1961 CB72 Project

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:41 am

Just found this wonderful picture of one of the first CB72s to arrive in England. It was taken at the TT in 1962 and the guy sitting on the bike is Kunimitsu Takahashi who was leading the 125 world championship at the time.

http://forums.autosport.com/topic/91269 ... ia/page-71

This bike came into England in May 1961. It looks like a blue bike with a blue seat to me.....

G

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:35 am

Graham - any secret to painting the tank around the gas cap hole so that the paint won't potentially lift when the tank's filled with gas? Paint right up to the edge? Leave a gap?

Superchicken · Post by **Superchicken** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:36 am

Hey G. thanks for posting the picture, of that bike and rider, the Takahashi family still racing bikes in Japan!! Vince, on the gas tank question, I know people that leave a gap then coat it with fiberglass resin.

Superchicken · Post by **Superchicken** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:48 am

2 more I just noticed, it has small front brakes, and a colored seat.

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:56 am

Vince

We don't have quite the ethanol problem as you and I haven't put one of mine to the test recently. When I did bikes back in the late 90s i had no problems at all just painting right up to the edge.

I'll let you know what sort of disasters occur!

G

Vince Lupo wrote:Graham - any secret to painting the tank around the gas cap hole so that the paint won't potentially lift when the tank's filled with gas? Paint right up to the edge? Leave a gap?

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:02 am

Interesting to look at the clutch lever. There is some discussion that they would have been like early Dream or CB92 with tiny ball-ends.

The front brake is the same diameter, but single-leading-shoe.

The owner has also removed the seat strap and the rear light bracket is silver.

You can also see the hollow wheel spindles - the rear is drilled right through - and the black rear brake cable. Front brake cable is gray and the speedo and tacho cables would be black.

You can see that it is not a regular British import as there would have been holes and brackets on the front fender for the license plate.

Superchicken wrote:2 more I just noticed, it has small front brakes, and a colored seat.

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:07 am

G-Man wrote:Vince

We don't have quite the ethanol problem as you and I haven't put one of mine to the test recently. When I did bikes back in the late 90s i had no problems at all just painting right up to the edge.

I'll let you know what sort of disasters occur!

G

I would be interested to know how it goes -- that was one of the reasons why I converted my tank to the CB350 gas cap arrangement.