Building a Honda CA95 from Scratch-Where's The Bike Now?

[Smithers]

I can't wait to see the results of this build. And I can't wait to start working on my bikes again soon. Too much car work lately. :-\

[Spokes]

Originally Posted by Sam Green

Looking good Chip, don't get the frames mixed up.

Sam.

Thanks Sam! But a good point to bring up! From what I can see, the only real difference between a 1965 CA95 and a 1966 CA160 frames are:

1.) The serial number
2.) The seat bracket under the tank. The CA160 is larger than the CA95
3.) The passenger foot peg mount on the swing arm
4.) The chain guard. You can't mix a CA95 chain guard upper with a CA160 lower chain guard. BUT you can use a complete chain guard from either bike and it will fit as long as you use a complete set.
5.) The starter cable from a CA95 will not fit a CA160 (Too Short) But you can use a CA160 Starter cable on a CA95 (you will have a little extra)

Besides the slight frame difference,

1.) The engine mounts for the CA95 & CA160 are the same.
2.) The wiring harness is different from the CA95 as compared to the CA160 as the CA95 point condenser is internal and the CA160 the point condenser is external.

The gas tanks are the same except the tank panels from the CA95 have badge mounting holes that are closer together than the CA160 badge holes.
This makes a difference when buying generic replacement badges.

I can say from building both bikes at the same time that you can bolt a CA160 engine into a CA95 frame (or the other way around) as long as you change the wiring harness to match the engine.

[Spokes]

6-29-2011

2nd coat of paint on the Dreams today. Only a couple of paint flaws to fix.

[Spokes]

Time Stamp 7-4-2011
Finally after two years of collecting and restoring parts..the build actually begins. Today, the first step was to install the tail liight and wiring the frame for turn signals.

[kartgreen]

Spokes , lookin good . I'm sure you know this already but with all the new paint on our bike parts ( frame ,engine ,etc) the reminder to everyone , the frame (chassis ) is the ground source for the electrical system to work properly . If it's an electrical part being bolted on ,ie- coil, starter solenoid , rectifier , head and taillight ,engine to frame ,whatever else ,scrape a little paint from the bolting areas so everything has a solid ground point .
The other alternative is to run seperate ground wires to each individual component if you can't stand the thought of removing fresh paint .
See you in a couple of weeks hopefully .

[Spokes]

Thanks for the reminder about the ground when wiring. Yes I do grind off fresh paint to get a good ground. Wiring is next to this build. I just gt my new crome spokes and will be lacing wheels next week.

Time stamp 7-9-2011

I have been collecting front suspension parts. The pic below is the best parts assembled to gain two tight front ends for the dreams. The suspension is loose for now. The parts were cleaned and polished before assembly. Tomorrow the polishing continues to the shock parts. I hope to assemble the shocks as well

[Spokes]

Time Stamp 7-10-11
Forks mounted today and shocks built.

[Spokes]

Shocks Pic

[Spokes]

Time Stamp 7-28-2011

A quick pic of what the bike looks like today. I hope by the end of August she will be finished.

[Sam Green]

Looking realy nice Chip, where did you get the embelisher with built on turn signals from, Canada perhaps?

Sam.

[Spokes]

Hi Sam. No, I machine out a fender brace and mount a bullet light to the emblem plate for rear signals. I fit a clamp to the handlebars and a bullet light for fronts.

The switch is an add on, sourced here stateside. The winker is imported from Asia.

You can see a complete set on my bikes in my album.

[Sam Green]

Chip, why don't you just use C95 fender brace?

Sam.

[Spokes]

Certainly could use the C95 brace. But actually......I like the look of the 1964-1965 CA95 rear fender brace with the retro fitted bullet light. I also have converted the same brace to the original Asian turn signal design for others...but alas, the bullet light is just a matter of preference.

[Spokes]

Time Frame 8-13-2011

Up on her rear wheel. Wiring in. More progress pics soon.

[Spokes]

Time Stamp 8-16-2011
Countless hours, over two years time, the bike stands on her own with the engine mounted.