Project Rat/Cafe 1000$!

xruze56

xruze56

Been Around the Block
Hi guys my dad just recently bought a cb750 to make into a cafe racer but with it came a part bike that had an 1978 cb 750 frame that came with it and also a bunch of other parts that came in a crate with it . Im pretty young and live in southern california and my ultimate goal is to make a radical cafe/rat bike and just throw a bunch of parts from other bikes on it to just get it running than later on go back and strip it down and paint it and powder coat it. The parts that i have currently are the frame, rims/tires, forks , springs and a bunch of other scraped miscellaneous parts that are not good and an engine with just the bottom end and carbs. What do i need to get this bike running. I made a list of the parts i need if i miss something can you please add it in. (Gastank,handlebars,engine,chain,electrical,exhaust) AlsoThis is my first build that I'm doing by my self. I think I'm better off just finding a salvaged bike off craigslist and using that bikes engine to throw on my bike. Listed below are the pics of the couple parts i have that i think that can are only good to be used :eek:

Lat question: How long did it take you guys to build rat bike? I figured with all the free time i have this could take me less than a month to build this bike and have it running




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Honestly,
Your'e better off buying a complete bike and starting from there, there are so many parts missing that its going to cost a ton to buy separately.
20 bucks here, 50 there, adds up fast.

If that frame has a title (if it doesnt don't bother building anything from it), then get a crappy bike without a title and swap all the parts to that frame.

And a month is a TIGHT timeline. Assuming you can find any parts you need locally (you cant) thats a whole lot of work in a very little amount of time.
 
Agree with above... I set in with a parts bike, with 90% there... but finding the missing bits, and even better, realizing what should be replaced can add up real quick (my $150 initial purchase bargain build is going to be pushing 1500 easy by completion) You could do it... buying bulk throwaway packages off ebay (best way to find engine mounts and misc frame nuts and bolts!) and build the seat/exhaust to your specs and using every cheapo trick in the book to make a functional machine. But unless you have a manual and good experience doing buildup/teardowns and a good idea of what parts a safe and worthwhile to reuse, I would say find yourself a parts bike for cheap, with a title, and go from there if you want to do it under 1000 bucks and in a month (plan on alot of ebay expedited shipping charges)
 
The forum speaks the truth. To give you some idea. I just spent $19 on a NOS gas cap pin and e-clip. Not a gas cap, just a small little latch pin. I looked into replacing the rubber intake trumpets and could only find 1 (I need three) for $60. I decided to freshen up the old units. Even used intake trumpets for my bike sell for $20+. These are the obscure parts that you never think of up front. Trying to build your bike up piece by piece will be serious $$$, even if you are sourcing the cheapest parts you can find on E-Bay. You will also suffer major major headaches if you try to build the bike up from 100% used E-Bay parts. 2/3 of the parts you will find are unusable POS parts. It is never going to be cheaper to try to build a bike part by part.
 
Here's what I'd do in your situation:

Haunt craigslist for a deal on a non-running COMPLETE bike with title. I've found 2 or 3 locally between $250 and 300-400. You may have to post a wanted ad, something will turn up.

In the mean time, you could clean up and paint the parts you have. That'll give you something to do and if you're lucky, the bike you find will take those parts.

Like these guys said, all the little stuff is available, but you'll end up getting nickeled and dimed big time.
 
Dont want to beat a dead horse... But I will. Run away from this. Find a running bike.

Doesnt have to be 100% complete or in good shape. Just mostly there and running. Go from there. I couldnt finish that bike in a month for under a grand, and Ive been fucking with these things for years and have a garage full of parts. Thats not a great example as it takes me forever to finish anything if I dont trade it off first, but I digress and Im sure you get the point... Haha.

Building a bike from boxes of parts (most of which are missing) is a massive undertaking, even for those that do this for a living and have access to a full shop.

Find a running beater WITH TITLE, and have at it. You'll be much happier in the end.

Good luck man!
 
i just bought an engine today with 11k miles on it for 400$...Im up to the challenge and think i can find a lot of parts i want at the local motorcycle swap meets. Im bumping up my spending limit to around 2500$ and to just give a more realistic insight in what I'm doing here. If i stick it I'm sure i can finish this bike in less than 2 months
 
Great! Cannot wait to see the progress as you go - keep posting pics and your progress.

Once you get going, post up the parts that you need and I am sure that other members here might have what you need for a good price.
 
haha the guy wants the engine back so i gave it back and got my $ back but i just found a nice cb550 for a decent price and i think I'm going to take everyones suggestions and build off that
 
Haha who does that?
Actually now that you bought it I want it. Tough titties bro.

