1972 Honda CB450 Cafe/Brat inspired build

[reesea17]

Maybe not as expensive as I initially thought..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB450-Super-Sport-gas-tank-k3-k7-/271105701425?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f1f28b631&vxp=mtr

 

[mikewerx]

Maybe not as expensive as I initially thought..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB450-Super-Sport-gas-tank-k3-k7-/271105701425?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f1f28b631&vxp=mtr

Whoa that's CRAZY cheap!

 

[reesea17]

There are two or three others for around $40-$50.

 

[manualofman]

That dent isn't too bad. In my opinion, you could easily Bondo and sand it down, and never know it was there. Check out my build thread, I Bondo'ed a crater on the side of my tank made by the PO.

$15 can of Bondo glass, $5 of bondo glazing, and some sandpaper is still less than even a $30 tank + sealer + stripping it back down to bare metal.

Give it a shot, its pretty fun.

 

[manualofman]

Also, did you find anything more on the eye fitment on those DCC springs? I was thinking about picking up a pair down the line.

Great build by the way, I think we're shooting for similar looks with our 450's.

 

[reesea17]

Also, did you find anything more on the eye fitment on those DCC springs? I was thinking about picking up a pair down the line.

Great build by the way, I think we're shooting for similar looks with our 450's.

I'll keep that in mind on the bondo, it was already a possible solution in my mind. I had wanted to go bare tank but could always do that later. I've looking into dent repair and found tools that you can use to pry the tank upward from the inside, I can probably do that and get it close to normal and then use less bondo to make it flat again.

As far as the shock mounts I haven't quite found a solution, I'm going to email DCC and see what they say about it. Otherwise the other options are to try and maybe mill the rubber out slightly till it fits. But the diameters of the two rubber pieces are pretty different. I'll keep you informed for sure. Thanks for the compliments as well. I'm currently working on acquiring two more parts for the engine and then I'll have everything (so far.. minus cracking the lower case to see whats up) to complete the rebuild on the motor.

 

[Flugtechnik]

Weird, these are the short 11" shocks from DCC? I got them, about 2 years ago and they fit fine. They may be carrying a different brand now. IDK. DCC will make it right. If you have the capability, measure the ID of the bushes, the OD of the posts and send them pics. May just be the wrong bushings or something.


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[reesea17]

Weird, these are the short 11" shocks from DCC? I got them, about 2 years ago and they fit fine. They may be carrying a different brand now. IDK. DCC will make it right. If you have the capability, measure the ID of the bushes, the OD of the posts and send them pics. May just be the wrong bushings or something.


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Did yours fit on there with the metal cylinder in place in-between the gromet and mount? Or did you have to take that out?

 

[Flugtechnik]

I removed the metal piece.


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[MotorbikeBruno]

Have you thought of bringing the tank to a radiator shop or even an auto body shop and seeing what they can do? Maybe they'll charge you less than you think? Just another thought.

 

[manualofman]

Have you thought of bringing the tank to a radiator shop or even an auto body shop and seeing what they can do? Maybe they'll charge you less than you think? Just another thought.

That reminds me of when I brought my tank to my mechanic buddy to see what he could do. He told me he could pull the dent but it would require tack welding to the tank to pull it, but the shape of my dent was so gnarly it wouldn't pull nicely. Yours looks like a nice round dent that might be able to be popped out. Or maybe even one of those As Seen On Tv dent pullers would do it.

 

[reesea17]

Wanted to make a quick little mock up of what direction that I'm starting to go in on this build. Cream tank, brown leather seat, and brown grips. Still not sure on this but I feel like it would be kind of cool to get the frame in matte or satin gunmetal grey. Let me know what y'all think.

 

[mikewerx]

Yeah, I like it. Super classic, and I like the similar one the CL160 the Tarantulas did

 

[reesea17]

Damn, yeah thats almost exactly the same just different bike styling and more black. I'm still not sure on the gunmetal but I think it would make it a little more unique. I had this same original idea but with the use of a bare tank instead.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Damn, yeah thats almost exactly the same just different bike styling and more black. I'm still not sure on the gunmetal but I think it would make it a little more unique. I had this same original idea but with the use of a bare tank instead.

I vote pink frame

Just messing with ya. Gunmetal frames look great in the sun.

 

[Flugtechnik]

I'm on my phone so it is hard to find the pics but check out Mr. E's 750. He has that tank seat color combo and it looks great.

Also check out xulf13's 650. He did his frame in hammered dark gray and it looks awesome. I think gunmetal would look good too. Just don't go to light. My frame was originally silver and I didn't care for it.

BTW, great drawing!


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[reesea17]

I vote pink frame

??? You first. haha

I'm on my phone so it is hard to find the pics but check out Mr. E's 750. He has that tank seat color combo and it looks great.

Also check out xulf13's 650. He did his frame in hammered dark gray and it looks awesome. I think gunmetal would look good too. Just don't go to light. My frame was originally silver and I didn't care for it.

BTW, great drawing!


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Thanks, those color combos do look nice and its nice to see it on a matte black frame. Definitely think I'm going to go darker gunmetal with a satin finish and with a darker brown leather for the seat. And thanks, Photoshop is a wonderful tool once you learn how to use it. If anyones ever interested I can upload the file somehow. All the parts are individual layers so you can change colors and remove the seat etc etc..

On another note I spent a little time taking off the side covers of the lower engine and feel like I'm amount to tackle a crouching lion.

And while still unresolved here is a photo showing the difference in size of the stock rear shocks and rear shocks from DCC.

With the metal collar out the DCC one measures just shy of 15mm... So barely more than a mm in difference. Yet thats still enough to keep them from going on. Might just sand down the mounts a little bit. They are slightly rusty anyways.

 

[Flugtechnik]

I will measure mine when I get home, but I'm sure you will have it resolved by then. DCC will figure it out. Herm knows what he's doing.


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[mikewerx]

Damn, yeah thats almost exactly the same just different bike styling and more black. I'm still not sure on the gunmetal but I think it would make it a little more unique. I had this same original idea but with the use of a bare tank instead.

I'm liking the gunmetal, as that's what I'm going to do on my current CB350F build, with silver tank and blacked out everything else. I was inspired from Ducatiboy's gunmetal frame - looks so clean, and looks just different enough them just making the standard black frame.

 

[Charles]

You can use a 4 cell LiPOFe4 battery. Ballistic has theirs in a rectangle/cube shape:

And companies like Antigravity have them in flat row:

I will say, if it's cold outside, you need to "warm" them up a bit by turning the bike on and letting the headlight draw some current. Maybe press the starter once quickly, then it should be good to go. A 4 cell pack is slightly bigger than 4 D batteries.