Saving a 1975 Honda CB500T from the Worst Cafe Racer Build

[@Broomswillow]

Dang ! Talk about badly done, badly thought out/designed, badly finished. That's dangerous!!

[@joeyarizona403]

As someone who is against cutting up anything vintage unless it's been wrecked and there's no chance of it ever going back to stock. I would salvage whatever's salvageable on the bike and throw the rest in the trash where it belongs. Love your videos I'm going to take this one as a PSA for what not to do to vintage motorcycles.

[@motorcyclerewind]

I agree. Should change the title to what you should not do to an old bike!! Thanks for watching.

[@daveco1270]

Sometimes its fun to critique. Having no rear fender really throws off the lines of the bike. It's like seeing a house cat with no tail, it doesn't look right. The front end isn't doing it any favors either. To those people who want a Brat style Honda CB, check out Classic Octane on KZbin, he does it right.

[@motorcyclerewind]

😂🤣😂the proportions are all wrong. We should be able to make it look better. Thanks for watching.

[@iainlynch2909]

Three things I would look at are 1 - ignition timing. It could explain the lack of willingness to rev and the odd chirps (pre-ignition?)/ 2 - valve clearances as they sound loose and this will impact the running 3 - jetting of the carbs. The lack of air filtes will mean this is way off and it will impact the smooth running of the engine. It is always a pain in the neck to deal with such bodged modifications as this but your perseverence is admirable.

[@motorcyclerewind]

I'm going to go through all those things and do a full tune-up. Thanks for the advice! Definitely gonna fix the choke so that it stays where you put it. 🤣😂🤣

[@richardbalmaine8048]

The problem with spoke wheels that have been powder coated whole is you can never adjust the spokes properly, tell me how I know

[@motorcyclerewind]

🤣😂🤣Thanks for watching.

[@nickq204]

I’m not a café guy, but I think it does need a hoop welded onto the back. Mount the tail light on that, and I’m with you on finding a shorter exhaust to replace what’s on there now. But to be fair, I think that bike needs to be taken down and have a lot of things repainted to make it right. While I like the OEM look better, it’s not the most financially expedient thing to do.

[@motorcyclerewind]

It is going to get a hoop.

[@jobucklandbuckland8031]

that sounds like its got the common 500t problem r, cam chain check it because it will cut a groove somewhere inside , cant remember if its the chain or the tensioner

[@motorcyclerewind]

Hopefully it gets better after we do a full tuneup. Thanks for watching.

[@arklite360]

If the wheels are good then do the rest properly, give it some love, as always a great video 👍🔧⚙️⚒️

[@motorcyclerewind]

Absolutely! The wheels are the best part! Thanks for watching

[@RobertAdams-wd6pt]

Sorry ,not my idea of a traditional cafe racer

[@motorcyclerewind]

Not mine either.

[@MaryK4242]

Oh my! 😮 Well, at least it had the key. That clanky and chirpy noise is worrisome.

[@motorcyclerewind]

🤣🤣😂This bike was brutalized.

[@rustyrims05]

That ‘chirrupping’ is an air induction leak, I think. That poor bike…….🫣

[@motorcyclerewind]

The previous guy who did the carb clean changed the intake boots. 🤞one is loose.

[@preez77]

Correct, vacuum leak most likely from intake boots

[@motorcyclerewind]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

[@MainelyMoto207]

Cafe racers aren't so bad when people put the time and money into it, but as you pointed ot, it's when they buy cheap garbage parts, and do shoddy work putting it together.

[@motorcyclerewind]

I agree. ☝️ thanks for watching.

[@russellgaskin7995]

Why would someone take a classic bike and deliberately f#$k it up!?

[@shaunhardie6077]

Be gone you foul demon 🤣. Merry Christmas to you and your family Eric.

[@motorcyclerewind]

😂🤣😂Thanks for watching and Merry Christmas 🎁🎄

[@71three5ohscrambler8]

My CL350 has a few custom parts on it, and theirs nothing wrong with that. I have vintage Sun/Buchanan aluminum rims which are spoked to the stock Honda hubs. They are 18 inch, and a half inch wider than stock rims. It changed the look of my bike in a good way.

[@motorcyclerewind]

That’s a great way to improve the look of a bike! I have some plans for this one. Will share in the next episode with it. Thanks for watching.

[@71three5ohscrambler8]

@motorcyclerewind it also has a vintage fiberglass cafe seat on it. I had to get rid of the clip on handlebars though....im 62 years old. Nothing wrong with cafe bikes. They are part of British bike history. Mine has not been cut up in any way. Its done in good taste. Good luck with that one. I'm sure you will get it sorted out. Greetings from Tennessee

[@motorcyclerewind]

These clip ones are going to be replaced with something more practical.

[@Chairman750]

Cafe style is not my thing, but that thing is a POS. Whoever did that took a good overall bike and destroyed it. Take it apart and make it right. Get rid of all the cafe racer junk.

