Project Quickie Cafe........

[dewjantim]

As if I don't have enough projects going on...... here is my latest. A 1972 Honda CB500 which I stole..... errrrr..... I mean purchased for $600. Just needs a good cleanup, tires, paint, battery charged, and a few cafe goodies (which I already have) and it will be done. Once it warms up it should only take a few days to complete. It is going to be my main rider this spring/summer . In the pics I sat my orange 550 tank on the bike, just to see what it looks like. Unfortunately the seat won't fit so I will be using the stock tank.

 

[dewjantim]

I took off the bodywork, removed all the trim, and dug through my stash to find a 1/4 fairing that a friend gave me. Took the whole mess to my painter yesterday, dropped it off, and told him to suprise me with a color .

 

[VonYinzer]

Cool. The 500s are great rides.

 

[dewjantim]

Thanks Von. I like them better than the 750's. A lot lighter and almost as fast........

 

[dewjantim]

Not much to report..... the bodywork is to be painted a turquoise color..... well..... it is actually blue but the can says turquoise. Dave had this paint lying around in his paint cabinet...... I think it was mixed wrong so he gave me a heck of a deal on it for my bike. Dave does excellent work and has painted many bikes and a few cars for me. I stopped using him a couple of years ago because he was so busy and started using another friend of mine(Pat) who used to paint back in the 70's. Dave ran into me last year on a bobber which Pat had painted and gave me a hard time about using someone else. So, I have so much stuff going on that I am now using them both..... now if I could only get them in a price war......hehehehe.....

 

[dewjantim]

It was nice here yesterday so since my other projects are stalled at the moment, I got to work on my Honda 500. Bodywork has been sent off (last post) so it was a good time to detail the bike. Worked all day on it .....first degreasing it then washing it twice with S&S and Suzuki cycle cleaners. Dried the whole thing down with my bike dryer, polished some on the chrome and aluminum then detailed and shined up the chassis, electrics,and wheels. While I was at it I charged the battery. Bike is mostly finished now, just needs a little more polishing on the engine and fenders, remove exhaust and paint it black, clean carbs, put the battery back in bike, and install new bodywork, seat, and fairing....... here are some "after cleanup" pics......

 

[dewjantim]

Darn...... I forgot the pics :-[ :-[ :-[ .

 

[dewjantim]

And a few more .......

 

[dewjantim]

Update 3/17/11: Installed new ignition switch today...... then worked on the Ducati GTL (another thread) a little before getting out my Triumph bobber and taking a ride.......

 

[reelinfeele]

Do those frames flex much? I have always wondered about that.

 

[dewjantim]

I haven't ridden this bike, but my 550F has no problems at all. I ride fairly fast on the street and don't race on the track so at race speeds it might flex.......

 

[Dale]

Do those frames flex much? I have always wondered about that.

The L twin motor is a stressed member designed to work hand in hand with the trellis frame. The tubular steel trellis frame has a certain amount of flex designed into it. Steel frames act similarly to a spring, absorbing some energy as they flex, but releasing it again when they snap back to their original form. This energy is released more gradually than in a more rigid aluminium frame. Riding a trellis frame bike feels amazing. However, as dewjantim alludes to, most of us never take these machines anywhere near their limits, and it all just becomes theoretical, unless of course you're a pro.

 

[dewjantim]

Hey Dale....... I am a pro bullshitter and I can't tell the difference......

 

[dewjantim]

Update 3/28/11: I removed the exhaust and polished up the engine. Then painted exhaust, refinished, cleaned and polished all related parts. I let the paint dry a couple of days and put the exhaust back on bike and installed clubman bars...... I checked on my bodywork, cracked sidecovers repaired, and the few small dents in the tank fixed. Should be ready in a week or so...... ;D ;D ;D .

 

[dewjantim]

Update-4/20/11: Swapped handlebars for clubman bars, cleaned carbs, polished float bowls, did more polishing on the engine, painted brake stay and centerstand. Cleaned and polished nuts, bolts, and fuel petcock. I also painted and detailed the HONDA and 500Four emblems. Paint is ready to pick up... my painter changed his mind on the color....... it is a very vivid black. I will pick bodywork up next Tuesday on payday......since I took off to Florida for a few days and blew my paint money. Will try to post some pics later........

 

[Dale]

Get out yer camera! need some eye candy.

 

[dewjantim]

Yesterday and today I sorted the wiring and rerouted the cables and wiring looms for a neat appearance. Just about finished..... pick up body work on Tuesday, make new tail light mounts, and give it one last cleaning. Should be done by Friday or Saturday. Here are a few pics......

 

[dewjantim]

Here we go again !!!

 

[dewjantim]

I have decided to go black and never look back......... so........ I painted the HONDA emblems semi-gloss black, for that monochromatic look, and the 500 Four emblems white with black hand painted numbers and letters. Then I will throw a couple of flags with checkered flag and rising sun emblems for the sidecovers and one raised rising sun flag emblem on the fairing dash...... of course here are pics of those graphics.....

 

[dewjantim]

And this is one of my bikes which I finished last spring..... it is my rider for this month .