Well, I am attempting to build a café out of a perfectly fine CB450K7. Sometimes I feel bad for destroying such a decent bike but it’s mine to do with what I please. (I keep telling myself that) It’s my first build so mistakes and learning the hard way are the theme for this bike. I’ll let the pictures do the talking as I am typing this in word… (I can’t spell for $#!^)

I did the rings and had to replace the exhaust cam followers, cleaned the thing for hours and hours, put it back in the frame just to find out I "F'd" the cam chain by a tooth on the crank, rolled the intake cam a link w/o breaking the chain by pulling the cam bearings and the tensioner out, doing the same to the exhaust cam tomarow. I'll have lots of left over parts like the tank and matching side covers, I'll post a list in the 'parts section' later. I am looking for a seat pan if anyone has one.
Yes, it runs with two $3 copasitors in place of the battery, lights flicker at idol and no electric start, but it runs (ran) fine.
More to come,
Thanks for all the advice, feel free to comment, I can take critisisum too. (like I said before "I can't spell for $#!^") Bear with me.

Interesting project. Keep the pictures and info coming.

Good news & BAD news.

Good news;
My rearsets came today and look great. Tarozzi folding universals. Can't find many options for the CB450 in the rearset isle, I'll make these work.


My K&N pods came today too. 49mm ID, fit great, very happy.

The battery will be relocated (if I decide to use one at all), I was just useing it to check my wireing harness instalation. I saw in some other posts where someone was wondering if the pod filters would clear the battery box. The box fits between the filters but is off set to the right when in the original place and hits the right filter, It's doable but it would rub.

BAD NEWS;
I finally got my cam chain all lind up but in the process managed to bend my right exhaust valve... Stupid, stupid, stupid! Total rookie mistake. I need new valves, but thats okay because I can just slip them in while I have the head off to fix my compression prob- 150psi right; 50psi left!.!.!.
Put a little oil in the spark plug hole on the right and got 100psi. So not only do I have bent valves, but a ring problem to boot. Right? Well regardless, my inexperiance and inability to follow instructins is going to cost me time & money, again.
My plan is to get it bored out one over and do it all again. New pistons, rings & valves. I think I'll try that 'one spline off the torsion bar' trick while I'm at it.

Back to square one... Pulling it back out tomarow

The Tarozzis work nicely if you're a long legged guy.. Of course I have no "road time" with mine as of yet, but from riding other more modern streetbikes and comparing the riding position to where I have mine mounted, I think it feels ok.. I sure hope it ends up being acceptable..


GB

Hey Bird76Mojo, got any pics of your K7? I'd like to see it.

Threw the rearsets and pods on just to see how thing are going to work out. I'm going to have to figure out somthing for the pipes, (or build a bracket and relocate the rearsets) kinda want to just slap in a baffle and a directional pointed straight down... kinda ratty though...

Well, I'm off to re-rebuild the motor... pray for me, I need thi$ to go right thi$ time.

Was setting the cam timing a difficult procedure? I printed out a sticky from the forum detailing the procedure for setting the cam timing, its pretty straight forward, much like a car, but ive never attempted it. Today will be my first. Bike looks good tho. well done
-Dan from south jersey

There is NO need to alter the torsion bars on a "streetable" engine.....

It's still in pieces as it's been forever it seems. A lay-off kinda of put it on the back burner, at least until I get a shed/workshop.. I mounted my rearsets in the exact same location and a lot of people say that it's a bad spot for them. They feel ok to me but only time on the street will tell.. They didn't interfere with my exhaust because I'm running an almost NOS Hooker 2-1..


GB