Project Café: 1973 Honda CB500 - Part 1

(Page 3 of 3)

January/February 2009
By Landon Hall 
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We dropped the head off with our buddy Doc at Automotive Machine & Performance in Lawrence, Kan. (785-843-9333), for a quick clean and to have new valve seals installed. Doc’s already handed the cylinder barrel back, cleaned, honed and looking good as new, and our new piston is on the way from BikeBandit.com, along with a complete set of new rings.
Once we have all the gaskets, seals and engine pieces we need, we should have the engine back together and ready to install by the next issue. There’s that optimist thing again.

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A picturesque frame
With the frame stripped of all its parts, we gave it — along with the swingarm and centerstand — a thorough cleaning before dropping everything off at Custom Coatings and Metal (www.CustomCoatingsandMetal.com) in Lawrence. Custom Coating’s Stuart Armstrong had our frame back in a week, and boy, what a job he did. We had it finished in gloss black to mimic the original finish, and it’s almost hard to believe the frame we picked up is the same one we dropped off. It’s so beautiful, we’re scared to hang parts off it.
So what do we know so far? Well, we’ve definitely got a lot of work ahead of us, that’s for sure. Aside from the obvious engine work we’ll have to rebuild the swingarm, headset, brakes, and, oh, just about every other mechanical component on the bike. We’re still working to decide on a color choice, considering several options for body parts, and trying to consolidate the many lists of parts our little project is going to require. Check back here often for updates on the BikeBandit.com/Motorcycle Classics Project Café CB500! MC 

For Part 2 of our Honda rebuild, go here.

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Comments

  • Jack 3/10/2009 5:17:59 PM

    I am so happy to find this article. I have 1973 cb500 that I'm trying to get running again. Does anyone know how to get a lining out of a tank. Whoever lined it before, didn't line the whole thing. Only the bottom half is lined. And now there is rust on the top inside of it. I'd like to get the old lining out and then reline it with Red Kote.
    Thanks.

  • Jack 3/10/2009 5:12:44 PM

    I am so happy to find this article. I have 1973 cb500 that I'm trying to get running again. Does anyone know how to get a lining out of a tank. Whoever lined it before, didn't line the whole thing. Only the bottom half is lined. And now there is rust on the top inside of it. I'd like to get the old lining out and then reline it with Red Kote.
    Thanks.

  • Shaun Donovan 2/5/2009 4:56:08 PM

    I am so happy you are paying attention to such a wonderful bike. I enjoyed mine in the 1970s. The sound was so unique, so much better than the 750/4. And those sculptured exhaust pipes were it's selling point. You must find a set of 4 into 4s for this project (originals of course). If you are intent on not using the tank then please go for a polished alloy race tank. There is a guy in Scotland that will make a one-off that will fit. Try www.tankman.co.uk If not then you couldn't o wrong with a Hailwood Honda look-a-like, but really it has been done before with varing degrees of success.

  • Paul Ignatowski 12/12/2008 8:31:45 AM

    Very enjoyable article and even better video on the CB500 project. I went through a similar process on it's big brother----a 1978 CB750 Four. Really glad to see you chose sort of an everyman bike for your rebuild---something inexpensive with parts available in a price range that just about anyone can afford.

    FYI, if you aren't aware of this owners group:

    www.sohc4.net

    You'll find resources and expertise aplenty on your project bike.

    Keep up the great work. Your magazine rocks and I read it cover to cover as soon as it arrives in the mail.

    Paul Ignatowski
    Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

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