[Jyn]

The bike (1982 CB750K) was given to me by a family friend. It was generous, but I'm a sport-bike enthusiast. I already have a bike that I ride everyday (zx12r).
I figured I'd take this bike just to mess around on. However, I recently saw pictures of the cafe style CB750's & I thought it would be a good project to get more familiar with the mechanics of working on a bike.

I'm being told by a builder in my area that it would cost "thousands" of dollars to make this bike into a cafe (by myself). Why? Because it isn't a 70's model. "It wasn't made to be easily interchangeable to a cafe racer."

So, my question is - can I get this bike anywhere near decent/sporty/cafe looking (cb750cafe.com style) without spending "thousands"?

I'm not into old cruisers, or any cruiser for that matter. So if this isn't a project that can be done on a budget, then I'll end up parking this bike.

 

[Psyco Diver 69]

Thousands? I don't think so, it can get very nickle and dime though, but what project isn't. Heres a Very nice K model done out http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=32973&highlight=super

And heres my project, mine is a C model http://www.caferacer.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4171

22/m
1980 Honda CB750
1972 Oldsmobile 442

 

[Judeyramone]

My friend (catboy) is working on a '79 & it's starting to look pretty damn cool. Hasn't spent any real money yet, because his talented dad is doing a bit of the work. I'll post pics if he doesn't mind.

 

[Geeto67]

it is possible to spend thousands but you don't necessarily have to do so. It all depends on how crazy you want to get and how much your bike already needs. The big ticket items are always big bore kits and custom tanks. If you can make the stock tank and sidecovers work for you, and don't mind about the motor being a stocker then you are off to a good start. The more work you do yourself the cheaper it gets since labor is the most expensive part.

Still, with tires, shocks, some form of rearsets, bars, and seat you could get to $1000 in no time but it is spent over time so you may not feel it as much. This is also assuming that your bike doesn't need much beyond regular service items (battery, plugs, oil, etc).

for good shocks check out vipex performance, nice price and set up fot DOHC cb750/900/1100s. Seats - check ebay (1hotwing sells a nice generic bubble back).

 

[Squeak]

quote:

I'm being told by a builder in my area that it would cost "thousands" of dollars to make this bike into a cafe (by myself). Why? Because it isn't a 70's model. "It wasn't made to be easily interchangeable to a cafe racer."

So, my question is - can I get this bike anywhere near decent/sporty/cafe looking (cb750cafe.com style) without spending "thousands"?

OK well I'm spending thousands on my bike but most of the money is on Painting ($1000) and a new Tank ($1000), the other $1500 is on all the bling bits, new, bars, velocity stacks, chrome guards etc.. high lift cam lighter flywheel.
But for me it's cheaper than a newride and in the end I'll have a newer ride.

HOWEVER I could have done the whole lot for under $1000 if i wanted to do it on the cheap.

 

[catboy]

quote:
My friend (catboy) is working on a '79 & it's starting to look pretty damn cool. Hasn't spent any real money yet, because his talented dad is doing a bit of the work. I'll post pics if he doesn't mind.

post that shit!

...thousands might not be too off the mark depending on what you want to do, what needs to be done to do it, and whether or not you or someone you know can do a vast majority of it. wise men make good freinds of talented fabricators with lots-o-tools!

NCNR

 

[Judeyramone]

catboy's '79 cb750 (in progress):

If I'm not mistaken, he's spent money only on clip-ons so far, aside from normal maintenance items. Much less than $300,eh? And $10 for an eBay spoke wheel. Save your comments about the tank. His dad, whose doing that part, is a magician. I've seen other stuff he's done.



Edited by - judeyramone on Jun 12 2007 3:40:47 PM

 

[borzwazie]

I figured the tank was a placeholder for sizing, myself...I think the bike is going to be pretty cool...

**************************
My own project:
http://www.caferacer.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2827
**************************

 

[LiLBull]

hey its all good,as long as your building a bike its ALL GOOD.The other side of the coin is you better ride it ,its really what its all about.
I like things made one off or put together differently and I like different and if you cannt do it ,I do appreciate the effort to attempt to do it....again its all good! cafe the street and cafe the nation....at least till 2012 when the Mayan calander runs out.

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

 

[catboy]

thanks, g...

NCNR

 

[catboy]

quote:
I figured the tank was a placeholder for sizing, myself...

yeah, for all intents and purposes, it is pretty much a place holder.

NCNR

 

[redlynr]

Saw these in another member's gallery, now I can't find his thread...

Here's his gallery; http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2445965/4

Anyway, this bike was just like yours, if my early 80s CB memory is accurate, and is badass looking. Shouldn't be too expensive to get close...

Edited by - redlynr on Jun 20 2007 11:05:04 AM

 

[Geeto67]

That bike is an F model not a K which means the frames are slightly different. And if you don't think that that bike has a lot of work done to it the rearset mounting brackets alone should be a signal that there are hundreds of hours in the details of the bike, despite using a stock frame and tank.

A custom bike is not always just a tank and a bubble back seat, as much as a lot of the newbies would like to think it is. You change one thing from stock and it creates 5-10 new problems that need solutions, some are expensive, some cheap, and some are fabricated out of raw materials.

No custom bike is ever "easy". To do the job right takes hard work, creative thinking, and dedication, just like anything else worth doing in life.

catboy - are you still going to turbo that bitch?

 

[catboy]

...the turbo system will happen eventually. the short term plan is to simply sort it out following all the mods and get it running well. you know, first thing first. for every 1 thing you do, 10 pop up.

i couldn't agree more with your points about customization, details, effort, and execution. specifically your rearset example. for some reason, people seem to DRAMATICALLY underestimate the planning, effort, and level of fabrication that's required to fit 'em on this frame (mine's a K...with a drum rear!) a lincoln log 350 frame it's not! in the end, they'll likely amount to more planning, fitting, and raw fab work than the tank mods, seat fab, and everything else combined. "rearsets are easy." or "they're not that complicated." or "just do what so and so did." BULLSHIT!!! anyway...

funny that picture of that red bike came up becuase i've actually got those two shots hanging on the wall next to it for reference and inspiration. as you said, that bike is a result of HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of hours of work by VERY accomplished and capable craftsmen...and it shows in it's deceptively misleading simplicity.

NCNR

 

[LiLBull]

yeah what Geeto says but still a seat, tank and bars are the quickest and easiest start to get the look pronto...then you realize it would be better with rear sets which are simple if you ve done a few and hard to figure out the simplicity when you first try!
(answer ..get loads and then more loads of pictures of your specific bike with rear sets and see how others have done it .Dont try to improve on it the first time out use it just like you see, then later try and do better then what you fitted .If its good and works LEAVE IT and move on to enjoying your ride.)

I like that tank side profile but I have seen a few in that profile that has a very wide in the front and tapers narrow in the rear.Maybe there is a model with that same profile that is boxey but I always see them in the very wide in the front narrow in the rear sort of heart shaped from a birds eye veiw and not a bread boxey shape it implys from the side veiw.

profile wise I love that tanks profile for a "more modern" look

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

 

[catboy]

...that tank is hella wide! it's getting scalloped to the frame rails in the back for the knees and 1/2 inch recesses for the bars near the front corners. back to what geeto was talking about...perfect example: clip-on's = tank, frame, seat, and controls modifications!

NCNR