CB400SF brakes upgrade

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amorti
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by amorti » Wed May 04, 2011 4:27 pm

souperdooper wrote:So I got two forks, calipers and master cylinder (complete with braided steel lines amd lever), spindle and also the front fender for £165.. The fender is black but hey soon the bike will be resprayed anyway.. Another little DIY project on the horizon..

Taking about being serious?? he he
That's serious enough for me. What a bargain!

You won't necessarily need the mudguard though. Thing is, it looks immense on a little 400.

Try thisinstead, just drill 4 new holes and shorten the excess bit of plastic up.

I'll get the steel rule on the bottom yoke this evening and post some pictures.

souperdooper
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by souperdooper » Wed May 04, 2011 7:04 pm

Well for £15 extra its a small price to pay just to see how it looks. And I can always sell it if it doesn't do it for me.. They go for around £50 on ebay! he he

Damn we should make a business out of it!

Also I forgot to mention that the forks will need new seals and oil. But I guess I would have done this anyway to be on the safe side.

Take your time with the pics. It won't be for at least two weeks before I get down to put the bike together. And then I ll have to clean/ polish/ grease all the parts involved.. And I ll still have to figure out a nice way to support the clocks and have it done beforehand. I have to say I wouldn't mind some new clocks to go with it.. Maybe from a CB1300! And with a fuel gauge.. ok I got a bit carried away here.. :grin:

Now on the steering lock you mentioned. I guess you tried it on the bike before putting it all together right?
Will a decent drill do for the grinding?

And in general what sort of tools will I need? Also did you support the bike on a paddock stand?

Dude I really appriciate your help! You made me a very happy person..

amorti
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Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 4:51 pm
Bike owned: CB-1, MSX125
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by amorti » Wed May 04, 2011 7:59 pm

I've uploaded some pictures for you. Be sure to view the descriptions too. Some pictures in the parent album may also be useful.

I can offer either a standard RRT-V top yoke Google Image, or a top yoke from a RRN-S which has already been drilled for risers Actual part, but has also had the ignition bracket / threads removed. You can have the pair with the standard top yoke for £30 posted or the pair with the modified top yoke for £25 posted.
Last edited by amorti on Wed May 04, 2011 8:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.

amorti
Regular Member
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 4:51 pm
Bike owned: CB-1, MSX125
Location: Gibraltar

Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by amorti » Wed May 04, 2011 8:06 pm

souperdooper wrote:Well for £15 extra its a small price to pay just to see how it looks. And I can always sell it if it doesn't do it for me.. They go for around £50 on ebay! he he
Fair enough, you might like it but it looks huge.
Also I forgot to mention that the forks will need new seals and oil. But I guess I would have done this anyway to be on the safe side.
It gives you a chance to be sure they're fresh, true.
Take your time with the pics. It won't be for at least two weeks before I get down to put the bike together.
Oops ;)
I'll still have to figure out a nice way to support the clocks and have it done beforehand. I have to say I wouldn't mind some new clocks to go with it.. Maybe from a CB1300! And with a fuel gauge.. ok I got a bit carried away here.. :grin:
If you figure one out, do let me know, won't you? I have included a picture of my messy "temporary" solution. Fuel gauge is mucho hassle, I'd say forget that.
Now on the steering lock you mentioned. I guess you tried it on the bike before putting it all together right?
Will a decent drill do for the grinding?
I tried it yes, and it didn't work. You could still ride the bike without a steering lock, but seems pointless when it only wants a little bit taken off. Oh, and the "ring" around the front of the lock has to goso the clocks meet up to the ignition. Mine will when I make a better clocks bracket. You can easily do this with a vice and either small hacksaw and file or angle grinder. Not sure how you want to use a drill for this.
And in general what sort of tools will I need? Also did you support the bike on a paddock stand?
Vice is essential I'd say. I used a grinder, but you'd manage with equivalent hand tools and patience. You need a drill and an 11mm (IIRC) drill bit for metal. Other than that you won't need much by way of tools, it all fits together amazingly easily. Centre stand, and wedge something of a suitable length under the exhaust. This is plenty stable enough.
Dude I really appriciate your help! You made me a very happy person..
I aim to please!

souperdooper
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by souperdooper » Thu May 05, 2011 2:12 am

nice pics!

But honestly until I get the parts in hand tomorrow evening I won't know exctly what Im getting into.. and still there is a good chance I wont know when I get them!! lol

So to the pics..

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/ ... G_0189.jpg

here the handlebars look welded to the yoke. Are they? Then how does this pic

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/ ... G_0243.jpg

relate to the whole process? Intermediate step? or just irrelevant? (red the comment on streetfighter but didn't get it.. What do these holes support?)

The price is fair for the yokes. Still don't know which option I ll go for but there is a chance I ll come over to have a look at your bike and get them myself at some point.


I ll take my measurements tomorrow and as soon as I get the parts I ll post some pictures too of the parts and the patient for the operation.. :grin:

amorti
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by amorti » Thu May 05, 2011 7:26 am

I bought a set of forks yoke and clip ons with the intention of putting clip ons above the yoke like the cb1 ha as standard. Turned out the forks weren't long enough for that though. The Std yoke I have is the later design which has a smaller top area (curved face). This lets you use a single bolt fixing round clamp but not the lower two bolt type like is ultimately used. Cb1 must use lower handlebar clamp as cables are short. When I realised that, I picked up the yoke with the holes, not realising the lock threads had been removed. Then the welded yoke turned up and I bought that as it was too good to miss.

souperdooper
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by souperdooper » Thu May 05, 2011 11:00 am

Alright! Now it all makes sense with the yoke.


