My First Cafe build, the very early stage.....

[stillbuster]

I have been lurking here and several other sites for some time now. It seems that "this site" seems to be much more informative and tolerant to "noobs" that the other sites I have been to. I have had a desire to try my hand at a CB750 Cafe racer LOW BUDGET build for about 5 years a real K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) bike. It has been on the back burner due to my sons invovlment in racing asphalt sprint go karts for the past couple of years. We recently sold out of the kart game and I find myself wanting to get my hands dirty and my knuckles busted. So against my better judgement I picked up this little dumpling and everything sitting around it today for the princely sum of $200, a 1981 CB 750 Custom with 11,000 miles. I was really wanting an older CB with kick start, oh well.......



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The guy said it was running last April when he started to rebuild the carbs do to it was not running well, as I gathered during a 10 minute phone convesation as he has already moved out of state and left the bike with his mom to sell. I suspect he tried to run Air Pods rather than the air box and did not put larger jets in before doing so, do to the fact of the 4 brand new in the box airpods. He got as far as taking the fairing, seat, other items off along with hacking the pipes with a sawzall and hitting the poor thing with a rattle can of black paint and that is where it has sat since. He needed the cash for a move out of state, I have a signed title in hand. I have no idea if the bike will even run.
This is my plan:
1. Determine engine runs/ has compression
2. Print off Shop Manual that you guys so graciously posted a download for
3. Rebuild carbs, planning to run pods, I have heard to run pods I need to run 120-125 Jets???
4. Rewire, Headlight gauges, LED indicators and brake light, super simple ignition system
5. Clubman handlbars or Clip ons, undecided
6. Drop the front end by cutting 2" off of the springs
7. Knee cutouts/indentions in tank
8. Tear down and paint
I got it home, unloaded it, blew the birds nests off of the head and pulled the plugs as you see they are arranged from left to right as they came out of the bike if you were sitting on it.

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I dropped several drops of Marvel Mysery oil in the spark plug ports on top of the pistons, then cleaned the plugs on my wire wheel.
I then pulled the battery and topped off the water level and plugged it in to the charger.
I took the gas cap off where I was surprised to find very little rust, but being the anal retentive guy I am I pulled the tank, drained it and filled it with aquarium rock and paint thinner (because I had a gallon and it was free) and shook it for some time turning it in different directions.

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Lesson learned? next time I will use acid or electrolosis to get the rust out cause it is going to be a pain to get all of the gravel out. You live, you learn.
The key tumbler that goes in the gas cap had been drilled out and was not much larger than a shirt button, it fell out and was eaten by the floor trolls. I tried to make a "key" to fit the spring loaded latches that hold the gas cap on, but it did not work. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THE TUMBLER? Or whatever it is called that engages the two spring load latches inside the gas cap?????? I don't want to buy a $50 gas cap!!!!

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Anyhow this is as far as I have gotten until this weekend when a friend (more knowledgeable than I) will come over and we will see if the engine even runs. If it doesnt I guess I can part it out. Which by the way reminds me if you see anything in the pics that you need just let me know, all of it will be for sale in the classifieds when I have time, but I had much rather trade for parts that I know I am going to need.
The fairing, sissy bars, baggage racks and handle bar risers have got to go!

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Any input or opinions would be greatly appreciated, I am sure you will get tired of my asking for answers before this is over.

[TOOLS1]

Welcome to the forum. You did all right, for $200.00. I don't want to be discouraging, but, you picked probably the hardest bike there is to build a traditional styled cafe racer out of. However there is a market, for the C model parts Wheels, tank, and seat... I do look forward to your build.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Welcome to the forum! You are right about the friendly guys on here,they helped me out BIG TIME! Like Tools said,you don't see many DOHC Cafe's...that just means it's time to see somebody pull it off!  Looking forward to your build.Good luck!

[stillbuster]

Tools so do you think I should cut my losses and sell it?

I really had my mind set on an older kick start CB750 or one of the models with the rectangular tank, but I ran across this deal that I thought if nothing else I could get my money back.

Also as far as the carbs go does it sound like I am headed in the right direction as far as jet size goes if I intend to scrap the airbox and run pods?

