My CB500

rufio

Been Around the Block
I started a thread in the lounging in the club section but I thought as I change the bike, I'll put the progress and pics here.

It started off by acquiring a 1971 cb500 site unseen from my buddy as he offered me the bike so that he could acquire an old BMW moto while we were looking around the irwindale speedway. I trust this guy with motos, as I've ridden with this guy for some time. We actually met at a couple scooter rallies (2 stroke vintage). If someone broke down on the side if the road, he's the guy that would fix and would be able to rebuild a 2 or 4 stroke engine . So when he told me about this moto for a cheap price I hopped on it.

Upon arrival to check out my new bike....I thought. Wow........this shit is not my style of bike. He told me running bike with about 6g miles. Little did I know the bike was a 70's pseudo chop.......pretty period correct. Complete with twisted iron side stand and highway pegs. Here's a couple pics of the bike. It did have some nutty hideous bars on them and removed them in these pics.

Sorry......some of these first few pics will be repetitive from the other thread
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

Here are some pics of the bars
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

It was a difficult decision. I liked the tank and the king and queen seat with built in sissy bar. The tank however was totally ruin by the 25 years of stored gas in the tank. I thought I would replicate the tank, and leave everything as is as suggested in the previous thread. But after thinking about it, that style of bike is just not me.

The tank was ruined, but I had an early 750 tank in my garage as well as a 350 seat. I'm a cheap bastard, so unless i can get killer deals, i will make do with what ever materials i have. Nothing hammer, angle grinder, and a couple other tools can't fix.

Here's a pic with a mock up of some different bars, 750 tank, and 350 seat
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

Took the bike apart, replacing fork seals, tires, and cleaning 20+ years of grime. Don't mind the bike stand....I told you I'm a cheap bastard
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

Cleaned some chrome....not bad...
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

I forgot, to add......all we had to do to mechanically is clean the carbs an. rebuild the master cylinder.

But I was able to get my hands on a 500 super sport tank and a touring seat. Looks good, but I still like the bulbous early 750 tank. If I kept this combo, both tank and long ass touring seat need work.
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

I pick up seals and such from Chapparrel motorsports tomorrow, but I only have approximately a couplehours a week to work on bike due to being a dad with kids in dance,baseball,rock band, guitar lessons........and I only have 2. I'll post more as I get along. Next up is switching out the forks to standard lengths and putting on the new kendas 761's. And then get to deciding tank and seat combo.
 
Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

So, I've been plugging away at the bike at night when I get home and ive been getting a little closer to making it road worthy. I was able to mount the tires, change the forks, remove the blinkers, replace with some cheepee tiny signals.

The bike is taking a ugly rotten look, absolutely nothing spectacular about it at all. But wayyyyy different from how it began.

Now Im working on replacing the seat. I have a stock seat pan, which I cut and i'll be slicing the og padding and form to make the seat with some brown leathetette. I'll also have to place and set my sparto light, headlight, and paint some stuff on the tank, and do a couple more odds and ends.
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

I cut the foam and pan of a stock seat pan I picked up. Tried my hand at sewing again. Looks ugly, but good enough for a temporary seat. Gonna put it on tonight. Here's a pic of my handy work though.
 

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Re: My CB500 project de-pseudo chopping

I got home with a little day light and took a spin, I have a cylinder missing so that's the reason of the missing pods / airbox. Im gonna checking all out in a bit. But for now, I put the side covers on so that I can post some more progress pics. At this point, asthetically I need to refigure the seat, wrap the pipes, I'm gonna leave the tank as is, but maybe paint some stuff like I did my helmet. Get a fork brace/ fender, and paint some engine components....
Anyways.....here's some pics in daylight.
 

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I reupholstered the seat again. I mean.....this time it was professionally done and I'm rattle canning the tins.
 

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Thanks man. No new real updates except that I sprayed the tins with clear. Looks pretty nice till you are 1.5 feet away. It always looks black until you are a close enough to see that its a cranberry with royal blue stripe.
 

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Check it fellas... Popping on all the OG bolt-ons back on cb500
 

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More posing pics
 

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Put on the 8.5" extended forks. Turned it back into the bolt on chop it once was.
 

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actually yes i have the tank but its so bad you can poke holes into it with your finger.
 
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