1973 CB500/4 Resurrection

[CHavens]

So like a good Craigslist lurker, i picked up a bike from a trailer park for $150. This bike was described, as good, running, and needing 'some work'- "mainly the carbs".... Upon driving a fancy new H3 with a POS landscaping trailer..you know the ones that haven't been registered in years, falling apart, and complete with at least a foot of leaves in it..Me and a friend made a 2 hour journey to pick this beast up.. I'll let the photos talk for me. But, as a college student, who's short on money, and space, We parked it in the storage barn of the fire house, and proceeded to tinker. As we could tell- it was kick start only, had good compression, needed a throttle cable, and the chain needed to be fixed. We could find no place for a key, only a switch zip tied to the frame.
And this was all of 4/11/09

I apologize for poor quality of the photos..I'm working with a camera phone. I'll update this weekend

 

[CHavens]

After the first paint strip, and initial de-rusting.

The paint job was done by a local body shop, the old fire chief apparently was watching the progress that i slowly made, stole my tank and side panels for about a week without my knowing and had them painted. Great guy ;D

 

[troybilt]

Wow man, what a great guy!!! Make sure to buy him a case of beer or two!! Cool project. take lots of pictures.

 

[philos1]

nice score - I had nearly identical skull stickers on the CB750 I just picked up! it also had "EXTREME" stickers where the badges usually are.


nice boss too.

 

[CHavens]

oh yeah, i'm still trying to figure something out to get him in return> Definitely was not expecting that kind, kind act.
The stickers were a b*tch to get off, even with aircraft stripper...apparently there were more than one tough guy with flaming skull stickers on CBs... what a world

as for the bike, i finally got to take another, more educated look today..The owner before me retrofitted the ignition as a flip switch, hooked the battery up and every thing lit it. Such a great feeling. Apparently its got an electric start, and a broken horn to boot! All in all, the bike doesn't look in too bad of shape now. The pull cable (the top cable of the two?) does not want to fit back in its place, and the push ? cable is non existent.. ah well, ill get some better photos tomorrow

 

[CHavens]

Currently tearing the bike apart...