Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

CBXs, new bikes, old bikes, cars, trucks, general chat, off topic, this is the place to post it.
User avatar
Ringnalda
ICOA Staff
ICOA Staff
Posts: 560
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:47 am
Location: Columbus, OH
Location: Cruzin at 35,000ft...

Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by Ringnalda »

The idea of this bike was to make a special with different color combo and some different parts. While drunk or stupid I thought it would be cool to have a pro-link framed bike with an early model tail piece, and 1100R front end with an 1100F integral fork brace.

This has become a task much larger than I would have expected or hoped, but at least there is some progress. There is a lot of cutting and manufacturing involved, where I thought this would be a simple bolt-up. NOT SO. The rear section of the frame had to be shortened by about 34mm, the support bridge for the seat had to be reversed. Fitting brake calipers on the CB1100F lower forks while maintaining the CB1100R fork stanchions with traxxion inserts meant changing the caliper support brackets (CB1100R wheels used with the slightly wider CB1100R brake discs) So to get the distances right I had to modify CB1100R caliper supports... AAaaargh...

Anyway here is a shot of my current status.

Image
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

rpleines
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 107
Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 12:32 pm
Location: New Haven, CT
Location: New Haven, CT

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by rpleines »

Absolutely stunning :rocker:
Rich Pleines

User avatar
NobleHops
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 3867
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by NobleHops »

I like it a lot! The only thing I don't much care for on the naked Prolinks is the valanced rear fender. Nice work!
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA '80 CBX, sort-of restored :-)

barryadam
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 283
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:33 am
Location: Mission Viejo, California, USA
Location: Mission Viejo, California, USA

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by barryadam »

Yeah. I agree with Nils. The early model tail looks great.
Are you keeping the TRAC function on the front?

Barry

daves79x
ICOA Technical Director
ICOA Technical Director
Posts: 4737
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:05 am
Location: Knox, PA
Location: Knox, PA

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by daves79x »

Yes, Bob S and I are finding out how much work it is also. Bob cut the rear frame section out and welded in the correct early model section so the tail and tail frame fit right, then used an early battery box that has the early sidecover grommet holes, then welded on grommet hole brackets where needed. Turned out very nicely and everything fits well. Do like your adaptation of the late side covers as well.

Dave

User avatar
Ringnalda
ICOA Staff
ICOA Staff
Posts: 560
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:47 am
Location: Columbus, OH
Location: Cruzin at 35,000ft...

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by Ringnalda »

Yes making the handles 'end' and shortening the 79 grab rail was another chapter... I'd like to recess the rear light some more, but that will be done later.

I used late model battery box because using late model wiring loom...

Jan
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

steve murdoch icoa #5322
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 4068
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2003 9:12 am
Location: St. Catharines, On. Canada
Location: St. Catharines, On. Canada

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by steve murdoch icoa #5322 »

Cool looking project, Jan.
I also have a set of Sportkit footpeg carriers that have been milled out for the lattice look. Did you do them yourself?

User avatar
NobleHops
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 3867
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:17 am
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by NobleHops »

steve murdoch icoa #5322 wrote:Cool looking project, Jan.
I also have a set of Sportkit footpeg carriers that have been milled out for the lattice look. Did you do them yourself?

Ya, that looks bitchin'! You should totally do the swingarm like that!






















:laughing-rollingyellow:

I keed, I keed!
Nils Menten
Tucson, Arizona, USA '80 CBX, sort-of restored :-)

User avatar
Z Grand
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 384
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:06 pm
Location: Walnut Grove, Georgia, USA
Location: N. Georgia, USA

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by Z Grand »

Nice! It'll be kinda hard controlling the throttle manually, won't it? :teasing-poke:

User avatar
FalldownPhil
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 929
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:25 pm
Location: Marina Del Rey, CA. USA
Contact:

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by FalldownPhil »

Jan,
It looks great although the day-glo cases might keep me awake.
Here is one that lives close to me owned by Richard.
Very Best,
Phil

Image
When you are up to your ass in alligators it is sometimes difficult
to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp !!

User avatar
CBXTRA6
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 523
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 1:25 am
Location: Kernersville , NC
Location: Kernersville, Nth CAROLINA

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by CBXTRA6 »

Very nice project Jan ! can't wait to see it completed. :text-goodpost:
JP

User avatar
bikeymikey748
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 496
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:52 pm
Location: Montreal, Canada
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by bikeymikey748 »

Jan, you're project sounds like, pretty much, everything I try my hand at: budget an hour, but figure on at least two :D
Lookin' good so far.

User avatar
Ringnalda
ICOA Staff
ICOA Staff
Posts: 560
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:47 am
Location: Columbus, OH
Location: Cruzin at 35,000ft...

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by Ringnalda »

Oh no I was way off, budgeted about a month to build this, but have hit so many hurdles I've lost count. Started it 3 years ago. Taking an early frame and putting pro-link parts on is not difficult. Taking a late frame and trying to fit early stock stuff on, that becomes troublesome. Now try to stitch in an 1100R front wheel with the thin ventilated discs, and you get more problems. And the PIECES DON"T FIT!!! So the spacing of the holes for the brake calipers on a CB1100F are DIFFERENT from the spacing on the CB1100R carriers. 1.5mm to be exact... WHY??? No idea. The bridge on the rear part of the frame is reversed between late model and early model...Why? The seat pan, as a result, is completely different. The rear part of the bike is shorter on the early bike too, so the grab-rail, lights etc. wouldn't fit. I wanted to retain the handles since the side covers run nicely into them. But I also wanted the chrome grab rail... Get out the grinder and the drill. If you're building a special, budget a day and spend a week making that idea work. It's become a challenge now so I will not give up, but there have been moments when I wondered why it was fighting me so much. On top of all this, I've started and stopped so many times, those of you that know my garage; this is a 1500 part jigsaw but I have 5000 parts to start with... And not all of the 1500 parts are in the 5000. Anyway enough complaining, back to work!
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

User avatar
bikeymikey748
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 496
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:52 pm
Location: Montreal, Canada
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by bikeymikey748 »

Yup, lots of times mid-project I have to remind myself, " I'm doing this for fun !".
Sheila is a great sounding board. Often times, I'de burst in from the, tiny, garage. She'd listen, politely to my ranting, hand me a fresh coffee, give me a pat on the head, and send me back in. You just gotta have people like that in your corner :D
Git 'er done Cadet !

User avatar
80 cbx dude #6216
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 278
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:19 pm
Location: Fort Lonesome, Florida,USA
Location: Florida

Re: Sooo, just how easy is it to make a special?

Post by 80 cbx dude #6216 »

Jan, looking GREAT so far! Budget all kinds of extra time! The funny thing is once it's done, it's really never done. I'm still working on mine! Keep up the good work and keep us posted.-Mike

Post Reply

Return to “Daily Discussion: By, For & About CBXers”