My Cafe Build
12-10-2009, 07:19 AM
#242
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
I am going with the carbon. The bike could use a little bling factor here and there. Little touches and the likes. Started making my outer tube. Then I will make ends. After that a perforated core. Buy some packing assemble it all together then send the can out for clear coat. Lots of clear coat since the carbon I am using doesn't have any. Then I polish out the clear to a nice shine and thats a wrap. Next will be to plumb the 4 into 1 collector. I really like the look of the fiberglass exhaust wrap but still haven't decided if I should do that. Pics to come.
12-10-2009, 09:20 AM
#244
Senior Member
MotoGP
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: altoona, pa
Posts: 2,934
I feel like a hero when I cut a fender or shim a carb using others' ideas. Hell, I'd feel like God in heaven if I could do what you've accomplished. I'd be havin the news media in there and signing autographs, making a calendar, and doin talk shows.
I had a 1962 750 Norton Atlas in 66' that was a full fender tourer when I bought it for $600. It did have a small tank which was a great start. I didn't even know what a cafe racer was then but that's exactly what it ended up to be as I discovered later. I tore it completely apart to have the engine and gearing redone while the frame was being painted(I am good at disassembly,ha ha).
It was the idea of the local dealer who enlisted me to beat up all the local bad-*** Harleys that were bullying his English Bikes, so he did the engine/gearing for basically nothing. This guy was an engine genius whose advice was routinely sought after by Norton factory reps when we traveled to Nutley, NJ for parts. He and an engineer friend had it figured out that with the 23 tooth engine sprocket it would do 136mph @7200rpms, nothing by today's standards, but then, wow!
Sorry not to have this bike and not even a picture, but in my youth I was not interested in recording anything, only doing it.
The great thing about what you're doing is that you have Honda vs English components. The BSA/Norton/Triumph components mandated a one-to-one ratio between riding time and maintenance and drum brakes frnt and rear couldn't stop these things. Once you get this beauty on the road, you can just ride it and enjoy the fruits of your efforts. i love it.
I had a 1962 750 Norton Atlas in 66' that was a full fender tourer when I bought it for $600. It did have a small tank which was a great start. I didn't even know what a cafe racer was then but that's exactly what it ended up to be as I discovered later. I tore it completely apart to have the engine and gearing redone while the frame was being painted(I am good at disassembly,ha ha).
It was the idea of the local dealer who enlisted me to beat up all the local bad-*** Harleys that were bullying his English Bikes, so he did the engine/gearing for basically nothing. This guy was an engine genius whose advice was routinely sought after by Norton factory reps when we traveled to Nutley, NJ for parts. He and an engineer friend had it figured out that with the 23 tooth engine sprocket it would do 136mph @7200rpms, nothing by today's standards, but then, wow!
Sorry not to have this bike and not even a picture, but in my youth I was not interested in recording anything, only doing it.
The great thing about what you're doing is that you have Honda vs English components. The BSA/Norton/Triumph components mandated a one-to-one ratio between riding time and maintenance and drum brakes frnt and rear couldn't stop these things. Once you get this beauty on the road, you can just ride it and enjoy the fruits of your efforts. i love it.
12-16-2009, 03:06 PM
#247
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
no, I just have to wait for the painter to find the time. He is doing it on the side for me + cost of material so I have to be patient. Also Springbubba is in town and we are fixing his truck so he can drive home to Idaho. Not much time left for the cafe racer.
12-16-2009, 04:31 PM
#249
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,051
tim
12-16-2009, 10:01 PM
#250
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
I will, we like the track pics you put up on the other thread by the way.
12-25-2009, 06:37 PM
#251
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Lunenburg, MA
Posts: 116
12-31-2009, 07:29 AM
#252
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
Tis The Season
to be so busy that I can find no time to work on the cafe 
.
Well not completely, but I don't have pics yet of anything. I finished building all the parts for the exhaust can. Once the carbon is clear coated I will pack and assemble the whole thing. I also started running the exhaust plumbing. So far that is coming nicely I will hopefully have a few pics today. It will just depend on what happens at work.
Once that is done I can remove the engine for some work, and to be able to paint and clean up the frame that way.
The tank and cowl are with the painter, considering I did not give him a deadline it could be a little while. As soon as I have them back though pics galore I promise.
Till then have a happy new year!
