Red: Cafe Seat

Journey of a thousand steps...

It's suddenly bugging me that I don't have the perfect seat on the cafe bike.  Time to get serious about it.  I think first decision is metal forming vs. foam/fiberglass.  As much as I'd prefer to say I hammered out my own cowl, I don't see how I could possibly find enough shop time to do a halfway decent job.  On the other hand, I can take as much time as I need figuring out the foam/fiberglass approach.

But first step is just to start building a visual reference.

Aside from getting the angle and size of the cowl right, the main goal is to preserve the minimalist flow of the rear frame.  It's almost as if you wish you could just throw a pad and seat cover directly onto the frame, add a cowl, and be done with it.

Red: Front Axle Fixed, New Bash Guard

Got the new front axle that had clean 1.25 (fine) threads.  At first the new axle nut didn't seem to turn easily on it (again!).  But then I ran the nut onto the rear axle, which served as something of a tap and just took off that tiny bit of material.  After that the nut threaded just fine.  Done and done.

Also cleaned the new CL90 engine guard and installed it.  It has four holes that match the peg mounts, and then two smaller holes that actually match up to the cylinder jug.

But the holes in the cylinder are a bit odd in that they are 5mm but don't seem to be threaded.  Yet it doesn't seem like there could be a nut on the other end.  Need to find a schematic to see what the original intent was.

Red: Different Axles??

I don't know why I'm even surprised when something should fit but doesn't.  I bought 2 new axle nuts on eBay (since Cycle Parts said they were discontinued).  The seller listed them as 90305-001-000, which matches what the '68 parts book has.

But when I went to swap them, I discovered both of Red's axles take 10mm nuts and the new ones were 12mm.

Then I checked the other bikes.  Roxy is the same with 10mm front and rear, but Viola has 12mm front and rear!

Are there 2 versions of the rear axle?  I knew there were 2 versions of the front, but how could it be 10mm when the parts book only ever listed a single type of nut??

Also replaced the front sprocket plate along with the two 6x10 bolts (funky screw/bolt combo).

Red: Genuine Honda

Nothing like a big box full of plastic baggies marked Genuine Honda.  Upgraded these:

1. front brake hardware 
2. lower fork bolts (8x32)
3. grease nipple didn't fit (hole was too large)
4. left and right chain adjusters
5. rear axle sleeve nut
6. steering lock screws

Red: Rearset Mounts Painted

Put some primer on the mounts.  Also added another washer to the brake stay to stop it rubbing on the tire.

Red: I'm a Real Fabricator!

First official piece of motorcycle fabrication.  They're ugly, crooked, and held together with tack and autogenous welds, but darn it, I made them!

Red: A Face at Last

Got the new headlight from Steadfast Cycles (after a long wait for them to get it back in stock).  The light is the perfect size and shape, but the mount isn't quite right.  I think it needs to be located higher and more to the rear, but I imagine I'll need to fabricate one eventually.

Red: Rearsets Unboxed

First time checking the fit of the new Old School Speed rearsets (ordered via Dime City).  The big mounting bolt takes up most of the space in between the pillion mount, so it will need to be either lower or higher to allow for the thru-bolt to hold the rearset custom mount.

Have absolutely no idea yet on how to actually hook the pedal up to the brake.  The shifter seems a little more straightforward, but I just wonder how well it will work.