CB450 Cafe - a whole new world

[AndyS]

I've well and truly got the cafe bug, and after many years playing with old cars I just missed getting my hands dirty, so.......

1971 CB450 Honda, the plan is to turn it into a cafe racer;




After a day or so we now have;




Next job to start stripping individual parts

[The Saint]

Sweet.

[AndyS]

So after collecting a number of parts, I developed my high tech paint stripping establishment;

and began stripping parts;

Then started polishing a few of the parts, from this;

to this...

to this...

[potato]

nice work!

[AndyS]

In the meantime a few parts arrived, so with the calipers polished and new parts fitted;


The new cafe seat turned up so after a quick mock up I get the first idea of shape;


Lots and lots to do, and in the meantime the paint stripping and polishing continues waiting for the next delivery from the postie

[Cbr Junkie]

Wow that was a very clean cb450.

[El Skitzo]

Wow that was a very clean cb450.

+1, was thinking the same thing! So that just makes your job a little easier. Looks great!

[AndyS]

+1, was thinking the same thing! So that just makes your job a little easier. Looks great!

Thanks Skitzo, the chrome on the bike was almost perfect but the engine leaked oil like you wouldn't believe and on tear down the coils and most of the electrics were shot.
Still a good base to start from

[AndyS]

Wow that was a very clean cb450.

Maybe a better photo than the bike looked in person, but not bloody bad for almost 40 years of age

[SBD]

Yeah, it almost looks too good to tear apart...

[AndyS]

Yeah, it almost looks too good to tear apart...

....almost

[D.J]

I must admit I'm a big fan of original bikes.......................... but am a big fan of cafe's as well -----> subscribed.

[brethren22]

great to see another classic being given the once over. should be a good build mate, great start!

[MIK]

Did you buy this off a bloke on mundaring weir rd kalamunda? I had a look and a ride of it, very good bike, I was going to cafe it but I really wanted abit more power

[GenocidE]

Very nice. Will be watching this one.

[AndyS]

Did you buy this off a bloke on mundaring weir rd kalamunda? I had a look and a ride of it, very good bike, I was going to cafe it but I really wanted abit more power

That's the one.
The same thought crossed my mind, but then I figured that I only wanted it for the odd cruise and coffee strip pose
I'm hoping to learn a bit off this build, and then maybe do another with a bit more poke!

[Rex Havoc]

Very nice, will be watching with interest.
Will be doing something similar with the CB350 in the coming months as soon as the flat slides are fitted to the W

[AndyS]

Already hit the first snag. Top triple clamp broke as I took it off (actually disintegrated is more accurate!)
Finding a replacement is becoming very difficult, no supplier stocks them, the wreckers don't have one and no after market shop produces a fabricated version (although I can find hundreds of types for CB750's and SR400/500's).
Any ideas from any of the resident gurus would be bloody helpful.

[unit]

i might have one, will have have a look and get back to you.

good luck with the project.

[perdition]

nice project, look forward to seeing end result