Brake/Clutch Controls - '72 CB450

[rawket]

Hey Guys--

I am looking to streamline the controls on my '72 CB450 project. I desire to minimize the switches on the bars, hopefully just a killswitch and maybe a horn button ala sinistercycles. (I live in CO so SERIOUSLY relaxed laws) I have found a good throttle mechanism, which leaves me to need new brake/clutch levers. I am good with just polishing the stock master cylinder, so problem solved on that side, but the brake... The perch is built into the switchgear. I have found a TON of 'cool' clutch levers with perch, but they hardly match the stock master cylinder. Short of going with a drum brake, anyone have any ideas? Do any of the dirtbikes of the era accept the same levers? Ideas? Suggestions? I am wiiiide open.

 

[dixiedevil]

you can solve your throttle and master cylinder problem by getting the master cylinder off somehting liek a 125cc(yami, honda, etc.) it will be tiny you just will have to bleed the hell out of it then it will be solid. A lot of chopper guys use M/C off small dirtbikes since they have no buttons. Crotch rockets have tend to have seperate throttle assemblies so you can mix and match and then paint em up! Your 450 is going to be a single line throttle so if you find a dirtbike M/C it may be a whole deal( M/c and throttle assmebly together) you can use that and it should probly cost you around 50-60. As for your clutch, I got clutch lever assem today with nothing attached to it of a early 90's yami and the throttle assembly ( no M/C unfortunatley).. only cost my 50!

hope this helps....

 

[autoguy]

i have an after market clutch perch and lever that just clamps on to the bars, it does not have any switches or anything

cost me less than $10 i got it from my local motorcycle shop, i dont know the brand though so it is not much help other than they do exist

mine is similar to the one in the link below

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-8-CLUTCH-LEVER-PERCH-Black-HONDA-XR50-CRF50-PIT-BIKES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14Q2el1262QQhashZitem250393237286QQitemZ250393237286QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_3948wt_1028

or some from motion pro
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/tools/category/lever_and_perch_assemblies/

 

[rawket]

Thanks guys, this has been a TON of ideas!

One of my main concerns was aesthetics... If I was retaining the stock master cylinder, I wanted a clutch perch/lever to match. All this research has led me to realize that the stock levers are pretty ugly.

I have found some great 125 dirtbike stuff that has good aesthetics, and is reasonably easy to get to match left to right, although something that doesn't look like it has gone through a garbage disposal isn't cheap, and I do have this minor obsession with it looking relatively period-correct or 'vintage'.

So perhaps the best option is a very simple nondescript clutch perch, with the stock, polished master cylinder...

or

A disregard for period-correct levers in the name of great aesthetics and better functionality...


Hmmm.... I sense a philosophical debate coming on...