Ok, so the title of this thread might be some indication of where I've been at for the past few months... but after many months of drooling over various cafe racers online (the lust started after seeing a customised new Triumph Thruxton) I have decided to jump in the deep and and try and build my own.
There are however two catches to this...
1. I am not really the mechanically minded type - (but I'm willing to learn - this CB175 is actually my practice rebuilding project before I start working on my Dads BMW R75/6)
2. I actually have a budget for this project. Can I rebuild a cb175 (and cafe it) for cheaper than it has cost me over the past 6 months to keep my M900 Ducati Monster running...
After having a pretty rough time of it this year with my Duke, (Coils blew / tank / carbi issues / electrical issues) I decided I had finally had enough, and wanted a simpler bike to work on. One that wasn't over engineered - moody and unreliable. Plus, being a smaller sized bike, it might also encourage my other half to start riding (She is tiny so anything bigger really isn't an option - she is shoulder high to Frodo) She wanted a scooter. I said hell no.
So the overall idea is to strip the bike down, replace the seals / gaskets and whatever else needs replacing in the motor - clean it down & paint if needed. Strip and respray the tank and frames / custom build cafe seat / new bars / rearsets etc etc....
So here is the start of my Boxing Day Project...
Before shot of my bike in the garage - CB175 takes priority...
Before shot - Bike was missing its seat when I picked it up - two bins of spares though...
Another inglorious before shot...
The original manual + photocopied version + Honda parts list book... Plus spares under the counter...
Final before shot of the motor and various wires.
Tank / Engine removed...
About to get pulled apart...
Almost totally Stripped...
Not bad for an afternoons work...
Next step (I think) will be to pull apart the motor, clean it & replace the seals and gaskets...
There are however two catches to this...
1. I am not really the mechanically minded type - (but I'm willing to learn - this CB175 is actually my practice rebuilding project before I start working on my Dads BMW R75/6)
2. I actually have a budget for this project. Can I rebuild a cb175 (and cafe it) for cheaper than it has cost me over the past 6 months to keep my M900 Ducati Monster running...
After having a pretty rough time of it this year with my Duke, (Coils blew / tank / carbi issues / electrical issues) I decided I had finally had enough, and wanted a simpler bike to work on. One that wasn't over engineered - moody and unreliable. Plus, being a smaller sized bike, it might also encourage my other half to start riding (She is tiny so anything bigger really isn't an option - she is shoulder high to Frodo) She wanted a scooter. I said hell no.
So the overall idea is to strip the bike down, replace the seals / gaskets and whatever else needs replacing in the motor - clean it down & paint if needed. Strip and respray the tank and frames / custom build cafe seat / new bars / rearsets etc etc....
So here is the start of my Boxing Day Project...
Before shot of my bike in the garage - CB175 takes priority...
Before shot - Bike was missing its seat when I picked it up - two bins of spares though...
Another inglorious before shot...
The original manual + photocopied version + Honda parts list book... Plus spares under the counter...
Final before shot of the motor and various wires.
Tank / Engine removed...
About to get pulled apart...
Almost totally Stripped...
Not bad for an afternoons work...
Next step (I think) will be to pull apart the motor, clean it & replace the seals and gaskets...