My Custom Cx500 - Progress!

Can't find my original thread for this but never mind.
Finally making some proper progress after countless dreary hours of old paint stripping and polishing!
We've pushed ahead with the other bike (my mates) as he's done all the welding and fabrication for me and carted the thing to and from the paint shop.

Here's a reminder of how it looked when I bought it last year.


Some of the previous owners wiring skills on display!

As of Friday.


The other one

 

I think that's down to the spoked wheels - but they cost a fortune to do which is why I didn't bother!

 

I know! - he was determined to have them though and had to have them custom built. We met the chap who did it by chance at Kempton Park Bike Jumble but it turns out he only lived 3 miles up the road from my mate.

 

I think it's around £450.00 - problem is that the rear wheel needs to accommodate the hub for the shaft drive and the brake drum. Apparently a guy in the States has made a template flange for these wheels - not sure if that would have been any cheaper though.

 

The original bikes had twin pipes linked under the engine by a large "H" box thingy - very heavy and no longer available new even if you wanted one. Both our bikes had Motard 2 into 1 pipes fitted but mine had rotted out and been welded badly so ended up in the bin. You can still get the down-pipes but they end up a little short without the "H" box to link them to the silencers.
Luckily one of us can fabricate (I'll give you a clue - it's not me!).

He's also made the bracket for the front mudguards we bought at Kempton.
Just ordered these from Classic bike shop - I think Dilligaf would approve!

 

The mechanical water pump seal has been replaced - still a pig of a job even with the engine out!

 

Bit more work last night.
Carbs, forks and bars on.