Anyway,
Much better idea anyway
 
haha well he was a good friend he sold it to me cheap but he wanted to make more $ on it so i didn't care and after buying it i realized anyway that this was just going to take way to much time =/ worked out for the better good
 
ere's what I'd do in your situation:

Haunt craigslist for a deal on a non-running COMPLETE bike with title.


i second this
 
There ya see, by listening to these fine folks at DTT you got yourself a ridable CB750 in time for you one month deadline! ;) Regaurdless of what you paid for it, I think you came out ahead rather than trying to build the original basket case.
CONGRATS!
Now you can nickle and dime buying parts here and there, adding them to the bike WHILE you are riding... OR I saw where you plan on painting this one royal blue. You can be gathering up the parts you want over time and once you have everything, do a complete rebuild all at once. Don't know when yopu would do it in SoCal... that is what WINTER is for here!
Wish you were closer, I'd take those Comstars in a heartbeat! But I am kinda sick that way, most guys will want your spokers.
 
Hoosier Daddy said:
There ya see, by listening to these fine folks at DTT you got yourself a ridable CB750 in time for you one month deadline! ;) Regaurdless of what you paid for it, I think you came out ahead rather than trying to build the original basket case.
CONGRATS!
Now you can nickle and dime buying parts here and there, adding them to the bike WHILE you are riding... OR I saw where you plan on painting this one royal blue. You can be gathering up the parts you want over time and once you have everything, do a complete rebuild all at once. Don't know when yopu would do it in SoCal... that is what WINTER is for here!
Wish you were closer, I'd take those Comstars in a heartbeat! But I am kinda sick that way, most guys will want your spokers.
Click to expand...

Yah i got an extra set of rims (spokes) that im going to use but i have a question. My rims currently have disc brakes on the back and duel in the front. How can i make this conversion work??? And yes i plan on painting my tank that royal blue and the side covers as well but im goign to change the side covers to more of the rounded style and maybe change the tank later down the road. I plan on also changing the seat to a long shot one like this down below....Im going to change the bars,headlight, and all the turning lights and brake light, Take the fenders off and the bar by the rear fender ,change the speedos to something more modern,put on some classic coker tires and throw some bronze air filter pods and i think thats all i need. As for the hot southern california weather ive dealt with it all my life so its no big deal plus im in the air force guard and only got about 4 months to put this bitch together before im probably off to basic training and tech school for a year so i want to make sure its all done so when tech school comes around i can ride it on the weekends like a cool kid lol 8)

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OHHHHH!!
So I take it you've been to MEPs and raised your hand then... It's a good plan hope it works for ya!
Good luck at Lackland and depending on what your MFSC is, wherever you will be going to Tech School.
Yea, I been there (FANG) Got out in '89 as a Staff Sgt. played Crew Chief on F-4 and then F-16's for the 122nd Tactical Fighter Wing. Unless things have changed, you don't get to go home between Basic and Tech School so I don't know how you'd get your bike. Maybe between Tech School and your OJT Active Duty Base before you finally get to be a "Weekend Warrior" at your home unit.
Just remember, at Basic their job is to tear you down and then build you back up. It's all a mind fuck so just keep your head on right... and don't volunteer for ANYTHING! Don't be the first in line, or the last... just blend in somewhere in the middle.
Your goal is to get all the way through you're 8 weeks of Basic and have your T.I. say "Who are you?"
 
sorry for the late reply! yes i will be with 144th fighter wing and will be a crew chief. I keep hearing from people after basic and your graduation you can have some truck it or ship it over there so when your free on weekends and can go out in civvies' or blues you can ride your bike around but can't go out of a 50 mile radius . and yes i will definitely not volunteer for anything thats the revolving advice i keep on hearing so ill make sure to take that into account
 
Atta Boy another Crew Dog! Best job you can have as far as I am concerned.
Unless they changed things your Tech School will be at Shepard AFB in Witchita Falls TX. Being from clear up in Indiana, and I didn't have a bike back when I went, I never looked into getting anything shipped down, hope it works for you.
I did call a Taxi one weekend and went to the local Dragway for a night, so I do remember getting off base. But mostly hung out at the Airmans Club, drinking beers on friday and saturdays. :)
 
Is that a 77-78 cb750f? I think you'll find it difficult swapping spoked wheels on to it. Keep the Comstars and the dual disc setup.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
 
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