road bike project scratch built

[Ian Staples]

Hi guys . for my own amusement I am building a road bike from scratch. It is basicly a "80s" superbike /kit bike tribute using a cb900 engine and gsxr roling gear the rest is just a matter of bending some bits of metal and welding them together . I do have one question someone may be able to help with. When you use late model wheels what do people do for a speedo as I would like to use original cb instruments but of course the front wheel has no cable drive. Also I am after a CB1100f clutch cover as I have gone and put a frame tube in the road of the 900 clutch actuator lever and the easiest way around it is to use the 1100 cover as it has the lever coming out the front of the case instead of the 750/900 rear
regards Ian Staples

[sidecar bob]

Hi guys . for my own amusement I am building a road bike from scratch. It is basicly a "80s" superbike /kit bike tribute using a cb900 engine and gsxr roling gear the rest is just a matter of bending some bits of metal and welding them together . I do have one question someone may be able to help with. When you use late model wheels what do people do for a speedo as I would like to use original cb instruments but of course the front wheel has no cable drive. Also I am after a CB1100f clutch cover as I have gone and put a frame tube in the road of the 900 clutch actuator lever and the easiest way around it is to use the 1100 cover as it has the lever coming out the front of the case instead of the 750/900 rear
regards Ian Staples

Could you run a 90 degree reduction drive off the front sprocket cover for the speedo, something like a Brit bike tacho drive?
Put up some pics of the build. I'd bet it's art after seeing your sidecar up close.

[jellywrestler]

motogadget do electronic speedos, to keep the instrument look you may be able to fit a speedo into the existing case and use the original face plate. check out the part numbers for the cb900f and cb1100f gaskets to see whether they are both the same as it wold be a shame to find out if the covers are different and they've changed the cases along the way, japs are funny when it comes to this

[pete376403]

I have seen (somewhere on the web) conventional looking instruments that have electronic mechs ( ie a stepper motor to move the needle) so do not require a mechanical drive

[Grumph]

Could you run a 90 degree reduction drive off the front sprocket cover for the speedo, something like a Brit bike tacho drive?
Put up some pics of the build. I'd bet it's art after seeing your sidecar up close.

Yes, you can. Honda NC30 and I think CBR400 run this setup. The bits should be available in NZ - unlike CB1100F clutch covers. While there are a number of CB1100R's in NZ, I don't think any of the cooking F's were imported. Spyda's link to ebay is probably your best bet there - if it fits. The 900 cranks will drop into the 1100 - but I don't know about the cases and covers.
Vince Sharpe and his mate in Auckland do a better tensioner setup for the camchain on those engines. I've fitted one on a road motor for a customer. Well worth doing IMO.

[jellywrestler]

Yes, you can. Honda NC30 and I think CBR400 run this setup. The bits should be available in NZ - unlike CB1100F clutch covers. While there are a number of CB1100R's in NZ, I don't think any of the cooking F's were imported. Spyda's link to ebay is probably your best bet there - if it fits. The 900 cranks will drop into the 1100 - but I don't know about the cases and covers.
Vince Sharpe and his mate in Auckland do a better tensioner setup for the camchain on those engines. I've fitted one on a road motor for a customer. Well worth doing IMO.

the 1100F's were imported but there weren't a lot sold, clutch cover for the 900 and 1100 have the same part number so . i wonder how symetricla the cover is part way up and whether if desparate that the top could be sliced off and rotated and glued back on?

[Grumph]

the 1100F's were imported but there weren't a lot sold, clutch cover for the 900 and 1100 have the same part number so . i wonder how symetricla the cover is part way up and whether if desparate that the top could be sliced off and rotated and glued back on?

Looking at the pics Husa has posted elsewhere, I'd think that's do-able. To add to what I posted before, now you've confirmed the 1100F came in, ask Vince Sharpe if he's got any bits. That group seem to have got down on any loose CB900 parts so may have 1100 parts too.

[husaberg]

Hi guys . for my own amusement I am building a road bike from scratch. It is basicly a "80s" superbike /kit bike tribute using a cb900 engine and gsxr roling gear the rest is just a matter of bending some bits of metal and welding them together . I do have one question someone may be able to help with. When you use late model wheels what do people do for a speedo as I would like to use original cb instruments but of course the front wheel has no cable drive. Also I am after a CB1100f clutch cover as I have gone and put a frame tube in the road of the 900 clutch actuator lever and the easiest way around it is to use the 1100 cover as it has the lever coming out the front of the case instead of the 750/900 rear
regards Ian Staples

So something akin to a or a Moriwaki CBX750 RC17 or a xr41

Neat idea

[Ian Staples]

So something akin to a or a Moriwaki CBX750 RC17 or a xr41

Neat idea

its a part xr69/ McIntosh/bimota/harris/whatever is in my head. I will put up a photo later on. I can cut and shut the 900 clutch lever and make it work but the best option is the 1100f . I checked out the gasket and they are the same for 1100 and 900 but as you guys have pointed out 1100f parts are hard to come by . not sure why honda moved the lever to the front of the case on the 1100 . another option I have is to convert it to hydraulic but I am trying to keep it early "80s" period-ish and I'm not sure if hydraulics were a thing back then. the other option for instruments is to use a separate electronic tach like the early gsxr750 and get a small electronic speedo and make up a dash . this option I quite like as it would be a bit more racer than road bike.
regards Ian Staples

[husaberg]

its a part xr69/ McIntosh/bimota/harris/whatever is in my head. I will put up a photo later on. I can cut and shut the 900 clutch lever and make it work but the best option is the 1100f . I checked out the gasket and they are the same for 1100 and 900 but as you guys have pointed out 1100f parts are hard to come by . not sure why honda moved the lever to the front of the case on the 1100 . another option I have is to convert it to hydraulic but I am trying to keep it early "80s" period-ish and I'm not sure if hydraulics were a thing back then. the other option for instruments is to use a separate electronic tach like the early gsxr750 and get a small electronic speedo and make up a dash . this option I quite like as it would be a bit more racer than road bike.
regards Ian Staples

Have a look at R1/R6 or Aprilia RS125 or Sv650 or GSXR
There is plenty of stuff on the net about rejigging R1/R6
The white face can be added later

Modern instruments are really light compared to the old stuff.

[Ian Staples]

photos of progress so far

[sidecar bob]

You really are a clever bastard.
Do I see hints of a Krauser BMW chassis?

[husaberg]

You really are a clever bastard.
Do I see hints of a Krauser BMW chassis?

He certainly is, shades of Moto Martin and Harris as well.
When he said GSXR running gear oi was thinking the oil colled stuff

[jellywrestler]

photos of progress so far

so what's stopping you turning the clutch arm 90 degrees and re routing the clutch cable behind the motor and up then?

[Grumph]

Very nice so far. Yes, lots of Moto Martin influence visible, nothing wrong with that.
Over the years I've built I think, only two frames where the engine has to be dropped to do valve clearances. In my experience it invariably leads to a lot of very bad language and frustration. I wouldn't have recommended doing it.
Still sorting the swingarm and jig ?

A better pic of the area behind the clutch cover would certainly help the hive mind to come up with any ideas...