I can't stop myself, single cam CB750

It achieved the look that I was after; a nickel plated Rickman (etc). In actuality, it's milkier than actual chrome. Here's a side-by-side with some handlebars
View attachment 244373
View attachment 244374

And the clear is on..
Must be in the eyes of the beholder,the paint looks shinier than the chrome to me.
The only problem I van see, the chrome look paint shows up the imperfections.
Look at those welds, I thought Yamaha had gobbled up all the non welders to build their frames,
They should pass a law forbidding the Japanese from building motorbike frames.

How does the chrome look paint wear?
 
Must be in the eyes of the beholder,the paint looks shinier than the chrome to me.
The only problem I van see, the chrome look paint shows up the imperfections.
Look at those welds, I thought Yamaha had gobbled up all the non welders to build their frames,
They should pass a law forbidding the Japanese from building motorbike frames.

How does the chrome look paint wear?
You should see the welds on early Porsches, scary.
 
Custom bits in Black semi-gloss
1685757173395.jpeg

Original bits vapor blasted & pre-heated
1685757277080.jpeg

Coated Black
1685757322447.jpeg


And the shiny frame in normal pose
1685757396779.jpeg
 
I think the Japanese factories should have sent their engineers and welders over to England before they started 'trying to make frames.
Mr. Honda, particularly, used a lot of stamped sheet metal in his frames - not things of beauty at all. Dunno if it was for cost (cheaper) or easier to mass produce, or what....
1685761710307.png

The backbone brace support (that I mostly removed and replaced) was entirely made of ~14ga stamped sheet
1685762084933.jpeg
 
The stamped steel frames were very, very rigid, I think they all used stamped steel frames forbthentiddlers. I built a Yamaha YB into a cafebracer of sorts,back in the 80, it handled extremely well. Perhaps all the Japanese manufacturers should have used stamped steel frames on all their bikes, certainly the early Japanese superbikes would have benefitted, particularly the Kawasaki triples.
1685770896740.png
.
 
After a ridiculous amount of procrastination (riding season, new Harley) I've managed to return to the shop and installed this silly looking mod on the motor
1689739650419.jpeg

In preparation for the odd, but effective, procedure of installing the frame on the motor - frame = ~40lbs, motor weighs ~150lbs and has virtually zero clearance.
1689740031716.jpeg

1689740073723.jpeg

Looks better upright
1689740116630.jpeg
 
Thanks guys! I've gotta find some discipline to stay at this (too many distractions). One of the reasons for today's motivation is @Kevin Werner posted about the upcoming Smokies Rally and I needed to free-up the engine stand because I have to rebuild a crank for the 650B bagger before then:yikes:
 
Last edited:
After a ridiculous amount of procrastination (riding season, new Harley) I've managed to return to the shop and installed this silly looking mod on the motor
View attachment 247324
In preparation for the odd, but effective, procedure of installing the frame on the motor - frame = ~40lbs, motor weighs ~150lbs and has virtually zero clearance.
View attachment 247325
View attachment 247326
Looks better upright
View attachment 247327
Oh my, that frame and engine look glorious together.
Really nice work JP.
 
JP you do some of the cleanest work I’ve ever seen, well thought out and skilled. I get it about the procrastination and distractions lol but I love it when the switch flips and I can get back into something that I had lost interest in momentarily. Is that a chrome Powder Coat?
 
You have XS650 specific press plates JP or generic ones?
Just generic stuff. I have two cranks I got from Grizld1 and one of them needs to be in this bike. I'll have to fab-up jigs as I go......with all my distractions, I may ship it to Iowa:shrug:
 
JP you do some of the cleanest work I’ve ever seen, well thought out and skilled. I get it about the procrastination and distractions lol but I love it when the switch flips and I can get back into something that I had lost interest in momentarily. Is that a chrome Powder Coat?
Thank you! Yes, it's Prismatic Powders Super Chrome Plus (after an abortion detailed above)with their Clear Vision Clear top-coat
 
Well......it's starting to look like a motorcycle
1692132899185.jpeg

However, there's another interruption in the background......
1692133051856.jpeg

The 650B motor.........this is the original, numbers matching, motor that came extra with the bike - it was removed as it supposedly had a "bad crank gear". Well, it doesn't.....and the crank measures to spec. The current motor has a bad rod knock that prevented it from finishing the Ozarks ride. So I attempted to work on the Honda. Now I gotta stop and attempt to ready this motor for the B model to participate in the Smokies! :shootme: Note to Future self: do not start work on more than one project at a time; don't even buy any more bikes until the current project is finished
1692133519623.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top