New member!

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:35 pm

Going to pick up my first street bike tomorrow, an 81 CB900C. Not too bad for the price, thought id get on here to get some info an whatnot, maybe some nice prices on some used parts and stuff.

Im a mustang car enthusiast, had a 02 GT a while back, got rid of it due to financial reasons..found something to get me back and forth to work , and a new project! A bikE !!

Ive ridden trails and raced a little bit..had an old XR100 dirt bike, and a CR125R for sometime. Loved riding, now im gonna get out on the street. Being safe as always. Anyways, glad to be here an lookin to get some good info! Very Happy

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:48 pm

Howdy

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 12:50 am

Welcome to here wave

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 5:58 am

Welcome Rider. If you have never ridden street regularly, a Motorcycle Safety Course is recommended.

Trees and rocks do not move, frigging cagers do! You have to ride with a sixth sense on the street and watch for all the unexpected moves as well as the crap in the road. Wink

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:05 am

Welcome to the site 81CB900CRider ... Smile

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:27 pm

Glad you came in . -- Don't be bashful . -- I have to say I agree with O T . -- MANY MANY pitfalls await you if you go into the world of cagers unprepared . -- Welcome

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:18 am

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!

And i have ridden a little bit on the street on a buddies bike a few times, but nothing too extensive. I plan on using the bike for getting back and forth to work, as well as hopefully restoring it as much as I can and getting it looking really good!

It currently has a huge front fairing on it which I do not like IMO. Also some saddle bags which'll come off soon as well. I know a lot of people who do not use their heads properly riding, and I don't want to be scraped up off the pavement. I've done my share of "stupid things" off road, and getting hurt a few times will teach you to be smart and no so careless. Thanks guys, look forward to learning a lot here!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:23 am

When you pull that stuff off (which you will find you will miss if you are going to use it as a commuter) post some pics and prices in the for sale section

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:50 am

Yep, if you run the interstate regularly you will miss the fairing. There is a lot of sand and such on the interstates that cars and trucks kick up. Makes you feel like you are running through a sand blasting cabinet! Shocked

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:26 am

Not to mention those great on the way home showers! Naked bikes are great for running around on but wanna take something with ya to work or pick up something on the way home? Ever try to bungee down a dozen eggs? I've lived in that part of the country, it's nice to have that windbreaker and rain suit tucked away. May haul it around 364 days but that one day ya need it, you will be like man I'm glad I got it!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:53 am

Yep, these damn pop up showers in this part of the world sure make a fairing worth while.

I run 20 miles east to west and 17 miles north to south. So if you draw that cross and circle it, there are a lot of showers that can move through that area in an hour.

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:42 am

Back again! Got it today and rode a few hours before work, to work, and back home..Its a lot of fun! The saddle bags are coming in good use (taking my lunch to work, extra jacket, a drink ect.) Got a little bit of sun today while I was out for two hours, lol. Had to pick myself up a new helmet too, didn't want to wear a dirtbike one, so I got one from Pepboys for now for about a hundred bucks, DOT approved and a full face of course! Smile

Anyway, heres a few pics of the bike I took today when I got it. Its a little dirty but friday it'll be cleaned up! Let me know what everyone thinks! Mind you, its an 81 with only 28k miles on it!

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:46 am

Wow, that's a bitchin fairing Wink

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:35 am

genesound wrote:

Wow, that's a bitchin fairing Wink

Are you serious? Lol..Up close it looks kind of black, unlike the gas tank or anything else. Maybe a super dark green even..

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:09 am

That was the standard color of the bike for that year. I have one that looks just like it. No luggage and my fairing is a Windjammer. I checked Vetter's website and do not see anything that looks like that, it may be a Pacifico fairing.

Anyway, the bike look good! Wink

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:41 am

'Tis not a Vetter, but most of the frame mounted fairings of that Vintage get called "Vetter" almost generically.

I actually like the look of it! I like the upper lip that extends over the headlight. I think that fairing has nice lines.

And 'Rider... trust me, dude... voice of experience here... keep the fairing. If you're using that bike as a commuter, you want that wind protection more than you realize. Believe me now or believe me later. There's a reason that Vetter alone sold hundreds of thousands of Windjammers.

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 7:10 am

Wow!
You didn't mention the price in your first post, but it looks like you scored!
If you open the fairing pockets and look inside, you may find a label of some kind to give a hint as to the manufacturer. Rest assured, you have a unique and stylish fairing. The bags aren't too bad, either.
I think the bags have latches on the front and rear. If so, you may want to secure the lids to the bags with lanyards, if it hasn't been done already, so you don't lose one of those expensive things going down the highway.
A touring saddle with adjustable backrest = more expensive accessories.
Other than the undersized gas tank, your bike is set up for going a goodly distance, for sure.
You will quickly get used to how the handlebars turn, but the fairing doesn't. In fact, given that you have ridden it for two hours with the fairing on it, if you take it off, you'll be putting it back on in pretty short order!
The paint looks good, all the parts are there, chrome looks solid.
I'd say you got yourself a pretty good deal.
Things you should do:
change the oil and filter (unless you have something that shows when it was last done)
lube the driveshaft and swing arm pivots
check the age of your tires - even if the rubber looks good, if they are over 4 years old, they should be replaced
install a paper fuel filter
Find out who made that fairing! Wink

Great looking bike, there. Most of the ones we see and buy are not running, are missing a bunch of parts, are covered in rust, have rattle can paint jobs, and generally need two people to push because the brakes are locked up.
It's good to see one brought in that is ready to ride once in a while.

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:00 am

You did good, nice bike

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:49 am

Agreed . Nice . Smile

That's a Wixom fairing .

Here's a pic of another one off a BMW that's not near as nice as yours .

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:10 am

http://capttop.blogspot.com/2008/02/motorcycle-years-from-motorcycle-design.html?zx=20dcc7371e5e7dfb

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:52 pm

Thanks everyone for the comments! It is a very great bike for the price! The guy was wanting 1000.00 for it, but I talked him down to 650! Razz

hehe.

Thank you pd750 for verifying the type of fairing it is, I took off the pocket covers on the inside but found nothing but a little bit of taped up wiring for the lights/heated seat/volt meter.

Got it out for a little today, but sadly it started to rain so I stayed close to home just in case. Rather not have it out in the rain anyways. I believe friday I am going to get some cleaner and clean it up a little bit, give it a wax on the painted parts and see if I can't clean up the chrome some. My windshield is a little foggy looking at night due to some light scratches or what have you. Anything ideas to clean that up with?..

Another thing I have noticed. It does leak a tiny bit of oil out of the bottom backhand of the crankcase. Not a whole lot to worry about but a spot or two on my garage floor to notice it. Any ideas there either?

Again, thanks for the comments everyone I really appreciate it! Seem's like an awesome forum here!! Smile

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:01 pm

RUN! RUN!! You stole that bike! Nice deal. I love those side bags. Very unique.

Don't know the history of the bike but they can leak in a lot of places of course and the wind blows the oil around and makes it look like it's coming from places it's not. Check the valve cover gasket, especially around the chrome end caps, the tach seal and the tach gasket in the VC. Of course, all other gaskets should be suspect too. They are probably old. An entire gasket kit will run you around $100, depending on what you buy.

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:10 pm

Hey! That bike still has a headlight bucket!

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:41 pm

Which side of the bike does the leak occur?

I suspect the shift shaft seal.

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:15 pm

Novus makes some great plastic cleaner polish