1970 CL450 Scrambler... First Build

W

whoisjake

Active Member
So completely new to motorcycles... Going to be an incredibly low tech build... I feel bad for tearing her apart, but it's my first bike.

I have a budget (read: fiance who watches the checkbook), I don't have a garage at this house, and I'm new to this scene; but I'm very motivated, knowledgeable of mechanical things, and want to

Thankfully, I have chrisf, mysta2, and Crash at my side for some help (and of course, the whole board)...

Here's what I'm starting out with:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoisjake/3363612609/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoisjake/3364433734/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoisjake/3364433586/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoisjake/3364433460/
 
The carbs need to be adjusted but I took the tank off... replaced the clutch cable, the petcock, and cleaned the inside of the tank out...

Now I just need to start. It runs and I enjoy riding it... I just need to get a plan together...

Attached are a few images I am using for inspiration... Most are from this forum...

Of course, Kit's Loud Bike and Chris' CL360 are also great examples for me to build on...
 
that bottom one, I don't know ;D ;D ;D not quite my style...

hahaha, anyways. Looks like a real good candidate for a restoration. All the bits are there and it seems to be in good shape. Nothing looks cut up or hacked. I'd try and keep all the mods on it reversible.
 
:) You like that last one? Gee, I heard people thought the orange rims were ugly...

Well I want a cafe racer... I had some money and that's what I bought... Not sure if I can turn my back on her now... I'd have to either sell it right at the moment or bite the bullet and give her a new look.
 
hahaha, too funny.

I still think you can build a cafe bike from it. I probably wouldn't cut the frame on it though. You can probably get some junk fenders to cut and paint and likely find a good replacement tank for it as well that you can do whatever to. As long as you're happy with it though - that's what really matters.

In any case, it's a great platform as it is whatever direction you go with it.
 
Sick another 450!

Yours looks like it's in really good condition. Some people might tell you to just restore it but I don't know...it's really fun once you start tearing the thing down! In the end, it's up to you. See how much you want to spend on it and really try to stick to it. Like everyone else, I never planned on stripping my whole bike down. I've almost spend 1000 on everything for the bike and I feel like I will be spending about 500-800 more.

Whatever you decided to do, I hope you don't regret it. Like painting your bike neon pink.
 
I think he should hack the frame :)

Let me get the seat made and we could have that thing fully cafe-d in a few hours. It's not like it needs much. Did you get your clubmans mounted? Did you get some rearsets picked out? I have some ideas on how to make a killer set in staineless if you want to have a o with them.

Let me know about this weekend.

--Chris
 
I've got a set of clubmans ready to go...

I have some rear sets off an 04 or 05 GSXR, but they are incomplete (no linkages) so I'll have to have some help figuring out how to mount them...

Other than that, I'll have to either pick up some signals or not run them... and I've been debating on going with pods and having my exhaust go straight line (like the blue CL360 and Chris' bike), but I'd have to find another set of pipes. The pipes I have now are in really good condition and someone else could probably make better use of them. We'll see.

I'm also debating tank, seat, and colors... the electric starter is not really functional (it tries but never succeeeds) so I might plug that off, save a few pounds there...

Definitely want to get rid of the fenders, wouldn't mind a chopped rear fender, but that'll depend on the seat I think...

I'm not sure if it's just me, but this bike seems to not have that much to remove and streamline... but I guess it's mostly about what I want to remove.

Chris: It should be decent weather this weekend, we could easily meetup somewhere, you could at least look at it and we could make a plan.
 
I have decided to stick with the stock CL exhaust I just put on my 450. I like the look and think it still sounds OK. That means that I have the CL headers from my old exhaust that I will be selling. I haven't taken the time to evaluate their condition, but I would expect the chrome to be in fair shape, but would probably look better wrapped. They are solid. I'll try to get some pics this weekend. I was going to offer the cans free with the headers to whomever bought them if they wanted to cover the extra shipping costs. Maybe we could work out a deal for a motofiaccone seat. ;)

nixon_lhs_22_filter.jpg
 
I may be interested in the exhaust too...if he isn't. Just the headers really. I've got a set of shorty reverse cones to run for mufflers.
 
