Project Celeste, CB400four....realizing my dream bike.
- Thread starter Kanticoy
- Start date
Re: Project Celeste, CB400four....reaiizing my dream bike.
Sorry for the lack of updates!
I am vigilantly working though, I promise! The new front end is here. I am using a 1st generation GSXR750 forks with the external damping control. Nice and big at 41mm, but still standard forks which retain the nice vintage looks.
The bearings were a little hard to track down, but I finally found what I need. The stock bearing from the All Balls 400f kit fits the bottom, but I had to order the second bearing from the local bearing house. When it gets here it should bolt on.
Secondly, I bought an 86 FZR250 swing arm from Ebay UK. It is a nice boxed unit with the perfect 205mm pivot length. It uses a needle bearing pivot and is 1.8 lbs lighter than the stock unit even in stock trim. I have to build shock mounts for it to mount the Ohlin's units to the bike, and it will need shortened by 4" to retain the stock dimensions. The wheel mounting area is 5mm narrower than stock, but I am using a custom hub out back that I will post more info on when I receive from the machinist. Stand by for a full review on that! The biggest task to mounting this arm is that it used a 17mm pivot bolt which I wanted to retain due to it being a nice stainless hollow unit. To make that work, I had to replace the stock 15mm pivots in the frame to accept the 17mm bolts. I got a piece of 17mm I.D. chromoly tubing from the local steel shop, cut them to 60mm each, and carefully removed the wends from around the stock pivot tube to remove it. The new tubes were mocked up and welded in. I will be adding flat plate bracing to the stock bracket for added peace of mind, but it is now installed and pivots perfectly.
New arm:
Installed, stock arm resting on top to show the comparison:
I am waiting on parts, and after I overhaul the shop, I will have this bike on the bike table to begin assembly. I will be using Katana offset rotors up front with dual nissin calipers. I am having 2 adapters made to bolt them up to a stock hub. Can't wait to make her a roller.
Also on order is a replica RC162 fairing. I decided that to take full advantage of this motor, I want that full fairing, not to mention it looks amazing. The only difference, is mine will have a headlight cutout in it since this will be a mostly street bike....pics as they come!
Sorry for the lack of updates!
I am vigilantly working though, I promise! The new front end is here. I am using a 1st generation GSXR750 forks with the external damping control. Nice and big at 41mm, but still standard forks which retain the nice vintage looks.
The bearings were a little hard to track down, but I finally found what I need. The stock bearing from the All Balls 400f kit fits the bottom, but I had to order the second bearing from the local bearing house. When it gets here it should bolt on.
Secondly, I bought an 86 FZR250 swing arm from Ebay UK. It is a nice boxed unit with the perfect 205mm pivot length. It uses a needle bearing pivot and is 1.8 lbs lighter than the stock unit even in stock trim. I have to build shock mounts for it to mount the Ohlin's units to the bike, and it will need shortened by 4" to retain the stock dimensions. The wheel mounting area is 5mm narrower than stock, but I am using a custom hub out back that I will post more info on when I receive from the machinist. Stand by for a full review on that! The biggest task to mounting this arm is that it used a 17mm pivot bolt which I wanted to retain due to it being a nice stainless hollow unit. To make that work, I had to replace the stock 15mm pivots in the frame to accept the 17mm bolts. I got a piece of 17mm I.D. chromoly tubing from the local steel shop, cut them to 60mm each, and carefully removed the wends from around the stock pivot tube to remove it. The new tubes were mocked up and welded in. I will be adding flat plate bracing to the stock bracket for added peace of mind, but it is now installed and pivots perfectly.
New arm:
Installed, stock arm resting on top to show the comparison:
I am waiting on parts, and after I overhaul the shop, I will have this bike on the bike table to begin assembly. I will be using Katana offset rotors up front with dual nissin calipers. I am having 2 adapters made to bolt them up to a stock hub. Can't wait to make her a roller.
Also on order is a replica RC162 fairing. I decided that to take full advantage of this motor, I want that full fairing, not to mention it looks amazing. The only difference, is mine will have a headlight cutout in it since this will be a mostly street bike....pics as they come!
JustinLonghorn
No Purple Hearts, No Blue Ribbons
Re: Project Celeste, CB400four....reaiizing my dream bike.
I am very excited about this motorcycle, sir.
I am very excited about this motorcycle, sir.
ponycarman
Been Around the Block
Re: Project Celeste, CB400four....reaiizing my dream bike.
Very Nice!
