Topic: Project Code Name M.A.G.N.I.F.I.C.O.

[78whiteorbs]

Was lookin for a new project after the CX500 and picked up these two twins for like a hundred bux. Now I know ,I know, everyone would prolly like to see the cb get a makeover this being a honda forum and all but it's just been done so much that it would be too easy. The XS 400 however had front and rear disc brakes and seemed to be in better shape. Both bikes had excellent compression but no spark to the plugs. So started stripping the XS and lookin a bit closer. Hooked up some cables and the electrics came alive. mashed the magic button and she made some attemps at turning over. Starter must be toast as it was making some drunken attemps not a consistent spin. Here is what we are starting with .

[78whiteorbs]

Tires still have blue lines on them and mileage is low so , bonus!

The idea is to make a light clean ,simple looking bike with sexy lines and an aggresive stance. Bigger headlight scrap the seat ,might build off the seat pan I dunno.  get rid of sidecovers and relocate battery to under seat and and things up under there>
Raise the suspension in the read with maybe some xs75 or xs850 shocks or the like . Drop the suspension in the front down low pushing the forks up through the triples ,but not a ridiculous amount.  Was interested in clip-ons but cant find a 33mm pair for less than 40$. 

[78whiteorbs]

Repainted tank the other day . It is a Mercedes Black with blue flake and a Pearl clear which looks totally different in the daylight and at dusk/overcast skies.  I like it! put some clubmans on and am now hunting for a chrome headlight . Made up some new tank badges to make people scratch there deads a bit.  Got a new gasket set and prolly this weekend am gonna install. Oil looks good, smells good. Carbs look great! still gonna install a carb kit though and prolly run pods so will have to rejet. Wanted to run an open exhaust because I like loud raspy bikes . cant decide if I should paint the frame a different color or just gloss black it  . Also not sure at this point if I am gonna polish cases or black em out . here are some updates

[78whiteorbs]

here we are

[78whiteorbs]

some more, was starting to get dark and low rez camera>>> willl get some nice daylight pix tomorrow.

[Kframe]

Looks like early CV carbs.  Unfortunately, those can be a real pain in the ass; if the bike has sat for years the rubber diaphragms will have certainly dried out and may have already ripped.  Otherwise the first time you get 'er going and rev up they'll tear.
The replacement diaphragms/slides for my '84 Shadow were about a hundred bucks each.  
Pop the tops off the carbs and take a look, find out what you're up against.  
I've got one that was all stiff and almost brittle, I've had it soaking in 50/50 STP and MMO for two years and it's finally supple again.
Probably not as good as new, but I'm hanging on to it as an emergency spare.

-K

[78whiteorbs]

Carb diaphrams are cherry, it's the first thing I checked. They look as though brand spankin' new.  If I am not mistaken rounding up some more are not that hard though ,mikesxs.com has tons of cv carbs parts, thought for 650's some interchange well enough.
Took the left side cover off today just to have a peek and see if the stator and sprocket were in good shape and they as well were cherry. Whole case was full of gas oil though, musta drained 4 quarts all in all. Looked like the carbs dumped a whole tank in there at some point , all metal looked brand new inside. Gonna pop the right side cover off today and have a look see.