1988 Kawasaki 750R cafe project - Italian Job

Did lots of spot filling and sanding and then primered the tank and seat.

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Very interesting and challenging choice for your project. A '88 750r was my first taste of sport bike performance and had that thing for my main transportation for 10 yrs and over 100k miles, it survived my younger (stupider) motorcycle riding years up into my commuting and civilized days, if not for a whim purchase on a new bike I am sure it would still be mine and on the road.
I really like what you are doing with yours, I never thought about stuff like that when I had mine but seeing yours brought back some fond memories.
 
Thanks Whitey.

This weekend I'm working on the electronics in the rear. The battery needs to go under the seat hump and the nearby wiring and relays and such will be positioned under the seat and mounted to the seat pan. I cut the electrical tape on the wiring to make the wires accessible to lengthening if needed. I plan to clean the tape glue off the wiring and just put a bit of tape on it to keep the wires together and wrap it in that GM wire loom stuff (I dont know what its called but its that ribbed stuff with the slice in it)

One problem is that the battery is going to have to be lowered below the seat pan because it hits the underneath part of the seat hump. Ill have to cut a hole in the seat pan which will countersink the battery. Then I will have to build a battery box to support the lowered battery and secure it somehow.

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On Sunday, I plan to take the seat and gas tank to a carbon fiber vinyl installer and have them covered in gloss 3m carbon fiber vinyl.
 
MotorbikeBruno said:
I'd replace it with a shorter AGM battery or something. Find one with same cranking amps and 3" shorter usually.

Thats the ticket, will be a good bit smaller and not have to be straight up and down, you can build your battery box at an angle or even have the battery on it's side for more space.
 
BikeBandit was having a sale on batteries, including AGM and lithium cells. While I'm spending all your money, you could get a nice lithium unit for $150 and end up with a 3 lb battery...add lightness and keep your center of gravity low.
 
I could get a smaller battery as suggested, and it might be something id do later. For now, I built a battery box to lower the battery so the seat clears it. In order to build it, I used some of the green styrofoam left over from my seat project. I taped it together about two inches above the bottom of it using aluminum duct tape.
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Then i covered the foam and bottom of the battery in duct tape and slathered grease on it for a release agent.

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I had to work on it upside down because I was molding the bottom part of the battery.

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After the first two layers dried, I removed the battery from the fiberglass which was tough. I then added more layers to strengthen it and trimmed and sanded it. Ill add another layer of resin to the outside to make it smooth looking. You cant really see it unless you look under the seat because it is countersunk only a couple inches.
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I cut the seat pan and slid the battery box through it. The battery fits like a piston in a bore because it is perfectly molded to it. Now the seat covers it nicely.

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I like the build, and used to own one of these bikes, so interest peaked,,,

That being said I don't care for the gauges, sorry. I would never have thought of doing what you are to this bike, so I applaud you!
 
MotorbikeBruno said:
Wow, that was well done sir. Normally you don't want to flip one of those batteries upside down though!!

Thanks!! I agree, but I made sure it didnt leak and it was only upside down for an hour or so. I installed and ran it on the bike and seems not to have any ill effects..
 
ScrapMetal said:
I like the build, and used to own one of these bikes, so interest peaked,,,

That being said I don't care for the gauges, sorry. I would never have thought of doing what you are to this bike, so I applaud you!

thank you. In all fairness to the gauges, I plan to clean up the wiring a lot. I think that will improve their appearance. My idea is to get the basics done - cafe seat, mirrors, and vinyl covering and then work on more details as individual projects.
 
Have you thought of replacement gauges? I know I have. The main problem I'm having at the moment, is that I want to find the rpm the gauge should be at, or the ratio so I can snag a gauge that works because the stock gauges on my CBR were wayyyy uglier than what you've got! Yours can probably clean up well.
 
My specific plan for the gauges was to replace the incandescent warning lights with smaller, LEDs. That will eliminate a lot of the messy wiring seen around the gauges. I was also going to paint the gauge support frame flat black to make it less obvious. Finally, there is an area on the lower sides of the gauges that are opened, that need to be covered. I was going to fiberglass it shut and paint it black to match the gauge housing. Perhaps at a later time, I might get some of the aftermarket gauges I have seen as some look nice but are kind of pricey. At the moment, I am focusing on the rear of the bike - the seat, tail lights, electronics, etc. The LED guts for the tail lights I have now arent working so I will be picking up some replacement LEDs tomorrow.
 
I decided that the seat was too boxy, like a MAILBOX as this ahole put it. SO after careful consideration, I began work on a more curvy seat. I used the seat from an 07 MV Agusta as some inspiration and got the following so far:

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You can see it compared to the original seat which is primered. Its only a partially done mold so far
 
DeusExMaxima said:
like a MAILBOX as this ahole put it. SO after careful consideration, I began work on a more curvy seat.
Isn't it a bit funny that you found the critical feedback valuable yet you call the person ahole...
 
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