So here is the story. I bought this bike when I was 18. It was my first love. I rode it everywhere. I rode it to work. I rode it at school. I rode it just to ride it. I loved this bike. When I got married we even took it with us to California. When we moved back it went into storage in my father's pole barn... and never left.
That was 14 years ago (yes, I'm officially 'old'). Last summer I started to get the itch to ride again and even considered buying a newer bike, something bigger since I'm bigger as well as older now too. I would browse Craigslist and see what was out there, but money being what it is I couldn't afford to do much more than look. Then I saw it... a '74 CB200 just like mine, even the same color... that 70's green that was all the rage. So I started searching specifically for CB200's out of curiosity and saw all the custom cafe racers people we making out of them and I fell in love all over again. So there was only one thing left to do.
Last week I pulled her from the barn and brought her home. I now have her taken apart almost to the frame with full intention of making her the gorgeous machine on the outside that she always has been to me on the inside.
The plan...
Clean all the rust from the frame and repaint it. This is a rebuild on a budget so powdercoating isn't an option.
Clean up the motor but not going to rebuild it. She ran strong back in the day so I know it's in good shape. Just needs some cosmetic TLC. And I know my limitations. I have a healthy respect for "The thing that goes 'SPROING'" (TTTGS) Every motor has a TTTGS. It's put there for someone who is tearing apart an engine who rightfully has no business doing so. At some point it goes SPROING (hence the name) and they are never able to put it back in good working order again. So, going to leave that as it is.
Rearsets... Definitely want rearsets. I might try making my own or finding something off the shelf.
Seat... Again, might try making my own or finding something off the shelf.
Color... Most of the chrome bits are fairly well rusted and pitted to at least some degree. So the final bike won't have a lot (if any). It will have to be painted. What I'm imagining is gloss black frame and wheels. Black engine with bright yellow trim pieces (the bits that are usually chrome. Tank bright yellow with black accents. Pipes in black tape. Seat yellow with black stripes... rounded like a bee's abdomen. Finally, a single bullet style taillight for a "stinger".
This is a build on a budget. The budget is if I can't afford something it puts a hold on the project until I can. So the less I have to spend the better. I'm also not looking for perfection, just looking to get my baby back.
That was 14 years ago (yes, I'm officially 'old'). Last summer I started to get the itch to ride again and even considered buying a newer bike, something bigger since I'm bigger as well as older now too. I would browse Craigslist and see what was out there, but money being what it is I couldn't afford to do much more than look. Then I saw it... a '74 CB200 just like mine, even the same color... that 70's green that was all the rage. So I started searching specifically for CB200's out of curiosity and saw all the custom cafe racers people we making out of them and I fell in love all over again. So there was only one thing left to do.
Last week I pulled her from the barn and brought her home. I now have her taken apart almost to the frame with full intention of making her the gorgeous machine on the outside that she always has been to me on the inside.
The plan...
Clean all the rust from the frame and repaint it. This is a rebuild on a budget so powdercoating isn't an option.
Clean up the motor but not going to rebuild it. She ran strong back in the day so I know it's in good shape. Just needs some cosmetic TLC. And I know my limitations. I have a healthy respect for "The thing that goes 'SPROING'" (TTTGS) Every motor has a TTTGS. It's put there for someone who is tearing apart an engine who rightfully has no business doing so. At some point it goes SPROING (hence the name) and they are never able to put it back in good working order again. So, going to leave that as it is.
Rearsets... Definitely want rearsets. I might try making my own or finding something off the shelf.
Seat... Again, might try making my own or finding something off the shelf.
Color... Most of the chrome bits are fairly well rusted and pitted to at least some degree. So the final bike won't have a lot (if any). It will have to be painted. What I'm imagining is gloss black frame and wheels. Black engine with bright yellow trim pieces (the bits that are usually chrome. Tank bright yellow with black accents. Pipes in black tape. Seat yellow with black stripes... rounded like a bee's abdomen. Finally, a single bullet style taillight for a "stinger".
This is a build on a budget. The budget is if I can't afford something it puts a hold on the project until I can. So the less I have to spend the better. I'm also not looking for perfection, just looking to get my baby back.
That would be awsome to have a solid parts bike tho man.. always on the hunt for one myself.
