[gs1327]

Starting point:

Bike is a lot nastier than it looks in this picture,I'm getting started officially today. Plan to go from ground up, not restoring because I don't really like the factory colors and brown seat that they had from the factory, so it will be very mildly customized.
Will post pictures as I go.
Here's my last project:

 

[leethal]

I love XS's, thats a ripper right there. Good luck with the 500T.

 

[ZiggyZipgun]

I bought a 500T a few years ago, hoping to restore it. I knew that it got some rough reviews when it came out, but I was fascinated with them. In the end I think it was the exhaust that changed my mind - I had a horrible time trying to find a decent factory set, and for a few days was even considering sending the rotting parts to a shop overseas to have them make a custom exhaust loosely based on the original. Needless to say, it would've cost more than I paid for the bike, the title transfer, all of the parts I'd located, my helmet, my jacket, and my motorcycle insurance for the year combined. I miss it and still wonder what that beast would've been like fully rebuilt. Oh well, I'm giving the CB350 another go.

 

[gs1327]

Frame's sandblasted, primed, and painted.....

Seat base sandblasted and primed:

Seat base painted- next step: Sew a new seat. NOT oem brown.

 

[ZiggyZipgun]

Not only can you order a new seat cover from B&H Specialties, you can pick the material, and get it in just about any colour you like. They even have a pseudo-woven pattern, and three different Premium black leather-grain patterns.

http://www.motorcycleseatcovers.com/order-item.asp?ColorID=3&Item=893&Make=HONDA

I think I'll be ordering the woven-texture one for my CB350, since my ass slides all over the original seat - on their site are some examples, and they show a Kawasaki seat, and it has the normal black on the sides, and the top is the woven-texture material. Plus it'll still say HONDA.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

That's site is a good find Zippy!

GB :mrgreen:

 

[gs1327]

Good deal-
except I prefer to sew up my own, It's kind of my gig, making custom seat covers.

 

[tbpmusic]

http://www.motorcycleseatcovers.com/order-item.asp?ColorID=3&Item=893&Make=HONDA

I got a seat cover from them, and can definitely say they make a really high-quality cover.

 

[gs1327]

Some of my own seat work:
My previous ride:

My current dragbike:

The vf700f I resto-modded for my son:

The others I've done I didn't bother to take pictures. I'll post the cb500t seat when I get it done.
Shiny pieces from the weekend:

VIN plate back on:

 

[kirkn]

...geez, you're lookin' like a real hack. Buncha backyard trash, by the looks of it....











:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I'm just kidding, of course!! Fantastic looking work! I'm really looking forward to how that 500 turns out!

Keep the pictures coming!

Kirk

 

[MNellis]

Very nice looking job so far.

Can you talk us through the technique you used to remove and reinstall the data plate? It looks like you might have put a new clear coat on it. Is that the case? If so, how did you clean it up and highlight the brown finish on the plate?

 

[gs1327]

It's actually original finish- just soaked it in lacquer thinner to clean it up and remove the old adhesive from the back, then used weatherstrip adhesive to reattach. the rivets are actually cut down linoleum nails with glue inside the steering neck. I've done this before, it seems to work fine.

 

[gs1327]

Finally got the seat done. The older I get, the harder this is to do....
Sewing it together, and topstitching a pattern in it:

A lot of the little pointy noobs were broken off so large flange rivets were the order of the day.

Almost finished...

Stencil and masking in place

Taking it off..

A little more.

Finished logo:

Next project-plating hardware.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

WOW dude! You've got some serious sewing skills! Beautiful work! I wish I knew how to do that..

GB :mrgreen:

 

[Brown Bomber]

Looking good :!:

 

[gs1327]

My first attempt at zinc plating(couple pieces of brake hardware). This week I plan to plate 50 or 60 small parts.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

How'd you go about it? Brush em super clean with a wire wheel, then electroplate or???

GB :mrgreen:

 

[gs1327]

Glass bead blast, then electroplate.

 

[Brown Bomber]

What brand of plating kit, and who did you get it from?

 

[MNellis]

What brand of plating kit, and who did you get it from?

I'm guessing Caswell, unless he's just done his own based on the simple science. The kit sure make it nice though. If I recall, a starter kit was about $340 or so. It's something I'd like to do as well.

The parts look very nice, good job.