A_Morti's Second CB-1

[a_morti]

Hello all,

so I did it! Got myself a second CB-1 after so many years regretting selling my first one. £675 through eBay.





More pictures here.

It's not actually quite as good as it looks in the pictures, if I am honest. But that said, it is a 21 year old bike, and it is in good condition for all that. It appears that is hasn't been down left and may have been stationary dropped right once, but not hard. The forks and side panels all have the traditional lacquer with water under it. Not sure how to refinish them yet. Polish is too much work to keep up in rainy England, chrome is too bling, paint... well maybe grey but probably can't match the original blue. Forks are going for double disc front end so that's not a problem.

First impressions from a miserably cold 50 mile ride home from picking it up... were they really always so small?! I am not certain my hips can still cope with this, but adjusting the gear lever so I don't have to lift my whole leg to change down will help. Brake + clutch levers also too high for comfort. Clutch is incredibly light after a 955i Daytona. Clutch judders a little when pulling away. A bit annoying, that. New plates? Brakes are working as they should. They fronts really are poor compared to modern stuff though, so I am glad the back brake is effective. Gearbox is very light and pleasant to use.

THE ENGINE! OMG! I had forgotten what it's like to use this many revs. Haha! so much fun. Hard work but I did genuinely enjoy the up and down of it. The engine is responsive and smooth if a little buzzy, but let's not kid ourselves, it's not a fast bike. It just feels like it is! I found myself feeling like I was going much faster than I really was due to the noise of the engine and the increased windblast after a faired bike. It's good, we all like the feeling of going fast but few of us can go as fast as we like very often, so this is a great compromise.

It has Avon Roadrider tyres on it, which I hate from having tried a pair on my XJ600S - the most miserable 12k miles I ever spent on a motorcycle but I was too mean to change them. It has a 110/80-17 front, which is meant for a narrower rim. The rear shock is a Hagon replacement part in good condition, but the settings are way out to he soggy end. The forks probably haven't had fresh oil in a while, but again this will be sorted when changing to dual discs. So it doesn't steer quite like I remember, but it's still nimble yet stable, very confidence-inspiring.

Questions... what's missing from this bracket? The plastic cover is missing but is present on the RHS so maybe just tucked in wrong, haven't had chance to investigate. I just wondered what was meant to be on the bracket and if it's important. For the life of me I can't remember. The doughnut looking thing is just a rubber sleeve to stop the fuel pipe rubbing



Requests / wants...

Clutch. Ted - did you keep the clutch out of your dead engine? Or does anyone have a full set of plates spare? I haven't opened it but suspect it will have warped metal plates as well.
Top yoke. It's been drilled for straight bars at some point. I would like a nice original straight top yoke please. Finish not important, it'll get re-finished.

[Falk]

Congrats.... yepp yepp yepp it's a virus without healing - the one

[ultimatecb1]

Again, well done Amorti on what seems like a nice purchase!  My feelings were exactly the same when i got back on mine - so much fun to rev the nuts off that engine! .  In terms of the bracket, that is where the fuel filter would normally attach to, but by the looks of it the PO has removed it and gone straight from the tank to the fuel pump.  It may be worth checking there is a filter some where inline and dropping the float bowls from the carbs (see how much sediment/rust is in there - also a guage of the state of tank internal!).

just my 2 cents - congrats again

[a_morti]

Again, well done Amorti on what seems like a nice purchase!  My feelings were exactly the same when i got back on mine - so much fun to rev the nuts off that engine! .  In terms of the bracket, that is where the fuel filter would normally attach to, but by the looks of it the PO has removed it and gone straight from the tank to the fuel pump.  It may be worth checking there is a filter some where inline and dropping the float bowls from the carbs (see how much sediment/rust is in there - also a guage of the state of tank internal!).

just my 2 cents - congrats again

Fuel filter... that'll be the one.

I am thinking I might go out to the bikes' parking area at lunch, adjust the controls, see if I can find the damping adjuster, maybe pop that left side cover off and check if there is a fuel filter in there at all.

[a_morti]

Congrats.... yepp yepp yepp it's a virus without healing - the one

Falk - nutzt dir dies was?
http://www.cb1-forum.de/viewtopic.php?p=24442&sid=d207786f88a933ce4bb84169d4fe2500#24442

[91cb-1]

Hey morti again congrats on you're buy, i've got a full set of plates and a top and bottom yoke outda an 91 jap spec et me know and they're yours

[a_morti]

Hey morti again congrats on you're buy, i've got a full set of plates and a top and bottom yoke outda an 91 jap spec et me know and they're yours

Hi,

thanks, she goes nicely and I am pleased. That's a very kind offer, but won't that lot be quite heavy for posting to England? It'd be great to have a full set of spares, then I could re-finish one set at my leisure. Perhaps we could have them a spare set for that purpose, passed around the club members??

