Billy Thunder's CB750 SS Cafe Racer project.

[Billy Thunder]

 I just picked up this 1978 Honda CB 750 SuperSport.  I rode it a couple of afternoons this week and it seems solid and strong. I'm looking at doing a cafe racer project through the winter and I hope to be riding this one next spring.
 First on the list is to get rid of the windscreen and mount some lower bars. I'm looking for a quality set of clubmans. I will need a set of bar-end mirrors to keep the handle bar lines as clean as possible. I plan to replace the seat with a fiberglass single place cafe style seat to lower the c.o.g. and get my butt down 'into' the bike behind that long slender SuperSport tank.
 After some riding time to be sure this bike is worthy, perhaps a custom tank and rear sets.
 Some of the features I like on this bike are the dual front disc and and the rear disc brakes. It has pod filters and electronic ignition installed. Of course it has the iconic four into one exhaust.
 
 Here it as as I found it:

[fast1]

  I think Guy Hudson used to own that Bike. Could probably get some history from him. Kinda pretty to hack up- might want to start with one of your others. Just a suggestion of course, your bike to do as you please. Either way good luck with your project. If your on a budget think outside the box. Saw a pretty nice front air dam made from a vacuum cleaner housing, Russ has made velocity stacks from flared aluminum cups found at V.V. boutique. There are a lot of cafe sites where you can get Ideas as well. Carburetor issues (which I believe it had) can be addressed by me. Rack of four is a bitch if your not used to them.

[Rusty Bucket]

I think Guy's was earlier than that - wasn't Guy's the very first year of SuperSport?  I agree this is a very nice-looking bike, beautiful even,  in it's current mostly-stock, usual period-mods form.  Good find;  it looks like it would be an excellent start no matter what direction you were thinking of taking it.  5 Bike Mike McLintock in Vanderhoof is just getting a 'glass aftermarket cafe seat in for his CX650;  maybe when it arrives, you could check that one out...he gave me the length, I think it was 24 or 25" long.  I always think that if you don't do any harm to the stock parts, then what's the harm?  Go crazy, and build what you want.  Keep the stock stuff in a box for the next owner or a change of heart.

[Fritz]

Looks like you picked up a nice project....gotta like having most of the bike there to start out with....Looking forward to seeing how it turns out - seen a real nice Cafe' Honda Roaring around Vernon last summer....will try to find the picture I took of it...

So what's the story with the 500?

[2wheelsmotorcycle]

Thats too good a looking 750F , take the windshield off and leave it stock, then go out and find another 750 to Cafe'

[2wheelsmotorcycle]

and again....that is NOT the one Guy had, his was a 1975...it was mine before Guy's...anyway, nice find, but if you are changing it into a Cafe' do as Russell says, keep all the old parts , they might be needed next time and they are also getting hard to find and on ebay ,expensive.When I re and re'ed the one Guy had,and that was a few years ago,I paid something like $200.00 for seat and tank, and the tank was hard to find a clean one....later

[2wheelsmotorcycle]

and again.....I was just in the Napa store here in Vanderhoof and as I came out the front door, what went by me riding down the main street , but a CB750F with a funny looking windshield on it....I took chase , but it seemed to have disappeared on me....must have been Billy Thunder.....

[Billy Thunder]

Thanks for all the replies, compliments and suggestions.
 Thanks Wayne for the offer of your knowledge of the carb rack, they are a bit intimidating. The bike runs a tad rich and will flood on starting if you look at it wrong. Once started, the bike seems to run well.
 This CB 750F came out from Alberta and spent this last season in Kamloops. The fellow I got it from had it insured this season and said he put a couple thousand miles on it.
  I put another permit on the bike today and rode it around the 'hoof. It's a rush getting used to a new bike after so many years away from the sport. Oh... it's also a bit cold out @ just above freezing.
 I have little interest in the bike's appearence in stock form and cant wait to get to work on it. I plan on keeping all the parts for the bike, so they are available should someone ever choose to restore it. Honda tried to market a cafe racer when they designed the Super Sport, but I think they missed the mark on the seat and handlebars. I plan to correct that.
 
  Fritz - the 500t had an oil burning habbit and the fellow I got it from offered to take the bike back. I can put you in touch with him, if you like. I believe it needs a rebuilt head.

[Dennis]

Nuthin's too good to chop.

My imagination is starting to wonder about my '56 BSA.

[fast1]

  Billy there is a small bag of n.o.s. parts for your bike at Russ' shop. Courtesy Cycle North and us.

[Billy Thunder]

 Cool! Thanks... That's awesome! I'll have to get out and attend some meetings and/ or movie night sometime.
 I rode the bike a couple of hours again today. I love it... it's torquey and the 4 into one makes nice snarly sounds. I can't wait to get a lower seat and bars on this bike. The factory arrangement would be great for longer rides, but the bike comes alive under you when you are down on the tank.
 Although I've ridden a few Japanese bikes, this is the most modern bike I've owned (lol), the others all being early 70's Sportsters. The Sporties were nostalgic and cool in their own way, but the difference in technology (and power) is striking.

[Rusty Bucket]

 We pulled the '77-'78 750K and F bags for you, but there isn't much really, headlight retainer, two nondescript bolts, and a weird clear plastic tube about 3" long - a pretty light haul, and you did better than some of us... still, easy come -easy go, right?  I can send the stuff out with McLintock who seemingly comes to PG every time his dog barks.

[Billy Thunder]

First part of the transformation - Clubman bars. If I could only change change one thing on this bike, this is it.
 Still lots to do on this area, but it's a start. Still looking for a set of the old bulbus GT style grips and bar end mirror(s).
 Now I can tuck in against the tank were I can feel the bike's vibe and smell the engine. Ya!






 Thanks to Parker for the nice clubmans @ a great price!

[fast1]

  Looking better already. Bar end mirrors should be available from Motovan or m.c. distributing. See Chris at the Yamaha shop. Last time I looked they were pretty cheap.

[Rusty Bucket]

Are these the grips you are thinking of?  XS direct has them for $10/ pr,     http://www.xs650direct.com/products-59.html,  and I think the MCD catalogue has these too, again, as Fast1 says, orderable at the Yamaha dealer.

[attachment deleted by admin due to full attachment storage]