| Project name: Trixie 750 Sspecial Bike originated:1975 CB750 F1 Engine:750cc in-line 4 Mods: Top secret Theme: Classic road racer lines meets modern material |
| CB750 SOHC " Trixie Special" - page1 |
| Weekly update |
| email: flipprboi@benjiescaferacer.com Edison, NJ 08837 USA |
Greetings Fellow bike builders, weekend classic motorcycle restorers, cafe racer enthusiasts, and BCR followers. .Because of numerous emails
regards to this BCR bike project, Trixie 750 Special, we decided to do a weekly update on this page. Due to our more important priorities to our
customer ordered parts, this assembly might take awhile, but we'll try to get our hands on and work on this bike weekly. So here we go and hope
you get some ideas and tips on this bike build. Thanks for looking and we hope you like it. Feel free to email if you have questions or comments.
And check out the slide for more pics.
regards to this BCR bike project, Trixie 750 Special, we decided to do a weekly update on this page. Due to our more important priorities to our
customer ordered parts, this assembly might take awhile, but we'll try to get our hands on and work on this bike weekly. So here we go and hope
you get some ideas and tips on this bike build. Thanks for looking and we hope you like it. Feel free to email if you have questions or comments.
And check out the slide for more pics.
| We got all the parts back form the powdercoat (cylinder head, cylinder, frame, bars, etc..), done with the modifications to the frame, made all the body parts, moc-up, and now its time to put trixie back together. We decided to start the assembly by taking the engine apart and take a look at the inside. We did a couple of tolerance test ( specs according to Honda service manuals ) on the engine bearings and everything is still up to specs in the short block. We looked at the cylinders and found some deep scratches in number 3 cylinder. Maybe its caused by long term storage and non use, or even maybe abuse from previous owner. We decided to get the cylinder walls cut. We think that honing them will not work. So we got the cylinders 2 cuts, and bought an oversize rings for the piston. While waiting to get the cylinder block back from the machine shop, we decided to lap the valve seats and replace the valve seals. and do some tension test on the springs before putting everyback to the cyliner head. We also decided to put the triple trees back in to the frame and update the steering head bearings with tapered bearings. |
| Week 1: August 6-12 2007 |
| Week 2-5: August 12- September 8 2007 |
Because customer orders being our priority, the assembly of trixie special was put on hold for a couple of weeks. But little by little, the engine was finally put together and it is finally time to put the engine back to the frame. The engine has new seals, gaskets, rings, timing chains, guides, and bearings. We decided to keep the engine stock internally. We just wanted to revive the stock bullet proof CB750 SOHC engine and give it some cosmetic details. The engine has vintage design technology and i think punching it out would just be pointless. Our point in making this build is not for race, its more of having a bike that looked different yet vintage, eye catching, original, functional, appealing and kick ass. To avoid the frame and the engine from getting scratch while mating the two together, we lay a high density rubber matting on the floor and lay the engine on its side ( points cover side), and slowly slide the frame in. We also decided not to install the oil pump, oil pan, and other side covers yet so it'll give us a lot more clearance to slide in the frame. Once the engine was secure and bolted on the frame, we placed it on the motorcycle lift and lay on upright and secured it with tie downs to prevent the frame from falling off of the lift. |
| Week 6: Sept 9- September 16 2007 |
There isn't really any new developments this week for our CB750 " Trixie
special" project. So this week, we thought we would decode and share the
modifications we made in the trixie frame. The frame has a new seat frame, rear
set brackets, a new location for the battery box, side stand and upper shock
mounts. We also added a mounting bracket for the hydraulic steering dampner
that the bike is getting. We relocated the upper shock mounts to raise the back of
the bike to give the bike a more level, if not a higher rear stance for that
aggressive superbike, classic road racer look that we want. We also eliminate
the tabs and brackets that the bike no longer needs. We moved the side stand to
the front to get the clearance that we need for the custom exhaust, and the
shifter lever. We also made a new tubular seat frame that wraps to the buttom
contour of the seat and mount it on a slight up angle to push the rider towards the
front of the bike and have that racing, tucked-in, ass up seating position. For
better handling, we also decided to mount the battery lower to the bike ( where
the center stand use to be mounted to) to get a lower center of gravity.