[a_morti]

Okay, by comparing the fiche and my bike, I can see someone has decided that this bike would be fine without a fuel filter. I tend to disagree, so that'll be one of the more pressing things to sort out. One other thing - has Mr Careful Prvious Owner also bent the fuel pump bracket to effect his bodge, shouldn't that sit flat?

Also, he's hacked that little plastic cover in two. What did it ever do to him?

So, does anyone have spare:
that little black plastic cover;
fuel filter carrier, hoses, clips, etc.
decent fuel pump rubber.

[91cb-1]

Again Morti i may be able to help you out here, i've got a shed load of parts from the break. I've got my final exams tomorrow and of course post exam piss up morrow night but i'll have a rummage on thursday see what i can do for you, pretty sure i have that plastic cover and a fuel filter. i sold the fuel pump but i might still have the bracket for it! Postage may be expensive but i'll take it all into acount with the total price and be as kind as i can to ya!

[a_morti]

Again Morti i may be able to help you out here, i've got a shed load of parts from the break. I've got my final exams tomorrow and of course post exam piss up morrow night but i'll have a rummage on thursday see what i can do for you, pretty sure i have that plastic cover and a fuel filter. i sold the fuel pump but i might still have the bracket for it! Postage may be expensive but i'll take it all into acount with the total price and be as kind as i can to ya!

I'm patient as a patient thing. Be great if you can help me out.

Good luck with your exams!!

[clarkdw]

Your clip is bent. The fuel pump should sit horizontal with the clip completely vertical. The rubber holder for the fuel filter is still available new IIRC and at not to bad a cost. The rubber does deteriorate no matter how carefully the bike is stored. Mine ripped even using great care trying to remove from the bracket. The U shaped hoses, however, are NLA  so will require some innovative bending to prevent kinking. I was considering using light steel tubing to make the bends and patch hoses to attach so I do not end up with kinks.

Nice purchase by the way. Great that you're back in the fold.

[ultimatecb1]

Just as a suggestion it may be cheaper and easier to fit an aftermarket in line fuel filter and just leave the fuel line routing as is.  I'm using a motrax one with a washable foam filter on my bros and I've not had any problems so far.  I'm also using an sv650 vacuum fuel pump and removed the standard electric fuel pump (although this may not work as well on the cb-1!)

Lots of fun to come!!!!!!!

[a_morti]

Just as a suggestion it may be cheaper and easier to fit an aftermarket in line fuel filter and just leave the fuel line routing as is.  I'm using a motrax one with a washable foam filter on my bros and I've not had any problems so far.  I'm also using an sv650 vacuum fuel pump and removed the standard electric fuel pump (although this may not work as well on the cb-1!)

Lots of fun to come!!!!!!!

The hose routing is no good, it's the reason why he's had to force the bracket, which has probably torn the holder. I like your thinking, but in this case I suspect it's no good.

Vacuum fuel pumps are the devils work, it was a very common mod on the xj600s to convert the early (pre 97) vacuum pump to the later electrical type. Thing is, the engine has to be running to activate the fuel pump. So if you've left the bike for a week or a month, there'll be no fuel in the bowls, and the engine won't start to fill the pump to fill the carbs to make the engine run... etc.

[Falk]

thanks a_morti but i stay with the mph-cauges....

It's better when the Police stops you for speeding - what no way it can't be 180 - the bike is just running 115...

(Don't know if you know the original CB1-Biker aka Fred Maekler - he really did this in Czechoslovakia and was getting away with this...)

[a_morti]

thanks a_morti but i stay with the mph-cauges....

It's better when the Police stops you for speeding - what no way it can't be 180 - the bike is just running 115...

(Don't know if you know the original CB1-Biker aka Fred Maekler - he really did this in Czechoslovakia and was getting away with this...)

Really? Brilliant if true.

Your loss, I already have a taker for the speedo

I also have a line on a set of nc29 wheels. £170 with front discs, sprocket and a reasonable pair of Pilot Sport tyres. Sorted  

Front goes straight on, just need to figure how to mount the original disc temporarily until I sort dual disc forks. Probably shouldered bolts. The CB-1 uses M8 and the CBR M6 bolts, so will have to do something clever. Was wondering if the bolts from the side panels might have an 8mm shoulder.

Rear will want two spacers making up to account for the thinner spindle. I thought I would have the spacers made up like a top-hat so it's a sleeve for the axle with the wheel spacer on the end, that way it replaces the easily-dropped wheel spacers with captive spacers, and spaces the axle to the wheel. Good, eh? Also if/when I put the CBR swingarm on, just replace those with standard wheel spacers, job done. The other option is to replace all 3 bearings and have one "normal" spacer made as the chain side one is shorter, but that sounds more expensive

And am Watching a set of broken VTR forks going cheap. Just got to find the brakes next.

I am quite enjoying this already