RD400 'Motopaika'...Yeah I'm back.
- Thread starter SquadraCorse
- Start date
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400, Keep it low and sleek
So my biggest issue with most cafe builds is that the gauges sit way up in your face, and the headlight is this short fat stock unit. I think it makes the front look all out of proportion and smushed up, effectively getting rid of the low slung sleek look that a cafe should have. I got a roc-city spitfire bucket and some motolanna headlight mounts to combat this effect.
RocCity vs Stock:
RD400 Headlight by TMK84, on Flickr
A super loose mock up:
RD400 Headlight by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 by TMK84, on Flickr
I love how the front is turning out. I'll be doing up new gauge mounting panel to keep the gauges mounted low and put in some LEDs for the idiot lights. I'll probably end up doing bar end turn signals since I don't really want to mount anything on the headlight or ears.
So my biggest issue with most cafe builds is that the gauges sit way up in your face, and the headlight is this short fat stock unit. I think it makes the front look all out of proportion and smushed up, effectively getting rid of the low slung sleek look that a cafe should have. I got a roc-city spitfire bucket and some motolanna headlight mounts to combat this effect.
RocCity vs Stock:
RD400 Headlight by TMK84, on Flickr
A super loose mock up:
RD400 Headlight by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 by TMK84, on Flickr
I love how the front is turning out. I'll be doing up new gauge mounting panel to keep the gauges mounted low and put in some LEDs for the idiot lights. I'll probably end up doing bar end turn signals since I don't really want to mount anything on the headlight or ears.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Keep it low and sleek
I modeled up the brake disc and laid out the hole pattern I'd like to have on it ,(it's a solid disc and about 1/4" thick)
These holes should shave about 1/4 lb from each rotor. Unfortunately I don't have a rotary table, so it'll be all X/Y co-ordinates
on the milling machine, which should take a little while.....
Brake Disc by TMK84, on Flickr
I modeled up the brake disc and laid out the hole pattern I'd like to have on it ,(it's a solid disc and about 1/4" thick)
These holes should shave about 1/4 lb from each rotor. Unfortunately I don't have a rotary table, so it'll be all X/Y co-ordinates
on the milling machine, which should take a little while.....
Brake Disc by TMK84, on Flickr
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Keep it low and sleek
Holy cow, even with a rotary table thats a steady job! I can remember making cams on a milling maching using coordinates then smoothing it out afterwards with a linisher and file and emery paper. Good luck with it! Nice bike btw, love those RD's.
SquadraCorse said:I modeled up the brake disc and laid out the hole pattern I'd like to have on it ,(it's a solid disc and about 1/4" thick)
These holes should shave about 1/4 lb from each rotor. Unfortunately I don't have a rotary table, so it'll be all X/Y co-ordinates
on the milling machine, which should take a little while.....
Brake Disc by TMK84, on Flickr
Holy cow, even with a rotary table thats a steady job! I can remember making cams on a milling maching using coordinates then smoothing it out afterwards with a linisher and file and emery paper. Good luck with it! Nice bike btw, love those RD's.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Keep it low and sleek
I'm sure it does. The seals on this thing lead to some serious incontinence and it leave drips of oil everywhere. I can only assume that it's leaking from the gearbox into the crank case. The whole motor is getting redone with fresh seals, gaskets, and pistons. I'll also be upgrading to an electronic ignition setup.
killerx said:
I'm sure it does. The seals on this thing lead to some serious incontinence and it leave drips of oil everywhere. I can only assume that it's leaking from the gearbox into the crank case. The whole motor is getting redone with fresh seals, gaskets, and pistons. I'll also be upgrading to an electronic ignition setup.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Gauges
I modeled up a gauge panel and printed it out scaled 1:1. I fabbed it up today and mounted it along with the headlight. I found some cool leather washers I had kicking around and they make nice spacers.
Gauge Template by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauges by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauges by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
I modeled up a gauge panel and printed it out scaled 1:1. I fabbed it up today and mounted it along with the headlight. I found some cool leather washers I had kicking around and they make nice spacers.
Gauge Template by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauges by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauges by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
Barnburner
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Gauges
From your earlier pics, I thought those Motolanna mounts pushed the headlight out way too far. But with this new gauge panel straightening out the clocks it looks spot on!
From your earlier pics, I thought those Motolanna mounts pushed the headlight out way too far. But with this new gauge panel straightening out the clocks it looks spot on!
