Help me identify what i purchased.....

3248 Views 30 Replies 8 Participants Last post by jalsteve, Aug 15, 2021

jcboal43

Discussion Starter · Nov 10, 2020

I purchased a 1971-ish cb500 with a custom lattice frame and i am wondering if it might look familiar to anyone...is it a kit, a one off, a race bike?
Here are a few things I know:
- Well built lattice frame, where the lower engine cradle unbolts from the rest of the frame
- it has an aluminum swing arm
- eccentric chain adjuster in the frame
- Arces triple tree
- Drilled rear hub for cooling (and brake shoes)
- Clear right side magneto cover
Really odd things:
- Cable operated kick stand
- Additional switched on the handle bars
- accessory red light above the left rear turn signal

I am wondering if it wasn't a race bike that someone tried to make street legal.

Any other ideas?

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1 - 9 of 31 Posts

TrialsRider

· #2 · Nov 11, 2020

It's a Bitsa

Bits of this and bits of that, definitely not a race bike.

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TrialsRider

· #3 · Nov 11, 2020

Would make a dandy sawmill if the motor runs.

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TrialsRider

· #5 · Nov 11, 2020

Does it have a VIN ?

Who welds passenger pegs onto a race frame?

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TrialsRider

· #7 · Nov 11, 2020

What is the size of the hole in the triple trees for the front fork stanchions, it looks tiny.
And what is the thread on the bolts in the frame, from here they look like something British and not metric.

Good luck licensing and insuring a motorcycle with no VIN

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TrialsRider

· #13 · Nov 11, 2020

"custom frames get licensed all the time."
Correct they do
and they make you stamp a VIN on the frame steering head or other designated spot,
I have one like that and the VIN they assigned is based largely on my birthdate.

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TrialsRider

· #14 · Nov 11, 2020

I used to cross cut my brake pads like that so they clear of mud and water faster.
but somebody went drill crazy on that one, we never did that lol

... you could bead blast the frame clean of old paint, that might reveal a lot.

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TrialsRider

· #15 · Nov 11, 2020

"Cable operated kick stand"
Is that the lever on the bars, because that looks like what they would have used for magneto advance or decompressor in ancient times.

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TrialsRider

· #18 · Nov 11, 2020

... unless you were doing a world land speed record attempt and could not put your feet down because they were inside a tube lol too bad you don't have the entire motorcycle.

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TrialsRider

· #26 · Nov 12, 2020

Looks a little like this one but not as advanced:

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