Flugtechnik said:
I have decided to stick with the stock CL exhaust I just put on my 450. I like the look and think it still sounds OK. That means that I have the CL headers from my old exhaust that I will be selling. I haven't taken the time to evaluate their condition, but I would expect the chrome to be in fair shape, but would probably look better wrapped. They are solid. I'll try to get some pics this weekend. I was going to offer the cans free with the headers to whomever bought them if they wanted to cover the extra shipping costs. Maybe we could work out a deal for a motofiaccone seat. ;)

nixon_lhs_22_filter.jpg
Click to expand...

Ditto on being interested in the headers....
 
whoisjake said:
I've got a set of clubmans ready to go...

I have some rear sets off an 04 or 05 GSXR, but they are incomplete (no linkages) so I'll have to have some help figuring out how to mount them...

Other than that, I'll have to either pick up some signals or not run them... and I've been debating on going with pods and having my exhaust go straight line (like the blue CL360 and Chris' bike), but I'd have to find another set of pipes. The pipes I have now are in really good condition and someone else could probably make better use of them. We'll see.

I'm also debating tank, seat, and colors... the electric starter is not really functional (it tries but never succeeeds) so I might plug that off, save a few pounds there...

Definitely want to get rid of the fenders, wouldn't mind a chopped rear fender, but that'll depend on the seat I think...

I'm not sure if it's just me, but this bike seems to not have that much to remove and streamline... but I guess it's mostly about what I want to remove.

Chris: It should be decent weather this weekend, we could easily meetup somewhere, you could at least look at it and we could make a plan.
Click to expand...

Email sent about meeting up this W/E. Bring the rearsets with you. I'll talk to you about them this weekend. Making linkages is an easy, 10 minute job.

I'll explain it to you this weekend, but if you get rid of the pods, it opens a big can of worms. Then you have to figure out a way to hide the batteries and all sorts of electronics. Not this big of a deal, but it does add to the project scope. Personally, I'd tackle that on stage two.

And if it were me, I'd chop of the exhaust you have an call it a day. Or I can make you a 2-1 system that mounts under the bike--but that is an afternoon project.

--Chris
 
Oh, and get a hold of Kit and see if he has some starter block-offs. They are dirt cheap (~$80?) and well worth the money.

--Chris
 
Roger Roger... I was just curious about the pods... I know that once I get those on and change the exhaust, my carbs will have to change up, and I'm not ready to tackle that beast yet... just want to get some things done.

I may not mount the clubmans before we meet up this weekend... not sure I want to ride the long distance AND get a feel for those bars in one trip!!

(Haven't got the email yet, but who knows, Google is sometimes slow :))
 
Ah! Don't cut up that beautiful exhaust (unless it is rotten). That's probably worth twice as much as some headers.

If you do cut them up though, I'll take the removable muffler tip. ;)
 
Flugtechnik said:
Ah! Don't cut up that beautiful exhaust (unless it is rotten). That's probably worth twice as much as some headers.

If you do cut them up though, I'll take the removable muffler tip. ;)
Click to expand...

I wouldn't even cut up that beautiful bike... why not find a late 70s bike for a platform? If I tore that bike up I'd feel so guilty...

Sorry to stir up shit.
 
Well... I could keep it original, but I'd either A) Have to give up my cafe racer dream or B) Sell it and buy something else...

I think chopping it up might have to be the way to go! It's an old bike, it could use a boob job...
 
Not yet, the bike still isn't running right! :)

No worries, they'll get used on this bike! Thanks again for the hookup...
 
Dove in head first last night... Got some motivation this weekend (by accidentally almost selling it)...

bars are off, wires are out, signals are removed...

clubmans are almost on, just have to notch the control housings on each lever base to allow for the wires to come out that were normally burried in the bars... Or I'm thinking of going the mini-switch route and using smaller levers...

Then who knows what else I'll hack off...
 
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