Re: broke ass slo bike build
Oh man....I hate being the voice of reason....really I do.
If I may be so bold, get this thing on the road and ridable before you do much more beyond taking the 'extra' stuff off.....
You'll be really disappointed if you find some major issue after you've got it all put together looking the way you want. Seriously man. I know what it's like to be all excited but get it road worthy first.
While I'm on my big shiny soap box, indulge me a bit further...
I have to question the addition of late model sportbike take offs when building a cafe. I *think* I get your thoughts, infuse a little street cred and intent with the plastic bits and modern looking lights but I think you're working at cross purposes with yourself.
If you're wanting to build a cafe style bike, or one that gives off that 'Roarer' feel then perhaps a narrowing of scope is in order.
Take some time and think about the visual aspect of the Mac bike: Minimalist, spartan, negative space, simplicity and intent.
Can we build your CM400 with those same characteristics? Sure, that's the whole point of these bikes isn't it?
Your tank isn't bad for this type of build, keep it...it'll save you some cabbage that you'll want to spend later. Same with the seat.
Rather than try to work around the shape of your frame, work with it. Note the shape of the solo seat on the Mac bike? Now take a look again at the shape of your frame and the front portion of your seat. See where I'm headed?
take the upholstery off and save it. Now looking at your stock seat with the foam on it (on the bike too) mark it with a sharpy where the foam is to be cut such that you preserve the front part of the seat that holds your ass, remove (save) the rear part of the seat foam. Mark the seat pan with a line of masking tape at the edge of the foam. Now note where the seat hinges are so you can keep them once you cut the pan. Now you should have a front and rear half of the pan that can be (hopefull) raised and lowered independently. At this point, stand back and look at the seat with only the solo foam in place and decide if it's too thick. Personally I'm not a fan of hemorrhoids and prefer some padding. Your choice. If you like it, and it's comfy you can take your shortened seat pan, foam and have it upholstered. As for the two up problem, you can do a couple things.
A) Scorched earth..no going back
-cut the rear frame rails off behind the new shortened seat and tell the wife to buy some walking shoes. Perhaps not a good way top get laid but....some guys pull it off.
B) Please can I sleep inside tonite dear?
-Same as above, but save those frame rails and have a fab shop make inserts for inside that will allow you to stick that portion on with a couple clevis pins and mount the seat when the lady of the house wants a putt. If you do it right that separate rear portion will take on a nice vintage 'pillion pad' look and you're still cool at bike night!
C) Why yes dear...I would like a backrub....
Keep the seat pan completely stock and have an upholstery shop cut the foam flat and do a nice Brat style ribbed vinyl seat cover.
You'll be able to haul the little woman around and still look cool.
Note the rear fender on the Roarer, it's mounted to the swing arm as a retro styled hugger. Regardless of what seat you chose this will work well look cool enough to attract some attention if you do it cleanly. Go find yourself a motorcycle wrecking yard or someone selling used bike parts on CL etc. What you're looking for is a 70's-80's chrome front fender off a larger bike, look for one with riveted on braces like one off a CB450/500/550/750.
You're going to trim it to clear the chain, swing arm and any other obstruction such that you can bolt it to the swing arm up front and using the stock brace arms, bolt those to the swing arm back by the axle.lower shock mounts. Obviously you'll have to work a little trial and error but it's more than do-able.
Dump the bulky gauges and idiot lights and mirrors and whatever else doesn't fit the look. For that bike, a speedo is about all you need adn there are some really nice small ones, or you could stash a bicycle speedo somewhere discrete and have a totally clean top clamp which goes a lone way to cleaning up the look of the bike.
Now you're dialing in on the salient details that will bring the bike inline with what you're wanting to do; make it look a little like the Roarer.
Give the flat black paint to some hipster to paint his Honda civic with and get yourself something nice looking. Flat black's been so overdone. Hell, even 'satin' black is better as it'll stay clean much longer than flat....that gets dirty just by existing.
