1988 Kawasaki 750R cafe project - Italian Job

[MotorbikeBruno]

Yeah, those Koso gauges are much nicer than I previously thought. I got the one where you can change the background to whatever color...since it's for the lady and I won't let her paint the bike PURPLE...she can change the gauge to that color if it suits her! haha. Good find for $250 on one of those though. I talked my guy down to $200. Good luck! And that seat is starting to really look the business now.

 

[DeusExMaxima]

The problem is that the gauges are not that much smaller than the stock gauges. Also, I kind of like doing custom work myself, i.e. the seat, and I am inclined to fabricate a housing for the warning lights, either attached to the stock gauge housing, or somewhere else. So Im on the fence about the gauges.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

I hear ya, I wanted something fast, so that I could get her on the CBR asap. There's always something to be said about doing it yourself, it's nice to have one-off bits. I didn't have the time haha.

 

[Lurchorama]

Hey man... quick Q about the tank.
I've got a similar prob with the little GPx Im about to start on... those fairing mounting holes.
Did you simply just grind them back and putty over them?

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Dang the seller of the gauges just dropped the price to $200... :

 

[Lurchorama]

Link?

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Dang the seller of the gauges just dropped the price to $200... :

Haha, that's a bummer..

If you don't like em, maybe I'll go buy another CBR or FZR or the like and do a cafe for myself and take them off your hands... as the one I'm working on is for the wife :-\

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Link?

here is what it looks like:

http://www.biohazardcycles.com/servlet/the-3131/KOSO-RX-dsh-1N-GP-STYLES/Detail

I think Im going to pick it up today from my seller. $200 is hard to pass up.

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Hey man... quick Q about the tank.
I've got a similar prob with the little GPx Im about to start on... those fairing mounting holes.
Did you simply just grind them back and putty over them?

Good question. I cut the tabs off as best as i could. I did cause a small leak in the tank. Sooooooo, I whipped out the old JB Weld and coated the area with it. Then, I filled the entire "crater" remaining form the tab removal with JB Weld. I did it in layers to make sure it dried well. Make sure you rough of the surface before putting the JB Weld on. After the JB, I sand it and coated it with bondo and sanded again. I cant even see where the craters were now. ;D

 

[OpTiCz]

Did I hear right? You're plugging a fuel leak with jb weld? Good luck with that, I would personally weld it.

Typed with thumbs - don't judge.

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Welding is clearly preferred. It was a very tiny leak so I took a calculated risk. If it ever leaks, which I doubt it will, ill we
ld it.

I bought the Koso gauges today. Nice and small!!! Should look great

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

At least it's on the bottom...so it won't ruin your paint job....haha. I was forced to use gas tank and radiator repair epoxy once. Worked great, been a few years and still holding. Not on my bike, but it was bigger leak than a pinhole too...nice snag on the gauges.

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Here is comparison of old gauges with new gauges:

Old gauges are about 2 times the size.

Here is MSPaint of new gauges on bike:

Much smaller and cleaner and just $200. Ill attach these and wire them later.

For now, its sanding in the rain of the seat.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Wow! You got the more "cooler" one than I did. I think that one was a bit more for the original price too, so VERY nice snag at $200!! And it's half the size!! haha

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Wow! You got the more "cooler" one than I did. I think that one was a bit more for the original price too, so VERY nice snag at $200!! And it's half the size!! haha

Thanks! If it wasn't for you, I would not have gotten these gauges since it was looking at your build that inspired me to look for Koso gauges.

 

[andrew6v]

Cool build, I like seeing more cafe style builds with bikes from the 80s. Around here bikes from the 70s sell at an unneccesary premium, and I could buy an good running 88 cbr or similar for less than a shitty shape cb750.


I like the seat, and the new guages.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Thanks! If it wasn't for you, I would not have gotten these gauges since it was looking at your build that inspired me to look for Koso gauges.

Gotta love this forum eh?

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Gotta love this forum eh?

I do. Better than the aholes at caferacer.net.

I worked most of today on the bike. I was doing some spot glazing on the seat when I got a bit impatient and decided to remove the entire back half of the bike, I also removed the radiator, oil cooler, fan, some hoses and the wiring harness. This will allow me to clean the remaining parts, and to prep the frame for paint.

Wiring harness:

front half of bike:

some of what I removed:

I had trouble removing the rear axle. I had to pound it out of the bike causing me to need another axle. While im there, Ill replace the wheel bearing too.

 

[DeusExMaxima]

I found a used axle to replace the one I had to pound out. When the bike goes back together, Ill put antiseize so the axle doesnt give me trouble again.

I decided to remove the motor in order to properly clean everything and paint. I will also be better able to touch up the engine with paint. I was hesitant to pull the motor, but its better than trying to tape the engine to protect it from frame paint.

Ill tape the forks and the center stand and then clean, sand, prime, paint and clear the frame and swing arm and center part of the rims.

 

[DeusExMaxima]

Got seat subframe, swingarm, and both rims primed. Just need to finish cleaning frame and its ready for prime. Im hoping for some paint on this weekend. I have duplicolor deep blue ready for my spray gun for the frame and swing arm and center of the rims, and black for the rest of the rims.