Issue 17 Contact:- [email protected] Website:- offbeatbikesmagazine.co.uk Facebook:- Offbeat Bikes Magazine Instagram:- jr.offbeatbikes Welcome to the 17th issue of the magazine. Hasn’t life changed in the three months since the last issue. I hope none of you have been too badly affected by Covid-19. What the immediate future also holds for us all is still a little uncertain, although you should be pretty safe self-isolating in the garage / shed. So here’s what I recommend: Stay In (the garage) Shop Online (for motorcycle parts) Protect The NHS (use the angle grinder carefully) Only go out to work (if you need cash for spare parts) Only make essential journeys (by motorcycle) Keep building bikes Finding stuff to put in this issue was a difficult under the circumstances, especially with no bikes shows or meets happening. So, I’d like to thank those of you who answered my pleas for words and pictures about their bikes (including my mum!). Next issue will be available online at the end of August. I wonder what the next three months will bring us. THE FACTOR The CBX after 20 years parked in the garage. The Honda CBX550 was not dealer rates to have your pads a big seller, it’s main changed etc., maintaining them competition at the time being was a pricey undertaking. the Gpz550 which was These brakes also featured on (according to road tests at the some of Honda’s other bikes time) the better machine. of the time, early models of Perhaps people were also put the VT250 / 500 and the off by the inboard ventilated VF400 used the same system - disc brakes. If you weren’t and they weren’t popular adept at home servicing and models either. consequently had to the pay Lack of public acclaim does have it’s good points, though. trackers, scramblers and cafe If you’re prepared to look past racers, Colin decided that he the brakes, the rest of the bike wanted to have a go himself. is sound and by the mid 90s Keen to use what was to hand, you could pick up secondhand rather than just throw money examples for very reasonable at the project, the CBX was money. That’s exactly what dragged from the garage to Colin (this bike’s owner) did, become the donor bike. With using this bike as his daily some ideas in his head about transport before circumstances what style he wanted to saw it relegated to a life stuck achieve and a wish list of the in the back of the garage. bits he’d like, he then headed Fast forward almost 20 years to one of his favourite haunts - and, inspired by the new Kempton Park Bike Jumble - custom scene of brats, in search of some bargains. Some early CAD (cardboard aided design) work, to try out some ideas. A successful haul of goodies from the Kempton Park bike jumble. Regular visits to the bike In short order, the 80s jumble eventually sourced bodywork was stripped off to most of the major components; reveal the blank canvas of Honda 400/4 petrol tank and frame and mechanicals, and cap, alloy front and rear the subframe which was about mudguard, tail light, speedo as to be sacrificed to make way well as sundry other gaskets for a slightly angled seat hoop. and seals. Ebay provided most Colin then made his own seat of the rest. base out of 2mm aluminium Having been started and run sheet and (not wanting to periodically during its sacrifice the CBX’s original extended stay in the garage, seat, which was in good order) mechanically it needed little purchased another grotty seat more than a standard service. from ebay which donated its Cosmetically, though, a strip foam to the new project. The and refurb was on the cards. foam was shaped using an Though mechanically sound, the bike needed some cosmetic cleaning and refurbishment. electric carving knife and 60 using Colin’s drawing as a grit paper. With a top layer of template. The seat cover and yoga mat foam added, the seat the new tyres - MEFO was then sent to the Explorer Sport - were the two upholsterer to work his magic, most expensive parts of the Seat ready for a trip to the trimmer’s project. master cylinders were another The bike already wore a non- matter. The rear was replaced original Motad Neta. It was in with a cheaper alternative good condition, and as the which worked OK, but did stubby design fitted nicely require Colin to fabricate a with Colin’s vision, it was custom adapter bracket to suit. cleaned, repainted (BBQ For the front, the original was paint) and wrapped ready for initially cleaned up, but after a reuse. fruitless time trying to bleed Those inboard brakes were the system, it was discovered the next items to be tarted up. that it needed new seals. With The calipers and discs a seal kit only marginally themselves responded to a cheaper than a pattern master good clean and repaint cylinder from David Silver (Halfords Wheel Steel). The spares, the choice was easy Exhaust system painted and wrapped. and so a new master cylinder custom 1971 VW Beetle). now graces the handlebars. Both alloy mudguards are On to the bodywork, starting Kempton Jumble purchases, with the tank. The 400/4 tank modified to suit, and held in was sound but needed a little place using a bespoke mount work, some primer and 2 to 3 fabricated for the front and coats of Ford Rio Brown (to tabs welded to the subframe match the bike’s stablemate, a for the rear. The rear light is a LEFT: New rear master cylinder sits nicely with the aid of adapter bracket. RIGHT: Original front master cylinder was beyond repair. BELOW: Brakes themselves came good with a coat of paint. TOP: Test fitting the guards BOTTOM: Mudguards finished - trimmed to length as required and mounts fabricated. universal scrambler type, with near side, the satchel flexi number plate. remaining on the offside. Colin Side panels have evolved over decided to keep the stock air time, with saddle bags box, rather than follow the (satchels) on both sides fashion for pod filters, and that eventually being replaced with choice, together with retaining an oval number board on the a sensible exhaust system, has ‘Side panel’ (to hide air box) was originally a satchel. Also note the drilled chain guard. Satchel has now made way for number board. meant that Colin hasn’t had to This required a custom bracket suffer the (often frustrating) which was also used to house process of trying to set up the the LED idiot lights. carbs to suit, or to just live The final job was to wire it all with less than perfect fuelling. up. Here, Colin (not being a Making sure he knew just how fan of electricky and wiring) fast he was travelling meant enlisted the help of his son. junking the standard Without too much trouble, instruments for a single junior soon had it all buttoned centrally mounted speedo. up and running. Centrally mounted speedo complete with custom bracket and LED idiot lights. Can’t understand why Colin wasn’t keen to dive into the wiring. The entire project took Colin Luckily his son 18 months (including fitting in came to the time to rebuild the Beetle rescue. engine) and he is really pleased with how it all turned out, with no adverse handling effects reported from the knobbly tyres. Using an unusual donor bike often brings perplexed looks from onlookers at cafes and bike meets, much to Colin’s amusement, as they try to work out it’s parentage. Nice bike Colin, now get on and finish the next one! No wonder it confuses people, you’d have to really know your bikes to identify this as CBX550. Colin’s CBX pictured alongside his son’s 400/4 BOXER TRICKS You may well have seen these inside every fat bike, there’s a bikes before, they’ve been thin bike trying to get out? It featured in magazines, have certainly seems to be the case won a plethora of trophies and with this BMW. a place on display at the UK’s The people responsible for biggest and most popular the transformations are custom bike shows. But I make Stephen Blacker and his no apology for showing them stepdad Malcolm. Despite the again here, because there are huge visual changes from still many people that haven’t original donor bike to finished yet seen them, they deserve to bobber and cafe racer, what’s be seen and I personally never most surprising is jut how tire of looking at them! much of the original bike Both bikes are based on the remains, albeit modified or BMW R75/7, just like the one repurposed. pictured below. Is it true that Both bikes started life as BMW R75/7s Bobber was the first to be built and retained twin-shock rear end, although in modified format. Standard rear subframe makes way for custom unit supporting single seat, tail light and indicators Cafe racer is the latest project. This time the twin- shocks have been replaced with a bespoke mono- shock system. Once again the standard subframe has made way for a custom unit designed to support cafe racer style seat. Swingarm and frame modified to accept mono-shock system. Although the final bikes have relying on a short trumpet and very different styles and rear mesh screen to stop your suspension setups, the builds trouser legs from being still have a lot in common.