CB 750F

Try finding a cb1100r tank for it. Aluminum and badass looking. if you are in the states this will be very difficult. A bolt on mod however.

head on over to cb1100f.net and look in the gallery, some wikked looking bikes there.

I happen to own a 1979 cb750F (same body style, first year) and I think the tank really looks the part, I mean freddie spencer won many races on that bike and the honda racing tank was the same design, just in aluminum instead of steel. If you change the tank you can't use the side covers anymore since one of the mounts is in the tank and they are supposed to "flow" into one another. Airtech has a "cafe racer" style tank that can work but on the DOHC it is better to leave the stock tank in place unless yours is too waisted to be used.

With a DOHC supersport the best cafe mod is to get a corbin solo seat. I have one and it really enhances the riding expirence of the bike. plus it makes the tank look a little bigger and cafe racer-ish.

here are a few pictures of the seat I had corbin make me (not on the bike)
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dean_...=&.done=http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Also the european foot controls are a little more setback (rearsets) than the us versions so if you have a us bike consider swapping. I have heard clipons from an fzr600 will work on some years, just not sure which since they changed the fork sizes during the production (fzr600 clipons are 38mm). I used a maier front fairing on my bike to give it that cool cafe look as well as progressive shocks that were 1/2" shorter in the rear. the overall effect is a nice looking vintage roadster of a bike that doesn't look out of place at a squid bike night.

quote:
Thanks for all the ideas and information. I'll take a look at the CB1100R tank - my family still lives in the UK so I might be able to get one without too much trouble.

The CB750F I just bought actually has a somewhat beaten up Corbin on it, I'm guessing that it's a Gunfighter solo saddle. The leather is cracked, a little scuffed and some stitching is missing. I'd really like a Manx seat for the look.

Stattz

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I hate to say it but you kinda picked the wrong bike to make look like an old brit cafe racer. Not saying it can't be done but you have a long road ahead. A SOHC is much better suited for what you are trying to do. It is very hard to make a bike this new look old.

First, off the DOHC supersports are massive. almost a thrid larger than any triumph or norton. They are really halfway between sport bike and tourer. Going from my SOHC to my DOHC feels like the difference between an old chevy and a freight train. That dual cam motor is monstrous. The frame is also longer than a traditional K bike.

Second, Honda made bodywork that was like a tracy body that were popular at the end of the late 70's with cafe racers and choppers. Tracy body's were all one piece, the honda't body panels flow into each other and interlock (except the tail). That whale tail was very popular amoung late 70's early 80's jap cafe bikes (I have an old SOHC seat with one). The tank capacity is much larger than the old SOHC and your range is slightly increased. While still good looking today, it is unique to the bike. Nobody makes an aftermarket tank specifically for these bikes, the closest you will get is a generic airtech tank that will fit (fiberglass, www.airtech-streamlining.com). You can have evan wilcox make you a tank but it will be a one off and a fortune (expect $1000+). You can try finding an old tracy body for the bike but they are very rare. If set up right they can be made to look like the z1r which is a really cool factory hot rod.

Third, The chassis is actually pretty well setup for cafe racer mods, with rearsets being available from honda at the time (the euro spec foot controls). Clip ons are commonly available because the forks are a common size, and the later bikes (cb1100F) came with the little cafe racer bikini fairing. I put a maier on mine and it complete's the bike's look more than anything. Best $40 (used off ebay) I ever spent. These hondas have the best brakes out of all the aircooled bikes and are a blast to ride. totally stable on public roads at 120 (don't ask me how I know). Turbo kits are still available overseas from Mr. Turbo (don't know whay they don't market them here). Progressive and ohlins still make good shocks for these bikes (I had the ohlins but they need a rebuild). Drop the forks down a little in the trees, get the 1/2inch shorter rear shocks and the bike really gets a nice stance to it and is super stable.

Fourth, the 900F and 1100F motors bolt in with a little work and motors are pretty easy to find. With 1100F wheels you can get up to a 160 rear tire on the back (really makes the look with that whale tail). The gold tri-wheels of the 1100f are really a nice race spec looking piece. Anything made for the 1100f, and 900f will fit the 750 including drag peices.

