75 CB400 "Dad's old bike" project

[Pops400]

I do agree, but there is just no point trying to make this standard, it would cost so much to get it there.

Much thinking and listening to the opinions of those who have done it before to do. Might cut a bit of old tubing to length and mock up some straight bars to test feel. Not sure how to mock up clip on's. 

[Chris400F]

I had clip-on-type bars on the CB-1 I had and they were too low for me, I ended up fitting adaptors and flat bars.
As Julie says the standard UK bars are pretty straight anyway.
Clubman bars are what quite a few people fitted to various bikes back in the days when the 400 was current - I think you could even have them as an option on things like the Suzuki GT185 and 250 - usually without tank fouling issues or rearsets, so that would be more of a period modification.
I suspect rearsets would probably interfere with the requirement for pillion footrests for Jess.
Also hope that frame damage shown earlier doesn't prove too serious.
Oh, and another +1 from me for keeping up with all these  updates.

[Nurse Julie]

Good idea but, it still wont tell you what you really need to know because your static, it's only by riding the bike out on the roads that will give you what you want. I know this from experience, at home here sitting on a CB750 the bike does not feel to heavy for me but I know from experience it's like riding a bloody chieftain tank.

[Green1]

I'm not a fan of clubmans but at least you still have the option to try a few different bars as nothing is ground away.

[Green1]

Bodd has straight bars on his bike.He has plenty of pictures in the gallery to give you an idea.

[Pops400]

Chris, yes, I had wondered about the rear sets interfering with the rear pegs, still trying to figure that one out. Maybe I should revisit clubman bars. 

Julie, you have me wondering if I have the right bars now. The ones I took off are a million miles off straight or low. I need to find a way to check. When I say straight bars, I do mean literally straight, not even slight angles in there. Wonder if that may be too aggressive / Street fighter though. Not what I am going for at all.

Take your point on mock ups and not knowing until ridden, but hoping I can at least get a feel for pressure on wrists and back. I suffer with my lower back and legs due to the insane amount of miles I do a year, for a lot of years, so should be able to tell pretty quickly if it's a definite no-go. At least I can discount the howlers then and then take time to find out by riding.

All working on the heroic assumption I can get it going, of course. 

Chris, yes I am worried about the frame damage too now.

[Pops400]

Bodd has straight bars on his bike.He has plenty of pictures in the gallery to give you an idea.

Superb lead, thank you. 

[Nurse Julie]

All working on the heroic assumption I can get it going, of course. 

Oh yea of little faith. We're not going through all this with you and Jess to not have a running bike at the end of it all.......we wouldn't let that happen 

[Pops400]

 

I'm sure I'll get there. Just get the odd day when I look at it and wonder what the hell I'm doing, it's so far gone.

[Trigger]

I'm sure I'll get there. Just get the odd day when I look at it and wonder what the hell I'm doing, it's so far gone.

I think that every day  And I do it for a living

[Pops400]

 

I just keep plugging away until I get a day when lots of progress happens, that gives me enough lift to take me through a few more crap ones.

[Trigger]

I just keep plugging away until I get a day when lots of progress happens, that gives me enough lift to take me through a few more crap ones.

Just focus on the frame and engine. Once this is done, everything else just basically bolts on.

[Pops400]

Frame is looking like quite a problem, but the engine I'm flummoxed by what to do. It did actually turn over and sounded OK, albeit briefly. Semi-tempted to try and clean it up without pulling it apart, but kind of know that's asking for trouble.

Kind of know that pulling it apart is asking for trouble too, though. And probably a load of money I don't have. 

[mike the bike]

Instead of going down the clip ons route, have you considered ace bars?  Best of both in my opinion.

[Pops400]

Hi Mike. Considering any and all at the moment. Happy to put the time into planning, so I know what I'm aiming at.

'scuse my ignorance, though, I thought Ace / Clubman were different terms for the same thing?