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None here, looks great. How much clearance between tire and brake arm?

Thank you. I'm quietly pleased with it to be honest. Took a bit of figuring and 3rd time lucky on the simple U bracket.....my engineering skills are rudimentary at best haha!

Tyre clearance is 15mm (1/2" approx) so enough with the 130 section tyre....I may increase the size to 140 or 150 which will be tight but still clear by a gnat's :)

Finally, the correct metal arrived, I'd ordered the wrong size for the job of making the U bracket that I'd intended to use at the caliper mount end of the brake torque arm.

I cut n drill later, with a bit of bench sanding and tweaking saw the torque arm coming together as I'd planned.....very satisfying.








The bones of it is M10 threading, into a female M10 rose joint bolted to the factory housing at the swingarm end with a thin-wall 10mm i/d steel tube to give it a better look than bare threading..

The rear U mount is shaped 30x50x2.5mm box section and bolted through the caliper mount using a longer than stock M8 shouldered bolt straight out the other side with a lock nut....should hold it correctly I reckon.

Anyone think differently? I'd welcome any critique.

Fitted the front mount for the CB200 tank on the Suzonda.....used M8 threading (ex bath support legs) and two bungs made out of cut down ordinary white rubber door stops.



I think I've got the tank inclination and seat unit alignment correct?

You might have already seen this type of tank on ebay, but in case you haven't...here's the link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Cafe-Racer-Fuel-Tank-Petrol-Tank-9L-2-4-Gallon-for-Honda-Yamaha-BMW/382576217894?epid=4004030907&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item591351cf26:g:p6YAAOSwQqJbrx1j&enc=AQAEAAACUBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qXWF%2BGp8OL4CP2OgUeFq6%2BuiBKLRniHJxukTZ5yHSi546RTXOG5VxzK6CuEbqU7QQRrhyE5f6Xnx%2FQP1%2BiNQz%2BU3pqlpP3I3IRpG9dpwwJCPsA1xniMBUS1CCVKHk2YDsx8KChVSY5tv0PW2EsqbfNsE0Lqqt6GjkXKrjk4lIDz4u%2B6j8RN2%2BgOyTM4rrhKVpkn6nUIsSH%2Bu9KcRHyjoVaemmPY2CsUaUs%2FfolYErOOu38oWyLqIdWh5FQr7pglCQEDo3MzuO3N0LYVvKoFqzIIuMd8lBL%2FsemDusLaVxtwK795onkEAQArnfjp2oIgAhx86IJqDE653ctZObrOdSEizxUNMuFOtVihosE6yDbKqcCDVjH9ETeUkvHCBmsC%2BE6Et%2BGboFoVdUHXDTIF0ho367ArTG4tgg%2BEkYlK47ArxKyAwW966g%2FpKqc%2FyGg5w9MP19COLQZbWU03S%2F7jMGmHybY4dmwkhRqZWFsxz9HeeTp%2FSjPh0%2F%2Bny8Dwu%2FYI20Y02ETe2KIGdoefeuP0iTw3WtD6zUaXzCCR4AvpUq30mGJrnKgzuqNulNykDFSeSKboTx3oPXS1AogXy3396JteaMO9g2sqw5DzQp8dtZRPJI4ouiMolBk7sVYFZ4aOgLq7nbZoAraDzMVwKE3BJpJX0Xz9lkc%2Bft%2FztekSk5guR8M1ZaOAIoWWdf59ljHkK6SrDUqCQVVt2tcsQeuc7QJkuskJmHoVBvNpgKug5Ish%2F2gtuVsFhyDe9YAA3s1t5pU%3D&checksum=382576217894d5e6ea75a18b4ed986faae010eea37d5

A friend bought a far eastern tank and found it to be ok.

Take care to pack them well, enclosed in a timber mini pallet/crate so it sits tight and nothing of the engine is exposed to outside contact and potential damage. I know it appears common sense and shouldn't need saying but....

Once you've packed it, take and send an image to show how it sits and is damage free....some recourse if/when it arrives at the other end....a claim might rest on it's pre shipping condition.

I bought a 200cc Suzuki two-stroke engine shipped to me from overseas just wedged in a plastic open topped crate with duct tape to hold it in. Needless to say two head fins were knocked off it......if this happens in transit your buyer would rightly have something to say and it'll probably end up costing you money and hassle.

The GT200 engine is built....



I just looked up TA TD TZ tanks...wowser mucho dinero amigo!! But, it'll be the crowning glory to your build....sometimes, you have to bite the bullet and go for it.....after all, you can get by with just one kidney I'm told ;) Maybe, a fire sale of redundant RD parts will top up the tank fund?