Fill in your bio so we know where you are. If you are close some of us can help out in person. If you are close to NYC, I get SOHC cb750s all the time and will more than happily trade you one for your 81 (don't have one right now but gimmie a week), or help you into another project more suited to a 60's cafe bike look.

LiLBull,

the SOHC won't take a DOHC tank without mods. Better for cafe bikes is a SOHC supersport tank from 75-78. I had one that I roughed up with a sanding disc, and clearcoated the metal except for a singular rally stripe. Most people thought it was a slightly oxidized raw aluminum tank and didn't realize it was a stock piece despite the honda emblems. It is really a nice bread loaf tank. Another unwanted tank that is easily disguised is the 77-78 K bike tank. For a really wild look try mounting a crusier tank backwards (like a virago tank) for that bridgestone sloping nose look.

quote:
Geeto67 ,your a man that just breaths bikes,I know as much about sports cars as you know about bikes ,that only years of undieing enthusiasume,lots of money spent on books/ magazines and time (hands-on)get in there and do it yourself, make the mistakes,learn your lessons the old fashion way ,ONLY CAN amount to .I recognize this in all the posts I have read of yours and thanks for sharing ,I appreciate it truely. George

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Thanks for the compliment. I guess I should clarivy the point about the DOHC tanks on the SOHC frame. Obstensibly it will fit, as in the front mounts will go into the sliders. I have found that on certain year DOHC tanks the petcock hits the frame rail, on others it does not. Some of the DOHC tanks hang too low on the frame and I even had one that touched the valve cover. I had another that just pitched forward, while one that sat back (I've had about 5 different tanks for these bikes at one point). The biggest problem with these tanks however is how to mount them: The SOHC rear is a rubber mount, the DOHC rear mount is a bolt which is better until you realize that the bolt will go through the battery box and you will be unable to get the battery out. you need to bolt it down however otherwise the tank will rock back and fourth on the mounts. If you still want to try mounting it get an 1981-82 tank as they have the emblem holes already filled (used a decal) and probably fit the best.

Stattz,

the DOHC cb750 is a unique bike in that it came during the breif period where the factories were making "cafe racers" or their interpretation. This was before the purpose built motorcycles of the 80's when honda and kawasaki, et al, believed that one bike could do everything. Kawasaki created the z1r using all the cafe tricks from the time period: 1/4 fairing, squared breadbox gastank, flat sidecovers, racing tail section and a hopped up kz1000 motor with 4 into 1. Honda, to compete, created the cb750 and 900 with tracy looking body work, dual discs, rear disc brake, and 4 into 2, eventually they added the 1/4 fairing to the 1100F. These bikes were not race replicas but were also not standard bikes either, they had a sporty feel to them. They were honda's and kawasaki's interpretation of the cafe racer in the end of the 70's.

After these bikes came the first race repilcas, The honda vfr, cbr, and hurricane, the kawasaki gpz which became the ninja, suzuki turned the gs into the gsx then the gsxr, and yamaha dropped the xs bikes to make the fzr. before these bikes everything was meant to look like a brit street bike with heavy chrome fenders, grab rails, and banana seats, these bikes really represent the mind shift at the japanese that a bike could have only one purpose (speed or comfort but not both) and not be so useful.

It's not that the look can't be acheived, it's just that in order to do it you will have to strip all the bodywork off the frame and begin making your own. With SOHC cb750s, there are people already truning these into 60's brit style cafers so the parts, like fiberglass and aluminum tanks and seats, are already available. Keep in mind this stuff has a hefty price to it. I really like the DOHC cb750F, it is a really fun bike and a good example of the late 70's early 80's cafe racer style before race replicas kinda killed the cafe bike movement.

