Thread: Needed: Motorcycle Design ideas

Well, I've done it again. . . I went and got another motorcycle. I have a project '75 CB750 that I'll be making into a soft tail chopper at some point, but that is a LONG ways down the road. It has been sitting, uncovered, in a backyard, on it's side, for about 10 years, engine seized, about the only thing still usable on this bike is the frame and gas tank.

Anyways, I am bringing home another bike that's a little closer to completion later today (Friday afternoon) from a friends house. It's an '81 Honda CM400T. Picked it up as part of a trade deal for my AR15 rifle, I've been friends with the owner since High School. The bike has been sitting in a garage for quite a while, at least a year since it was started last. The battery was dead, but we hooked it up to the charger, and it started right up. The carbs could use a cleaning, but other than that, it runs great. I threw some air in the nearly flat tires, took it around the block, and everything checked out.


My dilemma is this: I don't really know what to do with the bike. I want to customize it, but I'm not really willing to spend a whole lot on parts, since it honestly doesn't need a whole lot. I'm thinking a new set of handlebars, chop the frame a little in the back, a solo seat, and MAYBE a new tank, in addition to some paint work, and this would be a VERY nice bike. I want something I can enjoy riding, that will turn heads, and maybe attract some attention at bike nights and shows.

I was in the Army for a while, and I was thinking that may be a pretty cool theme to go with, kind of like a POW/MIA themed bike, with the logos stenciled onto a flat desert tan base, or maybe painted ACU pattern or something. I didn't know if that would be considered over the top, but given the work I do with the PGR, riding to military funerals and such, I thought it may be fitting. Other ideas I had considered are all flat black with black and silver stock wheels (I think they are 5 spokes) and silver accents, or olive drab green with stenciled CM400 logos on the side covers.

If I were to do the ACU pattern deal, I'd probably go the whole 9 yards and make a seat cover out of one of my old ACU jackets or something, and potentially a set of soft saddlebags made of the same, but like I said, I don't want it to look too over the top.

The CB750 is still very much in the planning stages, we just pulled the motor out of the frame last night, now I have to remove all the wiring, pull the front end off, and get the frame blasted and ready for paint, then I can worry about reassembling it into a bike. I'm going to put the CB750 on hold for a short while, get the CM400 to the point where I can take it out and ride it, then kick the CB Chopper build into high gear.


I'm interested in ANY and ALL suggestions you guys have, comments on my ideas, ideas of your own, anything. I'm just trying to figure out a basic plan of action here.

The CM400 is going to get a set of very simple low-profile handlebars, and paint is required, the tank was replaced with one that is currently in primer and needs a dent removed, and the side covers are pink, so it's pretty much a given that they will need repainted. lol

And before anyone asks, there will be pictures posted of the CM400T tomorrow after I get it home. First things first, it's getting new front and rear brakes, spark plugs, and an oil change, and those carbs are coming off for a thorough inspection and cleaning.

Originally Posted by J GTP

I like what this guy did:

hondatwins.net • View topic - Honda cm400t from Spain. bob,chop,track....?? I dont know..

except the pipes. A little sheet metal to cover up the gap by the battery box would be good too imo.

My brother has a '78 CB400A Hawk that my dad gave him. We looked into modifying it at one point, but decided it wasn't worth it because it's slow as balls. The only year they made it with a 2 speed auto LOLZ. It tops out at about 70mph.

The 5 speed CM400 is a bit peppier. I didn't think it was "slow as balls", but it wasn't fast either. I'd venture to say it's "Quick", as in plenty of power for riding around town and the like. If I need fast, I have the CB750 that I'm hoping to have done sometime this summer.

The CM400 leaves something to be desired in it's stock form, that's why I'd like to do a little work to it. The paint job won't be anything fancy, just rattle cans, which is why I was thinking an army ACU pattern would look kind of cool. I saw that done on a Jeep Wrangler once, it was totally badass.

I'm about to leave to ride the bike home, then I'm going to get started looking for deals on a solo seat. Looking at some pictures online, I think the stock tank may be fine even. The bars on the bike may be re-used and flipped, or I might go with a set of straight bars or even clip ons, it all depends on what I manage to find cheap.

I'll experiment with some paint ideas on the tank and get some pictures up for you guys when I get something done.

i sold my brother a KZ440 (kawi's version of the CM440), so i know where youre coming from. he bought another for cheap and is swapping a few parts back and forth and chopping one of them. he already cut the tail end off the one he is planning on riding in the end. i might have to keep tabs on him and post up here for more ideas for you.

Just got the bike home, already pulled the stock seat (uncomfortable as hell, not to mention ugly and huge), and I'm going to pull the grab rail, taillight, turn signals, and rear fender soon enough. As far as the front of the bike goes, I need to find a nice set of wider, lower handlebars to replace the stockers with, they are too narrow. I also want to get bar-end mirrors and some form of handlebar-mounted turn signals, and if I can find a good deal on a headlight assembly I like, I may swing for that.

After the bike is torn down as far as I want to go, I'm breaking out the rattle cans. Should look like a completely different bike when I'm done with it. . .

I had a 78 cb400 a few years back and i really liked it it only topped out at around 100mph but that's fast enough to kill you.
If you need a better motor for the 750 project and want something about twice as fast dad has a 79 750 ss sitting in the garage. It was wrecked but the motor is still good just has a few parts missing. The 78 and above 750's had the DOHC and made the bike MUCH faster.
For the record i now drive a 79 CX500 and love the looks i get on it because it's such a unique bike. Honda FTW!!!!!!

