CB400N Cafe (possibly) Project

**AllanC** · 21st April 2011, 17:11

Hi all, I'm looking for some help. I've just picked up an '82 CB250N with the 400 motor in it already (will try to put a pic up). My daughter and I are doing it as a cafe project and are just in the process of pulling it apart. My question is, how to get the engine / case looking like new without stripping it down? It's just that the motor really purrs and I don't like messing with a good thing!

Also, what's the best way to deal with the frame - I'm assuming sand blast and powder coat?

**AllanC** · 21st April 2011, 17:16

Originally Posted by AllanC

Hi all, I'm looking for some help. I've just picked up an '82 CB250N with the 400 motor in it already (will try to put a pic up). My daughter and I are doing it as a cafe project and are just in the process of pulling it apart. My question is, how to get the engine / case looking like new without stripping it down? It's just that the motor really purrs and I don't like messing with a good thing!

Also, what's the best way to deal with the frame - I'm assuming sand blast and powder coat?

Have attached a pic if I've done it properly

**Latte** · 21st April 2011, 18:21

Looks like a tidy example to start with, nice.

Lots of updates and pics for those of us too lazy/unskilled to do similar

**AllanC** · 21st April 2011, 19:07

Yeah, don't know about the lazy and unskilled bit. Sounds a bit like me to be honest ! Anyway, we shall see. I'll try and post plenty of pics.

**DrunkenMistake** · 21st April 2011, 19:09

Aw man, I have wanted a cafe Project for yonkksssssssss I wish I had the money to do it!, im expecting a tonne of pictures from you man haha, What ideas have you brain stormed for it so far?

**AllanC** · 21st April 2011, 19:21

Not too many yet, thinking it should be pearl white and I'll lose all the plastic around the seat. I'll get a cafe style seat made on the existing seat base, probably add a 2 into 1 pipe. Not too sure what to do around the back end yet and will need to get some handle bars done. First step is to pull it apart tho'!

**DrunkenMistake** · 21st April 2011, 19:34

Originally Posted by AllanC

Not too many yet, thinking it should be pearl white and I'll lose all the plastic around the seat. I'll get a cafe style seat made on the existing seat base, probably add a 2 into 1 pipe. Not too sure what to do around the back end yet and will need to get some handle bars done. First step is to pull it apart tho'!

yeah ae, I have always imaged a modern spin to them ae, Always wanted one with a kick start and a push button start concealed under the seat or something like that, gives that appearance of classic, then Id want to spice it up a little but getting a cafe seat made up, but not one of those node cone half jobs, something different and something uncommon, maybe a little square and round at the same time, and I would look at getting an integrated LED Tail/indicator light to spice it up a little, never gave the pipes much thought, could never decide if i wanted a 4inline or a twin, a 4inline if I won lotto would need to be super charged

.. the front would be cool to have a single headlight with a built in digital rev counter and speedo, so it looks like the head light but once the bike is on it looks like its just the numbers painted on sorta thing.. theres some of my ideas haha, I have literary gone over millions of variables for ages now haha

**AllanC** · 21st April 2011, 20:16

I've got some photos that gave me some inspiration but can't figure out how to upload them from my iPhone

will have to wait till I get back to my laptop!

**cave weta** · 21st April 2011, 20:44

Originally Posted by AllanC

I've got some photos that gave me some inspiration but can't figure out how to upload them from my iPhone

will have to wait till I get back to my laptop!

Mate if you want inspiration- go here and have a look at my Cafe Racer Gallery
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/f...9.254441400012

**AllanC** · 21st April 2011, 21:05

Damn, some beautiful bikes there !

**Paulo** · 22nd April 2011, 14:20

Hi There's tonnes of sites with good info and inspiration out there. It's worth joining Perth Street Bikes and Aussie site just for their cafe racer thread which is well over 200 pages long, I found some nice inspiration for a cb750 I caffed a couple of years ago. Also check out do the ton an american cafe site loads of pictures and tech advice there , seems that in America building cafe racers has become pretty trendy and replaced the custom chopper scene a bit (they tend towards hondas because there are so many old cheap ones there. so that should help)

also 'return of the cafe racer' has some good info on sourcing parts , (posh, Vanem, omar racing etc) sorry no links I'm a bit busy at work but google will turn all of this up) : )