The Project Restart - Honda CB400 Cafe Racer Build E2·S3

[@CafeRacerGarage]

Hey brother, you have done a great job and learning new skills as you go so whatever you decide is going to be perfect. If it was me, I would start again on the subframe after seeing your digital render. It looked so good!! If you are still unsure what to do, think how you will feel when the bike is finished. Will you be sitting at a coffee shop admiring it from a distance wondering if you should’ve chopped the frame? if the answer is yes you know what to do, and if you’re happy with the way it is right now you also know what to do☺️ have fun and keep the videos coming 👍

[@kihestad]

Thanks, learning by doing for sure here 😋 You are spot on, my future me will 100% for sure say: "I should have chopped that frame" 😫 Luckily, I enjoy the process as much as the result 😊

[@madcat4563]

It's great to see the bike project being picked up again. Personally, for me, I like the seats to be longer. Like the look more.

[@kihestad]

It was great to get back on the project again 😊 It is a bit short, I have thought about the same. I actually do consider a new seat, I might even try to make one myself 😬

[@peterturnbull9133]

The new look, by changing the the seat and tank line, has made a big difference to look of the bike, and it looks much better. It did not look right before but it was unclear to me how you could improve it but looks great now. The decal design is really very different and I like it. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@kihestad]

Glad to hear that 😊 I am not a designer (that's obvious), getting feedback is very valuable! Started on the next steps and the next video yesterday 😅

[@wrrr10g53]

Ah, Kermit's' bike! 😆 Hey KI, excellent choices in re-design you're showing here, thanks for sharing. The new design rendering makes me want to see it with the "sub frame triangle" somewhat smaller than you intended. But if you are going that way, it will have some implication on spring loading. Can't wait for the wiring overhaul based on your yummy home made ESP/'Duino controller setup...

[@kihestad]

Glad you liked it! Om my drawing I might have put the seat hoop a bit high, the subframe triangle will most likely be a bit smaller in real life than on my drawing. It will probably be a bit trial and error before I find the final solution. Thanks for your input 👍 I'll soon get back to my custom mc computer as well, I have done quite some progress "behind the scenes" 😋

[@tshansen]

I think I have seen someone who looks like you running around the streets of Bergen painting various concrete buildings at night time. Let me know if you know who that is 🤣 It is amazing to see how much tiny subtle changes can do to the whole bike. Cool to see you back on this project as well. All black with some gold details could look really nice

[@kihestad]

haha, no that is not me - I would never waste my paint like that, the owners better paint their own walls 😋Black and gold will definitely be better than the paint I put on now, it's a very good suggestion. Since the tank is very big on this small bike, I think a dark color is the way to go! 😊

[@Italjohn]

Hello mr. Hansen. Have you found your dream VW T3 yet?

[@tshansen]

@@Italjohn no, i have not! Still looking and hope to find a really good one soon! I had one up for grab some time back, but a guy overbid me quite a lot 🙈👀

[@Italjohn]

@@tshansen Are you planning any trips to Molde this year? Would be nice to meet you in person, and you could have a tour in my T3 as well, together with mr. Hestad 😀

[@tshansen]

@@Italjohn well, i hope to make even more videos together with Mr.Hestad, so i will take a trip or two up to molde this year as well 🤩 would be great too meet you and take a look at the T3 👏🏻

[@benjaminroot6270]

I watched that whole video hoping to see more of the "test pattern" paint scheme from the teaser photo. As a graphic designer, I thought that was brilliant (no pun intended) and had never seen such a thing before...I think you should do that!

[@kihestad]

Hehe, that was a interesting idea 🙂 hmmm, it will be quite a job and quite expensive to buy all the different colors 😬 but it would have been very unique 😊

[@krzysztofwozniak7271]

Great progress! I am fascinated with your series, as I have exactly the same model (even the colors match) and I am hesitant to start a project, but your videos give me so many ideas :D I was wondering if you will be going for a tank swap, but apparently not - I am. Keep up the good work!

[@kihestad]

Thanks, and good luck with your bike 👍 I'll keep the original tank even though it has not the classic cafe racer shape. Crossing my fingers for a decent end result 🤞

[@DennisBishop]

Thanks for another fun, entertaining video! Loved the "Elefant in the room" joke! 😄 Looking forward to seeing you delete the box section on subframe and clean up the lines. One other suggestion is that I find how the exhaust pipe drops down so low and away from the frame to be disconcerting. It would be nicer if it hugged the front downtube a bit making the overall look of the front of the bike cleaner and more aerodynamic.

[@kihestad]

Hehe, 'the Elefant in the room' just came to me, glad you found it funny 🤣 Well, the idea behind the exhaust pipes was 1) make them a bit square'ish with sharp bends to continue the 80s style 2) use the downpipes to fill some of the gap between the engine and the front wheel 3) make them symmetrical (just because I like symmetry) 4) get the exhaust under the engine so I could lower the foot pegs. I know it is a bit strange, but the whole bike is a bit strange, the solutions and the design does not really follow any logic or design language 😝

[@johnallen4831]

Love you build, actually working on the same bike and trying to figure out my stance too. I thought it was the tank too but like your vote said, I am staying with the tank too.

