'75 Kawasaki MC1b mini enduro - cafe

Akastus

Akastus

Been Around the Block
Hey all!

Found this MC1b on craigslist. So, I figured it would make a good cafe beater project. Originally this was going to be a real quick build. However, the more I looked at it, the more it grew on me, and I felt I had to put a little bit more effort into it.

This is how I got it:
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With those AMAZING ::) bars gone, and replaced with something a little more my style:
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The speedo sits really high with the lower bars, and I really dont like that look. Example:
2012-01-02201333.jpg


So I flipped the bracket:
2012-01-02214845.jpg
 
This thing is tiny! Im also not so huge myself (5'7"):
2012-01-02222116.jpg


Foam ripped off the seat pan, and just looking all sorts of cool :)
2012-01-03232847.jpg


Gutting it has begun! Also, she is REALLY dirty. Im starting to think this dirt is from the 70's!:
2012-01-05203256.jpg


Engine out, with pod filter. You can see the dirt and grime caked on it in some spots:
2012-01-05203324.jpg


Stripped even farther:
2012-01-05233124.jpg
 
pile o' stuff!
2012-01-05233225.jpg


Lots of dirt! this stuff is like greasy cement!:
2012-01-05233242.jpg


Back from the pressure washer!
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Grinding off unused tabs:
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waiting for paint:
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started polishing the engine bits (this is a half, and half shot):
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And a little polish on the hubs:
2012-01-08124935.jpg


My bike 'sploded...
2012-01-08125017.jpg


Frame painted. Light bucket painted, tank getting painted. So far so good:
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Better shot of the lowered speedo:
2012-01-09080958.jpg
 
Thanks! Im really having a blast with this thing. When I got it home, I giggled like a little school girl for easily half an hour ;D
 
Sitting with the engine:
2012-01-11080405.jpg


Engine painted and in. Exhaust painted and back on as well:
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Dumbo ear mirrors:
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So now im just waiting on:
Tail section
new 16in rear wheel, then tires, and finally installing my chain
Petcock valve
Tail light
Battery eliminating capacitor
 
So sitting on the bike (I may or may not have been making vroom vroom noises) I noticed that the igniton is in a weird spot, and i dont like it:
2012-01-12180235.jpg


some quick tinkering, and I was able to relocate it to a better spot:
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Ah! much better:
2012-01-15101525.jpg


So far im really liking this! now, i just gotta wait for the tail :)
 
Pretty cool man. Thatll be a fun little scoot for sure. Google "moped clubmans". You can get bars that are narrower in the center to help slim the whole bike down.
 
Looking good! Kawasaki tanks give such stylish lines.
+1 on getting moped bars ....... they will get the proportion right at the front end and it'll be quite neat.
 
thanks everyone! Yeah, I totally found out about smaller sized clubmans AFTER I cut the full size ones down... oops! :( These full size ones definitely look way too big, but I suppose these will work until I pick up a set of the smaller ones, haha!
 
Well, got the tail painted and mocked up!

2012-01-21153941.jpg


I've got a 16in wheel that needs spokes (should have them today), and then all i will need is a carb, tires, and seat foam! I cant wait!
 
I got the seat from hotwingglass.com, it is their .5 cafe seat. I have not tried my hand at fabricating a fiberglass seat yet, and their turn around time is incredibly fast!
 
Sweeet project! I'm doing a similar one with almost the same bike, in fact I think the frame is the same. Mine's a '72 G3 90.

I like the yellow, its flashy! What are you going to use for a seat pad?
 
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