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So I have been intending to post photos of my CB. My dad bought it from the original owner in 1976 or so. It was his first bike, and he owned it a year or so. He then sold it to my uncle who rode it for a short time and then parked it for some reason. He is one of these people who never sell anything and seem content to watch it rot away. He still has his first car actually. My aunt found out I repair/fix bikes and figured I may be a good way to finally get it out of her sight. It spent the majority of 25+ years sitting outside. I went to look at it with my dad and decided to bring it home even though they all tried to talk me out of it. For some reason the motor was not locked up, so I figured it had hope. The rear tire would not roll, but we were able to drag it up on the trailer and get it home. After a good cleaning this is what I had....
Actually it is done for the most part, but just have never posted any photos. I thought I would post them here now that I finally have time. I still plan to pull the engine out for a proper detailing one of these days and a few other little details here and there, but it is now road worthy and presentable. More photos to come when I get time.
I wanted to post some "now" pics since I have finally got the time. As was expected pretty much every thing on the bike had to have something done to it. It took a lot of effort but it was able to be saved. It was really satisfying to ride it the after the many years it had sat. I got new upper fork tubes made by Forking by Frank, polished the lowers, made some preload spacers and put them together with new seals. I replaced the rotten wheels with some used ones and also installed some new tires. It also got a set of aftermarket CB750 rear shocks and mufflers. I got all the chrome parts rechromed and left the holes and pitting caused by the years of weather. I think this bike earned it's patina and wanted to leave it there. I had it hanging from the ceiling in my garage in New Orleans when it was apart for the rechroming. I had just gotten the parts back the day before Katrina came. In the middle of preparing my house I had to stick it back together in NASCAR pit stop fashion to get it on the trailer and out of town. The garage flooded, so it was saved from death a second time. This is how it looked then:
I replaced the original tank because it was completely rotten. I was a bit indecisive on the paint color and went with purple. I thought it would suit the 70's thing and be different, but the day was too hot for the hardner I used and the clear was ruined. I also got a set of 450 header pipes to do away with the crossover box. I paid to have the seat recovered using another pan and the original foam with a bit of new added. I added a second disc since the castings are already in the tubes to add more stopping power and am using a GSXR master cylinder with goodridge lines. I changed to a Newtronics ignition system but never got it to work exactly right. I ended up switching to a unit from bore Tech and am happy with it. ( http://www.bore-tech.com/BT45.html ) It also has Dyna coils installed. The bike has Mikuni carbs which I have still not set up to my satisfaction yet along with pod filters. The rear fender was smoothed by welding up all the old holes and I made a mount for the new 33 Ford tail light. I also made a side mount for the plate. Here is how it looks now:
I decided I didnt like the purple all that much after all, and went with the silver. The paint came out great this time and I added a set of tank stickers from Carpy. I really like them on it and am happy with how it now looks, and I think this is how it will stay. I want to take the engine out of the frame for a proper detailing job one of these days, but it is not bad looking as is. Now I just need to make time to get it running a bit better.....
That looks UNREAL!! Joe, you have done a great job. Its hard to believe that what you have now has been born of that rusted jem at the start. Truely impressed!!! when do you start your next?? LOL....
It is an old ford (33 I think... ) replica tail light. It has the period style cork gasket and glass lens.
Thanks for all the responses. It was really neat to be able to bring my Dad's first bike back from the dead. It was so rough that it really was not worth the trouble but since it had been in the family so long I thought I would give it a chance. My next project as far as the vintage bikes is a 1970 Norton. I also have a newer CBR1000 that was wrecked which I recently got that will be fixed and flipped. I have a ratty 250 night hawk that will be worked over one of these days too, so more to come as time allows!
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