Motorcycle Thread

[fungus]

Ok, I've about had my fill of spoked wheels. The maintenence on them will be high, still not fully comfortable with running tubes, and they aren't cheap to keep up. Besides, these are pitted like crazy. Had to fill up several holes with JB weld.

Any chance the rims off of an '83 nighthawk would fit? The '83 was a shaft drive, but if the mounting holes are the same, I can just bolt on my sprocket... Even if just the front wheel will fit, the front wire wheel is the one giving me the most trouble.

I don't really dig the look of alloy wheels, so I'll make up some moon discs for it (kind of like this):

[ThrasherBill]

Some inspiration for the CB folk...






There's even a blog about it:
http://cafefabrications.blogspot.com/

[tequilla]

Bill...... Thanks for posting. That bike is bad ass

Originally Posted by tequilla

For what it's worth I found a petcock from Debrix.com
....................After I placed my order I found a thread on a Harley site saying that they suck to do business with so I'm crossing my fingers that I get it and that it is what it is supposed to be

I guess you get what you pay for.........Don't buy from Debrix Cycles. The fuckers charged my credit card when I placed my order then send me an e-mail the very next day saying that my petcock is on back order with no due date of arrival.....
Fuckers

Now I will see how good they are about refunding my money. If not I know my credit card company will.

EDIT: 1 nasty phone call and 2 e-mails were fired off and within an hour I got an e-mail saying they are refunding my money.........

[Steve White]

damn... I don't really like cafe's but that is sweet. The attention to detail is incredible.

[Steve White]

Originally Posted by fungus

I'm surprised but I like those rims. Wonder how they would look on a rat bobber? Probably not good.

[max16v]

Originally Posted by Turbo Punk

You need to put a "Ton Up" sticker on there. hahaha

HAHAHA!!!

@ Bill, bad ass bike. The detail is astounding.

@ Fungus, going with spokes or alloy wheels is up to the style you want. Spokes is always the best way to go for an old school look, and contrary to belief, are very very low maintenance.

You can find good chrome, used rims off ebay and contact Buchanans for spokes.

@ VWZOMBIE, I'd roll that bike. So fucking cool!

[fungus]

Hmmm, did some more research. I found a '79 CB750 alloy rim with drum brake, and it has the exact same bearings as a '77 CB550, which means that the shaft is the same diameter.

Also, the front wheel off of an '82 CB750 has dual disk brakes, which wouldn't work with my single disk front on the '77. However, the bearings are identical between those two also, which means that the shaft is the same diameter. I can make a spacer to fill in the gap of the disk that I'll remove, then possibly make an offset plate for my caliper on the side that I retain.

Does this sound completely stupid?

Here are the ones I'm talking about:


Of course, the rear will look a tad different since it has a drum brake.

[Bama Bill]

Nice CB 750s. Ive owned 3 single cams through the years. Bullet proof.

[dutchbeetle]

Originally Posted by fungus

Hmmm, did some more research. I found a '79 CB750 alloy rim with drum brake, and it has the exact same bearings as a '77 CB550, which means that the shaft is the same diameter.

Also, the front wheel off of an '82 CB750 has dual disk brakes, which wouldn't work with my single disk front on the '77. However, the bearings are identical between those two also, which means that the shaft is the same diameter. I can make a spacer to fill in the gap of the disk that I'll remove, then possibly make an offset plate for my caliper on the side that I retain.

Does this sound completely stupid?

Here are the ones I'm talking about:


Of course, the rear will look a tad different since it has a drum brake.

these are comstar wheels though, not alloy

[fungus]

Hey Max! Yeah, they would be low maintenance if I found some that weren't butchered in the first place. Relacing them will be a bitch, and if I'm going to buy a new rim, might as well go the whole nine yards and get something really practical. No tubes, won't rust, a lot lighter, etc.

I do enjoy the look of wire wheels, but I try to never let form come before function.

By the way, Bill, that 750 is gorgeous.