[TOOLS1]

If what, you really want is the old style, will, you be happy with what, you have? I have seen some nice cafe bikes made out of the DOHC bikes, but they did not have the old style look. The DOHC bikes especially the C model lend them selves very well to bobbers/choppers. If I had it, I would get it going, and enjoy it while looking, for the bike I really wanted. Also I would stick with the stock air box. Those CV carbs are a pain with pods.
TOOLS

[seestheday]

What Tools said.  You could probably make a good profit if you wanted to part out that custom.
For making a cafe out of a dohc, I thought the most difficult part would be getting the stock cards to work with pods.
I've heard that your best bet would be to buy some mikunis instead of trying to get stock dohc ones to work right.

Tools/Shiny, what other issues do you know of?

[stillbuster]

I'm really not into the chopper/bobber look at all.
Which model Mikunis should I be searching for?

Where in your opinion would be the best place to sell if I parted it out?
I hate to go on forums as a new member with a zero post count and no contributions to start hocking my wares, there is the whole trust issue, even though I have over 100+ feedback on eBay I hate paying the fees it has gotten ridiculous. You pay a listing fee then you have to pay the PayPal fee.

[TOOLS1]

I know what, you mean about ebay. I would get the bike going. It would sell pretty easily. If, you decide to part it out I might be interested in the tank, and side covers.
TOOLS

[mikefootusa]

+1 to what TOOLS says...get it running...ride it stock for a bit.  If you still want to sell it...it will sell quick as a stock bike.  Sell off what is not wanted to fund parts.  In my opinion you never get back what you put into one once you take the sawzall to it.

[MarkPBG]

You can absolutely get this thing set up as a cafe. I would recommend a google image search for cb750 cafe and look at all the features of the DOHC cafes that you like, make a list, incorporate things you like into your build, discard ideas that don't work for you. Here's one I found that I think looks good…


If you try and get an idea of where you want to go with the design, you can save a lot of time looking for just the parts you need to make it work. :)

[TOOLS1]

That is the best looking DOHC cafe I have ever seen. Do, you have any info on it?
TOOLS

[stillbuster]

Can someone tell me how to check MESSAGES here on this forum? It says I have a couple but for the life of me I can't figure out how to get to them.

Thanks for the support.

Tools here is a link to the above bike:

http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2011/3/26/honda-cb750-cafe-racer.html

Reckon where he hid the battery?

[stillbuster]

Never mind on the messages I see now that it simply means the number of replies to a thread.

I also read the article and all the electronics and battery are hidden in the rear fairing.  

I checked craigslist and a guy less than 40 miles from me has a stock 1971 CB750 for sale!
But I am short of funds..... My luck!

Anyhow this has to be as low budget of a build as I can make it. So going the route the above bike went is out of the question.

[shinyribs]

The biggest changes made to the above bike-which is awesome btw-is a different tank and seat. That shouldn't cost too much if you can do the work yourself. Homemade parts are the best parts!

[seestheday]

It also has 2 into 1 carbs from cycle-x. Those look great, and I hear are great, but a little pricey.

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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From: "shinyribs [via Honda CB750'S]" <[hidden email]>

Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:33:10 -0800 (PST)

To: seestheday<[hidden email]>

Subject: Re: My First Cafe build, the very early stage.....

The biggest changes made to the above bike-which is awesome btw-is a different tank and seat. That shouldn't cost too much if you can do the work yourself. Homemade parts are the best parts!

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NAML

[MarkPBG]

You don't have to COPY the expensive builds, just look at the STYLE of what the builder did, and try to find cheap parts that give you a similar look. :) Used cafe seats can be had for half what the new ones cost. Clip ons …. buy them at swap meets to avoid high shipping charges. Trade parts you have for ones you want. Etc. It can be done on the cheap, admittedly, it won't look as spotlessly shiny PERFECT as the example above, but you can do it well enough to look really good.

[shinyribs]

Well said mark. Just get a few good ideas and go from there.good eye on the carbs Sees '

[stillbuster]

After taking a real hard look at the bike and what I want I decided to sell this bike and look for a 71-78 model.
If I am going to put that many man hours and $$ into the bike it is going to be what I want or I just will not be that into it.
Anyhow I listed the bike on Craiglsist yesterday evening about 7:00 and it was sold by 8:30. A local guy was wanting the engine only for a dune buggy.
Thanks for all of your help, I will still be lurking and reading and when I find "THE" bike I want I am sure I will be back to annoy you with noob questions!

[shinyribs]

I really dont blame ya. I built a truck one time.I liked it,but didnt love it. It was close to what I wanted,but not IT exactly.Probably not a bad call,man. Good luck on your search!