HONDA CM400 CAFE BUILD - HOMEMADE CLIPONS

These are the clipons I machined for the project. They are pretty much just billet aluminum with holes punched in the right places and as much excess aluminum removed. Not sexy, but shop made. The aluminum is 7075. The real fun is making parts, not ordering them. Cutting metal and thinking through the process is a healthy endeavor, and much of what this blog is about.

HONDA CM400 CAFE BUILD - Frame Modifications

The bike was totally stripped and the frame modifications were the first order of business. First I cut the rear part of the frame off. These are often built up pressed metal components on UJMs. I wanted a cleaner more visible tube frame in the rear. This also gave me the opportunity to relocate the rear shock mounts to adjust the steering geometry. Raising the rear of the bike offers up less trail in the forks, and a little better handling in the turns.

I needed a set of new studs for the rear shock to frame mounting points. Two studs were turned out of 1" steel stock, and then a length of 1/2" square steel rod was tacked between the two studs to keep them in alignment.

I torch bent a tube forming the loop and cut two shorties making up the sub-frame. I fish mouthed the tubes and started to mock-up the layout.        








   

All the parts fitted and in place, Time to tack and lay beads.
















The finished frame modification. Yet to come are any mounting points , like battery box, tail piece mounts and turn signal mounts. These will come later as I start do the mock build and get all the components back on.