Ok, so starts another project just before the CB 175 resto has come to a close. The CB will be on the road soon as I get the carbs sorted. I'm thinking about just swapping out the old carbs for new keihins, but that's a story for the other thread
I picked up this bike from a guy on Craigslist for $400, delivered to my door from halfway across Houston. I know it was never a rocketship when it was new, but I've been looking to get into a two stroke street project for a long time, and RD's are a mythical creature around here. Plus I can say I own a bike made in a (then) communist country that isn't a piece of junk... There's a lot of neat little peculiarities on this bike that other makers could take a lesson from, and some that just make you scratch you head.
But first, some pictures!!
Day one, trying to get the wheels free (the drums are TOTALLY stuck!)
This is a glovebox, tool holder under the seat. Sucky, I have no key for this.
On the headlight nacelle is the ignition key, a weird one at that. Unfortunately that key I don't have is also for the fork lock...
Here's that ignition key...
This tank is TOAST. The metal up top is so corroded it's as flexible as a dixie cup. Though, the paint has held up remarkably well compared to the metal inside.
The gas cap is interesting. I THINK this 74 was the last year they were made like this, and the last year they were 6 volt.. so maybe they felt sentimental or something..
I think this odometer is accurate too. The chain is perfect, drive gears in the motor look new, and the bike has no signs of ever being laid down or anything. Nothing at all is bent, it's crazy... like a time capsule, a very oxidized, aluminum one...
Here's one of those peculiarities I mentioned. Well two actually. It has a completely enclosed chain drive. There are long rubber boots that enclose the chain with flexible bellows at either end, and a housing that protects the drive gear / bearing assembly. It reminds me of shaft drive bikes, but with a chain...
Also check out that brake lever, it curves OVER the exhaust pipe and is nice and straight otherwise, not all curved under and around like an old honda would be.
nice of them to put zerk fittings on everything (swingarm) that requires grease. Even the drums where the shoes mount have them.
Here's another odd bit. They use an exhaust nut kinda like BMW bikes... The muffler is clamped onto the tube from the head also which is going to be nice if I want to throw an expansion chamber on instead..
Here's the front wheel. Note the wire. That's the brake light switch. I've never seen one on the wheel like that before. Only thing that SUCKS is they put that little hole in the TOP of the drum which lets rain in and makes the dang drums freeze up. The wheels are aluminum too. Kickass! The bike is actually really light overall. It will be lighter when I'm through with it...
Forks are toast I think... This rust goes all the way down. Not as bad on the travel region, but I don't think they will be serviceable. I'll know for sure once I get em apart.
The headlight nacelle underside it pretty rusty, but no holes as far as I can tell. The headlight trim / mount ring is pretty bad. The headlight itself is a replaceable unit, 6 volt, lucas made. I'd like to keep the nacelle and just replate or PC it. Because it had the key, speedo, etc in it. We'll see... At least the cables and wiring is in great shape, and oh so simple.
Actually, it has Lucas lighting all around..
And luckily all of it is pristine.
Check out the underside of the rear fender.. Amazing... They painted their fenders from the factory, a silver color. I guess that's why it survived.
That big daddy yellow box is the air box. The actual filter is behind that rusty circular plate on the bottom. I wonder if I'll be able to find another filter. And by the way, that entire box, it's cast aluminum!
Ooh.. stock bar end mirror... Needs new glass though, it's replaceable at least..
Next post: motor guts.
I picked up this bike from a guy on Craigslist for $400, delivered to my door from halfway across Houston. I know it was never a rocketship when it was new, but I've been looking to get into a two stroke street project for a long time, and RD's are a mythical creature around here. Plus I can say I own a bike made in a (then) communist country that isn't a piece of junk... There's a lot of neat little peculiarities on this bike that other makers could take a lesson from, and some that just make you scratch you head.
But first, some pictures!!
Day one, trying to get the wheels free (the drums are TOTALLY stuck!)
This is a glovebox, tool holder under the seat. Sucky, I have no key for this.
On the headlight nacelle is the ignition key, a weird one at that. Unfortunately that key I don't have is also for the fork lock...
Here's that ignition key...
This tank is TOAST. The metal up top is so corroded it's as flexible as a dixie cup. Though, the paint has held up remarkably well compared to the metal inside.
The gas cap is interesting. I THINK this 74 was the last year they were made like this, and the last year they were 6 volt.. so maybe they felt sentimental or something..
I think this odometer is accurate too. The chain is perfect, drive gears in the motor look new, and the bike has no signs of ever being laid down or anything. Nothing at all is bent, it's crazy... like a time capsule, a very oxidized, aluminum one...
Here's one of those peculiarities I mentioned. Well two actually. It has a completely enclosed chain drive. There are long rubber boots that enclose the chain with flexible bellows at either end, and a housing that protects the drive gear / bearing assembly. It reminds me of shaft drive bikes, but with a chain...
Also check out that brake lever, it curves OVER the exhaust pipe and is nice and straight otherwise, not all curved under and around like an old honda would be.
nice of them to put zerk fittings on everything (swingarm) that requires grease. Even the drums where the shoes mount have them.
Here's another odd bit. They use an exhaust nut kinda like BMW bikes... The muffler is clamped onto the tube from the head also which is going to be nice if I want to throw an expansion chamber on instead..
Here's the front wheel. Note the wire. That's the brake light switch. I've never seen one on the wheel like that before. Only thing that SUCKS is they put that little hole in the TOP of the drum which lets rain in and makes the dang drums freeze up. The wheels are aluminum too. Kickass! The bike is actually really light overall. It will be lighter when I'm through with it...
Forks are toast I think... This rust goes all the way down. Not as bad on the travel region, but I don't think they will be serviceable. I'll know for sure once I get em apart.
The headlight nacelle underside it pretty rusty, but no holes as far as I can tell. The headlight trim / mount ring is pretty bad. The headlight itself is a replaceable unit, 6 volt, lucas made. I'd like to keep the nacelle and just replate or PC it. Because it had the key, speedo, etc in it. We'll see... At least the cables and wiring is in great shape, and oh so simple.
Actually, it has Lucas lighting all around..
And luckily all of it is pristine.
Check out the underside of the rear fender.. Amazing... They painted their fenders from the factory, a silver color. I guess that's why it survived.
That big daddy yellow box is the air box. The actual filter is behind that rusty circular plate on the bottom. I wonder if I'll be able to find another filter. And by the way, that entire box, it's cast aluminum!
Ooh.. stock bar end mirror... Needs new glass though, it's replaceable at least..
Next post: motor guts.