Hey guys,
So back in the summer I started to really look into building a cafe racer style bike. I had no idea how broad that "description" turned out to be and then the variations such as bobbers and trackers and brats. I found this site and starting cruising the builds and enjoyed each style and each build I looked at. A small fire started burning inside me and I decided that I would try to find some cheap bike with the intentions of turning it into something that is at least a fraction of the coolness of many of the builds I have seen on here.
So being in my final year at university, I wasn’t willing to spend too much money on a bike and started scouring the local craigslist for a cheap bike. I had no idea what models were good for what style and started to do some research. Although I started riding a Ninja about 3 years ago, I am not the most mechanically adept person there is, but not afraid to get my hands greasy. I did basic stuff on the Ninja but never really took the time to learn the core of the bike and the process the engine goes through along with carbs and all that fun stuff. Anyways, I finally found a cheap cb750 and after seeing it a couple times was able to talk the guy down on the price a bit where I felt comfortable that if I had to pull the plug on the project I could (hopefully) regain my money or most of it at least.
Now the bike did run, shifted, and rolled nicely. Wasn’t too sure how well it was running but it sounded as if it were in decent condition for its age. The guy stored it in an underground garage so it was nice and dry but still had some surface rust and tons of grime everywhere. But for my first project, I wasn’t too worried if it was a beater because I am sure I will be messing something up on it. The gas tank had a dent in it but figured I could get it removed and the inside was pretty clean from what I could tell. Now since i have been lurking on the forum for a while I was first hoping to change just the cosmetic things on it but soon realized that I should really look into the engine.
Now I am not gonna lie, the aspect of an engine tear down seems quite daunting. There are so many parts and patience required! I’m hoping I will be able to handle with the help from all of you good people on here. Now the PO said the carbs were done just before he put it away (I know, everybody says something like that), but the outside of them are very clean and the engine did sound like it was running pretty good considering it had sat for a couple months. The PO rode it up until May i believe then did not insure as he needed his truck for work.
Now this project is going to be worked on when I am not at school or working and when the girlfriend feels willing to help me out in the garage despite the cold! She is the one who will keep me from chucking wrenches and the engine out into the snow.
I have already started the build/tear down and haven’t taken as many pictures as I have hoped for but here are some pics of what I have so far and will be posting more as school is winding down for the semester.
So back in the summer I started to really look into building a cafe racer style bike. I had no idea how broad that "description" turned out to be and then the variations such as bobbers and trackers and brats. I found this site and starting cruising the builds and enjoyed each style and each build I looked at. A small fire started burning inside me and I decided that I would try to find some cheap bike with the intentions of turning it into something that is at least a fraction of the coolness of many of the builds I have seen on here.
So being in my final year at university, I wasn’t willing to spend too much money on a bike and started scouring the local craigslist for a cheap bike. I had no idea what models were good for what style and started to do some research. Although I started riding a Ninja about 3 years ago, I am not the most mechanically adept person there is, but not afraid to get my hands greasy. I did basic stuff on the Ninja but never really took the time to learn the core of the bike and the process the engine goes through along with carbs and all that fun stuff. Anyways, I finally found a cheap cb750 and after seeing it a couple times was able to talk the guy down on the price a bit where I felt comfortable that if I had to pull the plug on the project I could (hopefully) regain my money or most of it at least.
Now the bike did run, shifted, and rolled nicely. Wasn’t too sure how well it was running but it sounded as if it were in decent condition for its age. The guy stored it in an underground garage so it was nice and dry but still had some surface rust and tons of grime everywhere. But for my first project, I wasn’t too worried if it was a beater because I am sure I will be messing something up on it. The gas tank had a dent in it but figured I could get it removed and the inside was pretty clean from what I could tell. Now since i have been lurking on the forum for a while I was first hoping to change just the cosmetic things on it but soon realized that I should really look into the engine.
Now I am not gonna lie, the aspect of an engine tear down seems quite daunting. There are so many parts and patience required! I’m hoping I will be able to handle with the help from all of you good people on here. Now the PO said the carbs were done just before he put it away (I know, everybody says something like that), but the outside of them are very clean and the engine did sound like it was running pretty good considering it had sat for a couple months. The PO rode it up until May i believe then did not insure as he needed his truck for work.
Now this project is going to be worked on when I am not at school or working and when the girlfriend feels willing to help me out in the garage despite the cold! She is the one who will keep me from chucking wrenches and the engine out into the snow.
I have already started the build/tear down and haven’t taken as many pictures as I have hoped for but here are some pics of what I have so far and will be posting more as school is winding down for the semester.