CB750A secret bobber

[Gimpy Joe]

Since I have nerve damage in my left leg and can't move my ankle, I need a motorcycle with the shift lever on the right side or with an automatic transmission. Since old brit bikes are a bit pricey, I went with the automatic option.

Here's the bike. First thing to go was the bright purple paint and disgustingly long shift handle. I didn't tear it down all the way, since I want to keep this bike on the road as much as possible this summer.

Since then I've rewired it, added pod filters, made a seat and had it upholstered, shortened the shift arm so it's more like a jockey shift, added clubman bars, and put knee dents in the tank.

Here's the bike as it sits now. Yes, I know it looks more like a cafe racer than a bobber, but that's going to change.

The tail light is made out of a faucet handle and a marker light lens.

Over the next few weeks I'll be painting the tank and side covers. The swingarm is gonna get stretched about 3 inches, so the back of the seat will come right up to the rear wheel. The front will be dropped, too. Hopefully I can score some cheap cocktail shaker exhausts for cheap.

 

[tommygun]

looks awesome! how do you plan on stretching the rear? you goin to do a weld on rigid, or modify the swingarm?

 

[Gimpy Joe]

I'm going to fabricate a box swingarm about 3 inches longer than stock. The shocks are staying.

 

[tommygun]

you can fabricate 2 if you want. thats what i was wanting to do with my cb750

 

[Gimpy Joe]

I'd like to take the covers off the shocks. I understand how to do it, I just don't know what to use to compress the spring.

 

[Big R]

I believe there's a spring compressor in the $50 mod thread Joe.

Glad there's a thread on this bike, it's looking pretty good so far.

 

[forty4ma9]

That seat is pretty cool looking on there. Did you make it up or is off of something?

 

[Gimpy Joe]

Thanks man. I made the seat pan from 16ga and welded some extra support where the seat bends. Then I had it professionally upholstered, since I'm going to spend a lot of time sitting on it.

The tank is just about ready for paint. A little more sanding to go. It's the standard hondamatic tank, but I hammered some knee dents into it, first with a big rubber mallet and then with an 8oz deadblow to get it pretty close to perfect. A little bondo and voila!

I'll be using gloss white appliance epoxy. Once the paint is done, I'll take it to a friend who does pinstriping.
Here's the work he did on my lid.

Sorry to say this bike is gonna be a bit of a rat for now. I haven't bothered cleaning it up too much since the engine has a small oil leak that gets it messy again in a week or two. Over the winter I'll rebuild the motor and swap the hondamatic tune-down parts for a normal top end.

 

[Gimpy Joe]

I've decided I'm going to drop the back by stretching the swingarm, but I'm not sure what method I should use do drop the front. Anyone have any suggestions? I really want this thing slammed but still level.

 

[tommygun]

mine is an 82 750k with air shocks up front. i just let all the air out to lower the frnt of mine. there is a few threads on here of how to lower it.

 

[Gimpy Joe]

I have lots of scrap laying around my garage, so I threw together a spring compressor based on the one Joe (can't remember his screen name) posted a picture of in the $50 mod thread. The ugly rear shock covers are finally off.

 

[Gimpy Joe]

Didn't like the look of the little 1.5" exhaust pipes. They looked way too little next to the big fat 750 motor. I cut the pipes at the 4-2 collectors and welded on two 1.75 pipes. Sounds fucking mean as hell.

 

[ctluba]

Hey Gimpy, I lowered my front end by just loosening up the triple clamps and sliding the fork tubes up about one and one half inch. I was able to get the exact look I was going for and still have good suspension. As far as actually doing the job it was pretty easy. After loosening the bolts I just tapped on the clamps with a hammer and the weight of the bike slid the tubes up in a slow, uniform manner. My 81 750F has the air hose on the top of the forks. If you have the hose you can either get rid of it and plug the holes with a bolt or simply run the hose over the plate as in my photos. I did have to break off that little tab for the choke cable as it would not fit with the fork tubes in the way. I just zip tied the choke cable. I lowered the rear end by simply cutting the shock springs with a dremel. Not the best way, but it was free!! Good luck.

How it looked after completion (when I was running clubman bars)

Then went to clip ons

Bike is nice low now (sometimes drags the pipes on right hand turns)

 

[bikeboy]

Those rear shocks look shorter than stock too. Have they been modified or is it just my eyes

ian

 

[ctluba]

I just snipped the springs with a dremel cutting wheel. You can see that the springs dont sit in the retainers at the bottom of the shock, but they work fine. I was looking for an inexpensive way to lower the rear end and free is pretty inexpensive. Basically made my own 11 inch shocks. Figured if it didnt work I would just buy some but so far so good. ;D

 

[JRK5892]

what epoxy will realy really yellow in the sun man, 0 UV protection, may want to rethink that paint

 

[tommygun]

im kinda liking this build. i have an 82 750k, so im on the prowl for ideas. i think you should do a different tail light. do something smaller, bbut something "urban". it would fit the headlight ambush cover. or maybe tint the light, and get a square grill to cover it, like the front. keep it up man!