How much does he want for the motor? The motor on the CB750 is seized, so I'm actually looking for a replacement. . . I prefer the simplicity of the SOHC 750, but I wouldn't mind trying out a DOHC motor for this build.

Well, I pulled the stock exhaust, and discovered how badly rotted the stock prechamber is (it's like a muffled crossover pipe between the primaries and the mufflers), so I'm going to ditch it and replace it with two sections of straight pipe to connect the mufflers to the primaries. It's going to be MUCH louder than stock, I started it up with open primaries, and it sounded as loud as my buddy's straight-piped CB750 chopper. I need to quiet it down a little bit, and I like the stock exhaust design, so that's what I'm working with. Also broke out the flat black hi-temp exhaust paint and hit the mufflers, primaries, side covers, and gas tank with it. It really adds a "Rat Bike" look to it, I think it's going to look great when it's done.

I'm going to pick up the pieces of pipe I need for the exhaust tomorrow, and hopefully I'll have it insured and plated by Wednesday. Going to order new front brake pads and a caliper rebuild kit this week, and I'll be cleaning, tuning, syncing, and re-jetting the carbs this weekend as well. Not going to be riding it much, rain is in the forecast all week.

Anybody have any ideas for a decent solo seat? I had a friend bring over his sportster solo seat he bought for his wife's CB750 Bobber build, and it fits perfectly, but I don't want to spend $150 for the same seat. . .

I'll ask dad what he wants for the motor and what all he pulled off of it. i see solo seats on craigslist all the time for under $100.

Yeah, I sent a message about an $85 Sportster solo seat last night, just waiting to hear back. I'm going to check out the local bike shops as well, there's a custom shop a block from home that should have something.

Let me know what you come up with for the motor, my engine is seized badly, not even worth rebuilding.

Picked up a NICE used Harley solo seat from the local custom shop, with the mount and springs, for $75. It's a little on the small side, but so is the bike, so it worked out pretty well. Once I get plates and insurance on the bike, I'll be taking it over to a friend's house to use his air compressor (mine isn't wired up yet, we have to get 220 service run out to the garage still) to cut off the back part of the frame, then it will be brought back home to weld the studs on for the seat springs. After that, I'm just stuck figuring something out for a brake light and turn signals, and it'll be good to go.

The carbs should be cleaned out sometime tomorrow or Wednesday, and I'm hoping to get the exhaust all put together today or tomorrow. I'll have this bike on the road by the weekend!

Got the exhaust all put together. Tomorrow's project is going to be tackling the carbs, and looking for possible taillight and turn signal replacements. The stock taillight is HUGE, and the turn signals stick out a foot on each side of the bike, both front and back. They are just too obvious. A nice set of LED's would work wonders for the looks of the bike.

I know this is a little off topic, but I have 91 cb 250 that I got for almost nothing. It has two problems right now a gas tank which is dented badly and is rusted any ideas on fixing it.Here are some pics Pictures by Floyd_Rowell - Photobucket I know it looks bad there but I the side fairings for it.

Also some a hole decided to change lanes on me, forceing me on to a rough gravel dich and broke my fork seals and wind shield. what is the best way to fix the seals btw the a hole needs a new back window now so we are r even

Originally Posted by Soviet

I know this is a little off topic, but I have 91 cb 250 that I got for almost nothing. It has two problems right now a gas tank which is dented badly and is rusted any ideas on fixing it.Here are some pics Pictures by Floyd_Rowell - Photobucket I know it looks bad there but I the side fairings for it.

Also some a hole decided to change lanes on me, forceing me on to a rough gravel dich and broke my fork seals and wind shield. what is the best way to fix the seals btw the a hole needs a new back window now so we are r even

As far as fixing the rust in the tank, you need to remove the tank, empty it, and get yourself the Kreem gas tank restoration kit. You can get it at the parts counter at your local motorcycle dealer. You may need to use a Muriatic Acid solution (Diluted with water, do a search for the procedure) first to break up the rust, but I know people who have used the Kreem kit before with good results. The dent can either be popped out from inside the tank or pulled with a stud gun and slide hammer.

The front fork seals can't be repaired, you need to replace them. Find a front fork rebuild kit, it'll have everything you need.



My bike is insured, registered, and I picked up a taillight at Tractor Supply for $10 in the trailer lights aisle. The bike should be ridable this evening. I didn't get any sleep last night, so I'm going to crash for a few hours and get started on cleaning the carbs and making the taillight/license plate bracket this afternoon. Should be on the road just in time for the local Bike Night this evening. I'm excited!

I'm also looking at picking up an '86 Goldwing soon, it's loaded, only 45k miles, and it's in great shape for it's age. Very well maintained. The plan is to get it tuned up and ride it for a while, and possibly take it on a trip from Michigan to South Carolina to visit my sister, and do some sight-seeing along the way. I have wanted to go on a cross-country road trip for a while, so I may look into doing that this summer, assuming I can talk one of my friends into making the trip with me.

Thanks just order the new seals but the dents I speak of are on the outside of the tank. the inside is still good rust free for now. I am just trying to fix the outside marks right now but I will redo the inside of the tank later to avoid interior rust

Originally Posted by Soviet

Thanks just order the new seals but the dents I speak of are on the outside of the tank. the inside is still good rust free for now. I am just trying to fix the outside marks right now but I will redo the inside of the tank later to avoid interior rust

If you don't have rust on the inside of your tank and drive the bike more than once a year your shouldn't ever develop rust inside the tank. You could try popping the dents out from inside the tank.