.Well not completely, but I don't have pics yet of anything. I finished building all the parts for the exhaust can. Once the carbon is clear coated I will pack and assemble the whole thing. I also started running the exhaust plumbing. So far that is coming nicely I will hopefully have a few pics today. It will just depend on what happens at work.
Once that is done I can remove the engine for some work, and to be able to paint and clean up the frame that way.
The tank and cowl are with the painter, considering I did not give him a deadline it could be a little while. As soon as I have them back though pics galore I promise.
Till then have a happy new year!
01-06-2010, 08:07 AM
#257
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
Getting pretty close here, all major fab work done. I still need to make a hugger for the rear wheel. Other than that here is the itinerary.
Finish welding exhaust.
Move seat mount (fix)
Remove Engine
Remove forks
Remove Swing Arm
Clean up swing arm and frame.
Paint Frame and Swinger
Fix engine oil pan leak
Polish Engine covers
Service forks, new seals and maybe new springs.
Now for parts:
Tires Front and rear
Chain and Sprockets
Air Filters
Inner tubes
And more I am sure, but for now thats the major stuff.
Finish welding exhaust.
Move seat mount (fix)
Remove Engine
Remove forks
Remove Swing Arm
Clean up swing arm and frame.
Paint Frame and Swinger
Fix engine oil pan leak
Polish Engine covers
Service forks, new seals and maybe new springs.
Now for parts:
Tires Front and rear
Chain and Sprockets
Air Filters
Inner tubes
And more I am sure, but for now thats the major stuff.
Last edited by Little_Horse; 01-06-2010 at 08:10 AM.
01-06-2010, 08:31 AM
#258
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,051
is that an Al strap ? imo, it'll crack ( from vibration ) & without the rubber barrier it'll cut into the CF.
i made a couple of clamps for my RC51 exhaust project... none of them lasted long. granted, they are different bikes.
for my current pipes i bought a replacement hanger for like $15. the SS strap sits in a grooved piece of rubber. your pipe is pretty small but maybe a D&D clamp would work ?
looks like it'll be ready for spring ! cool.
are you / were you going to powdercoat the wheels ( black ) ?
tim
i made a couple of clamps for my RC51 exhaust project... none of them lasted long. granted, they are different bikes.
for my current pipes i bought a replacement hanger for like $15. the SS strap sits in a grooved piece of rubber. your pipe is pretty small but maybe a D&D clamp would work ?
looks like it'll be ready for spring ! cool.
are you / were you going to powdercoat the wheels ( black ) ?
tim
01-06-2010, 09:09 AM
#260
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
Thanks Tim,
I was going to put a rubber barrier between the aluminum strap and the CF. I can always go ahead and make a replacement stainless strap but I think I will test it out first. I have been to D and S, they are the shop I usually take my wheels to for tire mounting and balance since in 1o to 15 min you can have your wheels back. Makes for an easy lunch break trip since they are 5 min away. I was thinking about powder coating the rims, but the process makes a pretty thick coat and I have a feeling that it will crack from the stress of the spoke to rim points. I will probably paint them first and see how it goes.
I was going to put a rubber barrier between the aluminum strap and the CF. I can always go ahead and make a replacement stainless strap but I think I will test it out first. I have been to D and S, they are the shop I usually take my wheels to for tire mounting and balance since in 1o to 15 min you can have your wheels back. Makes for an easy lunch break trip since they are 5 min away. I was thinking about powder coating the rims, but the process makes a pretty thick coat and I have a feeling that it will crack from the stress of the spoke to rim points. I will probably paint them first and see how it goes.
01-06-2010, 10:10 AM
#263
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
Hugger
Well, keeping the brace makes for installing the hugger easier.
The hugger has breathed a little superhawk DNA into the build, its an old windscreen I chopped.
The hugger has breathed a little superhawk DNA into the build, its an old windscreen I chopped.
01-06-2010, 04:09 PM
#268
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
.Thanks Tim, it shall be remedied!
01-06-2010, 04:47 PM
#269
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
...lol
01-08-2010, 07:49 AM
#270
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 1,697
Buggered!
So seems as though a hack mechanic touched my cycle. See it appears as though some people shouldn't even do oil changes. This is the oil filter bolt which as you can see is a specialty bolt and has a buggered end from someone who didn't have a clue. Anyways, before and after.