[fungus]

Originally Posted by dutchbeetle

these are comstar wheels though, not alloy

Hmm, to my knowledge, the only steel part is the "rivets" holding the two parts of the wheel together? The rest is cast aluminum, I think...

[V8Transporter]

A BIG advantage to 'mag' style wheels is the ability to fix a flat without pulling the wheel, the side of the tire and tube. I've done both and pulling a nail, installing a plug, and airing the tire up with the pump or CO2 I carry is much easier. On the other hand my in years of riding my old BSA, I never had a flat. But with my Seca and Sporty with mags, two each, all on the way to or from work...go figure.

[max16v]

Fungus, get a pair of alloy rims....not wheels. Buchanan sells both spokes and will punch your rims to match.
Excel sells alloy rims that look just like steel rims, or you can get a set of shouldered alloy rims, like I got on my Enfield.
The shouldered look bad ass, and old school, along with weighing absolutely nothing. Those are definitely more expensive but look trick.

The standard rims also look good. I replaced the rusted out 16" rear wheel with an Excel aluminum.

Shouldered alloy rim



Standard alloy:




You should replace the both wheels with 18"s as they are cheaper than 19"s and give the bike a cooler look. Just my .02

[dutchbeetle]

Originally Posted by fungus

Hmm, to my knowledge, the only steel part is the "rivets" holding the two parts of the wheel together? The rest is cast aluminum, I think...

true, but the 'spokes' are kinda ugly pressed steel things. only good side is that they hold loads of power.

[Turbo Punk]

Do what I did, look into '76-'77 GL1000 (Goldwing) wheels and front fork assemblies. Not only do you get aluminum wheels with stainless spokes, you also get dual disc brakes and a beefier front end. The only problem is with the rear wheel. I believe the GL is shaft drive so you would have to look elsewhere for a compatible rear wheel.

I just got my stuff yesterday and will be assembling it today to see what all I need before instalation. I'll take some pics.

[Turbo Punk]

Saw this BMW today at Cabella's.........WTF?

[Turbo Punk]

Ok, after a late start I was able to mock up the GL1000 front end. Seems everything is there. I will buy some rebuild kits for the brakes and new seals just for the piece of mind.

Here is what I did today, it's not much but it's something.

[Steve White]

Originally Posted by Turbo Punk

Saw this BMW today at Cabella's.........WTF?

there is whole lot of levels of fugly going on there

[DocMike]

Originally Posted by Steve White

there is whole lot of levels of fugly going on there

In the motorcycle world that is a tank. That's a bike that can take you around the world, literally. Take a look at the DVD "Long Way Round" with Ewan McGregor if youd like to see some real adventure riding.



Doc

[fungus]

Just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean you should...

[ThrasherBill]

Fugly is in the eye of the beerholder! I think the R1200GS is fucking beautiful and if I ever have an extra $30,000 lying around it is definitely on my list of bikes to own.




Me and my girl were just in a BMW showroom yesterday and there is a very good possibility that her first "real" bike (she has a Vespa now) will be a G650GS. I'm hoping to sell the Buell next spring and get myself into a F800GS.


G650GS (for her)



F800GS (for me)



:l ove:

[JiI]

Gimmie!!!!
I think Alton Brown (Food network, Feasting on Asphalt, Iron Chef, Good Eats...) rides one of those.
Jeff

[JiI]

Originally Posted by ThrasherBill

Fugly is in the eye of the beerholder! I think the R1200GS is fucking beautiful and if I ever have an extra $30,000 lying around it is definitely on my list of bikes to own.




Me and my girl were just in a BMW showroom yesterday and there is a very good possibility that her first "real" bike (she has a Vespa now) will be a G650GS. I'm hoping to sell the Buell next spring and get myself into a F800GS.


G650GS (for her)



F800GS (for me)



:l ove:

Hey Bill, what's your input on the Buell? I've heard both sides.
Jeff

[dutchbeetle]

heh bmw boxers, to me they look like guzzi's with saggy tits. and i dont like saggy tits :P

[JiI]

I always saw them as 2 cylinder VW engines....