Cornish Pixie
Ambitious but rubbish cafe builder
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Gauges
Nice work, I'm liking the direction you are going with the headlight and guages - thats going to look super cool.
Nice work, I'm liking the direction you are going with the headlight and guages - thats going to look super cool.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Gauges
I got a new toy for the speed lab:
New Buffer by TMK84, on Flickr
Really nice quality from Northern Tools. I'll be polishing a ton of stuff on this bike (which is very unlike me....)
but because of the direction I want the build to go it's a necessary evil. I tested it out on the clutch lever last night and got decent
results for the 10 minutes I spent on it:
RD400 Clutch Lever by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Clutch Lever by TMK84, on Flickr
I also got my CB headlight but it doesn't want to fit in the opening of the RocCity bucket...I'll have to sort that out later.
I got a new toy for the speed lab:
New Buffer by TMK84, on Flickr
Really nice quality from Northern Tools. I'll be polishing a ton of stuff on this bike (which is very unlike me....)
but because of the direction I want the build to go it's a necessary evil. I tested it out on the clutch lever last night and got decent
results for the 10 minutes I spent on it:
RD400 Clutch Lever by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Clutch Lever by TMK84, on Flickr
I also got my CB headlight but it doesn't want to fit in the opening of the RocCity bucket...I'll have to sort that out later.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 Sunday Rider, Gauges
Minor update:
I pulled the front caliper apart and it looks decent. Some pitting on the pistons but not too bad.
I should be able to clean them up. I was surprised at how heavy the calipers were. I'd love to
replace them with some lighter units. I have some stock FZR calipers but don't know if they'll clear
the wheels. I'll have to pull one disc off my FZR and see how everything fits up. Anyone know
of any vintage race calipers that might be much lighter and work for this application?
(and not cost me $400)?
Also disassembled the brake master and polished the lever.
Minor update:
I pulled the front caliper apart and it looks decent. Some pitting on the pistons but not too bad.
I should be able to clean them up. I was surprised at how heavy the calipers were. I'd love to
replace them with some lighter units. I have some stock FZR calipers but don't know if they'll clear
the wheels. I'll have to pull one disc off my FZR and see how everything fits up. Anyone know
of any vintage race calipers that might be much lighter and work for this application?
(and not cost me $400)?
Also disassembled the brake master and polished the lever.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 'Motopaika'
Also decided to call this build 'Motopaika'....which is simply Maori for 'Motorcycle'
Also decided to call this build 'Motopaika'....which is simply Maori for 'Motorcycle'
JustinLonghorn
No Purple Hearts, No Blue Ribbons
Re: RD400 'Motopaika'
Keep up the good work, sir.
Keep up the good work, sir.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 'Motopaika'
Well I got it completely torn down this weekend and pulled apart some other stuff like the rotor/hat combos, forks, etc. I'm having a really hard time coming to terms with cutting tabs and stuff off of this thing. I never intend to go back to stock, and it's not like it's a rare bike, but none the less it's like defacing a piece of history. I plan on making a new oil tank so will need to keep some of the mounts, but a lot of them can go.
RD400 Frame by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Motor by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Pistons by TMK84, on Flickr
Well I got it completely torn down this weekend and pulled apart some other stuff like the rotor/hat combos, forks, etc. I'm having a really hard time coming to terms with cutting tabs and stuff off of this thing. I never intend to go back to stock, and it's not like it's a rare bike, but none the less it's like defacing a piece of history. I plan on making a new oil tank so will need to keep some of the mounts, but a lot of them can go.
RD400 Frame by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Motor by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Pistons by TMK84, on Flickr
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 'Motopaika'
Powdercoated some parts this weekend. Next up are the wheels and rebuilding and polishing the forks.
Powdercoated some parts this weekend. Next up are the wheels and rebuilding and polishing the forks.
SquadraCorse
Coast to Coast
Re: RD400 'Motopaika'
Got the gauge panel pretty much finished, I just need a blue LED for the high beam indicator.
RD400 Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
Got the gauge panel pretty much finished, I just need a blue LED for the high beam indicator.
RD400 Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
RD400 Gauge Panel by TMK84, on Flickr
bluesmoke69
Been Around the Block
Re: RD400 'Motopaika'
Really like what your doing to your bike, it looks great!!
Really like what your doing to your bike, it looks great!!
