My Cafe Build
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
I thought of that, luckily though honda made this harness pretty modular, so I just removed that sub harness, so there is maybe 2 wires running in the harness not being used. Not enough for me to hassle with a complete redo. Now if I was going to just race it the harness would be gone, it would just have the minimum to work, no lights etc.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
Well some parts have been trickling in. I received in the mail my four pod filters, and my exhaust wrap. I will try and wrap the exhaust on my lunch break, so I can put a few pictures up. Hopefully 50' is enough to do the whole thing. At any rate here are a few shots of the filters.
Exhaust wrap and stainless ties.
Exhaust wrap and stainless ties.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
Project brake line upgrade
Alright so here is the deal. The old brake line is cracked beyond use. It is different then most motorcycle lines in that it has one banjo fitting at the MC and one 8mm 1.25 thread end for the caliper. This complicates things, they don't carry a continues line for the bike to avoid using an automotive solid line like in this pic.
So I bought a car line from something that uses a 24 in line, forget what car but baxter auto parts hunted one down for me. Its a braided line with one banjo and a standard thread end (whatever that may be). The idea here was to use an adapter made by the same company as the line, to alow the caliper and line relate. Problem is no one makes a metric to english adapter, go figure. Here is the new line.
Now for the solution. I got lucky in that one of the adapters that threads into the new line was aluminum, and so is the caliper. So I welded the adapter to the caliper with the correct threads up. Now they relate and I can have a spiffy looking stainless brake line for $34 including the adapter, instead of $50 + for a custom line. Pics of the caliper are coming soon as the paint dries.
So I bought a car line from something that uses a 24 in line, forget what car but baxter auto parts hunted one down for me. Its a braided line with one banjo and a standard thread end (whatever that may be). The idea here was to use an adapter made by the same company as the line, to alow the caliper and line relate. Problem is no one makes a metric to english adapter, go figure. Here is the new line.
Now for the solution. I got lucky in that one of the adapters that threads into the new line was aluminum, and so is the caliper. So I welded the adapter to the caliper with the correct threads up. Now they relate and I can have a spiffy looking stainless brake line for $34 including the adapter, instead of $50 + for a custom line. Pics of the caliper are coming soon as the paint dries.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,934
From: altoona, pa
there's going to be a lot of people disappointed when you finish this build. maybe you ought to sell it to me and start another. LOL.
Seriously, you're doing an amazing job and you are gonna get a lot of enjoyment riding something you put some much love into, how bout it. Inspiring to say the least.
Seriously, you're doing an amazing job and you are gonna get a lot of enjoyment riding something you put some much love into, how bout it. Inspiring to say the least.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
So, it is ending too fast for you 
.
Well to help you not miss things like this too much I will say there will be more projects. I have a few ideas up my sleave. Not all of them cafe builds either. I like a few other styles of motorcycle too so I am going to try building a few of those next. However one at a time I guess, also I need to work on the bus some... and the jeep...
.Well to help you not miss things like this too much I will say there will be more projects. I have a few ideas up my sleave. Not all of them cafe builds either. I like a few other styles of motorcycle too so I am going to try building a few of those next. However one at a time I guess, also I need to work on the bus some... and the jeep...
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 347
From: S.Dak USA
Andy,the bike is coming along and looking good.Always been into cafe bikes.My uncle John had a Triton back in the 60's and I spent lots of time sitting on it wishing my legs were longer! Keep up the good work...
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
Lots happened today. I rolled into the shop to wrap my exhaust and found my body work painted the ghost pearl white. Its missing the stripe but I am posting a couple of shots anyways.
Exhaust wrap
Exhaust wrap
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
Pictures by the way dont do justice for the color. In low light it looks silver and in bright light it looks white. It has metallic pearl flake, its smaller then metal flake subtle but to the eye you can see it, just not in pics. Its too bad because I would love for you all to truly see how awesome the color is.
Last edited by Little_Horse; Jan 23, 2010 at 08:52 PM.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
The checklist has shrunk to:
Wire the master cylinder brake switch
Bleed front brake
Attach tail light wiring
Have tires mounted
Assemble wheels onto bike.
Fill with oil
Fill with gas
Ride...
Wire the master cylinder brake switch
Bleed front brake
Attach tail light wiring
Have tires mounted
Assemble wheels onto bike.
Fill with oil
Fill with gas
Ride...
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,934
From: altoona, pa
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 380
From: Warrenton Virginia
You look sad even though your sitting on what will soon be a really cool bike. Oh wait I know it's the chicken and the egg, you were planning on riding the bike to go pick up your tires lol
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 380
From: Warrenton Virginia
You look sad even though your sitting on what will soon be a really cool bike. Oh wait I know it's the chicken and the egg, you were planning on riding the bike to go pick up your tires lol
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
From: Phoenix, AZ
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
lol, speaking of star wars without the tank or headlight when it was hanging still I sat on it and everyone nearby thought it looked like the sky cycle. Even kinda cornered like one .
.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
So I lost my bleeder valve for the brake, so it was out to my personal wrecking yard in the front of the shop. The body shop likes to put all the totaled cars at my shop 
. Then I sneak parts off of them before the haulers come. So that's where my bleeder valve came from. A few other parts did too. As I begin bringing this build to a close I will assemble a summary of interesting tidbits, like dry weight, eventually power, fun facts, aprox hours, money spent. etc.
So I bled the brakes yesterday, that went very well. I must be getting better at it because I had a completely dry setup from the MC down and had it bled in less then ten minutes. It helps that it is a single too though. Still waiting for my tires.
. Then I sneak parts off of them before the haulers come. So that's where my bleeder valve came from. A few other parts did too. As I begin bringing this build to a close I will assemble a summary of interesting tidbits, like dry weight, eventually power, fun facts, aprox hours, money spent. etc.So I bled the brakes yesterday, that went very well. I must be getting better at it because I had a completely dry setup from the MC down and had it bled in less then ten minutes. It helps that it is a single too though. Still waiting for my tires.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
No, for now just a stripe. Later I may have someone pinstripe some simple lines on it. I don't know for sure yet.
So I thought my tires were coming today, but I was wrong
. They come tomorrow. This will make it a little harder to get it done this weekend, but still do able. I was just hoping to have the tires mounted on my lunch break tomorrow.
So I thought my tires were coming today, but I was wrong
. They come tomorrow. This will make it a little harder to get it done this weekend, but still do able. I was just hoping to have the tires mounted on my lunch break tomorrow.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
I know... it wouldn't if I didn't finish the bike but since I will well then you know how it goes. The maiden voyage might be back and forth in the shop a couple of times.
Well I like it, this last weekend was told about a vintage motorcycle show here in town. There were about 50 cycles there, maybe 12 or so cafe racers. I was surprised how many had wrapped pipes. Anyways I guess it is a personal taste thing, maybe arguably a cafe thing but I think it goes well with my goal and look for the bike, but I am glad you like the rest of it.
Well I like it, this last weekend was told about a vintage motorcycle show here in town. There were about 50 cycles there, maybe 12 or so cafe racers. I was surprised how many had wrapped pipes. Anyways I guess it is a personal taste thing, maybe arguably a cafe thing but I think it goes well with my goal and look for the bike, but I am glad you like the rest of it.
Thread Starter
2nd mouse gets the cheese
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,697
From: Beaverton, OR
Well, fail... either I ordered accidently the wrong front tire or they sent me the wrong one. Damn, a little depressed about this. Since it will most likely take a week or two to resolve. I knew what size I wanted and am sure that is what i ordered but maybe I scrolled the mouse before clicking off the tab. Who knows. Still waiting for the call back so I can have it switched.
