Nolan's 5 year multiple location, learning, adventure build.

Hello all!


It has been a long time since I have been spending 90% of my internetting(it's a word) on this website. But I am back, and glad to be. I am not sure that anyone remembers, nor cares about the previous thread I had in regards to my cafe project. So I will begin anew.
My project began when I was 20 and going to school for a business degree at my hometown university. I fell in love with the look and idea of the modern cafe racer. The juxtaposition of vintage air-cooled motorcycles with modern hardware and styling is just a sweet spot in design. At least, it is to me. I bought my 1971 Cl450 K4 from a wrecking yard for $300. I immediately dove right into taking this bike completely apart. In hindsight I should have, in spite of my eagerness to modify, hooked the bike up to a new battery and tried to turn it over. But hey this is my first build, hopefully of many. The bike was in rough shape. There was lots of evidence of this bike being laid over. Which I will cover in the following pictures narrating this build. I began this project in my dad's barn, then soon realized it was too dusty for proper work. So, I moved it into his garage. That lasted about a year before my step-mother had enough. ;D I then moved my bike into my grandparent's garage. This was ideal as my grandfather restored vintage tractors and vehicles, only it was a half hours drive to a town of 600 people. So no quick trips to auto stores. The bike got put off for multiple reasons, most of which revolve around going to college and playing a sport, while trying to court my current wife. I eventually got married moved to a different town and moved the bike a 4th time. I have most of my parts... i think....Anyways I am now finally in the ideal situation to finish my 1st, errrm 2nd love. I finally have my own space to work on my bike!!!


I will now commence dumping pictures in the most chronological way i can.


I had an old post about this bike that is in my signature, i will see about removing that thread.


TL;DR
[font=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I bought a junkyard bike for $300in 2010, made some rookie mistakes, life got in the way of major progress, and now i am in the home stretch([/font][font=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]optimistically[/font][font=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]).[/font]

These are some pictures demonstrating the changing of scenery throughout the build.
The first picture was taken on a flip phone lol, but that is how the bike looked as i unloaded it from the wrecking yard.

Those pics do show some work.

I basically disassembled the bike with the intent to paint most of everything as it was so oxidized.

I sanded the frame with a grinder and a sanding wheel. (black boogers for weeks)

I will look for pictures of the stock tank but I eventually purchased a CB tank on ebay as the stock tank was too rusted and dented to spend the time on.

I chopped the rear fender loop on the frame and proceeded to weld a closed loop.

I bought a lot of things from DCC. A lot.

Any questions i will answer hopefully with pictures and knowledge. Until then i will commence adding pretty general progress photos.

Here are some pics of the damage found on the bike.


I have a bunch of photos ( if i can find them).

If anyone knows where i can get a left stator cover that would be great! I am considering using our CNC to mill one out of aluminum.


The aluminum that looks scratched up was after working to remove the oxidation that had built up, I eventually painted those pieces.

Also in the previous post you can see i painted alot of the engine, and drilled some "speed" holes in the chain guard.

more paint and progress photos

The dust on the parts is from storage, i swear.


Last couple old pics i can find

A neat ash tray, any takers? ;D

I had the tank, seat and frame professionally painted. I spent way more than i had planned but I am pleased with the results. I unlaced the rims and painted the hubs and rims. I bought stainless spokes from buchanan then proceeded to lace my rims. These following photos are basically where i am at right now. I will soon order tires and tubes. Once i have a rolling frame, I will move my bike from my basement shop, do a once over again on my engine(clean/spec/assemble), mount it and then on to the wiring harness.

Last pics of current progress


Shows my rear fender mod, how i mounted the seat, and finished rims.

Profile views

Well i think that is enough photo dumping for a saturday. Please feel free to comment with any questions or compliments or insults! I look forward to updating my progress with some consistency, and riding my babe next spring!

That is looking good. You will get it done eventually. It took me over 3 years to build my bike the first time. Only took 2 years the second time.


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Bike is looking excellent man! Thank you for posting!

Best,
John

Welp, I decided to do some restoration on my original speedometer. I only have the speedo, as the tach was damaged when i bought the bike. I opened her up, sanded the case parts, and now i am painting the shell. I dont think i will do much with the faceplate, as i kind of like the way it has aged.


I also found some sights that are a huge help for others who might try the same thing

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/black-side-down-replacing-honda-cb-face-plates.aspx

http://www.salocal.com/sohc/tech/speedo/spedo1.htm

Just a quick update, ordered some new rubber and various parts. I will be having some updates again here shortly and with pictures!

Quick question pertaining to my progress, how much difficulty is there in truing and balancing your own rim? I feel as if I've done so much on this bike, I should be able to do something such as the spokes

I have attached a photo of a quick mock up with the rims and brakes.

no answer to the wheel balancing question, but I am digging this build man. I think youll have a very solid little scoot when your done!

hurco550 said:

no answer to the wheel balancing question, but I am digging this build man. I think youll have a very solid little scoot when your done!

Click to expand...

Much appreciated! I definitely have a lot of motivation for it right now and I hope i can carry that through the winter lol.

I really want to do a hot cb 550 someday, i am definitely looking forward to watching that build of yours. Also that little 250 Suzuki of yours is cherry!

So.....
Some updates

I am lighting my speedometer with a halo light from superbrightleds.com. i am eager to see how this looks once i am finished.

Another update... :-[ :-[

In my inexperience with rim truing, i broke one of my spokes from buchanon ... that hurt... so i need to order another, and wait and watch more rim truing videos.... :-\

Good looking bike so far. I applaude you for attempting truing rims. I hear the first time its terrible and gets easy with experience. As a general mechanic/handyman i have a very short list of things ill pay others to do. On that list are window tinting, rim truing,...and sexual favors.