New to forum: just bought a cb1100f to restore

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:26 pm

I want to take a moment to introduce myself:

I have always been in love with the superbikes of the early 80's as they were the motorcycles that created my passion for motorcycles. I spent many years staring at magazines wanting to be Freddie Spencer, Wayne Rainey or Eddie Lawson and dreaming of the day I could wrap up my own superbike to 10,000 just to grab a handful of brakes, downshift and drift the back wheel into a turn. Which, by the way, I never do. I like living with all my limbs enough to not do that anymore.

Fast forward thirty years:
I have owned an sv1000s for several years and just sold it to pay off some debt and because I just had to reduce some risk in my life after a huge bicycle crash that required reconstructive knee surgery and as a side note: fueled my narcotic dependency, which was somewhat less than enjoyable to kick.

So my dad is 76 years old and his health has been iffy for a while now and every time I see him he talks about dying. I just hate it. Then last week we were talking about the cars we built in the 80's together (my first car), and he mentioned how much he would love to build a mopar car but that it was just too expensive.

I can't believe I have never thought of this before but the light turned on and I threw out the idea of restoring an old classic like a kz1000r or cb1100f. He has been a motorcycle guy all his life and is intrigued. Surprisingly my mother jumps on it with a passion knowing what it will mean to him and then as if I was in the twilight zone, my wife jumped on it as well. That really surprised me because she was extremely relieved when I sold the sv1000.

My wife is a dream woman: hot, smart, good, good mom and she actually still passionately loves me; the quintessential bull headed jackass. I don't get it but I am thankful and I love her back.

So on a

whim

monday I did a google search for cb1100f for sale and one popped up about 200 miles from my house for a steal of a price. I called: it was still for sale: it runs and it was cheap. So dad and I drove down the next day after work and I am now the proud owner of this sweet machine:

She's rough, more than a little neglected but she's only got 28k and runs well: especially over 3000 rpm. She may be rough now, but to me she's as hot as.... well she's not as hot as my wife but she does stir my soul and makes me feel like a teenager all over again. Right now it's sitting in my garage after a short shakedown ride. We are building our strategy and budget and will get to work on it in a week or so.

So... uh...I live in Texas, am 42, been married 16 years, and have 3 high energy kids. I brew beer, I ride vert, street and dirt-jumps at the local skatepark on my Black Market Mob. I am zippered with scars from past (and current) injuries. I fit in well with all the worse types of people am generally a jackass who for some unknown reason has a great wife, kids, friends and even a fulfilling job.

So, it'll be good to meet you guys. I am sure I will be asking tons of questions as we get going. See you around.

ganze

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:30 pm

Welcome to the best site anywhere! Settle in and enjoy the company. You have a great starter project there, the faster red or the slower blue Very Happy

..

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:31 pm

Looks like your bike has the factory Sport kit with factory rearsets ..

Good Luck..

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:36 pm

welcome! have fun working on it and get ready to be on the site A LOT

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:38 pm

Welcome to the site, Ganze, from the next state over. Looks like you've got a good start on the "sickness", LOL. Keep us posted on your progress, and we look forward to hearing about how your Dad takes to this project!

Ride safely, and hide the wallet!

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:41 pm

Before you get into the bike,, think of a plan and read the manual, before you break out the wrenches.

and questions are always welcome,,

http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=9

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:21 pm

Welcome! Good luck with the resto!

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:04 pm

just picked up the clymer and the offical shop manuals and plan to get real familiar with them before I do anything.

The strategy right now is:
A. clean it up get it running well: it's really rough and weak below 3k rpm. Probably the carbs: which will be rebuilt
B. fix the rattling/knocking in the clutch area. It revs just fine so I don't think it's a bearing.
C. fix all leaks
D. make any major motor repair plans. (cam timing chain etc.)
E. fix the electrics (turn signals etc...)
F. forks, shocks, brakes, cables: new seals, pads, lines and cables if necessary
G. tear it all the way down, clean and paint the frame, motor and swingarm
H. repair or replace tank, side covers, cowl, fairing and light and seat and paint them all (I like the original red scheme best)
I. put it all back together
J. if I still love this thing by then, I plan to ride it a while.
K. if I love riding it, I plan to do a fork, brake, shock and wheel swap/upgrade.

I do have a quick forum question:
1) how do I search for terms in the topic line only?
I have been searching around for stuff and seem like I can't just do a topic search. I have been looking for general stuff like the similarities between the bodywork and gas tank between 750, 900 and 1100 and I cant' find the "topic only" button.

BTW:
Is there a difference between the tanks, side covers and tail cowl on the 750f, 900f, and 1100f? In looking for these parts, it would make it easier to find stuff if they were all the same.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:16 pm

I do not believe there are major differences in the body work except that the 750F tank has an indentation and two screw holes for a screw-on Honda logo on each side, whereas the other tanks are smooth and just have graphical stickers.

As for the searching of the forum, I have found it less than desirable and would also like to have a topic-only search feature, but I don't think this PHP software has that. Just be sure to use AND when doing searching for several terms. It is definitely hit and miss, but I've found a lot of useful stuff nonetheless.

I'd also recommend just reading through the Technical Help section (beyond page 1), there is a lot of nice stuff there.

Personally I'd like to see more of a "Knowledge Base" or expanded FAQ which has the more common questions and upgrades. For example it is easy and fairly cheap to upgrade the ignition coils to those from an F2 CBR600, but you wouldn't know that unless you had seen and read the topic on it. Which is here if you are interested:

http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=50593

CB1100F Joined: May 13, 2005 Posts: 3217 Location: NE OHIO

Side covers and tails are all interchangeable between 750 900 1100 other than colors . The tanks are all interchangeable except there are 3 different size petcocks depending on the year of the bike . 750 ( early ) had screw on badges on tank but later and 900 1100 didn't .

