Rise of the phoenix cb750k

[Munamankeli]

Here is little intro for the project. Actual project bike comes few posts later.

Finally, few years from the day I bought my first motorcycle honda cb 400t 1980. I rode and built it little by little. I finally felt it was ready and I like the way it looked. Carbs were finally fully synch and jets were right ones, fuel/air ratio was good. It gave good ride.

 

[datadavid]

Nice bike, but where is the 750?

 

[Munamankeli]

It was nice and very warm summer day. I took my cb and got cruising. I was riding on motorway and suddenly bike chocked, speed slowed down and I had to stop to side of lane. Engine idled very funny. Soon I noticed one cylinder didnt run. I thought maybe spark plug was gone. I rode to nearest gas station and tried to take the spark plug off but it was tight and I couldnt open it. I rode to my workshop and took the plug off. I was disappointed. The plug was in pieces. I took the engine apart from bike and opened it. One valve was snapped from up, and fell down to cylinder.

 

[Munamankeli]

Thoughts after break down. The cynderhead fixable, but expensive to. New head would be hard to find. Also new pistons, and to hone cylinders wouldve been expensive.. New engine? Very hard to find because cb400t wasnt popular bike those days. Alternatives: expensive fix or new engine, and propably end of riding season, because its kind of short here in Finland.
I thought fuck that, not gonna happen. I took my phone. I searched new bike, rent a van and got it.
This is rise of a phoenix. Same model year, same model, but now almost double CC. Honda CB750 K 1980.

 

[Jimbonaut]

Love that bike man, congrats on the buy and have fun making it your own!

 

[Munamankeli]

So first off pretty basic stuff. I bought the bike. It was cheap. I didnt event test ride it. Not even started. Seller said last time bike was used and rode something 17 years ago. He said it will run with battery change, new gasoline and carburator cleaning. I did it and it ran great.
I knew pretty much what I would do to bike. I started stripping paint from gasoline the tank. I wanted bare metal tank. I sanded it with every grit from 80 to 400. I painted bottom of the tank black . I ve noticed it gives a little more round look to these later cb tanks. Then clear coat. Sanded it with 1k and 2k grit and buffed it with rotary buffing machine. Next off I worked on back frame. I ordered loop, cut frame and welded loop to bike. I wanted to integrate back light inside the loop.

 

[Munamankeli]

I wanted bike to be clean. The triangle had to be empty. I searched some other projects on internet and tried to figure battery placing. Most of builder has placed a battery under swing arm. I didnt like idea at all. I started sketcing and got it. The battery fits good under the gas tank if coils moved a bit. Also starter relay fits there. So triangle was empty now. Seat skething started. I wanted leather, brown. Kind of flat seat but long enough for two if needed.

 

[Popeye SXM]

Kool project. I like the way you are making it the way you want it.

 

[Munamankeli]

Soething little changes happened. I got new handle bar, washed bike, put temporary cloth to seat. Also made licence plate mount.
At this point I thought what if I try to make something Ive always wanted. Could I do it? What if I could. It would be awesome.
I sent email to Finlands largest motorcycle exhibison, MP motorcycle show (2019), and asked if I could bring this bike to show. Of course, when its ready and finished.
They asked me what kind of bike is it and what I ment to do to it. I sent few sketch fotos what bike was then and told them what it will be. They didnt say yes or no but contact us later when bike is more finished. They said they will pick bikes to show not later than end of year.

So to be clear this build has happened since summer of 2018, these mails and happened autum. So "deadline" was kind of 31.12.2018.
Show is at the begining of february 2019. These are "sketch fotos" I sent to them.

To be continued..

 

[datadavid]

And what a cb750. Go finland!

 

[Munamankeli]

Thanks guys!
At this point riding season was over, so I could disassemble whole bike. I was planing sandblast frame, forks, exhaust manifold and rims and powdercoat the all black exept manifold which I was going to paint black with VHT satin black. Also wanted to paint the engine because it looked worn out.
I started by cleaning, washing and soda blasting the engine. Sprayed with VHT and it turned nice. I buffed side covers too.
Wasnt satisfied with header so ordered new one. I like classic cone and hod dog headers but to this bike I wantded something else.