Here are my recomendations for cafe bikes and some notes - see if this helps:

Japanese:

- SOHC honda cb750K 1969-1976. The bike was basically unchanged in it's entire run (77-78 have the same motor but different bodywork/frame). Already styled to look like a bonneville's fat younger brother, and dead nuts reliable. Dick Mann winning the daytona 200 on one in 1969 doesn't hurt the rep either. Huge aftermarket for these bikes (one of the biggest for any of the 70's jap bikes) that you can build a chopper, cafe, race replica or anything you want. Plus there were so many built you can grab them cheap. Check my posts around this site for a link containing lots of links to cafe parts sources. One of my personal favorite bikes. www.sohc4.us

- Kawasaki triple h-series (1969-1976). With a rep of being the baddest mofo on the planet the 750 and 500 two strokes are an awsome starting point. The early 500s copied the brit bike look, but really have a unique design to them, the 69-70 espically. The later bikes are more common and cheaper, plus the 73-76 stock tank looks like most factory works tanks when stripped of the decals and paired with a fiberglass seat. The 750s are pricey but they are bad mofo's with street modified bikes claiming 100+ rwhp. One look at scrambler73's cafe 750 in a 500 frame from kawasaki triples worldwide and I think you wil be hooked:


www.kawasakitriplesworldwide.com

- Suzuki t500. Suzuki in the 70's decided to copy the commando and stuff a parallel twin 500cc two stroke in it to repalce the aging cobra (cobra's are pricey but also make good cafe bikes). The race bike Tr500 initially used a worked over featherbed frame. I got mine for about $700 running. Fiberglass tanks, fairings are available for these bikes from various sources. The GT500 (NOT GT550) is the same bike with a disc front brake and a detuned engine. Sundial motorsports can hook you up with the race parts you need:

http://www.sundialmotosport.com/
http://nova.fast-servers.net/~sundial/phpBB/index.php

- R5. rd350, rd400. Not exactly cheap anymore but the giant killer is still a cool little road racer. Tons of power and a good aftermarket.

- cb350 cb450 hondas. The small hondas are a blast to ride (except the 360) and thanks to racing have a decient aftermarket. Parallel twin sound and torque for that britbike feel.

- W650: resurrected in 1999-2002 Kawasaki's copy of the BSA goldstar is an awsome bike. Lots of stuff for it plus brand new parts from kawasaki!

British:

well basically anything from the 50's through the 70's. Triumphs having the largest aftermarket, with nortons a close second. BSAs car always cool too. Brit bikes cost money and time, so be prepared to invest both.

Italian:

Anything italian is cool, but ownership will be like dating an italian girl. Don't by oddball stuff unless it runs as some things are long forgotton in this area (like como motorcycles and scooters).

Other:

- Indian enfield: New bike built to 1967 specs with new japanese electrics. Can it get any better. hitchcock has a 750cc big bore kit for the adventurous and strong of knee. Aluminum tanks and seats avaialable. They sell whole cafe kits for this bike. Plus $3000 for a brand new bike isn't bad.

People feel free to jump in with recoendations....

Milk, While I agree with you about him building what he has, the F does not lend itself readily to the 60's rocker style of cafe racer he wants to build.

I don't know what you mean about the SOHC cafe bikes...Carpy ( http://cb750cafe.com/ )always seems to do a great job on his:







Stattz, keep the bike you have now and ride the snot out of it and figure out what you really want in a cafe bike. I mean the make, the model, the look, everything and work up a budget. Then when that is done find the rarest pieces first. Personally if the manx style tank is what you want to be the center of attention on your bike, then buy that first, since it will be the most expensive and hardest to find part.

of course you could always have evan wilcox rebody your existing F to look like a manx (but bigger), but that is a fast and easy way to spend $4000.

Got some pics of the DOHC?

