Chris' Cafe build (02.11.08) Winter Update

[TonUpSoldier]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (12.12.07) Winter Update

Are those tires on correctly? Call me ignorant (just not to my face), but it looks like the front tire is on correctly and the back is, well, backwards.

If im not mistaken Roadrunners are the few tyres that use the same tyre front and back, provided they are the same size. You are supposed to flip them around like that.

 

[Tim]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (12.12.07) Winter Update

Roadriders (not Roadrunners by the way) come in both dedicated front and rear as well as a 'universal' version that can be used on either end. The difference being the rotation as mentioned.

I'm running the Universals as they were the only ones available in the sizes I needed (18" 110 rear, 18" 100 front).

 

[TonUpSoldier]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (12.12.07) Winter Update

My fault...I thought they were those.

 

[zixxerboy]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (12.12.07) Winter Update

Chris,

You say you're disappointed with the brake function. Is the length of travel or you just can't get enough pressure for effective braking? Right now my set-up is the rear passenger peg with the original brake pedal - so if you need a dab of brakes the foot has to leave the pedal. Certainly not the best but it's just for fun. My buddy cobbled up a rear brake on his CB360 by using the front lever and actuating the brake via a cable - worked horribly - pretty much proved that braking is not a high priority

 

[Will McD]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (12.12.07) Winter Update

Are those tires on correctly? Call me ignorant (just not to my face), but it looks like the front tire is on correctly and the back is, well, backwards.

I was confused about the tread direction of motorcycle tires, so i did some research. The front tire's purpose is to provide stopping power and the rear tire's purpose is to provide the forward driving force, so the tread on the front tire is usually opposite in direction of the back tire (depending the the design of the tire). (just FYI )

 

[chrisf]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (12.12.07) Winter Update

The old method used a short lever arm on the wheel side and a longer lever arm on the pedal side. This gave the right amount of pedal travel, but did nothing to stop the bike.

I’ve since switched to a stock lever on the wheel side. I’m convinced this needs to be the stock length to apply the proper amount of force on the shoes. The problem, when switching to a longer arm on the wheel side, it introduces way too much pedal travel. So I need to side down and change the leverage ratio on the foot control.

All that said, I’m curious how much the rear brake is capable of working? Should I not be able to lock it up at lower speeds? Incidentally, the brakes on the old bikes suck.

With regards to selling it, just when I think I should (to make room for other projects), I go for a ride. The bike turns all sorts of heads and gets as much attention as my quirky se7en—saying a lot. Unless something comes up, I’ll keep her for a while.

--Chris

 

[zixxerboy]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (12.12.07) Winter Update

Any problem with the brake lever pivot not being in the same local as the swing arm pivot? Thats the original setup and I think it's done for a reason - possible grief at extreme ends of the swing arm travel?

Attached a pic of my studded 350 for playing on the ice.

 

[chrisf]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (01.20.08) Winter Update

Hi:

Here's the January update. You're going to have to excuse the palsey shake in the photos. It was morning time and I didn't have my first drink yet

New Mirror. The old one got flacid and I could not figure out how to fix it. This one rocks (but was expensive!)

Front:

Modified/refabricated my brake-side foot control based on this thread: http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=2760.0. It still isn't perfect, but I think I know where to look next.

Warning; a diatribe coming...

In our eBay carees, I'm sure we've all done it: Made a douche bag purchase and was shocked when the item was received. This is mine. I read the description well, took measurement, etc and this is what I got!

Anyone who knows me knows how weight conscience I am--both personally and with my projects. I just love lightness. This seats literally weighs 5 times the weight of my old DropBars seat, which I sold because I didn't think it had enough padding. Very disappointing. But wait, it gets worse.

The seat was designed to sit on 1" rubber pucks. Then add another 1.5" of padding and the rider is essentially sitting ABOVE the gas tank. Douche Bags. So it looks like I'm going to have to chop this mostrosity up to make it look right. In the end, it will look OK, God this is frustrating.

Oh, it took 1 month from the time I bought (and paid for) this thing until I received it. The seller was probably saving up for the shipping charges.

Behold:

Here is the douche bag seat from the rear. This isn't so bad and should look better once it comes down an inch.

--Chris

 

[chrisf]

Re: Chris' Cafe build (01.20.08) Winter Update

Oh, and I got it in my bright head that I needed an old school American tailight, so I bought this one. It is all stainless with real glass. I had to modify the shit out of it, but at least now, it has 2 LED bulbs. Both are on all the time and both light when braking.

Of course, stainless and glass is heavy, so the bike gains more weight. I'm thinking on frenching it onto the rear. Sounds easy, but it really isn't.

Or I could hang it off the side. Or I could keep my old one. Email me if you have any suggestions.

On a different note, I really need to improve my rear visibility. The current thought is to run the stripes down the rear and maybe have some gumball/s done in reflective vinyl for the back. Most of my riding is done at night and it makes me anxious not beign seen.

--Chris

 

[chrisf]

I placed a huge order with www.guzzino.com and snuck a cool Italian tailight in. Should be arriving this week and will replace the old Ford taillight, which will be used on the CB360.

Anyway, I missed another great riding day this past weekend--70 degreeF days. So I put my nose to the grindstone and finished painting the seat. My website has all the details. I could not be happier with the result.

And because of other projects, the bike got moved into the office!

What other projects?? Well, for Chrismas, I bought my wife this:

I cannot start that project until after I finish the CB360 (http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=2879.0), but it's getting a complete tear-down and a Miata engine on bike carbs. I cannot wait!

--Chris

 

[chrisf]

I haven't updated this in a while. I got my vinyl graphics in for my CB360 project. I had some extras printed for the CL350. So I applied them and pushed the bike outside for some pics. I think the graphics need to be bigger and possibly a different shape.

Woody:

Suggestions? The shape doesn't quite look right...

 

[chrisf]

Here is the side view. On the cafe seat, I have a black reflective gumball being cut as we speak. This will be applied to the back/side of the cafe seat and should provide better visibility during night rides.

 

[chrisf]

And the other side view. Notice how I better wrapped the pipes. Looking at the picture again, I love how the Avons look!

 

[chrisf]

The headlight graphic. This may or may not stay. Cool pic though.

 

[chrisf]

This is the part of the seat where the gumball will go. It will actually wrap over the top and dip into the edge where the seat foam is.

 

[chrisf]

Another view.

 

[chrisf]

The rider's view. Kit put those stripes down beautifully!

 

[chrisf]

I left the seat foam raw, like Kit's bike. I think it gives the polished, smoothed out bike an harder edge. I like it! Plus, it saved me $300 for getting it uphostered.

As usual, I gave much better descriptions on my website. Have a rea there. Comments/concerns/suggestions are always welcome.

--Chris

 

[Druro]

First off... NICE.

Regarding the emblem, what about just the silver "rabbit". I think it makes it more subtle. I'm very big on subtle.... course, I like flat black paint.

 

[woody1981]

Yeah... regarding your logo... I haven't forgot about you. I have some ideas. Might try to play with it this weekend.

-Woody

Regarding the emblem, what about just the silver "rabbit". I think it makes it more subtle. I'm very big on subtle.... course, I like flat black paint.