71 CB450 Build.

Teufel

New Member
Picked up a running 1971 CB450 earlier this summer.
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Drove it around for a lil bit. Motor runs decent but it needs some work. Decided I wanted to strip it down to the frame and build from the ground up.
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Took it over to a friend's shop so I could media blast it.
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After that decided I need a bench to work with.

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Picked up a front end off a 2003 Suzuki GSXR 600 and a tank since mine had a massive dent that could take be repaired.

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Grabbed some ultra low superbike bars.
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Waiting on the tapered bearings from all balls to get the front end on. I have detabed the bike and lopped the rear end off.

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Next I will be getting the front hub from Cognito. Thinking of some excel rims 18x2.15 for the front and 18x2.50 for the rear.

I put this in Specials because this will be a mix of tracker and brat style bike. Currently looking to see if I can fit some 14.3" rear shocks without much modification. Also looking at what it will take to convert the rear to a disc brake but as the drum is plenty of rear brake for this bike its the least of my worries right now.

Honestly when I started this project I had basically household tools small cordless drill, hammer, screwdriver set and basic standard ratchet set. So as this project progresses I will be picking up tools along the way. Going to try and do as much as I can myself. Between this forum and the honda twins forums I am pretty sure I can find the answer to 99% of my questions.

Wish me luck!

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Looking good. No doubt, any problems you have, the members here have seen it before, and will offer solutions. Have fun!


1974 CB450, 2006 CBR1000RR
 
Tapered bearings came in today was able to get the gsxr front end installed.
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So I am at the next step and this is were I wish I had paid more attention in math class. Wheels and suspension...I want to get the clearance for the rear tire. I want to go with some Fox Podium rear shocks. My dumb noobie self was thinking to just go with taller shocks to get the clearance...then I did some research and well I know now you just can't lift the rear to get the clearance. I could extend the rear by either making some extension plugs for the rear swing arm or pick up a CB360 rear and modify it to take a CB450 axle. I know that the GSXR front end I have is 1/2" shorter from top of tube to center axle than the stock fork tubes, so I am dealing with the front end being lower already.

I kinda want the rear end to have tracker style clearance, if I extend the swing arm it would drop it by about 1.5" and then going with 14.8 that puts it back to normalish height. I also thought about leaving the rear swing arm alone and going to a rear shock that is 1.5" over and putting a smaller rear wheel on it to help get another 1" of clearance. Maybe even doing a set of 17x3.50 front and rear wheels. But once again lowering the front and lifting the rear messes will all kinds of geometry of the bike.

Gotta figure this out before forking out more money.
 
What are you trying to maintain clearance from? Hopefully your are going to add some kind of rear loop or cross member between the rear shock mounts. You can always make that go up instead of straight across to maintain clearance.

I've had no clearance issues on mine.
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Teufel said:
My dumb noobie self was thinking to just go with taller shocks to get the clearance...then I did some research and well I know now you just can't lift the rear to get the clearance.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your goal, but you absolutely will gain tire to frame clearance by using a taller shock.


1974 CB450, 2006 CBR1000RR
 
Flugtechnik said:
What are you trying to maintain clearance from? Hopefully your are going to add some kind of rear loop or cross member between the rear shock mounts. You can always make that go up instead of straight across to maintain clearance.

Yes I will be adding a hoop and it will be up swept. Looking at the stuff that is pre-made doesn't look like they have enough up sweep for what I am wanting to do so I will probably be fabricating my own hoop. Also they are all rounded I want to flatten out the rear of the hoop a little bit.

To answer your first question I am trying to minimize how much the rear tire travels between the frame rails. I know I can't stop it from traveling between them all together and I plan on removing the springs from the shocks and dropping it down over the tire and forming my pan with about another 1/4" clearance. But I would like to minimize how much the of a hump I have to put into it.

I am not an artist nor do I have any artistic abilities but I will sketch something up and post it up. Hopefully it will resemble something of the picture I have in my head.
 
Teufel said:
I am trying to minimize how much the rear tire travels between the frame rails. I know I can't stop it from traveling between them all together and I plan on removing the springs from the shocks

Actually, you could, it's called a hard tail. Harley-Davidson has them. I would think not too pleasant to ride, though!


1974 CB450, 2006 CBR1000RR
 
Re: 71 CB450 Build.

This is a pic of the bike with stock 18" wheel and stock shocks.
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Figure if I go 1" over on the shocks and a 17" wheel I will minimize how much the wheel will travel past the frame rails on a hard bump.

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540Nova said:
Actually, you could, it's called a hard tail. Harley-Davidson has them. I would think not too pleasant to ride, though!


1974 CB450, 2006 CBR1000RR
Um I think I may have worded that wrong. Not hardtail. I would remove the springs only to make the mold for the seat pant to accommodate if/when the wheel travels to far up it won't bottom out on the seat pan. Springs would definitely be going back on afterwards.



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