Motorcycle restorations/chops here!

[DJ Higgumz]

My build thread turned into a cafe racer discussion, so I took this opportunity to create a thread on your motorcycle projects. Cafe's, Bobbers, Choppers. etc. Tell us the history of the individual bike and cool facts about the model from back in the day. Please don't post pictures of the 2013 Honda CBR1000 you just bought, we want to see your craftsmanship and personality in the bikes. and, maybe some shop pics?

[mems]

Sweet! I have way too many hobbies and I just started into building bikes as well. I will most likely get rid of this one, once I get it running right. I think it needs a new TCI. Rode it yesterday but had to make a pit stop due to stalling.
Started life as a 1983 Yamaha XV750 Virago. Took off a bunch of items, including the seat, the pipes, the rear fender, lots of stuff.
Custom made straight pipes, I fabricated the pan seat myself, chopped the rear fender, black out everything. Way to much to completely put here. Ill provide a link to my build thread elsewhere.
This is how it started, although I had put the drag bars on at this time:

How it ended up:

[67baja]

This time in the proper thread:


Project bike of my dad's:


This pic is just to show you how 'into' bikes I was before the doc and wife decided I shouldn't ride anymore. The ONLY reason I got into speakers is because the bikes cannot be my passion. *Sigh*


Now I just have speakers and work stuff everywhere in there. Ah, the good old days.

[Ian Westwood]

Maybe you could combine passions.... I had a drunken Burningman art car idea of making a fleet of T60's (and a couple of tops) that you ride straddled like motorcycles, all wirelessly connected and you rock up somewhere on the playa to make a party.

Then I realized 3 wheels might be better than 2... then the next day I was sober... and I ... well never mind ...

Carry on!

[67baja]

Dude, you don't know how bad I want to build something and participate at BM.

Maybe you could combine passions.... I had a drunken Burningman art car idea of making a fleet of T60's (and a couple of tops) that you ride straddled like motorcycles, all wirelessly connected and you rock up somewhere on the playa to make a party.

Then I realized 3 wheels might be better than 2... then the next day I was sober... and I ... well never mind ...

Carry on!

[Ian Westwood]

Dude, you don't know how bad I want to build something and participate at BM.

Ha, my partner in crime is a 2 stroke Yamaha (a rather nice rz500 is one of his trusty steeds) and T60 addict. I think we should, at the very least, pub talk about it some time!!

[DJ Higgumz]

My current project is a 1973 Honda CB350, I bought it from my friend, he used it as a backyard bomber because he would never do that with his beloved Harleys. I'm a jap bike man. He sold it to me for $270 with a title, and poor spark. the first week was getting it running, and all it took was new points and timing. after that I stripped it down to get ready for paint. I bought black tins for it and some other things for $200, which was a steal. here are some pictures of the progress so far

[bassmonster]

I chuckled at "HonDUH".

[Ian Westwood]

I have to say - that looks great! Nice job so far. There's nothing I would change so far.

I reeeeeeeaaaaly want to do something similar with maybe a Kawasaki air cooled 4 of some description. Back in the day, I earned my spurs on a 1978 Z650-B2.

I really miss that bike. It was a terrible starter... if it didn't start off the button I was into 5 minutes of kicking. Sometimes it was such a bastard I'd end up walking round in circles after. Aaaaaah, the good old days!

[ncgrove]

My current project is a 1973 Honda CB350, I bought it from my friend, he used it as a backyard bomber because he would never do that with his beloved Harleys. I'm a jap bike man. He sold it to me for $270 with a title, and poor spark. the first week was getting it running, and all it took was new points and timing. after that I stripped it down to get ready for paint. I bought black tins for it and some other things for $200, which was a steal. here are some pictures of the progress so far

Why are you sticking with points? Electronic ignition is much less of a headache. Don't know much about bike motors, but I'd imagine there are conversion kits available. I guess points make sense if you're after originality, though.

[Harley]

Here's a pic of my 'chopped and channeled 1952 BSA 650 Gold Flash taken around 1968/1969. Such modifications were rare in those days so this bike certainly swung heads as you rode past.

This bike was restored from a bit of a wreck, even though it was only about 17 years old at the time. I was 1 year older than the bike

Note the little horn so as to just get passed for a WOF ( Warrant of Fitness )

[DJ Higgumz]

Lovin the black and white Harley a 650 twin must really vibrate obnoxiously

[Harley]

Lovin the black and white Harley a 650 twin must really vibrate obnoxiously

Never had much troble getting a female pillion pasesnger...

[DJ Higgumz]

If only mine was like that. the straight pipes will make it loud though

[Harley]

If only mine was like that. the straight pipes will make it loud though

They were mufflers actually if you look hard enough. Genuine BSA ones I might add. HOWEVER... the baffles were knocked out ( wonder who did that ), so yeah it was loud when you opened the throttle and went past 2,000 rpm, but quiet enough to get it past its WOF and the 'appearance of mufflers' keep the cops happy.