CarJackD - Custom Automotive Paint NJ

Project MotoJackD: Update 2

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:43:15 +0000

Here are a few close-up pics I took with my new camera. Progress is moving along – I’m currently cleaning up the pieces of the bike I am going to salvage. Overall, most of the bike’s parts are in great shape – I think I’ll be able to use most everything that came with it.

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I’ve also been gathering inspiration and information from a number of websites including:

http://www.mrcycles.com/ – pick your bike and get exploded views of almost every section of the bike!

http://www.benjiescaferacer.com/ – plenty of cafe racers to check out, plenty of parts too!

http://www.ohiocaferacers.com/ – another great resource for info and mods!

http://cb550.havocware.com/ – similar to this site, more about restoration!

http://forums.sohc4.net/ – basically the bible of CB bikes – tons of projects, tons of information!

Project MotoJackD: Update 1 – Tear-down 95% complete!

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:25:12 +0000

After what amounts to about only 10 hours of work (3 of which was dedicated to 6 stripped out valve cover screws… more on that in the gallery) I have the bike ALMOST completely apart. The amazing thing about the whole process was my scary lack of problems throughout. The bike is 31 years old, so I figured I’d be in for some serious trouble when it came to stuck bolts and what-not, but it wasn’t the case. I only needed a handful of tools and some time, but I learned a couple of valuable lessons along the way:

A sharpie and some masking tape are your best friend… Mark EVERYTHING!
Small baggies are a close second – for holding all the bits/bolts that go to a specific part of the bike
Despite my want for busted knuckles, a good set of shop gloves are invaluable.

I’m not going to go into a ton of detail with this post. All anyone really needs to know about tearing down a bike is take your time, take pictures and TAKE YOUR TIME!

COST SO FAR:

Bike $300 Tools $50 Lift $FREE!!! Total $350

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Project MotoJackD: 1978 Honda CB550 Cafe Racer Build

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:13:40 +0000

Anybody who knows this site knows what I do – I’m a freelance custom painter that’s had the pleasure of doing some really cool paint for some really cool people. A lot of folks ask me why I haven’t quit my day job and started doing this full time – I tell them I’ve always kept my painting as a hobby for a couple reasons:

I never wanted to get to a point where I considered it a “job” and, by definition, start not liking it, and
I always thought i needed to do more than paint a car or bike to REALLY get the most out of it.

Also, over the course of the last few years I’ve found myself itching to get my hands dirty again – my 9-5 is in front of a computer and, while its rewarding in its own way, doesn’t ever speak to this primal need i have to bust my knuckles on a piece of oil covered steel. This article from NY Times Magazine really lit a fire under my ass, for anyone who felt (or feels) that getting shuffled into the college/business world isnt for them… read it now.

So, with all that being said, I present my new project: The complete tear-down and rebuild of a 1978 Honda CB550 Motorcycle

Here she is - not in bad shape for $300

I choose this style bike because it fits all of my criteria: I knew I didn’t want to spend a fortune and needed something that was going to be driveable, reasonably quick, and cool as hell. After browsing ebay, craigslist, and googling “custom motorcycle” for hours I decided on a late 70s, japanese bike that would get the “cafe racer” treatment.

After finally deciding, it made my search relatively easy… the best way I found is to use the term “Basket case” when searching craigslist or ebay. I typed it in on a guess and found out that it’s a term used quite a bit for motorcycles – it literally means “this bike comes in baskets”: disassembled, maybe a working motor, hasnt run in years, etc. Fortunately it also usually means CHEAP! I found the bike on craigslist for $400 – after a little back and forth I rolled the bike into my father’s work van last saturday of $300. The guy I bought it from also included some parts, two THICK manuals and a list of related websites he’d found while he had the bike… Thanks Andy!

In the future Ill be sure to post any good websites I come across (or please feel free to suggest some too!) I will also chronicle all of the steps, from tear-down, to engine rebuild, to paint, to final assembly with pictures and video whenever possible.

The other thing I’ll be sure to do is post any cost incurred throughout; I don’t know myself how much this is gonna cost, but I can guarantee you that building it by yourself and using the internet wisely will make this project much more affordable (and gratifying) than paying for a brand new bike.

So, wish me luck… I’m gonna need it!