[@kihestad]

Cool 😎 the motorcycle is great, but it's a bit more challenging to get a nice traditional cafe racer look out of it compared to the bikes from the 1970s. Good luck with your build 😊👍

[@jagoigogo]

Yeah, you restart your project !! Can’t wait to hear in your next video 👍👍👍

[@kihestad]

Yes, it's so nice to get back on track ☺️ Carb cleaning and inspection today. I have to order a rebuild kit, the rubber boots covering the slow jets was unusable. Might have to wait a while before I get them. Perhaps I'll just start making a new subframe while I wait 🤔

[@rustycopperpot]

Glad to see some progress on this. Your project inspired me to get one of my own to work on. I’m contemplating whether to chop mine or not as well.

[@kihestad]

Cool! It is a bit scary to cut into the original frame, at least it has been so for me. I did my best to keep the original frame and work around it, but I think it's difficult to get a decent result if the frame is not very cafe-racer-ish to begin with 😏

[@RyansGarageUK]

Hi KI, loving the new instant colour changing paint, I need to buy that from my local supplier 😁😁, but seriously I agree that a Cafe Racer should have nice flat lines, and I think you are surely heading in the right direction.

[@kihestad]

Hehe 😋 did you know that BMW has actually made a concept car that can change colors? 😳 Happy to hear you agree, I am quite sure I'll have to redo my rear subframe. Is it something you need to consider for your scrambler build as well?

[@rubenparada866]

This color is quite nice minute 14:29 It looks really cool)

[@kihestad]

The deep green one? I is one of my favorites as well 😊

[@rubenparada866]

@@kihestad That's really cool, keep up the good work

[@chrissi911]

Great video😊 gives me a lot of ideas for my own projekt❤

[@seanmccorkell1326]

Looking very nice ,I'm glad you have started it again I have been waiting 😁what size are the tyres you have on there my friend?

[@kihestad]

Thanks 🙂 Tires: Front: 110/80 - R19, Rear: 120/80 - 18 - both are Michelin Anakee Wild. If you consider somth similar, remember to check width of your rims. My bike has: "Comcast" rims, width: 2.15". Older Hondas have "Comstar" rims, they are not as wide and it might be that these tires are a bit too wide for them

[@iamanty]

Kawasaki motorcycles maybe? Great video!

[@kihestad]

Ahh, yes - the Kawa Ninja series comes into mind 😁 Glad you liked the video, thanks!

[@NomHeads]

Don't know what your plan is with the painting but i can highly recommend the small biltema spraygun. The results are amazing, just get good quality paint/clear and do the prep work well and thank me later 😄

[@kihestad]

I have the most expensive Biltema paint gun, and I have a small one as well but I bought it directly from China using eBay. I used it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bISniZx8icqZZ5o I will absolutely use a spray gun when I do the proper paint, it's so much better! 😊

[@1974UTuber]

The green is very Kawasaki. I think to get the lines you want, you will need to cut the dropped and curved corners off the rear of the tank and weld plates in on the line you want.

[@kihestad]

Hehe, you are right. Kawa green on a Honda is probably not ideal 😬 I have thought about chopping off the bottom curved part. Not sure if my welder and my welding skills are good enough though 🥴

[@Italjohn]

Excellent as usual 😀

[@kihestad]

Thanks 😊 trying to improve for every video 😋

[@guidoleineweber]

Maybe it is an idea to paint the lower v edge of the fuel tank black, leave the back as it is. Only remove the raised part above the new tubular frame. That should work out fine with not that much afford.

[@kihestad]

I have thought about that (paint the lower part of tank), I have seen others do it and it works! I have more or less decided on reworking the rear frame now. My first attempt was trying a "smart" solution that did not involve to much modifications, this time I am prepared to go all in 😋

[@OShihadeh]

Great job!

[@kihestad]

Thanks! 😊

[@TheIronHeadRat]

Great stuff 👍

[@kihestad]

Thanks! 😊

[@elemar5]

I always put tractor tyres on my bikes when I go racing.

[@kihestad]

It's a cafe tractor, not a cafe racer 😂

[@1Poe]

Your Honda will not start “dressed” as Kawasaki.The engine would say: “this isn’t my tank!”.many shops chop the frame with ease , but they have done it dozens of times. You know it would be a one way operation. But if you consider hiding the ugly joint of the subframe with 2 hand made tiny leather side bags, you could finish the project faster and easier.

[@kihestad]

Haha 🤣 It's became a Honda Ninja 🥷 I doubt I'll ever put saddle bags on this one, I have the Elefant for that, I'll just have to chop chop I guess 😁

[@ro9ode]

That has to be a green screen color😀

[@kihestad]

It sure do works like it 😜