Engine Assembly

I actually made time to work on the engine of the current cafe racer. After inspecting parts and a good cleaning, the cases were painted and some actual assembly occurred. I hope to get the cylinder and head painted tomorrow as well as inspection and reassembly of the oil pump. Hopefully I will be able to have the engine ready to go into the frame soon. I didn't get any photos today, I forgot.
I will post some shots after I get the top end ready.

Cafe Racer

I have been very busy with other projects and have been neglecting the latest cafe racer. I hope I can focus on it for at least two straight weeks and get most of it completed. I spent the last two days doing some electrical assembly, mounting the tires, and finishing the front end assembly. I need to assemble the engine and get it into the frame and work on the seat design.
I am using the stock seat pan and had to spend some time getting it aligned correctly. After I get that done I will sandblast it and have it powder coated to match the wheels.
After I started putting some of the bike together, I changed  a few things and sent out a few other parts to be powder coated also.
I decided to use the fork gaiters on this one, to give it an older look and used some different headlight brackets and a chrome headlight bucket. I have never used the stock Honda headlight bracket and bucket. I think they look kind of cheap. I don't like to use the stock speedo and tach either. They just look to large and clumsy.



Honda CB750 Cafe Racer




Working on the seat and tail light

My buddy Mark is working on his latest creation in the background. He finally moved his stuff to the shop, because he was freezing and not making much progress in his barn.

Concert at Earlham College

East Village Opera Company
.
Mark and Julie invited Tami and I to attend a concert with them Saturday night. Mark said the group performed opera with a modern twist. I figured why not, we needed to get out and it would be just a few blocks from our house.

Wow it was great.

My friend John

I have known John Eminhizer for over 20 years. He was in a photo and one of my earilier posts. We have built some incredible custom homes and countless commercial projects from LA to Monterey in California. We have traveled countless miles together and have had some of the best conversations and heated discussions I have ever been a part of.

John is like my older brother.

He has been in the hospital for over a month, I have been told we should be able to have some more conversations and discussions soon, and things are going fine.

I hope that it will be next week, and as soon as I know, I am going to New Jersey to spend some time with him. I hope we can hit the open road before summer. Nobody loves a road trip like John and there is no one better to travel with, he has been just about everywhere in the US.

Today I needed to go for a ride.......

I actually don't ride very much, although I really enjoy riding. I am usually busy with work, and family events. I don't have time for long rides, but it's not the amount of miles that really matter to me. I think it is just nice to be able to ride and forget about everything else. I like taking out something that hasn't ran for years, and after some time at the shop it is ready to go again.

Today I would have went for a ride, unfortunately it is 24 degrees Fahrenheit and the snow is piling up.

Tami at the shop!!!!

Cafe Racer Wheels



Stock wheel and Hub powdercoated, and relaced with new spokes.




Stock Honda hub with and old Harley wheel and new spokes!!!

 After pulling the new control wires through the clubman bars, I picked up the powdercoated wheels and relaced them.  I am thinking about applying a red pinstripe to match the tank and body panel colors, on the edge of the wheels.  New tires and a final detailing and they will be ready to mount.

Noahs' Latest Project

Noah finished up one of his projects after school today. He built himself a skateboard to cruise around the shop and other places when spring arrives. He used a piece of cabinet grade plywood, some paint that was on the shelf and some really cool trucks and wheels that match. Not bad !!!!!!!

Montesa Cappra MX

I actually went to the shop a couple of times this past weekend, and worked on some projects. I am working on the seat design for the two up cafe racer, and have nearly worked it out. I wanted to be able to take Tami or one of the kids for a ride also, but convert it back to a solo easily. I think a simple seat cowl and a custom seat, built on the stock pan, will be the most practical way to go.

Mark stopped by Sunday to polish some of the aluminum from his XS400 bobber he is building for his son. After he finished, we dragged the Montesa out of the corner and put it on a lift. That makes it official, the Montesa will be the next project to be completed after the cafe racer.

I now have the front wheel assembly, the right side cover and a few small items I needed. I still need to locate the correct rear shocks, new foot pegs, a kickstarter, and some cables and most importantly a correct air box assembly.

2011 should be a busy year!!!!