Got Bobber?

[DaPeach]

started:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/DaPeach/rebel-1.jpg


just about finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/DaPeach/Image000-7.jpg



I made a mount for the keyswitch, eliminating the speedo, indicator lights & signals:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/DaPeach/Image002-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/DaPeach/Image009-5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/DaPeach/Image006-3-1.jpg

new tire & chain:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/DaPeach/Image008-3.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v616/DaPeach/Image011-2.jpg

What isn't pictured is the tail lights (bullet style mounted on each side of the struts) & the plate mount (side mount on the lower left strut mount)...airbox is gone & I'm running an Amal velocity stack w/ screen off the factory boot (trimmed down to keep it all tight).

[Big_J]

Thats cool.... I wish I had kept the little red bobber I had....

[Chopper Rick]

Now that's hardcore...That baby looks like it's ready to burn up the road & clock some miles...Good job.

ChopperRick

[DaPeach]

Thanks!

I wanted the Triumph look & think I nailed it pretty good. It burned up about ten miles of road on Saturday before the carb clogged...nothing a direct-shot of seafoam to the carb couldn't handle. Took about 15 min to get it running right again, but it was worth it. Runs great now. I just picked it up in Dec. so I'm not real familiar w/ it's history. Fun bike!

[Big_J]

I've been hunting another rebel to keep this time and really do it the way I want it, just havent run across that right bike yet, but I'm lookin.

[DaPeach]

Do it, I'd like to see what you've got in mind.

I keep hearing these stories of people coming across them for cheap... it seems like I'll never be that person.

I'm keeping this one, 2 1/2 yrs & I can get a historical tag for it to add to the nostalgia.

[Big_J]

I have had 9 rebels since 2003, the last one was the "Fire Breathing" rebel I sold early last year. I am going to find me a keeper and then I am gonna show out with it. Tail dragger fenders and all... lol

[DaPeach]

that's alot of rebels...the red one was hot, beautiful flames!

nice! I've thought about a dragger on the rear of my next. I haven't seen any that wouldn't look overly huge on it...would you be making them or custom fitting some?

I love this, only a rebel:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f20/vonhatch/67flh/100_1427.jpg

[Big_J]

I'll probably try and use a front fender like the one in the last pic on the rear of a rebel. Some modification to be expected, but I just happen to have a new in the box FLH front fender here that need a home. I found a 2003 rebel for $1200 so I am waiting on directions and a time I can pick it up.

[DaPeach]

Nice deal...I hope it works out. Have a special paint scheme in mind?

I wish there was a bit more activity on these forums...seems like there's alot of people modding on here, or wanting to.

[Big_J]

thinking flat black or either super metallic black with old school white flames with red tips. only on the tank

[DaPeach]

sounds good...nice addition to the collection

[HotShott]

where'd you score those cocktail shakers? bike looks really great.

[DaPeach]

ebay...seller is Steadfast Cycles, I don't see the mufflers on there all the time (if you want to contact the seller, he could probably help you out). Kinda pricey...the inlets are 1-3/4", so I cut the mufflers off just before the welds to leave some extra girth for them to clamp to. I couldn't find any reducers that would go from 1-3/8" all the way to 1-3/4". They fit nice & tight & the straps bolt to the lower shockmounts perfectly. The sound is a very nice growl, I have the baffles out - same sound with the baffles, only quieter.

If I get some extra cash I may get the pipes that run on the right side (macs, I think) & run the twin shakers up on a sharper angle together...I kinda like them the way they are now tho.


I see he has some in 1-1/2" now...you can probably use reducers w/ those. There's also a set that is not-so-nice-as-new going for $10 right now (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=cocktail+shaker+mufflers&category0=)

[HotShott]

thx for the link. those macs would look good, but there's something really nice about the symmetry you have now.

[DaPeach]

I do agree w/ you...the upswept side was my first love (I figured the cocktail shakers would be perfect w/ the mac headpipes) before I installed these, but I'm really happy w/ them. Maybe eventually when the headpipes rust through.



http://www.fouracescycle.com/images/bike6b.jpg



I'm also digging long, low fishtails...the gold metalflake happens to be a favorite color on a bike too (I was considering gold flake scallops w/ red pinstriping on the black tank before I went w/ these decals).


http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj34/suprrat/100_2574.jpg

[HotShott]

thx for the heads up on that auction. I got those cheap cocktail shakers!