I have a 1978 cb750F SOHC that might be coming in next week. Supposed to be a pretty clean bike but I haven't seen it in person yet. Last of the SOHC's one of the fastest due to the enlarged valves in the head. It has the comstar mags from the factory but if you want, you can swap the earlier 75-76 spoke wheels on to it, you will just lose the dual disc. You could also find a pair of Goldwing lesters as they are the same part number for 77-78 cb750F. Personally I would keep the comstars as you can run tubless tires and have a decent selection og high perf rubber. The Bike will take all the same mods as the other single cams in terms of tank and seat. AS far as I can tell the only difference in the frame is the seat mounts (69-76 k bikes have them on the opposite side) and the provisions for the rear disc brake.

carpy built a cafe out of a 78 F bike. His was a little extreme in that he pretty much kept only the frame and engine and changed everything else. I am also not a big fan of the yellow. his write up is here:
http://www.cb750cafe.com/bikes.php?cat=1&id=16

Like I said the bike won't be in my possession until next week. In the meantime if you are interested shoot me some pics of your bike. Don't let me stop others from offering him other bikes and doing other deals.

We may be able to do an even swap based on condition (I figure the value of the bikes are about even) or there could be money involved. I also have tons of parts (I own 4 other SOHCs and stockpile parts) so If there is something you want we can work it out. If I keep the SOHC, I'm just gonna build my own street going cr750 so no loss to me.

quote:
Geeto, I guess as long as someone else has slapped clipons, pinstripes and a solo seat on anything before it qualifies as "rocker" in your book.

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Milk, I am not sure what you mean. Please elaborate.

If you do a search on cb1100F.net you'll see I was once a poster there, as I do own a very nice 1979 cb750F supersport, done up in cafe style. The only reason I left there was that there were a lot of people with closed minds toward other types of motorcycles.

If you re-read any of my other posts closely you'll see I recommended making a very nice cafe bike out of the DOHC. Unfortunatly the original poster wants a bike with a Manx look. Have you ever seen a Manx norton - it is very difficult to get a DOHC cb750 to look like that because the technology had changed too much by the time that bike came out. The "rocker look" refers to the style of bike (cafe racers) built by "rockers" in england (and in the us) in the 1950's and 1960's, just adding pinstripes and clipon will not get you there for a lot of bikes.

There is very little you can do to a DOHC cb750F to make it come close to that kind of look short of a lot of custom fabrication. I know because I tried. The biggest hurdle is the frame - it is too damn long and anything longer than a stock tank increases an already lengthy reach to the bars.

The original poster stated he wanted to a bike in the manx style, which would be more like the cafe racers of the 50's and 60's, and that he wanted to do it with bolt on parts. I gave him as much advice as I could regarding the subject, and I encourage others to give theirs. The decision to keep the bike and attempt a more complicated build or to start out with something closer is enterly his, he doesn't have to take my advice.

That is a very nice gl1000 "cafe racer". It doesn't have that "manx" look, but it is still cool and a great example of inegnuity and creativity.


Edit: just looked at your bio and see you own an atlas. Do me a favor...park your cb750F next you your atlas and tell Stattz how you can make the F look like the norton using only bolt on parts. It will be more productive than a cheap shot at my expense.

Edited by - geeto67 on Oct 27 2005 6:36:24 PM

quote:
http://www.clubmanracing.com/ this link has norton replica tanks for wide and narrow frames .

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Those are for slim line and wideline featherbed frames. The wideline featherbed is probably just a little narrower than a commando. They also have commando tanks there but the commando is still way narrower then a SOHC or DOHC honda.

quote:
Ill post Sunday pictures of the CB450 In its new painted Black frame and newly detailed engine remounted (has 5700 miles original)back in the frame and front end and the tank I have thats like the red frame bike .

Look at it this way its already gone thru,all brackets shaved off of frame already and resprayed,Engine clean balsted and detailed,rewired(original wiring inspected and gone thru every connection for chaffing and clean tight connections, you have time to pick accent color,tire brands wheels if you want to upgrade or you can do that when the bike is at your home, and choose tank and seat,handle bars ,fenders even though I like fabricating my own seats and tail pieces (steel is better then glass creaking and cracking over time great, on a few lap racebike but a street bike I plan to spend some hours on) because they are unique signature pieces.

