Perth Brat

[Rex Havoc]

I've had a little Honda CB350 for a couple of years now and thought it was time to turn it into a "Brat Style" bobber

If you want to know what "Brat Style" is check out this link

Goals

• To build a bike that will cruise around Perth and put a smile on my face. It does not need to have 100hp, twin discs with 6 pot Brembo's and Ohlins suspension to do this.
• As the roads in Perth are comparatively excellent, front and rear suspension will sway more towards form than function.
• The bike will be ridden a few times a month so I'm not worried about fenders at the right angle etc. Again form wins out.
• It is an easy bike to kick start so I'll remove the battery and save heaps of weight and more importantly give me "space" under the seat. Form wins again
• Velocity stacks are cool and I don't intend on riding over any pebbles so she'll be right
• To show the bike at the upcoming Jap Bike Show

Back Story
I picked up my bike accidentally on eBay a couple of years ago for around $1,600. When i say accidentally, I bid and thought someone would bid higher. No one did and there was no reserve so I got it. I've done the same with an Aprilia RS250 and a Vmax. My wife isn't buying that excuse anymore so I'm banned from eBay.

When I got the CB350, it looked like this.


The bikes that i have used as inspiration for the project are...


The Deus Swing Bob
When I first saw this in their showroom, I was blown away because Deus had never done anything like it before. I loved the stance of the bike, especially the drag bars. They got the lines/aesthetics just perfect. It was a great bike to ride.


Brat Style W650
This is closer to what I'm looking to achieve with the CB. I'm going to drop the bike as far as it can go without the rear tyre rubbing on the guard.


Custom XS650
I love the lines of this bike, especially...

• the Firestones are huge and look fantastic
• the indicators are small and out of the way
• the flat seat works really well
• the front light is small and at the right level
• the rear guard is minute

BlurBrat
For much the same reasons as the above bike, I just love the relationship between the seat, tank, rear guard and front light.

The project has been started and I'm confident we will achieve our goal and come up with a magic bike. I hope to give weekly updates and include photos so stay tuned.

[Desmo]

So I take it "Brat" is a Rat Bobber?
I like the style.

EDIT: Subscribed, I'm liking the bobber/cafe racer look more and more recently. Looking forward to watching your build.

[agrid]

Those Deus guys are magicians, I can't think of a place I would rather be when in Sydney.

[potato]

look forward to assessing it at the jap bike show

^^^ some cracker looking bikes !

[brethren22]

great base to start with mate. always liked the old 350 twins. i'm really keen to see what you come up with, if it's anything like the inspiration will be pretty cool

only question is, are you really going to get this done in 9 weeks or have you already started?

[El Skitzo]

Sounds awesome Rex and I can't wait to see it.

I really like your attitude too: form over function

[valvolux]

you know im gunna watch this

[Pato]

Subscribed. Look forward to seeing the end product.

[KillSwitch]

Mate based on your other bike I know this one will be a head turner too.

[vbroom]

this will be cool the brat style's growing on me as well.
keen to watch this project turn out!

[Tic]

Subscribed. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[kale]

Good stuff! I've been toying with this idea myself and if i had the cash i'd love to have a go at one.

Very cool in my opinion.

[SPman]

How much you want for the CB mufflers?

[Dubs]

HAWT



Dubs

[brethren22]

c'mon rex, give us some pics of the tear down!

[Rex Havoc]

NOTE: I'm not the one actually getting my hands dirty on this build as I simply don't have the skills to do it.

At last years Jap Bike Show, I rocked up with my Deus thinking I'm going to walk away with the cafe racer trophy as Rooboy says there weren't many entrants (last year was the first year the class was introduced. This year there should be heaps more entered if the projects section is anything to go by) and what shows up but the most insane W650 flat tracker I've ever seen. Out of the three bikes entered in the cafe racer class, there was a SRX600? with clip ons, my Deus W650 cafe racer and this crazy flat tracker. The flat tracker won. Ah well, if you can't beat them, join them. This year we have joined forces to build this little Brat and we intend showing it as well as our other bikes at the show.

The first thing we did was make sure we got the lines right. We put the drag bars and tyres on and lowered the front and removed the rear subframe. We also lenghtened the swingarm to get the look right.


The CB350 has a pressed steel frame and is very ugly so off it came and tube frame went on.


Trying to get the rear guard lines right. We went lower as the seat must be flat.


View from the rear. Must remember to remove the wooden block!


You can just make out in the above pic the placement of the speedo. We've dumped the tacho as I don't need a redline to tell me when to change gears on this bike. The original speedo is quite attractive especially when I've spruced it up, so we'll try and re-use it and stick it right between the risers?

Frame and wheels are at painters, engine is being rebuilt this week.

Ok, this is where I need help from you guys.

Does anybody know who does etching? (hand or laser no problems)

Does anyone have any 5ply plywood lying around? I need about 600mm x 250mm

[El Skitzo]

Etching? You mean cutting stencils for paint, or actual metal engraving?

[fatoxious]

Does anyone have any 5ply plywood lying around? I need about 600mm x 250mm

i know a bloke that does form work, i'm out of town for 2 weeks but if you're still stuck then he might have a sheet that split in half or something. out wanaroo way. i get back on the 13th, if you're still stuck then let me know.

[brethren22]

looking freakin awesome dude! keep goin

BTW how much did you lengthen the swingarm by?

[Rooboy]

Mate, this is what the Jap Bike Show is all about.
Showing your bike, talking to people, getting ideas and putting it together for the next show.
I can't wait to see this one live. Oh, and thanks for the support again this year Rex.