[DaPeach]

Cool! Glad I could help...post some pics when you get it going

[ROne]

Hey there DaPeach,

Firstly, I dig your 250 bobber. The wife has seen yours and said...."that's what I want to do to mine". So with a few personal changes, I'd like to find out a bit more about your bike and the mods made if I may?

Regarding the 'hard tail' you made (ie: removing the springs and replacing with solid struts)....how has the ride been? rough or o.k. with the sprung seat?

What about that rear guard, where did you get that and what is it made from?

Did you make any other engine mods apart from the stacks?

More questions to come if that's o.k.?

This is the the project so far....just started stripping it.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l23/lostiki/100_1445.jpg

My '78 CX500 Cafe Racer project - daily rider
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l23/lostiki/MyCX500Cafe_2_150608_web.jpg

ROne
(Melbourne, Australia)

[ROne]

Oh.....and speaking of seats. Where did you buy the solo sprung seat from, I'd like to get one.

Cheers,
Rone

[DaPeach]

Regarding the 'hard tail' you made (ie: removing the springs and replacing with solid struts)....how has the ride been? rough or o.k. with the sprung seat?

What about that rear guard, where did you get that and what is it made from?

Did you make any other engine mods apart from the stacks?

More questions to come if that's o.k.?

ROne
(Melbourne, Australia)

Thanks for the complements!
The ride isn't horrible, it's great on smooth roads, but I lift myself up over rails & large bumps...I haven't really ridden over 10mi at a time yet (my fork seals are both bad now...one more thing to deal w/). I can give you the dimensions of the struts if you'd like.

The rear fender was trimmed by me (dremel) to just in front of the rear seat holes on the top of it, then I curved down to the sides & trimmed about an inch off along the remaining metal of the sides so the fender didn't look so heavy from the side.

I cut the mufflers off w/ an angle grinder, leaving just a little muffler past the weld so I'd have a larger pipe to mount the cocktail shakers to. The mounting brackets fit nicely to the lower shock/strut mounts. I used an amal velocity stack mounted by the rubber boot (trimmed shorter) coming from the carb into the airbox, eliminating the airbox.

The seat is from ebay...an "aidan original", I believe. I am using 3" springs & I drilled holes on the top of the frame just forward of the rear fender mounting holes, before the cross brace for the springs & used the gas tank bolt for the front.

Let me know if you need any other info

I love your cafe

Karri

[ROne]

Hey Karri,

Much appreciated for the tips. And thanks for your nice comments about my cafe :D

Just bought some 'shorty 12" mufflers' from ebay, hoping to do the same as you regarding where to cut the pipes but where did you get the other header pipe for the left side of the bike? Did you have it custom made or is there a pipe from another bike that fits? (ie: to have the twin exhaust down either side instead of two down the right hand side as normal)?

How do you find the Velocity Stacks for performance & reliability? Was thinking of them for both the Cafe & Bobber projects.

If you have the dimensions for the struts please feel free to send through, not sure if we'll go struts or keep the springs yet?

And as for the seat.....an 'Aidan Original' you say.....I'll have to search that.

You did a great job on the rear guard then......looks fantastic.

Cheers,
Speak again soon.
ROne

[DaPeach]

My exhaust is factory, yours looks like a Mac or other aftermarket set-up...I thought about macs for mine to put both mufflers on one side, but I'm happy w/ the way it looks now. You should be able to get used factory exhaust somewhere I'd imagine.

the name of the seat is Aidan Original. They had a website under construction, but it looks like it was taken down.

I just found this link tho... http://www.ttcycles.net/aidan/tt_cycles_aidan_originals.htm


the look I was going for...I saw this bike after mine was finished:

http://www.ttcycles.net/erwin/'66-T120R-erwin4.jpg


the velocity stack is working great, although I haven't taken a look at the plugs yet to see if it's running lean. I'm not noticing any excess blueing on the headpipes either. It runs great once it warms up, couldn't ask for any better.


keep the shocks for now & see how she likes the solo seat.

[Big_J]

Hey ROne....

Tell me a little bit about your CX500, what have you done to it etc. etc.... I bought a 1980 model at the first of the year with the intention of building a cafe bike, I like the look you have going on with yours.

Thanks