While I await incoming parts (reverse operation rear brake master cylinder and 30x50mm steel box section) I was itching to get something positive done!!

so, I installed the tank front mount, which consisted of a length of M8 threading, through a hole I drilled in and through the headstock gusset with two cut down common white rubber door stops to act as shock rubbers.



Turned out OK I reckon....tank aligns well enough with the seat unit and fork/headstock/yoke and I hope to have got the tank inclination and angle right too.



The rear mount will be a block of flexi rubber, possibly a car exhaust mount rubber with a bit of squish in it and the rear of the tank held down using thick rubber bands (cut down inner tube?)....quick release ;) . I'll have to have a scrounge around my local exhaust place...once the isolation thingy is over.

A little step forward.....  8)

I was lucky to find the CB200 tank I'm using, which came with the chrome flip cap and full trim inc badges.....but no petcock. £35 ($40) in the UK...my point, random parts soon push the total cost upwards rapidly.

Did you spot the other LC thread on here by Spooner? Engine looked very well built and detailed.

What's the overall style you're aiming at?

This forum needs a "like" button.

I'd argue no to a 'Like' button....they reduce comments, which is the only plus for forums these days....likes are far too easy to dish out and therefore devalue input to a single click n move on. Another forum I'm on has introduced them.....I get likes but no comments....I have FB for likes, Forum for proper communication.
What forums need is more text comment and image input...engagement is key or forums will die out completely IMO.

Well, that other forum has responded to my polite discussion point in their 'chat room' and removed the 'Like' button. Let's see how it goes.
I response I pledge to comment a lot more....hopefully, not just shootin'shit either ;)

This forum needs a "like" button.

I'd argue no to a 'Like' button....they reduce comments, which is the only plus for forums these days....likes are far too easy to dish out and therefore devalue input to a single click n move on. Another forum I'm on has introduced them.....I get likes but no comments....I have FB for likes, Forum for proper communication.
What forums need is more text comment and image input...engagement is key or forums will die out completely IMO.

No comment.

This forum needs a "like" button.

I'd argue no to a 'Like' button....they reduce comments, which is the only plus for forums these days....likes are far too easy to dish out and therefore devalue input to a single click n move on. Another forum I'm on has introduced them.....I get likes but no comments....I have FB for likes, Forum for proper communication.
What forums need is more text comment and image input...engagement is key or forums will die out completely IMO.

I found the perfect tank already!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-XS360-XS400-Fuel-Tank-XS-360-400-Gas-Tank/114164455613?hash=item1a94bb58bd:g:7r4AAOSwIlBeg4QY

Have I mentioned that I work at a JD dealership?

Maybe I missed this but what style are you trying to emulate?

interesting indeed, i do love the look of those. weird, but cosmetically fantastic.  thanks for the info, learned something. 

You're more than welcome fella.

Also VF400F apparently. None of these seem to be U.S. models. I didn't even know there was a CBX 550 4 cylinder... I thought they were all 6 cyl. 1000cc.

F1 uses enclosed discs. Honda described them as "inboard encapsulated disc brakes" in an article I found. ...Having owned several Alfas with inboard disc brakes I understood that to mean PITA. Separate mechanical adjusters for each pad!

I agree with Mark. They look cool. Very retro. I always liked the look of the British vented drums.

How do they stop?

IR8D8R

Ah, yes Japanese home market 400cc models may have run them too.

Only the CBX1000 was 6 cylinder the CBX750 was a 4pot too.

I worked on Alfa Suds back in the late 70s, great cars in one respect but peculiar engineering when you're used to European Fords, Escorts and Cortinas we basic text book stuff compared to exotic Italian motors.
You're correct Iradi8, the inboard discs did need pad running clearance adjustment, the tool was a small ring-spanner thingy for the caliper lock nut  and allen key for pad adjustment.....access was tight, shall we say? 

Interestingly, to change the handbrake cable, which acted on the front discs???...you had to remove (or lower the entire front subframe) to get to a single bellhousing cable attachment bolt. Speedo drive worm gear would shear as they were hard plastic and way too brittle.

Two door models had a problem of dropped doors....Alfa used the same flimsy hinges as a 4x door, but the weight would have them drop, under warranty. The official repair was to jack up the door (you could just lift them by hand) and touch up the B pillar paint chip caused by the window frame striking the pillar....then pop the touch up stick in the glovebox....I shit you not :)

The enclosed discs work OK....nothing like a modern CBR set up (I rode a 600 and nearly went over the bloody bars!! ) so full blast on twisties could be interesting....I prefer to ride a bit more sedately and enjoy the scenery these days.

The look of them inspired the entire look I tried to style it on...ie: late 60s Brit bike.

Same for the rear too.

Honda VT500 wheel.

IR8D8R

Close...VT500 had single disc, the CBX550 was twin disc.