Or you can take it home (I can deliver it to you)running and you tinker with as much of the bolt on stuff you want if you dont trust taking the trees apart to put clips on ,I will do that and you can do the less mecahnical bolt on stuff (its just a cafe style bike is a lot of making things fit and can get fustrating to someone that thinks they will just buy the pieces and bolt them on, every item needs some sort of tweeking to make it fit (you cannt be german about it ,its more mechanical then engineered perfection) its what makes them cool to me) .for under three grand(a completed bike with my tank and seat tail piece(all steel) looking good is not a bad deal.I can do as much or as little at this stage!what ever options we can talk .

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The cb450 is a really nice bike and surprisingly quick. What is nice about them is very litte changed year to year so you may be able to fit the 1969 chrome tanks (one of the best looking tanks next to the 67-68 cb450 black bomber, bmw r75/5 chrome tank, and the cb77 superhawk). Rosko has a really sweet stock 71 cb450 with the 1969 pieces, if he put a fiberglass tail and a set of clip-ons that bike would look the cats arse (he is so going to hate that I outed him on the net, but you hafta admit the bike looks sweet):
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dean_morarity/detail?.dir=mail&.dnm=7677.jpg&.src=ph

quote:The 81 is to modern looking mag wheels ,engine is a stressed member to the frame not the bike for the look your aiming for you need wire wheels .and that strait edged looking frame makes a good modern/retro cafe pre-modern super bike but doesnt have the full on vintage look.

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The 1981 Cb750F does not use the engine as a stressed member. In fact it is one of the last "sport" bikes produced with a traditional tubular cradle style frame. However the bike is about the same size as a first year goldwing (gl1000, like the one pictured in Milk's post) and only a little bit smaller than a CBX (mostly due to the cbx's massive six - which is a stressed member engine). It is possible to make a really cool bike out of it, and the more that I look at it the more it seems likely you could add a fiberglass manx style seat to it, but you would have bob the rear frame section just aft of the shocks and add crossbraces and reinfocement. If built today, the CBF would be more of a sport tourer than a dedicated sport bike because of it's girth, but back in the early eightes it was one of the first true bikes built solely for sport by the japanese (along with the Z1R and GS1000R). Considering the bike is now over 20 years old I think it has it's own charms, but I don't think the 80's will have the same retro nostalgia that the 50's and the 60's have. Still it would be nice to see someone riding one in a cutoff vest, plaid pants, mohawk, and chain a-la early 80's punk rock style.



Edited by - geeto67 on Oct 28 2005 09:44:06 AM

quote:
Thanks for all the posts, it really is amazing how much people are willing to help an unknown beginner. Thanks!

I'll check out the CB450 pics on Sunday. I liked the red framed CB360 - a very cool look. I really had something a bit bigger in mind than the CB450: I'm a 6'5", 210lb animal who'd like to crack the ton once in a while. However, Lil Bull sounds as though he's taken all the hard work out of cleaning up an old bike. Talking of which, why does one shave off brackets? Aren't they going to be needed?

Stattz

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What made the cb450 so remarkable is that it was one of the first "bigger bore" motorcycles in the 60's from honda that could crack the ton with an average american on it (not some spindly japanese guy weighing 98lbs soaking wet). Roland Brown has a nice write up on the cb450 in his book the history of fast motorcycles. That is a great book (and in the bargain setion of barnes and noble right now) if you are looking at cafe racer canidates as it shows a lot of different bikes, some of which could still be had for cheap. The only jap bike faster at the time was the t500 cobra which came out in 1967 also. In 1969 honda released the cb750, kawasaki released the h1 500, and all the britbike companies coughed their first death rattle. Removign the brackets is the first step to building a race bike or a good cafe bike. since really you need custom brackets to mount the seat, rearsets, and bigger tank, the stock ones are not necessary. You cannot put the bike back to stock after you cut the brackets but japanese bikes are pretty disposable, if you need another frame later on I can tell you a salvage yard in louisiana that has them stockpiled like cordword.