Very Nice!
Re: Project Celeste, CB400four....reaiizing my dream bike.
Thanks guys!
Rich, the fairing I ordered from a guy in the UK that specializes in race replica parts from the golden years. I've got his site bookmarked, but I'm on my phone and its a pita.
Progress will likely be slow on this for a little while, I've tapped out my budget for it for a bit. I'm also erecting (Hahahahaha) a 30x40 shop on my property as we speak, and funds will be mostly diverted to that for a while. Is like to have it dried in and heated by winter so I have a vacation zone while its freezing outside! I'm stoked about it since it will have a built in paint booth and a built in clean room for.motor work. Gotta do it right!
Thanks guys!
Rich, the fairing I ordered from a guy in the UK that specializes in race replica parts from the golden years. I've got his site bookmarked, but I'm on my phone and its a pita.
Progress will likely be slow on this for a little while, I've tapped out my budget for it for a bit. I'm also erecting (Hahahahaha) a 30x40 shop on my property as we speak, and funds will be mostly diverted to that for a while. Is like to have it dried in and heated by winter so I have a vacation zone while its freezing outside! I'm stoked about it since it will have a built in paint booth and a built in clean room for.motor work. Gotta do it right!
Re: Project Celeste, CB400four....reaiizing my dream bike.
Well a little more work done to day. Dirt is getting delivered tomorrow along with some building materials for the shop to start erecting it, so since I had nothing to do today, and my bearings finally showed up from Japan, I figured I'd set to grafting the front end onto the 400. It's done and works flawlessly. There was one bearing that was a bitch to find to fir the top of the GSXR stem into the 400f race, but once it was here it bolted right up. The Gixxer stem is only 5mm longer than the stock one so that made things really simple. All that's left to do is weld on some steering stops to keep them from crashing into the tank. But it looks great. I also cut off 4" from the FZR swingarm and re-cut the axle holes carefully with a die grinder. With any luck she'll be a roller soon. That is when I get a minute to work in between preparing Gretta for Barber's and building the shop. Lots to do!!!!
The fabled bearings:
Forks installed!
Cut down swinger:
More as they come!
Well a little more work done to day. Dirt is getting delivered tomorrow along with some building materials for the shop to start erecting it, so since I had nothing to do today, and my bearings finally showed up from Japan, I figured I'd set to grafting the front end onto the 400. It's done and works flawlessly. There was one bearing that was a bitch to find to fir the top of the GSXR stem into the 400f race, but once it was here it bolted right up. The Gixxer stem is only 5mm longer than the stock one so that made things really simple. All that's left to do is weld on some steering stops to keep them from crashing into the tank. But it looks great. I also cut off 4" from the FZR swingarm and re-cut the axle holes carefully with a die grinder. With any luck she'll be a roller soon. That is when I get a minute to work in between preparing Gretta for Barber's and building the shop. Lots to do!!!!
The fabled bearings:
Forks installed!
Cut down swinger:
More as they come!
Re: Project Celeste, CB400four....reaiizing my dream bike.
Thanks Rich!
I hope that when this is done it looks as if it were a low numbers production racer that could have come from the factory. I want to use all period correct "looking" parts...hence the non USD forks. Our resident suspension expert Doug got me hooked on 'em. Should match the Ohlins well in the rear. It gives me a lot of satisfaction now knowing that all of the pivots on the frame are full roller bearing now as well. With a little bit of subtle bracing, it should handle well.
Thanks Rich!
I hope that when this is done it looks as if it were a low numbers production racer that could have come from the factory. I want to use all period correct "looking" parts...hence the non USD forks. Our resident suspension expert Doug got me hooked on 'em. Should match the Ohlins well in the rear. It gives me a lot of satisfaction now knowing that all of the pivots on the frame are full roller bearing now as well. With a little bit of subtle bracing, it should handle well.
Re: Project Celeste, CB400four....reaiizing my dream bike.
I know, right?! I can't believe that they are everywhere. Wish I could find some more of them for cheap...in my experience, they are NOT plentiful. That's cool though, I have mine for the resto, and this one to do what I've always wanted. You and I are going in very similar directions in very different ways. Pretty cool. Thanks for the compliments!
I know, right?! I can't believe that they are everywhere. Wish I could find some more of them for cheap...in my experience, they are NOT plentiful. That's cool though, I have mine for the resto, and this one to do what I've always wanted. You and I are going in very similar directions in very different ways. Pretty cool. Thanks for the compliments!