[@motorcyclerewind]

I prefer keeping designs original. When they are already down this road all I can do is try to make it better! Thanks for watching!

[@petereastwood7868]

Whaddya mean, a POS? That’s a hipsters dream bike! 😉😉

[@motorcyclerewind]

🤣😂🤣

[@timothyellis6266]

Check the valve clearance!!

[@motorcyclerewind]

Will do. Thanks for watching.

[@davekeehn8388]

The chirping is the timing chain rubbing against the plastic guide. It needs adjustment.

[@motorcyclerewind]

Thanks for the info.

[@timothyellis6266]

Turn it into a bobber maybe

[@motorcyclerewind]

Good idea. 👍 thanks for watching.

[@GeorgiaGrowGuy]

Isn't every cafe racer build the worst?

[@motorcyclerewind]

You make a great point. This one is particularly bad.

[@MaryK4242]

🤣🤣

[@davekeehn8388]

Since it’s been chopped, make it into a racer. I’d say the 70s Gulf ones would suit that.

[@motorcyclerewind]

Good idea. 👍 thanks for watching.

[@scotsavage9794]

Sounds like valves to me

[@motorcyclerewind]

It sure does. Thanks for watching.

[@kalaharimine]

It's a brat rat bike, not a really a traditional café and it sounds horrible.

[@motorcyclerewind]

It is definitely not a traditional cafe racer! Thanks for watching.

[@timothyellis6266]

Looks like a Paul Sr. Build! 😂

[@motorcyclerewind]

Seat chopping. 😂🤣😂 Thanks for watching.

[@Gotcha-s3z]

This is a work of art the way it was done way back when, don't knock it.

[@kickingitwithkeri]

I know you’ll make it better, you always do!

[@motorcyclerewind]

This one is going to be fun. Thanks for watching.

[@arklite360]

Love and Peace allways Fishburn Co Durham, Is that valve chatter, that chirpy noise may be leaky exhaust header🤷

[@motorcyclerewind]

There is some valve chatter. We will do a proper tune up and adjust the valves. thanks for watching!

[@felixklages1893]

Der Verkäufer wollte mit wenig Geld und Arbeit einen guten Verkaufspreis erzielen. Alles ist schlecht gemacht. Hoffentlich wurde nicht zuviel für das Motorrad bezahlt !

[@motorcyclerewind]

Thankfully it’s not mine and the buyer paid way more than they should have. Thanks for watching.

[@davekeehn8388]

The accelerator pump is cooked

[@motorcyclerewind]

Thanks for watching.

[@lutherrule9301]

Love it ❤...

[@motorcyclerewind]

Thanks for watching.

[@aryocountryboy]

The exhaust just like Kawasaki W-175

[@motorcyclerewind]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@andrewsiers4689]

im not a mechanic but my mind goes to checking valve gap

[@motorcyclerewind]

You’re right. ☝️

[@Luke-d2i]

On a cb500t and cb450, i would suggest adjusting the valves. That sounds like a ticking noise. Edit. 0.003 is good lash on the valves

[@motorcyclerewind]

Gonna do a full tuneup up. Hopefully it will quiet it down a bit.

[@keltecshooter]

Those chirps are a lean/unbalanced mixture, it takes a lot of fiddling to get the jetting right on those CV carbs with open or pod filters

[@preez77]

Put it out of it’s misery, it looks and sounds awful

[@motorcyclerewind]

It’s has suffered some abuse. Thanks for watching.

[@brucepietro6046]

I wouldn’t have rode that motorcycle. It needs the intake/exhaust valve clearance checked & correctly adjusted. That’s that clattering sound. Next set the ignition timing to factory specs and rebuild the carburetor s. Someone changed the intake/exhaust valve clearance. I owned a 1973 CB 500 K1, the motorcycle ran very smooth.

[@terrypikaart4394]

That is a horrible motor to start out with, not one of hondas best..

[@motorcyclerewind]

Yeah. I'm hoping to make this engine run better. Thanks for watching.

[@eric_seguin]

I can define that whole bike with one word.ASKEW. I agree with you. It's a POS. I bet that guy in Escambia has a tank and the right handle bars. I have a V45 that was butchered like that. Haven't gotten the courage to all out attack the wiring yet. My hands don't work as good as they used to. The back of that frame is criminal. That bike guy in Missouri (cringe) actually makes them look nice whan he does them. Brick House Builds. I watch his channel and like some of his work. But Cafe modifying a completely functional stock bike should be a sin. LOL Those carbs are too lean and off balance. Hondas react good to a mercury gauge setup. I have a Yellow Ford also. Hanging in my back window is a 4 tube set waiting to do my V45. One thing of a long list that it needs. Good video but a wiring harness would make that bike happier. My bike has those stupid led signals. At least it has signals. They are going back to stock housings. Next time you're in Baton Rouge you can have them.

[@darrylnicholson1640]

That thing is a pos But i love your F150