CB125N cafe project

[96zx7r]

Alright guys, my first ever post. Must first say that I love this site, and have been a member for years. I thoroughly enjoy sifting through the bikes & hilarious comments that follow.
Ive had to sell my ZX7R and since then, my M900 a coupla years ago...and now Ive had no choice but to try my hand at a resto project...anything to stay involved in bikes.
This is how it looked when I bought it (I didnt realise how bad it was..would have been better in the hands of someone with some skills-I have none..tho I'm enthusiastic and I act without thinking..hence the purchase). A 1980 CB125N. Looking to turn it into a cafe racer.

[El Skitzo]

Looks like a top little bike, can't wait to see what you do with it

[Benno #03]

A Mate tried to buy one of an Old Bloke up here and he wouldn't sell it.
Offered him pretty good dough for it too, the bloke said he'd had it for so long he couldn't part with it.
He'd fallen in love with the size of it and how reliable it had been.

We did brain storm some pretty good idea's for it though.
Good Luck with your project, looks like a good starting point you've got too.

[shedman1300]

Love the knobly tyres. I have a cb250n bitza bike if you need anything.

[96zx7r]

thanks guys...so encouraging. I may take you up on that Shedman! Ive now had this bike for a year..but have had so little time for it with the 3 kids. Ive done the tank (mate has a panel beaters so he helped me through it)..I attached some retro badges from ebay. I got a Headlight from thailand and fashioned some simple brackets to try and drop the height of the aftermarket gauges (cb125 gauges wayy to large for me I think) down a little. Ive been working on the seat for ages...first attempt with the existing seat didnt work out too good..I wasnt happy with the end result, so scrapped it. The second attempt hit a dead end cos I cant weld and thought rivets/screwing the thing together would work..but couldnt get a smooth finish. So Ive recently purchased a fibreglass cafe seat from the UK (only $85Aus including postage..fantastic how well the Aussie dollar is!!! )

[CBT]

The 60's badges are a great choice on the bike. I think these were 12 hp of muscle when they came out, or thereabouts. Power on.... it looks like a great project !

[vbroom]

wow. lookin good!

we have a CB200 cafe project goin on which won't look too dissimilar to yours when its finally finished

[96zx7r]

Guys, if anyone needs help, Gavin Carlini 0417945557 Mobile Motorcycle Medic was awesome.
Came over and helped out with things I was struggling on. Great advice from him too. I was referred on to him from Neil Anderson (Proflo working out of motorcycle masters...Neil was my old mechanic when I had me ZX7R..I HIGHLY recommend Neil too..so good at what he does and totally trustworthy!)

[STOJ]

The bike is looking excellent.
I look forward to seeing the next lot of pictures.
Congrats

[96zx7r]

ok ran into some troubles biting off more than i could chew...must know my limitations.
CIMG6715.jpgCIMG6683.jpg
now as mentioned Ive ordered a fibreglass seat (finallyh found one the right size). All good tho...fail and learn..the fun is (i Believe) in the trying.
Ok the Mrs is out at subi partying whilst i stay home babysittin....sadly, Im quite happy to spend all night finishing stripping the bike.CIMG6818.jpg
cant believe how badly damaged and stuck some of the nuts n bolts were.

[jaseyjase]

hi mate, lovin what your doing. Fingers crossed ill be copying you in the near future. What did you do to the tank? just a respray? or did you re-shape it / reposition it?

cheers jase

[96zx7r]

ok, after a one and a half year hiatus, Im back. Sorry fellas, but I got a bit disheartened after being sent back from the powder coaters to strip the bike further. Subsequently shelved everything and almost sold it to someone more capable. Recently I reacquired another zx7r from Vic after much hunting, and restored an old exhaust a PSB member generously gave me for free. The bike shop wouldnt touch it. So thanks to 'youtube' and $50 worth of sandpaper, steel wool, fibreglass packing and heat-proof clear coat:

exhaust 1.JPG>>>>>exhaust2.JPG

[96zx7r]

So...with renewed confidence I stripped the bike down to bits I wanted sandblasting...and dropped the lot off to nearby Southside Powder Coaters. Ive picked silver frame and swingarm, the rest of the bits black. Ive also order parts from thailand that I wanted chrome....ie rims and spokes, rear shocks etc.
Now Im working on the bits left whilst I wait....just finished the forks. Im starting to love sandpaper, a bit of elbow grease and metal polish...
forks1.JPG>>photo.JPG....Im so happy with them. Not sure if I need to clear coat them?? What do you think?

[Vosy]

Lookin good mate A Clear coat wont hurt, as these are probably the first things to get chipped from stones flicking up. Just make sure to use the same type of paint or it will be a catastrophe

Still going with the Cafe style?

[96zx7r]

Thanks bud, I will do the clear coat. What did you mean 'same type of paint...'. Did you mean the clear coat? or the paint the Powdercoaters are using? They quoted me a dirt cheap price to sandblast and powdercoat the lot for $160. I was shocked. I hope cheap doesnt equal 'nasty'.

Im definately putting it together gafe style. The tank as you see was already done. Initially I tried a few seats but none I was happy with...I totally forgot that in the end I bought a fibreglass Cafe seat off ebay.

[Vosy]

Sorry mate, if it has been powdercoated then it should be fine, I thought you meant you were doing them yourself

Cant wait to see a few more updates from yah

[96zx7r]

haha, I know my limitations, and there are too many to list! ...will post pics up as soon as I get the bits back from the powdercoaters.

[96zx7r]

Cleaned up the hubs ..my new rims and spokes came. Gosh fitting new spokes does your head in!
wheel1.JPGhubs1.JPGwheels1.JPGwheels2.JPG....got to get some nice old-school dunlops on these..

[vbroom]

everyone loves a freshly spoked wheel!
looking good.

[96zx7r]

Goods back from Southside powdercoaters...bargain price of $160 for sandblasting and powdercoating: silver swingarm and frame, rest black gloss..
pic1.jpgpic3.jpgpic4.jpg