76 CB500T Cafe Build

[alexanderbeetrooot]

Time to get started!

This is what this motorcycle looked like when I rode it home. Previous owners had done some mods, but I'll keep going with it until it's a bit more stripped down, bare bones cafe racer. With street legal caveats, of course!



The brakes with a little tricky, so I started there. Turns out I needed to replace pretty much the whole system. Stripped all the paint and polished everything up. While I was at the front end, I replaced the front hub bearings and painted the spokes and hub as well. Tarozzi low rise clip ons, bar end mirrors.

 

[UDouble]

This is already a great looking bike. Love how you painted the wheels. Tell me, was it difficult? Im thinking of painting mine black and was going to powder coat them, however Im liking your idea.

I have CB as well. Im pretty much done with it. all thats left is drilling the rotors with a pattern, and resurfacing them.

Also, does that axle mounted plate have a license plate light on it? If so how did you wire it?

 

[alexanderbeetrooot]

Thanks UDouble. The taping of the rims and spoke nipples was harder than the painting. And of course sanding the spokes was a pain. I want to stay with the chrome rims and I'll eventually polish the hub when it's time to actually get new stainless spokes, but for now the paint is quick cheap and looks decent.

As far as the license plate goes, it's just a piece of aluminum that the previous owner drilled a hole through and mounted under the rear axle adjuster locknut. There's no light, and I'll be figuring out an alternative solution for the plate as my project progresses.

 

[UDouble]

Thanks UDouble. The taping of the rims and spoke nipples was harder than the painting. And of course sanding the spokes was a pain. I want to stay with the chrome rims and I'll eventually polish the hub when it's time to actually get new stainless spokes, but for now the paint is quick cheap and looks decent.

As far as the license plate goes, it's just a piece of aluminum that the previous owner drilled a hole through and mounted under the rear axle adjuster locknut. There's no light, and I'll be figuring out an alternative solution for the plate as my project progresses.

So you won't be keeping the plate in that location?

 

[alexanderbeetrooot]

Maybe. I don't love having it mounted on the adjuster locknut. I'll be scheming a cafe seat pan at some point, and I may see what works with how that looks. I've considered an upper shock mount, or maybe a lower left axle mount. I haven't gotten to that particular detail in my vision yet. Keep watching, though!

 

[alexanderbeetrooot]

Here's some more progress. While I was up front I drained the fork oil, replaced the seals and boots, stripped the black paint from the fork sliders and polished them up. Here's a little during and after photo.


Next I moved on to the rear wheel. I replaced the brakes, which were pretty manky. Also replaced the rear hub bearings while I was in there. Drums seemed to be in pretty good shape, so that was nice. Polished up the brake plate.



Then I moved on to the gas tank. Stripped off at least two layers of rattle can, which wasn't too bad. Also cleaned up and replaced the fuel cap and gasket, as well as replacing the petcock rubber and filter. As far as the inside of the tank goes, the immediate previous owner (there have been several) treated it with RedKote, and it really looks pretty good.

 

[fatleon]

I'll watch.

 

[alexanderbeetrooot]

Pulled the starter and guts.


Dug into the wiring. Here's the junk.


Here's the upgrades.