Fun little 1976 CB200 cafe racer project

[Rudemouthsky]

This is for my wife..hoping she'll be riding it by summer. I figured I could post a build thread here  since it's "General motorcycle talk: not just Monsters". And I wanted it to be known I'm not a COMPLETE mechanical 'tard, hehe. I can follow instructions and turn wrenches...that's really it.

Anyone with knowledge of old Japanese twins is welcome to chime in. It's gonna be a little cafe racer. I wanted something she could just have fun in town on, and not get into *too* much trouble while she improves her skills.

The way it looked before tear down:


crusty engine...but it runs excellent with under 6000 original miles


crusty swingarm


all the shit like this crappy switch had to go...found cheap but nice looking switches on eBay, I'll post em when I get to that point (using clubman bars...gonna look awesome) eBay is great for old jap bike parts from China. really cheap, really plentiful


I really actually liked this tank...the rubber pad thingy is staying.




frame after I wire brushed my ass off and put a first coat of spraycan laquer on it.


Engine after I degreased with Gunk, then rubbed like crazy with Mothers. Still have work to do


Kind of a mock up of what I have so far...tank is still dressed in primer cuz I can't decide on a color. I don't have a pic of the fiberglass "blade" style cafe seat atm but I'm reeeal stoked on it.



I have all kinds of parts and bits still laying around I need to put together. New rubber for the kickstarter, shifter, and footpegs...all kinds of stuff that needs wire brushing and reassembled...this is really way more work than I expected. Every single thing that came off has to be taken apart, scrubbed and reassembled. I wish I'd taken more pics, but I'm going to make sure I'm on top of that from now on.

[Pedro-bot]

Looks like you're off to a great start!!

[MadDuck]

Those weren't the most powerful engines but they sure were tough.  Keep at it. Every project always takes more than what you're first ( or second ) estimate was.

[sebastienb]

Looks nice !

[lazylightnin717]

Love the corn on the cob tat

Good looking project. Keep it up

[triangleforge]

Nice! Looking forward to more updates.

[SpikeC]

 Are you a cook by any chance?

[Rudemouthsky]

Are you a cook by any chance?

haha...no. That's my "I'm from Ohio" tattoo. What you can't see is the tractor mowing down the corn.

I'm assuming you asked because I have food tattoos..

[eyduc]

There a bunch of these little guys on Do The Ton forum.   I'm building a little Honda single too.

[ungeheuer]

I really actually liked this tank...the rubber pad thingy is staying.

I really like the CB200 tank too.  Always liked that little bike  .

[Rudemouthsky]

This has been really, really fun. Here's where I'm at now. (still in primer, haven't decided on colors yet) Also, that nasty chain guard is getting sand blasted and painted, or scrapped altogether, and the fenders are getting chopped/put back on. The engine looks bad in this pic but it's just dusty. It polishes up BEAUTifully. I'll need to enlist a friend to get the carbs synced up and playing nice with the pods I bought soon;

[eyduc]

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=45872.400

follow this thread at DTT forum.  it's already 41 pages!  It'll give you some ideas and inspiration.

[Rudemouthsky]

that's funny, I remember following that guy years ago when I first bought this thing. He was having trouble syncing his carbs with the new pods just like me. Then he stopped updating his blog.

[caperix]

Looks like a fun project. I am doing similar work to my GF's '74 CB550. Please post more pics to keep me motivated on that project 

[Rudemouthsky]

Sure thing.

Couple things I'm torn on;

I'm diggin the clubman's and the price was certainly right. ($30 for the bars and they came with nice grips) but I'm thinking clip ons would look reeall bad ass..

The rear fender is getting chopped and replaced mainly because I have unlimited tail light and plate mount options that way. But I kind of like a bare ass end with maybe a little round light. Any suggestions.

Color schemes... one things for sure and that's red and black. Red tank, red seat hump, red side covers, black fenders? Or maybe red tank, black side covers?

Pipes...I have a set of CL350 scrambler pipes and 2 megaphones already. Don't know which way to go.

Hrrrrrm...