[599]

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I inherited this bike from my late grandfather, and it needs a little bit of work to be roadworthy again. Primary objective is rebuilding the carbs, along with fresh fluids and filters throughout. Next up is a thorough brake inspection, new battery, and tires.

I'm not one to leave well enough alone, so I've already got a few modifications planned.

Seat:
smooth recover, or a brat style, can't decide. Needs to be a 2-up though. Sissy bar is as good as gone.

Tires:
whitewall maybe?

Lighting:
ditching the turn signals, thinking lucas style w/ plate bracket on the fender

Paint/body:
repaint white or black, ditching the fairing and trunk bag, silver wheels, GL1000 chrome fenders shortened up

Gauges:
new bracket to mount the clocks lower, toss the warning light cluster in favor of something integrated into the false gas tank

Exhaust:
repolish the pipes, can the cans, turndown tips

Suspension:
shorter rear shocks, straighter bars (2" rise/2" pullback), fresh fork seals and drop them through the clamps an inch or two

 

[599]

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Thanks! The weight of even this bike will be very different for me, my daily is the black CB600 in the background there, and it's around 400lbs. The other project bike is a stripped down cb360, and I think it is around 250lbs. My planned use for this bike is a weekend rider, the 600 is my daily/touring machine.

Right now it's frustrating me though, everything is heavier, there is more stuff, and whoever worked on it needs to get a torque wrench. I had to crank the compressor up to 150psi to get the swingarm pivot bolts out with a 1000lb/ft Mac impact wrench.

 

[599]

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I wish I could ride it right now, last time I rode it, I was probably 8 years old. It's been sitting collecting dust in my grandpa's garage until now.

One of my friends had a cb650 custom with similar bars and a backrest, I didn't care for either. Mostly, I just love the looks of a naked GL, and the sound of the flat four uncorked. I've got the 599 (background of pics 4&5) for my commuter and fun bike, now I want a weekend cruiser that girls don't complain about the seat padding (or lack thereof).

 

[599]

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Thanks for the tip on the o-rings, I'll make sure to get those. I was worried about the timing belt, it's only got 28k on the odo, but 28 years is still hard on rubber. Might as well d it all now, cause the engine is out of the frame as of tonight. I found a few rust spots and decided to strip and repaint the whole thing.

The closest thing I've found to being rigged were the 4 scotch locks used to tap power & ground for the fairing and trunk.

Should have pictures tomorrow, but it now sits as a bare frame. Hopefully I'll get enough done tomorrow that I can start putting it back together monday.

 

[599]

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Decided to do it all the way down & back up

 

[599]

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Aight, too hot to work, so I'm posting pics.

Found rust, decided to strip it all.

Fresh paint.

While that was drying I stripped the rear end and wheels, and put it together.

Friend hooked me up on a CM400T cause I wanted the fenders and headlight bucket. Test fit the rear fender and seat.

Stopped there, too damn hot.

Total investment:
GL1100-$200
CM400-$100
Misc. paint/cleaner-$100

All-in-all, I'm not totally happy with the frame paint, but I'm putting it together anyway. I didn't want to do a full resto on it yet, because I'm moving in about 3 weeks. I don't plan on selling the bike, so sometime in the future it will get a full restoration and powder coating throughout.

 

[599]

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Like 85% humidity. That's what kills me. After 10 minutes in the garage it looked like I had been swimming.

 

[599]

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carbs are getting there

mmm, blood

test fit the front fender, I need to lower it about 1/2". No big deal there is space to drill it. Also need to finish stripping the front wheel, it's not going as well as the rear.

side panels on

should have the carbs on the engine, maybe the engine in tomorrow night. Still waiting on timing belts and a few other parts though.