Cafe Racer Forum banner

New guy with a CB450...

11552 Views 75 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  oldhondacafe
Aloha all, so here I am with a new to me 1970 CB450. My last one was a 1970 CL450 and I've also had a 78' CB750 and a 1969 SL350. The twins are my favorite.

This one is exceptionally fugly. It hasn't had tags/registration since 1980, it's been sitting (outside) since 1999, and it has all the "cool" shit from the late 1970s. Mini ape-hangers, freeway pegs, 4" over forks, diamond shaped upholstery, and lots and lots of rust!

I think I'm going to call it "el perrito" because it really is a dog right now. Plans call for a full overhaul on the motor, seat and tank, electronic ignition of some sort, clip-ons and rearsets, and LOTS of cleaning/polishing.

I'm thinking mostly black with orange powdercoated rims for a color scheme.

Anyways it's already torn down and I'm sure you all want some pics, so...






See less See more
4
21 - 40 of 76 Posts
Some updates...


Got the headlight tabs in the mail, so I got them mounted and put my cool $15.00 Magura clip-on bars on too ;D


My tires are on back-order (well, one is at least) but it should be in by Friday.


started doing some body work on the tank as well - still lots to do before it's ready for paint.



anyways, pics below:











See less See more
4
Some more updates:

got the bike rolling earlier in the week, then today had enough time and energy to drop in the motor and mount the hand controls.


enjoy ;D











See less See more
7
will do. how's the new place?
got my fingers crossed for ya.
that's a good thought. I'll do some investigating...

cheers.
that's a good thought. I'll do some investigating...

cheers.
Yup. I'll probably have Tim at Morse Muffler in Burbank make the head-pipes and collector. Any word on escrow closing? I know we had to wait about a week and a half after the "closing date" before we actually had papers completed.
Yup. I'll probably have Tim at Morse Muffler in Burbank make the head-pipes and collector. Any word on escrow closing? I know we had to wait about a week and a half after the "closing date" before we actually had papers completed.
Wiring is pretty much complete (need about another 3-4 hours on it).

Got some new braided brake lines made up, but now I'm going to change my master cylinder, so...

Got some ends and threaded rod for the foot controls, that should be ready soon too.

I'm gonna have to figure out what to do with exhaust as the stock pipes interfere with the new foot controls, but I'll at least have it running pretty soon here.


I'll post more pics, when I have something interesting to put up.


cheers.
See less See more
Cool, I hope you get them. Call me if you need any help, or if you need any tools - I'll do what I can.


Tim does all kinds of stuff. He's never turned me down on any fabrication or exhaust stuff, and his prices while not cheap are totally fair. He also guarantees everything (not that I've ever needed to take anything back).
A couple of update pics:


Got the wiring pretty much buttoned up (need to mount the speedo pickup for the Acewell).

Head pipes are on temporarily util I can get it over to the muffler shop for a new 2-1.

Master cylinder, linkage parts and a new short reverse cone muffler are on the way. As soon as they're here, I can get it fired up!





See less See more
3
Hey Robert. Rod ends got here today, so I dropped it all on there real quick and all seems good. I'll get some pics this weekend likely.


How is your house?
long time, no updates...until now.

Nearly there.... fired her up today, left cylinder has fuel/spark, but not firing... I'm pretty sure either a jet is clogged, or the slide may not be moving well. I'll dig in over the next several days as time is in short supply these days.


pics in no particular order:








See less See more
5
still a little off, but running sporadically on both cylinders... runs nice, then choppy, then nice again... may be points/condensor I'm thinking.

anyways, a little something:

See less See more
So the video isn't linking correctly right now, I'll try and figure it out....

EDIT: use the link :D


http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g272/philos1/cl450/?action=view&current=DSCN1549.flv
quote:Originally posted by buckandaquarter

That looks nice. Wifey likes the orange wheels. I like the platinum grey paint.
thanks :)
Xander - I made the collector from a set of old rusty CB pipes I had. I just cut the curved sections to where they exit to the stock mufflers and made them into a "Y" nasty rusty CB pipes can be had for +/- $20.


You'll also need to cut the CL muffler off to make it work.
Long time no posts but....

with some help from Robert, she's up and running!

I had fitted an electronic ignition (Dyna unit for a GL1000) and some Dyna coils I found on ebay. I'll probably have a few other tidbits to work out once I get my plates and ride a few times, but it is running/riding.


here's a quick drive-by up and back my block, enjoy.



http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g272/philos1/cl450/?action=view&current=cb450driveby.flv
See less See more
thanks!

Not sure I have nearly the skills that you do though. your build is looking really good.
21 - 40 of 76 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top