I'll snap some pics of my supersport when it comes in. I was supposed to pick it up this sunday but that doesn't look like it will happen. maybe during the week, if you are still interested.

In the mean time continue to look at other bikes for inspiration. Personally, the more time I spend with my Suzuki T500 Titan the more I like it as a beginer cafe bike. Early ones are about as quick as a triumph bonneville. Because they are two stroke they vibrate like a brit, they are stone simple to work on, they are approximatley the same size and shape as a norton commando. They were raced competivley throughout the 60's and 70's, and there are plenty of fiberglass seat and tank options for them and a few aluminum. They are also legal in a lot of vintage racing classes. Plus you can pick up nice examples for around $1000 and decent runners needing cosmetics for less.

you probably want to ask them over here:

http://xs650forum.proboards18.com/

http://p214.ezboard.com/fslickschoppersfrm15

I've never had the fortune to own an xs650. I had a friend with one once but it was a later one and built as more of a crusier. From what I remember about it it has a 360 degree crank so it even sounds like a bonneville but it is heavier. Japanese bikes aren't usually know for bad electrics (early kawasaki h1's being the exception) but if i recall there was always some buzz about the timing chain.


There are a lot of jap bikes out there that share parts with british and other euro machines. I used to have an interchangibility list but I don't know where it went. I can tell you that the w-650 kawasakis are literally japanese versions of BSA's (I forget which model) and parts will interchange. I don't think this is a feature of the newer w650. Although the t500 copied heavily from norton, ducati 750 and 900ss tanks will bolt right on (I think you have to drill a hole for the rear mount). Later vincent lightweights are actually NSU's.

wow, this thread is almost a year old. dredges up memories (we miss you bull).

I think the point of the thread was that the DOHC cb750 was very difficult to make look like a 1950's-1960's style cafe racer (like a manx norton) because of bodywork and frame design. Both of the pics you posted are very nice cafe racers but they are not 50's or 60's style bikes.

That Red F cafe racer is very nice and it has a real race bike feel.

This is my cafe racer F (actually I sold it to my brother so it is his now but I built it):



If you look at the body work on a DOHC cb750F and look at the the other bikes being made around that time (z1R, gs1100s), and look at tracy body kits from that time period you will see that that japanese companies were emulating the styling of 1970's cafe racers in their bikes, they are in essence factory cafe racers. It was the step in the natural evolution toward eventually having factory race replicas.



Edited by - Geeto67 on Sep 14 2006 2:39:08 PM

quote:

quote:
Oh ho! This thread maybe old, but I'm glad it got dug up! This is what I'm trying to do with my bike, the 79 cb750L, so this is a good source of info for me. Especially those pics of café style dohc's. The seat I'm making for mine is a bit higher than that, but essentially the same concept.

-------------
Le Canuck
My Bike on Flickr

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Trefmawr...I saw your pixes, nice bike, hope to see the end result...and the progress towards it.

Geeto....your pixes can not be seen, your last ones about the CBF...hope you can make those come through.....<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

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pulled them from coppermine at the cb1100F.net website look for my gallery over there.

http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=20203&highlight=


as for the pics you posted not entirely convinced:

1) #1 is a moto martin body over what looks like a stock frame. The one piece body is a staple of the 70's, although it started to appear as home made pieces as early as 1968. The early shapes were very sleek and rounded, the later ones very boxy and that is really the give away for that body. The lester mag wheels are also a 70's trend. Call it what you will it still looks like a late 70's cafe racer to me.

2) #2 really looks the part - ducati style painted frame (really a 70's style to me ince the SS IMOLA racer came out in 72). The seat is also a 70's boat tail style ducati but it works as well. Id venture to say this is as close as you can get to making an F look liek something out of the 60's but even then it is a late 60's/early 70's style.

3) #3 a racebike - not meant to look old just meant to win races.

All very cool bikes and all great examples of what can be done with a DOHC to make a cafe racer.

Edited by - Geeto67 on Sep 14 2006 2:50:59 PM

Edited by - Geeto67 on Sep 14 2006 2:53:59 PM