suggested side covers

[DesignBuild]

I changed my bike to look the cafe racer style, but i have one issue i haven't really come up with a good solution for yet, and that is side covers.

the bike is a 1982 cb750F SS and the original covers for it no longer look right with my new seat since they have the swish part at the top that went with the stock seat curve.

i know this forum is generally people who refurbish and restore these bikes to stock, but you all have proven to be knowledgeable, so i figured this would be a good place to ask for alternative solutions to side covers. also, i don't really want to go the route of putting oval racing plates in place of them.

thanks.  

[ccRider246]

I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions but I am wondering if you were going to sell those existing side covers. I have a cracked left cover I would love to replace and it would be an added bonus if the color were silver.

[DesignBuild]

i am selling them, but the paint isn't original on either one of them. i popped em on ebay awhile back but they didnt sell, here is the expired listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280471923485&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEUSX%3AIT 

if your still interested at all shoot me an offer, i was also selling the seat and cowl and tail light assembly.

[Re-run]

I dont know how it would look on your style of bike, but some of the sohc folks leave the side covers off. the relocate the electrics into the seat using different reg/rec components and a different fuse box.
Some then will repaint the oil tank or change it out completely for a custom tank.
just ideas that may or may not work on your bike.

[DesignBuild]

thanks for the suggestions, the only thing behind the covers is the electrics & battery though, so i have considered relocating them under the seat since i put a long stop seat on there. i looked at a smaller 12v battery to save space if i went this option

similar to this: http://www.batteriesinaflash.com/-cat-591/upg-utx9-bs-12v-8ah-120cca-motorcycle-battery-replaces-ytx9-bs 

has anyone used these, i don't know what the difference is other than they seem to be about half the height of the stock ones, which is convenient. I don't think i'd have much problems extending the rest of the electrics a little (although wires are always a pain in the butt) so this could be a route to take.

[DesignBuild]

here's the bike at its present standing btw, it's not done by far, but winter is ending and im itching to ride again so more changes might be more gradual (i.e. new shocks, better ignition coils etc.)

[Re-run]

There will be disagreement on this but here is my opinion. I ran my cb750 78K for a whole summer on a 7AH battery WITH the electric start in. keep in mind though the sohc bikes still had a kickstart. If you do not have the kicker, make sure your bike starts very easy otherwise you could very easily run that battery flat. Remember, the stock batt was probably around 14AH so this on is a little over half that.
BUT if everything is in good shape AND you give enough time to charge the battery after starting, you should be able to do it ok.

Again, my opinion based on the 78K BUT I almost never use my kicker. Cold starting, my bike starts with barely touching the button.

[DesignBuild]

alright, i hadn't looked into those batteries that much, but that makes since. and i dread not having that kick start handy, but after a tune up last season and rebuilding the carbs. from ground up this winter it starts like a pro in the mid 40's to low 50's (which is the coldest i'd be caught dead riding in anyways).

so if i venture into using one of those batteries i'll keep that in mind and keep my bigger one handy.

[Re-run]

Keep in mind, your cranking amps may drop some but you should still start fine, it is how long you spin the starter.