 

[Munamankeli]

Winter has came. To me it was nothing like in Game of Thrones. It came fast. Abit too fast.
I still got much to do. It was december alredy when I realized I had to get my frame and stuff sandblasted and powdered.
I drive around places and asked blastings and powderings. After that I could start to assembly the bike. Then little things and it woud be ready but had to get frame done fast.
Well. Fastest place I found promised me to start working on my stuff in begining of january.
I felt so stupid. Why I didnt ask these things earlier. Cant send fotos of ready bike to show promoters cause my frame is not ready. So I mentally gave up the idea to get bike to show. There is almost 1 and half months to show but no can do. I thought promoters want to be sure bikes they pick will be ready in time. I thoughg maybe next year.
It was new years eve. I was celebrating with my friends. Ive had few beers. My phone rang. I awnswered. I thought who the hell this is, no number. Is it my cousin riging me, because he sounds like him? Is he drunk?
Then he said "im calling about the cb"
I thought wtf, have I put my older bike to sale or what is this. And this is definetly not my cousin or anyone I know. I said what about cb and which cb. He said "can you make it to the show. I dig you style and thought u got something. I want see this finished. We need bike to the Helsinkk expo and convention centre 31.1."
I said its almost ready andhell ye im going to do it.
Okay. Its 2nd of january. I never stress. Almost never. I have a holiday trip in january. So last week from 22 to 28. Im at Canary islands. I take my parts to sandblaster and painter. I ask about when parts are ready. He says "two weeks and this rush is getting better so..". I was like WHAT? I said man I need bike to almost be ready then so please can you hurry. He got the point and said they try to.
Meanwhile I upholstered my seat. I dont do much these things but id like to. I found it very enjoyable to do upholstery.

 

[Munamankeli]

It was 15. Jan.
Is this stress? 6 days to trip and I still dont have that frame for sake. I m just walking around phone in my hand and waiting for call. Call where im told parts are ready. What if I dont have enought time. To be honest I dont have.
Phone rings. I answer like in hundredth of second. Fuck its my brother. Not painter. This is so frustrating..
16. Jan.
Phone rangs in the morning. It was in another room. I ran to phone and answer...YESS!
I said ill pick parts afternoon.
Okay. I knew next days Ill work in my workshop for sure. From morning to night. Too bad January is coldest month in Finland so my workhop was pretty damn cold too. But first things firts.

 

[Jimbonaut]

This is great man, great story! Will you make it to the show...the suspense...


Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON

 

[adventurco]

Loving the narrative. Show is 2 days away??

What year is the Kupla?

 

[Munamankeli]

Loving the narrative. Show is 2 days away??

What year is the Kupla?

Thanks, nice to hear you like the story. Buggy is 69'

This is great man, great story! Will you make it to the show...the suspense...


Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON

Thanks!

 

[Munamankeli]

So I came back from Canary islands yesterday. Holiday was great. Weather was great. Windsurfing was awesome. But what is best thing finnish biker can do in the middle of winter? Get abroad and rent a bike, cruise like you never had! Riding those mountain serpent roads with those Harleys were absolute stunnig.
Winter is fucking cold and long here. Is it? Today I gone to my workshop for first time in a week. While I was assembling the bike week ago I snapped bolt from part of fork which fix wheel axle. So today I removed bolt. I was laying on floor, looking up and drilling the bolt. I heard my phone ringing on the table so I automaticly looked at it and FUCK SAKE!! I jumped up from ground and nearly peed to my pants. I frightened like hell because I saw a frozen mouse stareing at me uside down about 5 cm from my face. So yes winter is cold here.

 

[Jimbonaut]

Got a photo of the mouse?

 

[jordandogtown]

I believe I'm going to steal your battery mount idea. Looks perfect tucked in there. Nice work!

 

[Munamankeli]

Got a photo of the mouse?

First thing what I did was looked for a brush and a dust pan. Couldnt find brush so I moved the frozen mouse to the dust pan with a tyre lever. The mouse felt so weird because it was so solid. I threw it to snow blanket. I hope no bird try to eat it.

I believe I'm going to steal your battery mount idea. Looks perfect tucked in there. Nice work!

Go ahead and thanks man!