'72 CB350 - Some Assembly Required

[.RJ]

Do that but, with modern forks. More hawt.

I do want to do this.  Its big chunk of coin all in for all the parts.... 

https://cognitomoto.com/collections/fork...d-with-rim

And, need to get a rear wheel laced to a new rim to match, and better rear shocks in addition to the front end parts.  Then there's the frame painting, engine rebuilding, exhaust pipes, tank painting... its not going to be cheap project.  I'm ok with this, but I do need a better space to work.

I've thought about this quite a bit, and here's where I'm headed - 

• Ditch the side covers and factory battery box/wiring behind the covers, replace with a tray under the seat to hold everything
  
• I've been trading some emails with sparck moto about building a wiring harness to match and supply me everything that's needed, including replacing the stock handlebar switches 
  
• Replace the (nasty, cracked) headlight bucket with a new bucket, headlight & LED bulb and smaller turn signals.
  
• Rebuild the front forks with new fork tubes - they are rusty AF, it looks awful.
  
• Figure out why the front brake blows so hard... the rear isnt so bad.
  
• Install the new clutch plates I have sitting here
  
• Convert the choke levers to cable choke
  

This should get the bike looking MUCH nicer, and riding better, until I've got my own garage and I can do a full tear down and rebuild.

[V1GiLaNtE]

You can get a complete GSXR front end on ebay all day for ~$700 or less.. Even less if you don't need the controls/wheel/etc.  Buy that and their conversion stem and get it at least driving. Then you can deal with all the fancy extra stuff.

They list fork tubes for $640? Ebay for half that.

[.RJ]

For sure you can put it together cheaper. I'll have to weigh everything out... I do want to keep the spoked wheels, which is a big cost adder - their custom hub and building a new wheel adds up.

[ScottyB]

whatever you did with your last CB build looked Tits McGee, so imma just sit back and watch you do your magic. i love where this is headed.

[.RJ]

I spent some time staring at the bike last night... ditching the side covers and battery box still leaves the massive rear fender. So its all gotta go.

Which means lopping off the tabs and welding in a 'loop' on the back of the frame like the grey bike... and doing something with the seat.

Every time I look at this thing I want to rip the whole thing apart, its so ratty.

This is such a fucking rabbit hole.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I spent some time staring at the bike last night... ditching the side covers and battery box still leaves the massive rear fender. So its all gotta go.

Which means lopping off the tabs and welding in a 'loop' on the back of the frame like the grey bike... and doing something with the seat.

Every time I look at this thing I want to rip the whole thing apart, its so ratty.

This is such a fucking rabbit hole.

[.RJ]

I always knew this was a full tear down project, but I'm trying to balance the time spent on it and being able to use it this year and not having a garage.

[.RJ]

new gauges & headlight bucket arrived.

cb400f front end parts en route - same size forks but better damping and disc brake.

I'm working out the details on having sparck moto build me a harness and supplying all the electrical parts I need (Tiny Li-Ion battery, under seat electrical tray, LED headlight, handlebar controls)

found a local guy out past Leesburg to clean up the rear end of the bike - going to weld a loop onto the rear frame, knock the various mounting tabs off and he has a guy he uses to recover seats, aiming for a look similar to the bike with the grey tank. I may have him cut down the front fender too - reposting again for motivation

[Senor_Taylor]

Whatever you do, you better invite me over to drink and watch you work on this.

[CaptainHenreh]

I have some blue suede if you find yourself with a spare seat that needed recovery...

[ScottyB]

whaaaaat do you have to do to make that picture become real?  because that's an express ticket to Bonertown.  damn.

[JPolen01]

^Ding ding

Probably a dumb question, but what's up with the kickstand on that one? Can't you get one that is long enough to hit the ground. Seems dumb to carry around a block of wood because your kickstand ain't the right length.

[.RJ]

I think that's just to hold the bike vertical, rather than leaned over.

Taylor, I'll hit you up in a few weeks. Might takeover JayRay's garage for a weekend, if he's willing.... I'll supply beers.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I'm still extremely H&B'd by that bike. The color scheme reminds me of the old Toyota livery, which I love.

[.RJ]

If/when it gets to paint it'll be something like the old freddie spencer cb1100 superbike theme

[V1GiLaNtE]

I came.

[Tyler.M]

Man, I really need to get my ass in gear with my 360. You're going down the same route I want to do with mine.

[.RJ]

I promise, this is progress... things have been happening though and plans are in motion.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Um yea. Put me down as the first prospective buyer when you revolve that door.

[.RJ]

I dropped frame with fabricator out near Leesburg.... nice guy, really cool shop - gave him a target of first week of October to finish things up. The punch list is

- Knock all un-used tabs off the frame (side covers, center stand, etc)
- Build a frame loop under the seat
- Refoam/recover seat and lower the seat height
- Vapor blast a bunch of stuff
- Lace up wheels after vapor blasting hubs - I bought new aluminum rims, originals are chromed steel

And then the frame goes to paint - he referred me to a local place that does good work. I'm going to match frame to the copper color of the tank that just arrived.... 



And, this waits... I decided I need to get the rolling chassis together before I get into the engine, but I'm working through the options for what I want to do.  At minimum its coming apart to vapor blast the cases, but this is very susceptible to whileyoureinthereitis.