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:25 pm

Not to hijack this thread but I didn't know about the different petcock sizes, that could be an issue for me since I bought an older 750F tank to replace my rusted out 900F tank, but only have the 900F petcock...

CB1100F Joined: May 13, 2005 Posts: 3217 Location: NE OHIO

leavengood wrote:

Not to hijack this thread but I didn't know about the different petcock sizes, that could be an issue for me since I bought an older 750F tank to replace my rusted out 900F tank, but only have the 900F petcock...

Before you get to far into paint and bodywork, check the size of the petcocks. If you have a true 82 900 tank and bought a 750 tank with badges the odds are the petcocks will NOT interchange . Wink

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:37 pm

Yeah, I'm going to check my tank and petcock tomorrow Luckysox, but I just found this petcock on eBay which fit a 750F tank and for $28 shipped it is hard to beat:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB250-CB750F-CB900C-CBX1000-CBX1050-CM250C-CMX250C-Gas-Fuel-Tank-Petcock-/160939192651?hash=item2578b9314b&vxp=mtr

I was going to try to "restore" my old one but for that price I don't think it is worth my time if the above is available. Unless someone here has bought the above petcock and had bad luck with it...

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:00 am

Hello Ganze,hope to see pic`s from the restoring,have done one myself.
You are on the right place here Smile

Wim

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:09 pm

Quote:

fix the rattling/knocking in the clutch area.

Replace the B clutch disc w/ 2 metal plates, get a set of insulators from Wout and updated pusher

You will have a quiet solid clutch

http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=54559

http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=591802&highlight=#591802

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:44 pm

Welcome Texan! I love Texas, my wife has family there. Don't leave out the valve adj. Very important on these bikes. Weather or not you do the wheel swap(I highly recomend it as you can then buy todays good 17" rubber.) brake fluid and new LINES are a must.

More pics! Lets see that good looking wife too Shocked

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:11 pm

The suspension and wheel swap is great fun but by experience I can tell you to be patient and read every little thing you can about them and all the differences between F2 F3 forks or F2 F3 or CBR900 rear wheels, even though they all look identical. This doesnt seem like your first rodeo but even when you know the direction you want to go, buying wheels as complete as possible (rotors, sprocket carrier and any spacers) all save a ton of money. By the way, your clutch isnt broken, the noise is normal. Enjoy you're new scooter! Cool

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:42 pm

so the clutch....

At idle, it knocks. At least I think it's the clutch. It does not buck or chatter on engagement at this point. It takes off fairly smoothly, except that the motor itself runs like crap below 3000 rpm. The clutch seems to engage and disengage smoothly. That still sound like the typical issues that you guys are talking about?

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 7:19 pm

ganze wrote:

so the clutch....

At idle, it knocks. At least I think it's the clutch. It does not buck or chatter on engagement at this point. It takes off fairly smoothly, except that the motor itself runs like crap below 3000 rpm. The clutch seems to engage and disengage smoothly. That still sound like the typical issues that you guys are talking about?

the drive cushions in the basket are probably hardened and worn. It'll cause them to rattle a bit. Does it still do it with the clutch pulled in? (disengaged)

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 7:27 pm

Luckysox wrote:

Side covers and tails are all interchangeable between 750 900 1100 other than colors . .

Except for the Canadian/European/South Pacific 1100F tail pieces which are similar to the other F bikes but have grab handles (not that that you're likely to find one)t

CB1100F Joined: May 13, 2005 Posts: 3217 Location: NE OHIO

Bucko wrote:

Luckysox wrote:

Side covers and tails are all interchangeable between 750 900 1100 other than colors . .

Except for the Canadian/European/South Pacific 1100F tail pieces which are similar to the other F bikes but have grab handles (not that that you're likely to find one)t

Then let us add the Japan lidded tails Cool

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:37 pm

Shawn_Mc wrote:

ganze wrote:

so the clutch....

At idle, it knocks. At least I think it's the clutch. It does not buck or chatter on engagement at this point. It takes off fairly smoothly, except that the motor itself runs like crap below 3000 rpm. The clutch seems to engage and disengage smoothly. That still sound like the typical issues that you guys are talking about?

the drive cushions in the basket are probably hardened and worn. It'll cause them to rattle a bit. Does it still do it with the clutch pulled in? (disengaged)

I just fired it up and it kind of idles.....have it said that it runs horribly below 3k or not? Anyway, the knock/rattle happens when the clutch is pulled in or whether I release the lever. It might get a little worse when I pull the clutch lever but it's hard to tell.

another pic:

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:04 am

Hmmm.... thats not supposed to happen. When you pull the clutch in the noise should disappear. \

The idling problem is more than likely clogged jets. The idle circuit clogs easily.

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 4:50 am

I like that seat, is it comfy?

Chico

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:24 pm

Welcome to the site ganze and congrats on the new-to-you ride! beerchug

For the knocking issue, check for loose starter clutch bolts as this is most likely your problem. There are many posts on this topic if you do a search and will show you the procedure to repair.
Good luck on the resto to bring this old girl back to life. Cool

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 3:27 pm

thanks for the help and yes, the seat is comfy. i plan to recover it myself and probably build up the pillion to more of a step up to the cowl. My wife never rides with me and I like the lines.

I got an official service manual and clymer's manual and plan to get started this week.

I look forward to getting it running well.