Topic: CB350F - Cafe in the Living Room

[lordwhimsey]

Wow! What a great looking bike. Brilliant build thread too.

I put together my rolling chassis in the living room; much nicer than my freezing shed. Unfortunately, as a result, my wife has now banned motorcycles from the house!

[wingman]

Got some more work done on the bike last night.  I got a late night email from Matthew that my wheels are going to be shipped out today via UPS so I hope to get them soon.  I am only about 2 hours from TAS so I hope to have them by friday.  That would be tops.

I finally got all the wiring finished.  I pulled the harness and got it all wrapped back up.  Everything seems to work with the exception of the friggin' horn.  No idea why.  Everything I test indicates that it should work, but no beep beep from her.  Guess I will figure that out tonight.  Here is the wrapped harness. 

[img width= height=]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e2VkMmNNCug/S8Zz7uuBMvI/AAAAAAAADN0/IjRtlHT7KM8/s800/DSC_0001.JPG[/img]

I did mount the hand controls and ran the throttle cables.  The CBR cables look like they are going to work perfectly.  The problem with the original cables is that they were so long I would have had to loop them a couple of times to make them fit - not ideal or even safe.

The tach mounted up nicely.  Still a little high for my liking but the LEDs in the background give it a cool effect.  The pic is a little misleading - the tach is more of a blue than it is the original green that the old bulbs made it.

[img width= height=]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e2VkMmNNCug/S8Zz8psG9SI/AAAAAAAADOA/CsldUnhlg8k/s800/DSC_0004.JPG[/img]

I got the return spring back from the plater yesterday as promised.  The only problem this time is that he used yellow zinc when I was just looking for the regular silver colored zinc.  Whatever.  He didn't lose it and I don't have to go back there.  The pedal has a nice feel to it.  It is stiff but not too stiff.  Cutting a loop out of it really helped.  Once I take it for a spin I will have a better idea on just how easy/hard it will be to lock up the rear and adjust the pedal from there.

[img width= height=]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e2VkMmNNCug/S8Zz9BcAj-I/AAAAAAAADOI/PQm2nyhOZOs/s800/DSC_0006.JPG[/img]

I also added a coat of wax and installed the polished tappet covers I had.  The plater tried a couple of times to plate them but they never came out right.  He felt bad so he polished them.  Same with two of the oil passage bolts.  I have read that zinc plating aluminum can be a problem.  No extra charge for the polish so I am not complaining.

[img width= height=]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_e2VkMmNNCug/S8Z0XIs9vEI/AAAAAAAADOM/_O2CCnYveX4/s800/DSC_0001.JPG[/img]

[img width= height=]http://lh5.ggpht.com/_e2VkMmNNCug/S8cQH5matcI/AAAAAAAADOY/DbDpklzluO8/s800/DSC_0002.JPG[/img]

[img width= height=]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e2VkMmNNCug/S8cQIYo-nxI/AAAAAAAADOc/xwFsVDzzpKg/s800/DSC_0003.JPG[/img]

I wanted to do something different with the forks.  I searched and searched for a fork brace and was unable to find one.  I decided to drill out the factory fender mount and have it powdercoated.  I mounted it last night and was pretty impressed.  The black shouldn't be too distracting from the rest of the bike.

[img width= height=]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_e2VkMmNNCug/S8cQHpBaY6I/AAAAAAAADOU/GEF-xd8i7EE/s800/DSC_0001.JPG[/img]

On tap for tonight is mounting/polishing the carbs.  I had the bike running perfectly before I tore it down (rebuilt the carbs, rejetted for pods, etc) so I am hoping that it goes smoothly - and makes getting it running again easy.

[wingman]

Wow! What a great looking bike. Brilliant build thread too.

I put together my rolling chassis in the living room; much nicer than my freezing shed. Unfortunately, as a result, my wife has now banned motorcycles from the house!

I can understand how a SO would not like a build in the house!  I live alone and the landlady is really into art so the neighbors just think I am sculpting something.  Which at this point, since it doesn't do anything, it kinda is a sculpture.

[wingman]

how hard was lacing the wheel?
i feel comfortable truing and dishing it......

I didn't lace or true the wheels.  I have my limits (and tools!).  I took the wheels apart, had everything powedercoated and zinc plated and sent all the bits off to TAS Motorsports in Wabash, IN to do the work.  They have been great so far.  I have seen their work on other bikes and have no doubt that what I will get from them will be any different.  Their prices were very good considering the work they do.

That being said, there is a good tutorial in the FAQs about lacing.

[91greg325i]

Looking forward to starting up my project again after reading through this for the millionth time. Your bike is my main inspiration, I can't wait to see it completed! Any updates??? Keep up the good work Wingman!

[TateEvan]

Can't wait to see this thing as a roller!

[Little_Horse]

looking great!

 Subscribed

[DHolbrook]

Super job wingman!

Your build has led me speechless until now.  I really love what you doing with your project.

This shot made my day!


Everything looks so clean.  Keep it up.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Definately a motivator... love this build!

[jaguar]

great build.
i too have a bike in my living room.  its a cb/cr750 and i live on the 2nd floor.  the owner is cool and the girlfriend is even better....lol

what are you using as the lever for the brakes?  i understand that they are R6 rearsets but what attaches to the splines? 
i just picked up a cb350f and was thinking about ways to do rearsets.   im not sure if the rear pass foot pegs is to tall for me.  6' 225lb

[brum]

This thing is awesome. Love the sunroom or whatever it is that you're building it in. Looks like a house from over there. From these forums I've seen several other indy guys but only seen a couple cafe's out riding. Keep up the good work and you'll miss Indiana haha

[wannabridin]

bump!!  it's been 2 weeks since the last post, what are the updates??

[squire7986]

Wingman - long time no see  
Your posts have motivated me to get to work on my CB350F.  I'm interested in the outcome of your upgraded wiring and electronics.  It just might be my computer, but I don't think your photo hosting site is working anymore - the pics are gone from your posts.  
My cafe is in the Kitchen, and yes I've remained married! I've just had to promise her a complete kitchen renovation when I'm finished.  

Plus - What kind of table are you using for your work bench? I remember it looked like plywood strapped to a tool cart.  It must be super easy to work on the bike when your workbench is on wheels and has a lower shelf for tools and other parts. Working on the floor sucks - but it's better than being on back patio wrenching in 103 degree Georgia summer with no A/C.  You'll be surprised how fast you get fed up with a project when you've got sweat in your eyes and down your crack after 5 minutes outside.

Any updates on the project?

[RickB]

Yeah photos don't work for me either. I sent Wingman a PM a while back and never heard anything. Are you out there mate?

[mothgils]

Last I heard, he sold the bike to another guy who is local here in Indy and moved to Arizona.  Don't quote me on it but I was told that by the guy who is building the seat for the bike for the new owner.