I got the parts this morning!
And the fender actually turns out to be almost the same length if not the same. It is a bit wider I think but I want to use a 120 tyre at the front anyway with this setup. Twice as powerfull brakes and shocks shoulld go with a wider tyre I believe. As I had only afew minuts with the bike I didn't get the chance to take any measurements but I will do later on today.

The parts look dirty and used but without any marks and the forks seem to be straight. I was thinking if I could change the steel braided lines for the standard plastic ones and maybe sell them. First to reduce the cost of the overall attmpt and second and most important to have a bit more feel on the brakes. I ve never used steel braided lines before but I think they ll be overkill for commuting around London. Especially in the wet.. What do you think?

Talking about lines couldn't you just find longer ones and fit them to reach the higher bars? Sounds a lot easier but I have no idea if it is possible at all.

This
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-Bar-Riser-1-7-8 ... _797wt_922
solution for the bar attachement to the yokes seems nice and neat.

These ones though

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Bar-Riser-7-8-1 ... 2a0fb751f9

at 3" might to it better for me.
The shorter forks would be compensated and I would have a bit of space to pass a sat nav craddle through the gap to secure it to the bars.

Also with the parts I didnt get any fixing bolts and screws apart the ones of the calipers and master cyl. are they gonna be easy to get? Any chance that mine will fit just as well? Definenetely a good chance that I am asking to much here!! :whistle:

Now on the yokes you have. Does this

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i264/ ... G_0243.jpg

come with the lower triple yok too or should I look for one myself?

An idea on the instrument bracket. Maybe it can be secured on the inner lower part of the handlebar risers? I ll try to show a drawing of what I mean. Altough It wouldn't work on your welded yoke.

amorti
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by amorti » Thu May 05, 2011 11:17 am

Careful with changing the tyre. Only fit the recommended width rubber on any given width of rim. A 110 will be plenty. Yes 120 may be better for braking grip, but not for steering if it's "pinched" into a triangle on a too-narrow rim. As this page shows you, on a 3" rim like you have, only 110/70-17 is recommended. You could use a front wheel off a firestorm for a 120 tyre, but it starts getting more work and money.

I think the braided lines will look nice. I wouldn't change them unless they're too short (they probably will be). They won't be worth much s/h, maybe £20 on eBay if in decent condition.

The problem for me was the length of the clutch, choke, throttle cables. I could change them for longer but that's more £££ and hassle as they'd have to be custom made.

Up to you which riser to go for, just check that your cables will all reach first! Don't overplay the length of the forks. At free length they'll be maybe 1 inch shorter, but they have so much less sag that the actual ride height will be about the same or maybe even higher.

Worth trying the caliper bolts you have. You can get away with a bit of extra length, as long as it's never going to touch the disc! Pinch bolts were cross compatible on mine, should be on yours. What else are you missing? I will rummage in my spares box for you, no promises though.

The modified yoke I have would come to you as a pair with a standard lower yoke for £25 posted. Just remember the lock boss has been removed.

I think you have the same idea I had for making a better clocks bracket. Potentially much tidier than how mine is but as you say, no good with a welded yoke! I was thinking I might use the funds from selling you a pair of yokes to get an unmodified early yoke, and make basically what you are talking about. It's annoying that I can't use the unmodded yoke I have, but it looks awful with the flat-bottomed risers overhanging the curved surface. Fine with single bolt fitting risers, but then they're no good for me...

souperdooper
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by souperdooper » Thu May 05, 2011 12:43 pm

amorti wrote:Careful with changing the tyre. Only fit the recommended width rubber on any given width of rim. A 110 will be plenty. Yes 120 may be better for braking grip, but not for steering if it's "pinched" into a triangle on a too-narrow rim. As this page shows you, on a 3" rim like you have, only 110/70-17 is recommended. You could use a front wheel off a firestorm for a 120 tyre, but it starts getting more work and money.
Well thats what I thought too but plenty of CB400 owners have fitted 120 tyre front without any problems. Also I ve seen several cases of a rear tyre even up to 160!! Well I might just use a softer 110 at the front. Will cross that bridge once there..


I think you have the same idea I had for making a better clocks bracket. Potentially much tidier than how mine is but as you say, no good with a welded yoke! I was thinking I might use the funds from selling you a pair of yokes to get an unmodified early yoke, and make basically what you are talking about. It's annoying that I can't use the unmodded yoke I have, but it looks awful with the flat-bottomed risers overhanging the curved surface. Fine with single bolt fitting risers, but then they're no good for me...


here is what I think

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... nal2d2.jpg


The idea is to secure it under the yoke so that the top part of it looks nice and clean. I dont know if it is possible though. Otherwise

simply by reversing it

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... seview.jpg

It can fit on top and become the right hand bracket.

Of course the dimensions are random.
amorti wrote:The problem for me was the length of the clutch, choke, throttle cables. I could change them for longer but that's more £££ and hassle as they'd have to be custom made.
I tottaly forgot about those! :whistle:

I do tend though to have my clutch and brake levers tilted downwardsfor easier access which lowers them about have an inch. Although at the moment they re not to my desired fully lowered position due to the bend in the handlebars. But there must be longer cables maybe from bikes will taller forks? like transalp?

amorti
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Re: CB400SF brakes upgrade

Post by amorti » Thu May 05, 2011 1:48 pm

Tyres are up to you, doesn't matter what I'd do ;)

We are on the same idea with the brackets, yes.

The problem with bits off other bikes is that it is hard to work out what will fit. It would be handy if you would measure the SF cables for me? They might be just what I need.

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