another cb350

S

schvizen

New Member
Hello all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I live in Michigan, and work for GM design (digital sculptor). This is my first motorcycle and I've been building it up for over a year by scavenging local wreck yards, Ebay, and craigslist. Now that it's starting to take shape, I thought I would post some pics and get some advice. My goal is to do a proper "big arse project" write up, but this is all I have time for right now. Thanks for a great site and community.

IMG_0008.jpg


IMG_0007.jpg


IMG_0001.jpg


IMG_0003.jpg


IMG_0002.jpg


IMG_0004.jpg
 
Nice! You've got the job I dreamed about as a teen. I even got the literature from the Art Center College of Design in California. That was 20+ years ago of course. Would love to see some of your design work - welcome to the site!
 
XS750/850 std tank, correct? I have one on the shelf in front of me right now that's going on my 500T......nice looking project you have there!
 
Nice ride. Welcome aboard!

I also like the look of that tank on the 350. Almost like a modern sportbike style with the big tank hump relative to the size of the bike, leading into the clipons.

If I could make a suggestion, I think you might get some benefit from flipping the rear brake actuator lever 180 degrees, as well as the lever at the pedal (ie. sticking up instead of down). That will switch the mechanism from compressing the brake rod to pulling on it. You may have to bend the brake rod a little to fit around the frame, but doing that will increase the strength of the rear brake system. I'd hate to see you make a panic stop and stomp on the brake pedal and have the brake rod twist itself into a pretzel.
 
yeah, I found a 1977 xs750 tank at a local scrap yard in the snow. This tank gave me the proportion I was looking for, and it has the squared off rear end and some faint knee indentions. All I did was strip the old paint off and it left the primer/etched surface that you see in the pics. MikesXS had brand new gravity style petcocks that replaced the stock pressure-style. The interior of the tank looks brand new so I didn't even have to seal it.
 
fugue,

Thanks for the suggestion, but does it matter if the drum is actuated by either pushing or pulling the lever? I have seen others go over the top with the linkage, but like you said, they had to bend the rod to route it around the shock. I was worried that if the rod had bends in it, I wouldn't get as much of the force through the rod without it flexing at the bends. I guess my logic was to keep it a straight shot to apply the most force possible on the lever. Please let me know what you think.
 
Tintin said:
Nice! You've got the job I dreamed about as a teen. I even got the literature from the Art Center College of Design in California. That was 20+ years ago of course. Would love to see some of your design work - welcome to the site!
Click to expand...

Lol i did that too, but the $16, 000 tuition changed my mind for me. Schvizen i'm going to give you a call when i graduate from ID :D.
 
Sweet project!
Love the stance and low profile you bike has and of course the High Pipe.

If you don't know it already you are now automatically and officially in the "High Pipe" Club or "High Piper" if you prefer to call us by our pseudo name.
We are a prestigious lot cut from the finest cloth and bread from the finest stock and as you will come to find out are envied the world over.

You will soon understand why women want you and men want to be you and some men may want to be women so they could want you,but enough about that. Take this honor that is bestowed upon you and wear it proudly and with your head held high....high as well,high as a "High Piper" should! ;D
 
This thread:

http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=2760.0

should have the requisite info, and some pics. The rear brake cam on these bikes is "dual action" - it works both ways, push and pull.

As far as strength goes, you'll always be able to apply a greater force to a thin rod in tension rather than compression. Physics. Pull is better than push for max force application.
 
fugue,

Thanks again for the info, and for the link. I see your point about the linkage being safer in tension, rather than compression, and I will definitely revisit that area.
 
very nice,
you've completed the same project that i gave up on.
i really want to start another bike project but i dont know which one to rebuild.
anyways why is the spark plugs unplugged?
 
schvizen said:
will mcd,

Where are you going to school for ID?
Click to expand...
Im going to Carleton in Ottawa. My goal was to be a transportation designer but i couldn't afford to go to school in the US where they have specific programs for that. I'd love to design motorcycles or cars but I'm not sure my goal is very realistic. The ID program here focuses on product design. Where did you go to school? What is GM's policy for hiring graduates?
 
Great lookin little twin dude. The tank look very good on there. If you plan on keeping the the headlight and brackets you currently have, you may consider modifying the brackets to move the light more towards the forks for a cleaner look.

How do you like your clipons? Ive been considering that model myself.


Laurence
 
twan,

I took these images right before I put the bike away for the winter. The last thing I did was poor some miracle oil into the cylinders just to try and protect them while not being used. I guess I forgot to reconnect the spark plug wires before I took the pics.

will mcd,

Don't write off working for an automotive company just because you won't have a trans design degree. I know that GM often looks at ID grads for both stylists and sculptors. I got my ID degree from UofM, and then went to CCS for some trans experience. If you can draw well, are knowledgable in the core design computer apps, and have a strong portfolio, you shouldn't have a problem getting hired. Email me to get some more information on who to talk to and where to send your samples/portfolio for a possible position at GM.
 
speed2xs,

Yeah, I know what you're sayin. With the way the headlight brackets currently are, the headlight is out there quite a ways. It looks kind of strange as it is, but I plan on tucking the gauges as flush to the top of the triple tree as possible, and the extra space in front of the forks might be necessary. Once I get the gauges located I'll be able to move the headlight rearward to their final position.

These images are just a quick mockup of how this thing will eventually look. If you look closely, as most of us here do, you'll notice that I'm missing lots of stuff still, i.e. front brake cables, gauges, the rear brake light switch, rear brake light, turn signals, fuel lines, etc. The big things that I accomplished this summer are (besides buying all this stuff), attaching the tank and seat, rebuilding the carbs, and attaching the rearsets and linkages.

The bike has been in pieces for almost a year, but because it was taking up my side of the garage, I decided to assemble what I could, put it on a rolling lift, and free up my parking space for the winter.

I'm kicking myself right now for spending so much time on the carbs. I gave them a carb bath with a toothbrush scrub and compressor blowout, complete rebuild with the full rebuild kit (every replaceable part including the floats and jets), replacing all the hardware with stainless hex head cap screws, and new pod filters. All this and now I'm starting to lean towards buying a set of makuni's. If anyone is interested in these carbs, I'll prob have them on ebay in little while.

Thanks again for the comments.
 
schvizen said:
will mcd,

Don't write off working for an automotive company just because you won't have a trans design degree. I know that GM often looks at ID grads for both stylists and sculptors. I got my ID degree from UofM, and then went to CCS for some trans experience. If you can draw well, are knowledgable in the core design computer apps, and have a strong portfolio, you shouldn't have a problem getting hired. Email me to get some more information on who to talk to and where to send your samples/portfolio for a possible position at GM.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info. i will take you up on that in a couple years maybe even for when I do my co-op term. In the meantime I'll keep working at my portfolio :) Oh, by the way, what programs are you using to sculpt and render?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light

    • Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom