My 1981 CB900F Restoration

AlaskaGriz · 12-30-2008, 12:20 PM

Just thought it would be good to share my 1981 CB900F restoration. I got this bike for free and then spent the last 3 years making various upgrades. I am working on some details this year:

Custom brake stay
Convert to LED Signals and add Brake Light LED Flashers
Install Dyna 2000 Ignition
More Powder Coating small brackets and such
Redo my Tail Light Mod

This is what my bike looked like when I got it (a corroded mess):

First year upgrades and restoration included:

New Paint
New Engine Covers
Rebuild Carbs
Tail Light Tuck Mod
Rechrome Yoshi Exhaust
New Bearings and Seals
New Tires
Convert Headlight to CB1100F Fairing and Gauges
Cleaned up Corroded Bolts and Nuts
Rebuild Brakes
Adjust Valves and Timing Chain
Convert to Mini Turn Signals
etc....

These are the parts needed to change the front end to the CB1100F fairing and gauges:

This is the end result after the first year of the restoration:

The 2nd Year Improvements included:

Pinstripes and Honda Wing
Underbraced Swingarm
Rearsets with Tarozzi Pegs and Controls
Piggyback Shocks
Steering Damper
Stainless/Titanium Exhaust
Rear Fender Mod

Last year's upgrades include:

Drilled Rotors
Powder Coated Brake Calipers & Oil Pan
Upgraded Clutch
Converted back to 900F Headlight and Gauges
New Keihin 31mm CR Special Smoothbore Carbs

Well there she is (Black Beauty) for now and she will be even better after this winter's project is finished. i am thinking about putting this bike intothe Alaska Custom Cycle Show in March 2009. The bike only has 21,000 original miles and I am the second owner.

worgoose · 12-30-2008, 12:33 PM

Looks great that was alwas one of my favorite bikes.

Boojum · 12-30-2008, 02:08 PM

DAMN RIGHT !!!!!!!!!

Boojum!

SOS · 12-30-2008, 04:30 PM

Very, very nice

Jinx · 12-30-2008, 05:02 PM

NDMX743 · 12-31-2008, 12:07 PM

Truly amazing! That is a beautiful bike. I had one for a couple years, sold it about a year ago. Mine wasn't near as nice as yours and I still loved the bike. I shouldn't have sold it.

WB-PDX · 12-31-2008, 01:27 PM

LOVE IT.

I had a 81 CB750F that came with a 900F parts bike... I wanted to swap everything around and create something like this, but no way am I that patient, nor do I have that kind of money.

Lovely!

AlaskaGriz · 01-02-2009, 08:20 PM

Hey guys thanks for the kind words!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDMX743

Truly amazing! That is a beautiful bike. I had one for a couple years, sold it about a year ago. Mine wasn't near as nice as yours and I still loved the bike. I shouldn't have sold it.

You know you are going to have to go out and buy another one now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WB-PDX

LOVE IT.

I had a 81 CB750F that came with a 900F parts bike... I wanted to swap everything around and create something like this, but no way am I that patient, nor do I have that kind of money.

Lovely!

Thanks WB~

I did go off the deep end $$$$ and I'm not quittting now. I have second set of bodywork and will be changing the bike from year to year. I think I just need another bike but we all know where that will lead me. The PO is really sorry that he didn't do the things taht I've accomplished but he never could get past the "market value" versus "sentimental value".

The real benefit is a bit of theraputic time for me to just work on the bike in the garage and get away from it all. My wife has been very understanding too but does raise an eybrow on the packages that arrive from all over the world at times. I'll update this thread later on when this years updates are completed.

Thanks again, all, for the compliments.

Dave

Kamakura Kid · 01-02-2009, 09:48 PM

That generation CBF was one of the truly lustworthy bikes of my misspent youth. I really really like what you've done to your Honda. She truly is a black beauty. Kudos to you.

Brad Felmey · 01-02-2009, 10:21 PM

Stunningly beautiful craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing.

Olas · 01-03-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlaskaGriz

The real benefit is a bit of theraputic time for me to just work on the bike in the garage and get away from it all.

Well said. Awesome bike and great work!! I've done a few restorations myself but never anything this detailed. I just haven't found the right bike...or, should I say, it hasn't found me! I love these old Honda sportbikes they look to be way ahead of their time, especially this one!

DELTATANGO · 01-03-2009, 09:22 AM

Very nice.

I resurrected a 900 Custom once. $275

cogitate · 01-03-2009, 09:45 AM

Absolutely beautiful

Great eye for detail. Can I send my 88 Hawk up to you for a makeover this winter?

garrbo · 04-22-2009, 12:01 AM

Hi , real nice bike. I have a 81 750 im just started fixing up. i was wondering if you could tell me were you got you parts.
thanks

saviour.machine · 04-22-2009, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jinx

This is my new platonic ideal of a motorcycle. All the style and performance of a cafe racer, all the ergonomic sense of a classic standard. Well done!

12-30-2008, 12:20 PM	#1
AlaskaGriz ^OP Alaska Old School Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Alaska Oddometer: 2	My 1981 CB900F Restoration Just thought it would be good to share my 1981 CB900F restoration. I got this bike for free and then spent the last 3 years making various upgrades. I am working on some details this year: Custom brake stay Convert to LED Signals and add Brake Light LED Flashers Install Dyna 2000 Ignition More Powder Coating small brackets and such Redo my Tail Light Mod This is what my bike looked like when I got it (a corroded mess): First year upgrades and restoration included: New Paint New Engine Covers Rebuild Carbs Tail Light Tuck Mod Rechrome Yoshi Exhaust New Bearings and Seals New Tires Convert Headlight to CB1100F Fairing and Gauges Cleaned up Corroded Bolts and Nuts Rebuild Brakes Adjust Valves and Timing Chain Convert to Mini Turn Signals etc.... These are the parts needed to change the front end to the CB1100F fairing and gauges: This is the end result after the first year of the restoration: The 2nd Year Improvements included: Pinstripes and Honda Wing Underbraced Swingarm Rearsets with Tarozzi Pegs and Controls Piggyback Shocks Steering Damper Stainless/Titanium Exhaust Rear Fender Mod Last year's upgrades include: Drilled Rotors Powder Coated Brake Calipers & Oil Pan Upgraded Clutch Converted back to 900F Headlight and Gauges New Keihin 31mm CR Special Smoothbore Carbs Well there she is (Black Beauty) for now and she will be even better after this winter's project is finished. i am thinking about putting this bike intothe Alaska Custom Cycle Show in March 2009. The bike only has 21,000 original miles and I am the second owner. __________________ Dave _________________________________ 1981 CB900F "Black Beauty" http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...F/DSC03443.jpg AlaskaGriz screwed with this post 12-30-2008 at 01:10 PM

12-30-2008, 02:08 PM	#3
Boojum I Miss the PartyBoss Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Ringgold, Ga.....Saaalute! Oddometer: 5,909	DAMN RIGHT !!!!!!!!! Boojum! __________________ "I aint no ruff guy, aint no tuff guy. Don't get out much, and don't dress up fly" BMW's: 1999 GS 1100 "Work Horse", 1975 R90/6 "Black Betty", 92 R100 GSPD, 03 XR 650L with Farkles, KLR 250, 72 Honda CL-70

12-30-2008, 04:30 PM	#4
SOS Ignorance is a gift Joined: Jan 2008 Location: 0hio Oddometer: 688	Well Done! Very, very nice

12-30-2008, 05:02 PM	#5
Jinx Call me Renzo Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Rearranging the deck-chairs on the iceberg Oddometer: 10,838	__________________ - Jinx "You remind me of the monkey with the jerk-off button, starving to death at the switch." - Chopperman "I didn't know how many assholes it was going to take to piss me off, but I knew how many they were going to use" - collaboratori

01-02-2009, 09:48 PM	#9
Kamakura Kid Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2006 Location: currently in Kamakura, Japan! Oddometer: 689	That generation CBF was one of the truly lustworthy bikes of my misspent youth. I really really like what you've done to your Honda. She truly is a black beauty. Kudos to you. __________________ You can only be young once, but you can be immature forever!

12-30-2008, 12:33 PM	#2
worgoose Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Seacoast NH Oddometer: 370	Looks great that was alwas one of my favorite bikes.

12-31-2008, 12:07 PM	#6
NDMX743 Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: Hazen, ND Oddometer: 30	Truly amazing! That is a beautiful bike. I had one for a couple years, sold it about a year ago. Mine wasn't near as nice as yours and I still loved the bike. I shouldn't have sold it.

12-31-2008, 01:27 PM	#7
WB-PDX Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: Where young people go to retire Oddometer: 3,561	LOVE IT. I had a 81 CB750F that came with a 900F parts bike... I wanted to swap everything around and create something like this, but no way am I that patient, nor do I have that kind of money. Lovely!

01-02-2009, 10:21 PM	#10
Brad Felmey Leghumper Emeritus Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Weatherford, TX Oddometer: 4,935	Stunningly beautiful craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing. __________________ Brad Felmey-izing threads everywhere

01-03-2009, 09:22 AM	#12
DELTATANGO Motorcyclist and Dog Walk Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Alabama Oddometer: 12,693	Very nice. I resurrected a 900 Custom once. $275

01-03-2009, 09:45 AM	#13
cogitate bench adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: North of the Border, CA Oddometer: 3,618	Absolutely beautiful Great eye for detail. Can I send my 88 Hawk up to you for a makeover this winter? __________________ 91 Hawk GT

04-22-2009, 12:01 AM	#14
garrbo n00b Joined: Apr 2009 Oddometer: 1	Wondering if i could get some info? Hi , real nice bike. I have a 81 750 im just started fixing up. i was wondering if you could tell me were you got you parts. thanks

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