Ebay project started. 75 CB500T

[Useful Idiot]

Picked up this sweet baby for a cool 3 bills on ebay. Guy's wife was breaking his balls about cleaning out the garage. He thought the motor was locked up. Turned out a bolt from the starter clutch broke off and was wedged between the stator and the alternator (i guess that's what it's called)
Anyways, I dug it out and the bike fired right up! Replaced the alternator so the battery would stay hot and rode it all summer pretty much stock. I changed a couple things, but now I'm going full bore. I like the look of ProTeal's 450, so 'minimal' is the theme here.

Anyways, roll that beautiful bean footage.

Here she was when I brought her home.

Sparkplug was stripped and somebody put a helicoil thing in there, but the blowby was crazy, so I had a guy put a new on in and cleaned the valves up.

I rode her all summer, she ran like a champ, but stock? Fuck stock, so let's get started.

Drinking malt liquor is a bad idea when 'just trimming a couple tabs off' I just hope I didn't cut off anything important

old parts

new parts. still waiting on lowering shocks, fork boots, clip ons

Speed drilled the rear brake as I pulled the motor. No idea why. belly full of Mickeys maybe

You know how to tell you're the only guy in the group with a garage?

So, the plan is to relocate the battery into the hump. Lower the bike and smooth it down nice and slick. Probably gonna go with a silver frame and red tank. Flat black is kinda beat IMHO.
I found a nice glass seat for a bill. My problem is rear sets. I see a lot of Yamaha rear sets on ebay for around a 100 bucks, which is all I can spend. Would you guys buy them and fab up some way to mount them? Or get some universals or something similar?

I'll update as parts come trickling in.

 

[guitargeek]

Man, I wish I had a garage like that!

 

[Ease]

Cool Project,
Looks like you have lots of bikes to keep you busy until you get your parts!

 

[Fear My Twin]

Awwww memories I remember bringing home my CB500T for $350 with a box of parts cone filters and a motorcycle lift.

Rode it for 15 miles and snapped the clutch cable. Now Im wrestling with tuning the carbs.

BTW if you ever are in need of a Jet it for the Keihin carbs theres a Ebay company called SCI which sells lots of jet kits. E-mail them and they can special order you a set for $17. Mine is on its way

 

[Scarcat]

Nice collection of bike Mr.Dude. I especially like seeing other BMW Toasters.

If you have any questions about ebay, let me know. I can't say why, but let's just say that a hel of a lot more about the company then most people

 

[Useful Idiot]

Finally scraped up enough money for the seat. Which should be here soon. I finished cutting/smoothing all the stuff off the frame, but I can't decide on how to do the rear sets. I'm thinking of getting some used crotchrocket ones off ebay then fabbing up some kinda way to mount them. I haven't cut my pass. peg mounts off yet because I may figure out a way to use them.

If I do cut them off, then I have to figure out a way to mount the mufflers.

If you cats have any ideas, I'd love to hear them. I'm scratching my head here.

 

[TonUpSoldier]

Hrmm. Assuming drum brake in back right?

 

[buzz286]

Racing cb 350 honda's,passenger peg locations are a good and easy starting point.one of my lumps uses gsxr pegs and my own shift and brake levers(welding and machining) and of course shift and brake linkages......it might save you the grief of mounting peg mounts(welding) that don't work!!!! sorry it's a 450 cam eater,,,,,I know nothing :

 

[TonUpSoldier]

I have rear disc, and have designs to use some modern Gixxer or Zixxer sets including the rear master and what not, ditching my stocker to avoid that headache. Then all i have to do is make some bracket plates to mount them with. Hemming and Hawing on it tho, as Dardoonk has done it nicely on his bike, but the rearsets interfere with the kickstarter. Not a big deal to the guys on the GSR who love the 'lectric starters, but as you boys know, REAL bikes have kickstarters

 

[Useful Idiot]

yep, the electric start was the first thing to go.

it's a rear drum.

 

[TonUpSoldier]

Rear drum may be a bit of a bitch with using a modern set up. But i dont think entirely unworkable. You'd just need a bit of modification to deal with the actuater arm.

 

[Useful Idiot]

Well, guess I kind jumped the gun. Anyways, one tax return later, let's get started.

Frame painted and cleared, front and rear back together.

She's a roller!

Tank and seat mock up

side view

rear view

"gnarly tuff photo in front of your stock harley" pose

Too drunk to continue. Jason Jessee docu

Tomorrow I should get to work in the motor. Pending hangover status.....

 

[cahurst2001]

you work fast, man. putting the rest of us to shame. i like the huge Misfits poster in the garage, btw.

 

[Canuck Plumber]

Right on Dude. Lookin good.

 

[Ease]

Coming along great!
Almost forgot about this one!

 

[Useful Idiot]

Thanks.

I'm worried about the tires looking 'off'. The front rim is bigger than the rear and I was following Pro Teal's 450 build and I didn't want to build the tray in the seat if I could get away with it, so I got a lower profile rear tire.

Also worried about the center stand, since I lowered the bike, I'm wondering if I'll have to ditch it? I dont want to, but it's bad news bears if it starts dragging in corners.

The weather breaking has def. lit a fire. I've already seen guys riding and it's pissing me off. I'll post more pics today and I work off this hangover.

 

[Useful Idiot]

Tonight we worked on my buddy's bike. It's coming along nicely.

The bike feels a 1000 times more racey with the lowered shocks and lower profile tire.

Wrapped up the evening with good ole Jack Burton

 

[chrisf]

Why does the seat not sit level? I think it would look better with one continuous line going from the tank bottom and across the seat. Just my opinion of course...

The paint looks good. I look forward to following this build.

--Chris

 

[Useful Idiot]

It hasn't been mocked up yet. I want to get the motor back in the frame and get me on it (210lbs) then double check the rear tire/seat clearance, in case I have to build a tray setup like pro teal.

but yea, I like the continuous line as well. Just gotta work out a way to mount it.

 

[Useful Idiot]

We got a shitload of work done tonight. I planned on taking my time and mostly drinking beer, but then a painting session broke out.

Got the motor painted before and swapped the tired screws for allen heads

ready for transplant

getting there

I slammed the bike so much, I think I might be too big for it.

Here's the inspiration for the colors. My buddy Ronnie went as Destro for Halloween last year

And this is a shout out to the king. Being born and raised in Memphis and sharing the same middle name (mom's idea)
Imitation is the biggest form of flattery, right?