sol

Today the skies parted for the first time in weeks. Finally. It felt like a real Hallmark moment.

A few people have asked me about some things on this bike lately. Question about the frame: It started as the stock frame but I cut off the back section and welded a new rear section on using part of the original shock mounts, I moved them forward quite a bit more so they're more at an angle now.. the original stock riding position was really tall, strange for a 400. The shocks on these frames are pretty much straight up and down which looks kind of odd if you ask me. Tossed the old shocks and used Honda Rebel shocks and lowered the whole back section. The Frame was nickel plated which enhances any gouges or imperfections.. it took a long time to get it all cleaned up and smooth for plating after cutting off unused tabs and mounts for the old coils. Forks were also lowered about 2 1/2 inches.. the stock kawasaki fork tubes looked like they came off a KX125 they had so much travel.
The Paint was done by my friend Frank at Air FX in Tacoma. He's never let me down in the 8 yrs I've been taking stuff to him. I show him a bunch of drawings and colors and we talk about it but it never seems like he's even listening. He's just like Yeah Yeah.. I know what you want. Then I leave and I think ; I don't think he know's what I was talking about .. couple weeks later I come back and he's read my mind again. He's even painted some of my cycling frames over the years although he told me not to tell anyone as he didn't want anyone knowing he painted some gay cycling frame as he put it and I guess ruin his hard image for the Bagger crowd that is his bread and butter. The paint pretty much makes this bike.. it wouldn't even be close without it. Frank always asks .. "What they think of the bike?".. Me "Yeah they like your paint Frank."

cockpit

I put this Honda CB 500 together a bunch of years ago in a couple weeks for the most part on Sarah's back patio. It had a nice low and stretched out riding position with Tomasselli clip ons that I found at a swap meet. Raask rear sets bolted right on to the old exhaust mounts to my suprise for a nice foot position. Just had to make some linkage for them. I didn't have to alter the CB500 stamped sheet metal frame other than grinding off some tabs here and there and relocating the battery box . She bought the tank and seat and I just mounted it. I had it painted in early Honda CR Elsinore silver with the green stripe. For as little effort I put into this I always liked how it came out.

1969