82 cb750sc cafe project

[htedr]

hey again all, thanks for the responses on my last thread, this will be the thread for my cafe project.

here's the original bike


here's after I stripped a bunch of stuff off


I also just kept the stock handlebars and rotated them to face down (el oh el) but yea eventually maybe some other ones will go on.

generally my ideas so far are:
-get a cafe tank, and somehow fit it
-get a cafe seat, and somehow fit it
-4 into 1, that's a priority for me
-switch the airbox for pods
-signals, hooded headlight, maybe just a single gauge, master cycl
-(tentative) lower the front
-fork boots
-spoked wheels

if anyone has any comments, ideas, etc, please lay them on me

anyway, I'll be posting pics and problems as I go along.. I'm going to try bringing the forks an inch or so out of the tree, and getting some pods and an exhaust.. I should also mention the bike doesn't run now; previous owner said the carbs need a clean, but they look pretty clean to me (?) anyway, I'll keep this thread updated, but progress will probably be slow till it gets warmer outside

first question; is the nighthawk frame different than the other cb models frame? seems like the neck on my frame slopes up faster than a pic I saw of a supersport frame

[Re-run]

Well a couple ideas to ponder.
Cafes generally lend themselves to older style tanks. The early 70s cb750 tanks work well. Maybe a cb450 tank.

The seat will probably need to be fabbed. Some people take the pan and then make a frame of wood or tin for the hump and such and then fiberglass it then attach padding. Some people have also moved some of the electrics into the hump to clean up the sides.

For the exhaust, check cyclex. They have a few options to choose from and some look pretty good.

I might hold ff on pods. These carbs require a vacuum and pods do not always provide enough vacuum. If you do get pods, don't go cheap, get K&N. They are expensive but will work better.

Cyclex also has a number of other cool things for cafe so you might find something for gauges and such.

Spoked wheels will need to come from a 750 C I think. I just don't know that one for sure. You might be able to use others but you will need to figure out spacing and bearings and such.

Just things to think about

[htedr]

hey re-run, your post is again super helpful. yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll have to fab the pan and maybe something really small for the rear hump, I want to keep it as short as possible-also though I'm new at this so that may have to wait. I saw a guy that did the plate, brake light and turn signals all on a side mount and it looked pretty good, I may try and do that.. cheers for the exhaust/gauges recommendation, I'm pretty broke atm so I'm just going to see if I can get a 4 to 1 at a local wrecker, he said he might have one... are they hard to fit from other bikes? is it just the ID/OD of the headers I have to worry about?

As for the pods, haha yea I've looked into it a bit, including some posts on here, heh. I realize it's probably going to be nothing but problems, but I'm afraid it's "necessary" haha. When I get them I will go k&n, cheers for that.

I've heard raising the forks out of the tree will tighten up your steering.. something I need to worry about?

[Re-run]

Well raising the forks will change the geometry some. How much depends on how high you raise them. I would not go over 2 inches if you can even go that far. Part of it is also keeping the engine close to the same position it is in now. You may want to consider shorter shocks possibly.

The exhaust is mostly about the spacing. Diameter is no big deal but spacing on different engines will be different. For example, the sohc 750 has a different spacing than the dohc 750 does. For yours, I would stick with 79 - 82. the wrecker might be able to get you and airbox and the boots so maybe keep an eye out for that.

[htedr]

cheers again re-run, I'll post when I get out there to tell you guys what I find

edit: just a heads up, here's the main bike I'm looking at for inspiration... not the same as carpy's cafe's, but this one seems more attainable.

http://www.parkercustommotorcycles.com/?p=30

[GTO6T6]

The service manual says the '82 CB750SC has a castor angle of 60deg30' and a trail of 120mm.  The F is 62deg30' and 110mm.  The higher you move the forks in the triples, the quicker the steering is going to be, even a little bit can make a big change.

Dunno if you're the same guy who posted on the 750C site a few weeks ago, but it would be a funny coincidence if you were.  Don't pitch your original bodywork, or tank, if they are in good shape.  Guys like me with stock looking bikes are always looking for decent parts priced reasonably.

[htedr]

yea I'm not tossing anything.. no, don't think I'm the same guy. progress has been slow because the weather has been so sh*tty.. posts will come with the sunshine

[htedr]

so done a bit more work, got some more questions haha

I went out to the burbs last week to this old biker shop with old parts from about 200 bikes... was super inspiring. He has a 4-1 exhaust but I'm not sure how to check if it will fit my bike without having the bike there... do I just need to measure everything? do I need to worry about the ID/OD on the headers or is that pretty standard?

Also going to pick up some handlebars... does anyone know offhand the stock OD of the handlebars? is it 7/8"? that's kind of a lazy question, but if anyone knows offhand it will save me twisting off the grips.

I picked up this tiny little 'unigauge' that has a speedo, turn signals, and all this jazz in there, but I'm not sure how much I like it... more to the point, how do you get the odo to match your stock odo?

Could I just slit fork gaitors along the back and slip them on to save me taking out the forks?

I'm having some problems figuring out how to push the forks up out of the tree, I'll post about that later with some pics

no rush on anything guys, thanks for all the help so far.. the weather is getting better and i'm getting pretty excited to ride as i'm sure y'all are

[htedr]

sorry just to clairify on the 4-1, is it just the spacing i need to worry about? how about group clearance? i mean I guess obviously yea i need to have clearance but could i potentially just bend the pipe a bit?

[Re-run]

Well ht, lets see.
The handlebars are 7/8 as long as they have not been changed by the PO(previous owner).
The speedo and tach have a certain ratio and you would need to find a set to match that. I can see if I can find out the ratio. Another option would be to get a different unit. Something like this: http://www.kosonorthamerica.com/
Kinda pricey but pretty cool looking. Uses a sensor on the front wheel to gauge speed.
For the gaitors, you could slit them and that would make it easier or you could out some wood and a jack under the front engine and jack it up some. Loosen the bolts for the forks and jack the front up more and forks should slide down. You can then put the gaiters in and put then lower the front to push the forks back up. I would do this to keep water out so the forks do not rust. If you do split the gaiters, I would silicon them to seal the slit up.

[htedr]

Rerun you're a saint man, I'll post again once I do all this stuff

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 5:49 PM, Re-run [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]> wrote:

Well ht, lets see.
The handlebars are 7/8 as long as they have not been changed by the PO(previous owner).
The speedo and tach have a certain ratio and you would need to find a set to match that. I can see if I can find out the ratio. Another option would be to get a different unit. Something like this: http://www.kosonorthamerica.com/
Kinda pricey but pretty cool looking. Uses a sensor on the front wheel to gauge speed.
For the gaitors, you could slit them and that would make it easier or you could out some wood and a jack under the front engine and jack it up some. Loosen the bolts for the forks and jack the front up more and forks should slide down. You can then put the gaiters in and put then lower the front to push the forks back up. I would do this to keep water out so the forks do not rust. If you do split the gaiters, I would silicon them to seal the slit up.

The ride IS the adventure. The destination is just to get gas!

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[Ricks82Hawk]

Hey guy, If you would like to sell the seat and gas tank I will take them off your hands.