was done.

But then after seeing an all black DOHC I kind of fell for it, I just like the look of it, and I think it fits, visually, with my project more so than the classic lines of the SOHC.

If I were to ever build a naked 750, it would have to be a SOHC.

And that skyline swap guy sounds like an idiot, haha
-peter

[FunJimmy]

Controversial build!
That’s sometimes the best reason for going there.
Gives us all something to talk about.
Can’t wait to see how it turns out when it’s done.

Cheers
Jimmy

[Sam Green Racing]

One thing you will have to look out for Peter is the DOHC motor has quite a few weaknesses compaired to it's older brother.

Sam.

[PhotoGeek]

Anything in particular that I should keep an eye out for Sam? I'll do some research on them over at cb1100f.net as well.

Thanks for the warning,
-peter

[Sam Green Racing]

I can't remember Pete, I just remember them blowing up real easy.

I think there is a forum for them where you can find info on them.

Sam.

[754]

How much will you have to lift the 2 rails under the tank to allow the motor in, and are the mounts very close??