1981 HONDA CB650C CAFE RACER UPDATE

1981 HONDA CB650C CAFE RACER UPDATE

Just a few updates this week on the CB650 Cafe Racer project.  It feels like this project is moving so slowly but slow and steady wins the race.  I'm at the point where the end of the project is in sight and all I want to do is ride it!  I remember being in this mindset not so long ago with my CL360 build.  All in time I suppose.  

A little over a week ago I ordered a MAC 4-into-1 exhaust system that arrived this past Wednesday.  The exhaust that was on there took up too much space, it added to the overall weight and didn't really fit with the look I was going for.  The old pipes came off without a hitch and I'm really happy with how the new one looks!  It has a nice "race bike" sound quality to it.  This ride will definitely have a lot more "get-up and go" than my other Honda's.

It's hard to tell from these pictures but I ended up deicing to take the air box out and go with pod air filters instead.  As you can see they aren't on the bike currently.  The filters have to be special ordered because the standard size is too long/wide and rubs against the frame and each other.  There are some 54mm pancake free flow air filters from SCOOTER ASSASSINS that I am ordering from EBAY but won't have them for about 2 weeks since they'll be coming from Australia.  See Picture below:

Long story short, when I ordered the new exhaust pipes I didn't realize that the carbs would have to have different jets installed to run properly.  If I had known I was going to be using a 4-into-1 exhaust system I would've just had the proper jets put on the first time the carbs were taken off to be cleaned and rebuilt.  I was originally going to keep the air box but since we had to take the carbs off once again to access them, I figured screw the air box, let's make life easier on myself for all future changes/cleanings of the carbs.  I still need to get inside the area where the air box was and clean it up because there is a lot of dirt, grease and build-up in there that I want gone.

The gas tank, seat pan and side covers have been dropped off at the painters but I won't be getting those back for about 4 weeks.  He is pretty backed up right now.  However, he does a really great job so that's why I am willing to wait.  I am hoping the color turns out just like I imagine it.  I'm not going to say just yet which color I decided to go with but I think it will finish the project off nicely.  

That's all I got for now!