half a cb350

[Tim]

First I have a question - does that CB500/550 tank (the 'new' one) mount up properly to the frame at the front end? That's an interesting bit of news for other 350 owners - always a tossup to guess if a tank will mount properly.

If it does, and you want an even more aggressive cafe look, consider looking for a CB750F tank. I know they mount up easily to the 500/550 frame, so if a 500/550 tank mounts to your frame, so will a 750F tank. It would stretch back even further, and you'd then likely cut the seatpan shorter. Would look awesome on a smaller bike.

Between these two, I tend to like the original tank. I like the knee indentations and more angular look.

 

[Tim]

This is a 750F tank on my old 550F.

 

[hotfunk67]

Thanks tim,
it is actually a CB175 tank so it fits perfectly. I considered a 250 tank but the front mounts are bigger and would need some modification.

 

[Tim]

Yep - sorry - wasn't quite awake yet and just saw a blurry tank with black side graphics on it, which made it look like the 550 tank.

 

[dcmspikes]

Thanks tim,
it is actually a CB175 tank so it fits perfectly. I considered a 250 tank but the front mounts are bigger and would need some modification.

i like the yellow one. ideally for mine i want either the cx500 tank or maybe a cb200 tank. they are very different from each other, but i think either would be cool. good luck with your decision. why not just make another seat and switch them when you want?
i know it only takes a minute to switch the tank.

 

[hotfunk67]

why not just make another seat and switch them when you want?

Two bikes for the price of one, might just consider that.

i had a look at the cb200 tank as well and it will fit straight on to this frame, quite a funky looking tank.

 

[chrisf]

That bike would look killer with a Benelli tank from Vintage Cosmo. Otherwise, I think I'd stick with the original--maybe sand the seam down a spell.

--Chris

 

[hotfunk67]

So Ive had a busy week working on the bike, man time flys when your having fun.
Where to start with what Ive been up to.
Lets start with the frame. I de-tabbed everything and ground down the welds just to smooth it out a bit. Then I stripped all the paint off with a wheel thing and a drill ( my hands are still vibrating from that little adventure ). I then sanded the frame and covered it in some primer to stop the surface rust from setting in. Heres some pics.

Thats my daily transport in the background for my 5 minute ride to work. Its an Aprilia sportcity 200

 

[hotfunk67]

Ive been doing some work on the wheels to bring them up a bit. I toyed with the idea of respoking the rims but this build is on a tight budget so that was out of the question, then I thought I would paint them black, but in the end I figured its not a show bike so I'll clean them as best I can and give the hubs a buff up and that will do me. I lashed out and got some new tyres and guess what they're NOT Avons. Apparently they dont make road riders in the sizes I need ??? So I got some Metzeler ME22's 18 x 2.75 for the front and 18 x 3.0 for the back.

Cleaning up the rim, note the old tyre still on there.

 

[hotfunk67]

I did a previous post about my seat pads but they have been scrapped as the comfort factor was zero so the search was on for some new foam and I came up with a foam that is used for padding out camera or gun cases, its quite dense but not as hard as the stuff used for gym mats. it seams to be quite comfortable but the proof will be in the riding. I was going to cover it in vinyl but I found some black neoprene that I think will make a good cover. I've probably done all this the hard way but with the new seat base it allows me to attach it to the bike in quite a sturdy way. I haven't finished the cover yet but here's some pics so far.

 

[hotfunk67]

In the top photo of my last post you can see a couple of different colours on the frame, deciding on black or silver for the frame. And the winner is silver. so heres the plan Yellow tank and seat as in the pics, silver frame, some black highlights as in back shock springs, engine fins and maybe lower front fork legs ( I may polish these and just paint the front guard black ??? ). The sides of the engine fins will be sanded back and a few engine bits buffed up, oh yeah and some black checkers down the top of the tank and a number on the back seat hump, also the original badges on the tank sides - Honda wings in white and black Honda letters. By the way I decided to stick with the original tank, thanks for the comments guys very helpful as usual.
Cleaning the engine took ages, plenty of degreaser a few different brushes of varying sizes and a heap of elbow grease job done.

The sides will get a touch-up in silver as well

before (left) and after (right)

maybe black pipes as well?

 

[hotfunk67]

next on the list is to make some rearsets using the passenger peg mounts and some bmx pegs. The shift side will be gp style by just swinging the gear lever around. The brake side will need something fabricated out of alluminium. I had to grind off some bolts that the old pegs screwed into so I could run a bolt through into the new peg ( different thread and would foul the swing arm ).

I need to strip the paint and paint it silver also a pin will need to be put in to stop the peg from coming undone.

Well thats about it, my week in review.

 

[hotfunk67]

Just thought I would add this in. Here's a pic of the fins, just starting the sanding

 

[hotfunk67]

Here are the seat pads all finished.

and the checkers on the tank with the original badges on the silver frame

close up of the checkers. these are vinyl and were a biatch to put on

 

[hotfunk67]

I'm a bit suprised there were no comments on any of these posts :'(
Oh well, I'll have some more soon so maybe then...

 

[stuco]

The bike is looking really good. The paint job is beautiful and the seat tastefully done. Nice work!

 

[Tim]

Looking awesome! The seat pads look nice and neat - do you have details on how you made them?

 

[hotfunk67]

There are a couple of pics on the second page.
I used some thin plywood and glued a block of foam to it, then i shaped it with a wheel in my drill that is used for stripping varnish ( apparently with this foam you can't burn it as it releases cyanide gas which can be lethal). Sorry previous to gluing the foam on I glued the bolts in place that will hold it all together and attach it all to the frame.
I then covered it in black neoprene by stapling it to the plywood. the neoprene is great as it is very stretchy and allows you to get around the corners easily. I made the main pad first then I shaped the bumstop pad so it fit together nicely.
The hardest part was getting the fine foam dust off everything in my garage.

 

[dcmspikes]

looking good. you've got me all fired up about my 175. i spent hours today polishing headers and exhaust pieces. now if i could get the darn oil filter out. think im going to start on a seat this week. keep up the work. cant wait to see it finished. thanks for all the help youve given me.

 

[hotfunk67]

Hey Josh when we going to see some pics of your 175, I look forward to seeing what you do with your seat and bike. Any luck with a cb200 tank yet?