special" project. So this week, we thought we would decode and share the
modifications we made in the trixie frame. The frame has a new seat frame, rear
set brackets, a new location for the battery box, side stand and upper shock
mounts. We also added a mounting bracket for the hydraulic steering dampner
that the bike is getting. We relocated the upper shock mounts to raise the back of
the bike to give the bike a more level, if not a higher rear stance for that
aggressive superbike, classic road racer look that we want. We also eliminate
the tabs and brackets that the bike no longer needs. We moved the side stand to
the front to get the clearance that we need for the custom exhaust, and the
shifter lever. We also made a new tubular seat frame that wraps to the buttom
contour of the seat and mount it on a slight up angle to push the rider towards the
front of the bike and have that racing, tucked-in, ass up seating position. For
better handling, we also decided to mount the battery lower to the bike ( where
the center stand use to be mounted to) to get a lower center of gravity.
| " Trixie Special " Frame Modifications Decoded |
| Week 7-8: Sept 17- October 12007 |
| Its been awhile since we worked on the trixie special project. Though all the fabrication and modification is pretty much all done, its just the assembly that is left. We've been busy lately trying to catch up with customer order parts and just havent have time to work on our own project. We are so thankful that our customers have been so patient waiting for the parts that they ordered. Anyway, week 7-8, this is what our trixie special project looks like. We rebuilt, clean and assembled the forks. We had the lower fork tubes, triple trees, headlight/tach bracket, and our own rendition of a clip-on cafe/board racer bars powder coated in gloss black to match the frame. We added an aftermarket hydraulic steering dampner for safety, and to add detail to a performance look. The upper aluminum clamps were gutted-out. We grinded off the stock gauge brackets, and shaved off some of the stock handle bar clamps without weakening the clamp. The engine is safely inside the frame, the original bolts that was used to secure it will be replaced with stainless allen bolts. The long stud that was used to hold the factory foot pegs will be shorthen , threaded and will be chromed to add detail. We also decided to use fork gators to give the bike the retro cafe look. We also made our own headlight/gauge bracket to expose the upper forks and to give a floating look on headlight and tach . The stance of a stock cb750 has a high front, low back touring look. We wanted to lower the front of the bike, more like a modern super bike, so we decided to use a much shorter cb550 forks. |
| Week 9: October 1 - 15 2007 |
We just finished buffing the alluminum wheels that we are going to use for this project, and now off it goes to get it laced with stainlessl spokes. The hubs where cleaned and got some gloss black powder coat treatment to give a more detailed vintage touch to our " trixie special " project. The front shouldered wheel measures 19" x 3.5, and the rear measures 19" x 4.5. We bought the front and rear aluminum wheel in Ebay. The front came from an early Harley sporster, and the rear came from a norton 70's commando. We didnt want to follow the trend of using 16" harley wheels in the rear. We wanted the 2 wheels to be uniform and wanted a level stance on our project. Once laced, the front wheels are getting 120/90-19 tires, and rear will be getting 200/80-19. We made a custom swing arm to accomodate the 200 tire and offset the sprockets. We wanted a fat look on the tires to give the bike a bulky aggressive real custom cafe look. |
| Week 10: November 10 - 18 2007 |
| Week 10 is all about front tires, controls, BCR's dual brake scoops and dilling the rotors. After getting the front wheel laced, we slapped on the 110 tire and got the bike standing on its front wheel. We decided to set up the front brakes with dual disc, and drilled both rotors to save some weight. We didnt want to go crazy with the holes and make it look cheesy, so we decided to just go with the simple 2 and 1 hole pattern. Less is best. Less holes means less work for us. We used AUTOCAD program to get the pattern, then transfered it to the rotors. We used a 3/8" drill bit, then tappered the holes to look cleaner and to add more detail. After drilling the holes, we got the center of the rotors powdercoated in black. We want a somewhat an all black look yet have detail. We even got our BCR brake scoop powder coated in black, but will use a stainless screen mesh so it'll highlight the shape of the brake scoop. We took apart the controls, engine chain tensioner and brake master cylinders and polished it until it gives a somewhat chrome look. Since the clip-on handle bar that we made were powder coated in black, we had to stripped a section to bare metal so the throttle tube would more freely. |
click pic to enlarge
| Week 11: December 3-10 |
| Week 11 is all about making the aluminum panels to cover the underneath of the sub frame, mounting the controls, switches and grips. In making the panels to cover the sub frame, we used 16 gauge flat sheet aluminum with thin high density foam so the panels wont rub against the frame from the vibrations and secured them with stainless fastners. We are using old style grand tourismo grips with soft center and secured them with stainless steel wires. I learned this technique from my MX years. Plus they add some detail to the grips. |
