1975 CB360 Freeze-dried Hell Ride

irk miller

You've been mostly-dead all day.
DTT BOTM WINNER
Greetings folks,

So begins my re-edit of a '75 CB 360 I bought in New Jersey in 2010. I just replanted to Georgia from Philly last June in a search for more space, cheaper living and time to take on projects like this. The first pic is how the bike sat in mostly original glory behind my Philly row home. The second pic is the bike after I did a mild custom during my first winter with it. I was reluctant to do much cutting and left it mostly restorable. Now is a different time- the third incarnation of this bike.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

I pulled the engine. Things are starting to get cut off finally. The seat lock was a bitch to get off the frame. Originally, I relocated the battery and slid the fender back, removed the plastic fender piece, and welded a battery holder to the fender. I've decided to relocate the electronics and the battery under the seat. I had some issues with the seat I made, so I'm adding more foam, and re-glassing it. I'm using a material called aqua-resin. It's a non-toxic resin that I lay over nylon hair instead of actual glass. No itch, and it actually seems to have a little more flex. I started using it in my sculptures and it's become a great material for making masters to cast.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

I got the plate welded into the frame to hold the battery and electronics. Dug out the compartment for the battery. Formed the seat to fit around the frame. My hope is that I'll find some button-size led's for turn signals to fit into the round openings at the end of the frame. The opening for the tail light needs to be shrunk to accommodate the height I added to the seat. I'm also taking in little off the ass. I leave the foam in the seat. It seams to give it more strength and you never know when you may need a flotation device. If it's good for the boats, it's good for me.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

Stole a little bit of time today to glass the seat. It still needs refinement, but the shape is almost there. I mocked up the rear tail light to see how it fits. I think it may need to move out more. The base plate is looking too long beyond the seat. I need to cut that back.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

I like the idea of the strips a lot. Do you have a pic of how that might finished?
deviant said:
Close ups of the cherry laminate. If I go with it, I'm considering two options. One is to do the parquet pattern, the other is to cut into strips and flip the grain. Depending on how it's applied, you can form it around most shapes within a reasonable arch. The combination paint and laminate on the seat can look really good or cheesy as fuck. But, I still think it's worth a look.
 
Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

I love that natural look of the strips! I think that would look killer.
 
Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

I wanted something light and less obtrusive than the stock CB fender, so I cut up and reformed a VT500 front fender to mount in its place.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

Straight up dust mode. Take some more off that seat.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

More cut away from the seat. I think the profile is finally getting to where it needs to be. Most of the lines are reflected either in the tank or the seat. I'm definitely looking for something atypical, but still within the range of a cafe.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

Thanks to winter storm Leon, school was cancelled today and tomorrow. If Leon knows what's best, he'll hang around long enough to cancel school on Thursday too. No school + wife off work = beer + motorcycle. Now that the reforming of the seat is complete, I've started glassing. If I haven't said it before, Aqua Resin is the jam. It's non-toxic, no itch and you can clean up with water. It's an opaque, polymer based resin that utilizes a gypsum-based powder. It's got more flex and more break strength than normal fiberglass. I sound like an ad, but I'm telling you this stuff is awesome. http://www.aquaresin.com/products.html

For the top of the seat, I used 1" strand fiberglass and a 4 1/2" strand underneath. The tools I use are plastic spatulas, a chip brush, a flexible tupperware bowl, Yuengling and a couple of Sureform rasps. A flexible bowl allows you to let unused resin set and break out easily by hitting the outside of the bowl with a mallet. Flexible spatulas also clean in the same way. Regardless, if you clean everything before the resin sets, you just have to rinse in water.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

The first pic is the initial glass layer. The solution is 1 part L (liquid resin) and 2 parts S3 (powder). The second pic is with another painted on coating over the first layer. I carve down all of the high points with a Sureform. If you carve after the resin hardens but is still moist, it carves more easily. When this stuff has completely hardened, it can still be carved, but it takes a lot longer. At that point coarse sandpaper almost works better.
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

Prime and sand… Prime and sand… Prime and sand...
 

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Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

That seat is looking very nice man!

Is the tank sitting level?
 
Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

Green199 said:
That seat is looking very nice man!

Is the tank sitting level?

Thanks, dude. The tank's in the stock position. I hope it is. I wonder if the seat position effects the perspective. It's something I had considered adjusting.
 
Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

May just be in the pictures, looks like the rear needs to be lifted, or the front dropped a little.....other than that shes looking great! :)
 
Re: 1975 CB360 Cafe Edit Volume 2

Started working on the front fender. I cut up the stock fender and start reforming it to get the squareness out of it. I'm not too keen on how far it comes off the tire. I've considered grinding the rivets and putting the fender to the inside of the bracket, but I'm skeptical on how that will look. I may just cut an inch out of the bracket instead. The fender definitely needs to match the profile of the wheel and tire a little better.
 

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