A war of few words

[Rod.s]

Travelling south, so it started




Mmmm added some of Kayla's love all the way from the UK


some rubber to thicken things up



chop chop



extra covering




something to hide the inner wonder


a guide line



covered


Angles



Work it for me baby

[JL]

Looks handy - now what's on the bench?

[Rod.s]

Looks handy - now what's on the bench?

One of these for one of these, Honda 1969 CB450, it's going into the frame on the left, I'm not using any new external parts nor polishing, painting, or restoring anything. Just getting the best working parts i can find and building a Cafe racer that looks like it has always been ridden not hidden with lots of original patina. Believe me it's been one of the hardest projects I've ever built, you try getting original 1970's clipons that have not been polished to death an original Bates Cafe seat with worn cover, not to mention a straight original paint tank...etc

So the engine, i was rebored to 500cc with strict instruction not to clean anything, i then carefully removed only the major grime, flushed it with kero and started to put it together, the head needs seats cut and new valves but i have saved the patina and went through 80+ second hand screws just to get 28 screws that all match and aren't flogged. IT WILL BE READY by the 09Oct i hope

This is how it started


This is my other CB450 Cafe..

[Mincehead]

I`m a little confused, why save patina and go through all that trouble to get matching philips screws when it`s not a concourse to standard rebuild?
Cap heads would have been my choice, philips screws are simply nasty!

[Rod.s]

I`m a little confused, why save patina and go through al that trouble to get matching philips screws when it`s not a concourse to standard rebuild?
Cap heads would have been my choice, philips screws are simply nasty!

The restored engine is fitted to the Black Bomber the engine on the bench is yet to be finished and will be fitted to the gold 450

Rod

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

Gee mate I hope your not goin to fit that gold radiator too... I noticed a fella the other day got pulled over on his motorized esky (with a 50cc 2stroke motor ) and blew .16 .. Just yours has a few more cubes so more chance of eskape

[Rod.s]

Gee mate I hope your not goin to fit that gold radiator too... I noticed a fella the other day got pulled over on his motorized esky (with a 50cc 2stroke motor ) and blew .16 .. Just yours has a few more cubes so more chance of eskape

Do you remember that cold day we had a few weeks ago, got down to 14Deg well i was felling the cold. So instead of changing from shorts and "t" shirt, i pull this old oil heated out and gave it some work, still not sure if i was using it correctly it's been years since it has been out of the storage cupboard.

Rod

[Stankflapper]

That cb engine looks beautiful, is that the result of soda blasting?

[Rod.s]

That cb engine looks beautiful, is that the result of soda blasting?

A long process of degreasing, washing very hot water (dish washer ) then hydra-blasting with some parts polished and other painted

Rod

[Rod.s]

More completed, I'll hopefully take it for a test ride with 5Kg's in the bag tomorrow...I've fitted the R1 left hand mirror to gauge the effectiveness of it and the luggage. The luggage bolts to the front exhaust/foot peg bolt (8mm) and the small bolt (6mm) on the extreme end of the frame under the rear faring, the front is fine, the rear bolt is a little on the light side so I've added a clamp that goes around the frame and the luggage bracket that will remove any flex and allow the bolt to act as a secondary support and locator, pictures to follow

This is all Heppco & Becker and is the only luggage that i found that had lock on soft bags, with water proof separate inner bag and expandable. The bags also have a strap that can be used to connect the two, I'll use this to take some of the load from the frame. Alought the 15mm X 2.5 tubing is bloody strong and has almost no bounce so the strap is being used.....because i can

[Kenny]

I like the tank protector Im looking for a hard one like that but I cant find one in the UK anywhere.

[Mincehead]

Kenny, I have one on a TRX tank (dented), I might be able to pry it off and if it survives you are welcome to it.
Mounting it would require you to utilise spray on contact adhesive to both surfaces, wait til it`s touch dry then slap it on, instant bond but you`ll not be able to reposition it if you don`t get it right first time.

[Kenny]

Thanx Mince your a star matey. Let me know if it survives please.

[M.V.]

...I've fitted the R1 left hand mirror to gauge the effectiveness of it...

How did that work out & what year was it?

I'm after some new mirrors!

[Mincehead]

Thanx Mince your a star matey. Let me know if it survives please.

Sorry Kenny, photodegredation had embrittled it, I almost had it off cleanly (used a a hot air gun to soften the adhesive), but it cracked and would have been difficult to make good without laying up more sheet and resin over it.
By the way you do know you could make your own?:

http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/Departments ... -kits.aspx

It might be the way to go if you have your heart set on one.