Archer
Active Member
Hey guys,
I'm new here and have only recently found this great site. I thought my first post might as well be the start of my cafe build thread. Any advice and help anyone can offer along the way would be greatly appreciated! I know without a doubt that i'll be asking a lot of questions.... soon. I hope I don't drive ya'll crazy.
First, a little back story. (skip if you don't care for stories)
I don't know much about bikes. By much, I mean anything. I don't ride.....but its something i've always wanted to do. Years back, my brother gave me a short lesson and I took his cheap Yamaha around our neighborhood for about 5 minutes before I laid the bike down at a stop sign. Scared me a little, but the first 5 minutes rocked. 17 years passed. At some point I saw a picture of a black cb350 cafe racer and thought "now THATS my kind of bike" You always know your style when you see it. Its something about the lines of the bike. I'm sure you know what I mean. Recently a couple of my friends took up riding. That started the bug. I began searching craigslist and found a CB350 in rough shape.
Why build a bike if I don't even ride? Why not? I thought it would be a great way to learn everything about the bike i'll be riding from the inside out. Take my time learning everything I can. Months down the road when I have it going, i'll feel more confident about riding it and will use the very bike in a local motorcycle riding 101 class being offered here locally.
On to the bike
Rough shape, doesn't describe it poorly enough. Most parts were in boxes and strung around a shed. The engine was out and the previous owner said he was wanting to do a cafe racer, but never found the time. It sat in his shed non-running for 14 years. Parts were missing, carbs, speedo, seat. The bars were cut in half and moved below the top triple tree. (not welded together and moved independently) Trash, in other words. I thought about it for a week and decided I had to have it anyway.
April 30th I took her home...
"As is" rolled into my garage.
Notice the cardboard headlight bracket
... and rust.
Tank has a few dents, rust inside
Motor covered in sawdust. (It was in a shed)
Misc parts...
Well, thats enough for now, i'll try to post a few quick updates, i've done since i got her home. Wish me luck guys, i'm gonna need it. And thank you for letting me be a part of this great site.
I'm new here and have only recently found this great site. I thought my first post might as well be the start of my cafe build thread. Any advice and help anyone can offer along the way would be greatly appreciated! I know without a doubt that i'll be asking a lot of questions.... soon. I hope I don't drive ya'll crazy.
First, a little back story. (skip if you don't care for stories)
I don't know much about bikes. By much, I mean anything. I don't ride.....but its something i've always wanted to do. Years back, my brother gave me a short lesson and I took his cheap Yamaha around our neighborhood for about 5 minutes before I laid the bike down at a stop sign. Scared me a little, but the first 5 minutes rocked. 17 years passed. At some point I saw a picture of a black cb350 cafe racer and thought "now THATS my kind of bike" You always know your style when you see it. Its something about the lines of the bike. I'm sure you know what I mean. Recently a couple of my friends took up riding. That started the bug. I began searching craigslist and found a CB350 in rough shape.
Why build a bike if I don't even ride? Why not? I thought it would be a great way to learn everything about the bike i'll be riding from the inside out. Take my time learning everything I can. Months down the road when I have it going, i'll feel more confident about riding it and will use the very bike in a local motorcycle riding 101 class being offered here locally.
On to the bike
Rough shape, doesn't describe it poorly enough. Most parts were in boxes and strung around a shed. The engine was out and the previous owner said he was wanting to do a cafe racer, but never found the time. It sat in his shed non-running for 14 years. Parts were missing, carbs, speedo, seat. The bars were cut in half and moved below the top triple tree. (not welded together and moved independently) Trash, in other words. I thought about it for a week and decided I had to have it anyway.
April 30th I took her home...
"As is" rolled into my garage.
Notice the cardboard headlight bracket
... and rust.
Tank has a few dents, rust inside
Motor covered in sawdust. (It was in a shed)
Misc parts...
Well, thats enough for now, i'll try to post a few quick updates, i've done since i got her home. Wish me luck guys, i'm gonna need it. And thank you for letting me be a part of this great site.
