Barn found: CB650z
Fcuk a truck, it's been too long. (Not-so) Quick update: I had purchased a complete Yamaha R6 frontend for the CB650z, with upgraded KTech sport springs - a true racing BEAST! But the seller - a mate of mine - asked to swap these with those from his newly purchased 2016 Triumph Thruxton. He's an actual racer and I’m eager to see what he does with his Thruxton to get it racing-fit, so we swapped. The Triumph frontend is nowhere near as sporty as the R6 one, but is way more in keeping with a CB650Z. I'm learning that my projects won't always benefit from the latest and greatest pieces of tech (no matter how good a mates-rate deal). The R6 would've radically (maybe even, predictably) changed this build. I had hoped to have the CB400T front wheel that had been on the CB650z, modified to accomodate a second rotor (apparently this can be done on some Comstars) but I have been reliably informed that these Comstars cannot be modified. So I had to find another dual disk front wheel and happened upon one from a CB900F ... with the rest of the frontend for $150AUD. Bargain!! Honda CB dual disc wheels, in good condition, go for $500+ I would've happily used the CB900F frontend on this build had I found them first. They look every bit the part, exactly the same age and styling and, knowing Honda, they probably are the exact same frontend. I'll save these forks for another build. So the Triumph Thruxton frontend along with the CB900F front wheel, is currently being fabbed up at a mate's. I will update further once we're out of lockdown and I can head over to pick everything up. Roll on next week!!
4 sparks
So the stripped jet in my #2 carb point blank refuses to come out - JIS screwdriver, left hand threaded drill bits, you name it, I've thrown at it. Another jet screw was stuck and the left hand drill bit worked a treat, but not with this one. I suspect a replacement #2 carb is in my future but the prices of individual carbs is beyond stupid (when I can find one), for a couple of hundred Australian dollars more, I could get a fully refurbished, complete 4carb set. In frustration, I returned to the frontend. Again, there's not too much I can do here but I changed the ball bearings on a spare CB400T front wheel and attached it to the Yamaha R6 front axle; grabbed the tank from the CB450K2 (the CB650Z's tank is in a proper barn-found state) and chucked on the seat from another bike. I'm liking how this build may turn out. However, I've yet to get the CB650Z started ... so I've a very expensive set of racing forks on an immovable, possibly unrepairable, bike. How NOT to approach a bike restoration project
And just as I was chastising myself for throwing any kind of money on this project, a friend decided to offload his race-specc'd 2006 Yamaha R6 frontend - Racetech internals and everything!! Totally overkill on this bike... so I just had to have them! It should be noted that the R6 frontend isn't a completely frivolous purchase. The CB650Z came with very soft dirtbike forks - which just didn't look good. I do have a frontend from a VF750F (have been advised they’re from a CB1100F), but the stem's too long and I'm just not feeling it. So R6 frontend it is. So I've the carbs to rebuild (stripped jet not withstanding) and reinstall and whilst I wait for parts, I might just try to get this thing to start (or these overbuilt forks on)
3 sparks
I really wasn't supposed to start this build until I had at least completed one of the other builds. But, I'm impatient and it's a relief of sorts, to be able to turn from one headache build ... to the next! Carbs are back from being vapour blasted and looking good and with the 4into1.com Ultimate Carb Rebuild kit just sitting idle, I think it’s time I made a start at rebuilding these. Wish me luck - I’ve already one seriously stripped bolt to deal with.
1 spark
This CB650Z requires a complete, top to bottom, EVERYTHING, rebuild. I was given the opportunity of having something vapour blasted, so I chose the carbs on this bike. I’m in Melbourne, Australia in the midst of Stage IV COVID restrictions, so I thought I'd order the necessary rebuild parts, ahead of sending off the carbs to be blasted , hopeful that everything would come back at roughly the same time (aka: COVID snail mail planning). I duly placed the parts order on Wednesday, from the States (4into1.com) as I pulled off and apart, the carbs. Woke this morning (Sunday) to this delightful little package. That's 4 days!! 4 days from the US to Australia!! ... I've an order coming from 1 km outside my permitted 5km radius here in Melbourne, and it's been stuck in 'Melbourne' for the last 3 weeks!!
1 spark
Ashley carter
Postal service's can be a joke sometimes. I've sent a letter 30km before and it took 7 days, then I've had stuff over night shipped from China....
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