78 CB400A "Stepchild"

[Independent]

Well there I was, sitting at home wondering what I was going to do for a bike to ride. Sold my last one to ease financial burdens in the household and have been with out a ride for a year now. Looked around the CL for a month or so but didn't see anything for real cheap so I called my friend to see if he still had this old Honda Hawk around. He did and promptly dropped it off at my house to get it out of his garage. The bike ran but did it very poorly. After a quick ride down the road it went in the shop and this is how it went. An internet search for info on the bike led me to a forum where all these guys were building cool looking cafe racers and I knew this was the way to go with the project. Black Motor Covenants bike stood out because its the exact same bike and just looked like what I wanted. I will be changing up the color scheme but other than that I won't say that I am copying but mine will be strongly influenced by his project. Well on to build pics.

This is how she came in. Not too bad but stock sucks.

After a few hours with the tools.

The next day

After the rest of the teardown, the frame and engine got painted then reassembly started slowly.

Getting more parts cleaned up and reinstalled.

And that's the progress as of yesterday. Todays project is to tape off the rims for paint, more small clean up, more reassembly, and make some clip-ons. More pics to come so stay tuned.

 

[racercat3]

Looking Great,, You going to keep the stock air box or go with pods?

 

[two-smoker]

Damn, dude, you work fast...

 

[Independent]

Going to keep the stock box for now. I have read some of the guys here are having problems trying to tune them right after putting pods on. Still looks pretty good with the stock box cleaned up though. I work fast because I want to get riding. ;D

 

[racercat3]

Looking forward to seeing it finished ! Which at your pace should be sometime tonight.
interested in seeing what you do for the seat

 

[Independent]

Here is todays progress. Got the rims cleaned up. Rear put back together, and front forks on temporarily. Tomorrow I will do the bars like I wanted to do today before I got sidetracked.

Looking for some opinions. I was thinking of doing the spokes of the rims in wrinkle black like the engine and forks but looking at it now I may just leave them the way they are. They cleaned up very well and I appreciate the contrast.

 

[two-smoker]

It would look good if you had the cam cover, and side engine covers in silver... Maybe hit them with a wire brush... Just my opinion.

 

[Independent]

Just a quick update. Front forks on, wiring installed, clip-on's made, back up on the lift and getting ready to finish up all the little things. Hope to be riding by the end of the weekend, but we will see.

 

[SONICJK]

Please leave the clip ons that long.
8)

Looks great

 

[Independent]

Well after a few more long nights in the shop we are on the road again. New tail and turn lights, new 18t front sprocket (from 17 stock), cleaned up chain and just good cleaning on reassembly. Flipped the headlight brackets and remounted the speedo too. Not too bad for 2 to 3 hrs a night for a few weeks. There is still more I want to do later like a different 1up seat and a repaint on the tank and side skins but for now its down the road.

 

[Independent]

Please leave the clip ons that long.
8)

Looks great

Left them long just for you. They are only 12" from the fork but feel pretty good where they are.

 

[Independent]

Did a little more work on her this week. Still playing with carb jetting but I am closing in on it. Made a side mount plate holder and wrapped the header pipes for a little hotrod look. Nothing too much, been busy putting miles on it. More to come later.