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Tear it down and build it back up

We were pumped to have our Bullitt CB selected to be in the OG Moto Show. We were basically getting it prepped for the show and realized that it had gotten pretty beaten up over the last few years. Some of the powder coating was cracking, the fork boots were deteriorating…the list went on. It almost seemed easier to just tear it down, re-coat, repaint, and replace everything that needed it. So we did!

Bullitt CB torn down

Love to see ’em naked, amiright? That freshly coated frame, crinkle coated engine cases, cleared swingarm look so good. OK, maybe the white chain was a bit too much but it coordinated with the tank. Probably won’t do that again though.

CB350 custom tank

The original version of the tank. First time hand-hammering knee dents and pin striping. Came out ok, but didn’t feel “pro” if you know what I mean.

Stripping her back down bare.

Decided to fill in and smooth out the knee dents.

custom CB250 tank

Had to add in a Bullitt touch. Special thanks to Ronnie Simmons for the killer paint work.

Shortened up the headlight ears to pull the headlight in closer to the forks.

Adventure van loaded up with freshly coated parts and new shoes.

Third time’s the charm! After 3 sets of tires, finally settled on some meaty Heidenau K60 Scout Tires. 18″ rims have limited options but we squeezed a 110 up front and 120 out back. They virtually look the same size on, which is what we were going for.

custom Honda CB350 - Bullitt CB

Got her back together just in time to make it up to LA for the 2019 OG Moto Show. I had custom decals made for the tank and clearly mismeasured. They are definitely smaller than I would have preferred but I had no time to redo them and just had to roll with it to meet the deadline. I might remake some larger ones and just lay them over the clear. Or we’ll just see if the current size grows on me…

When there’s killer wall murals outside the show, you definitely snag a shot!

The show and the deadline was the kick in the pants needed to give the old girl a makeover and to get it done. Up next, taking her out for a little scrambling and action shots. Stay tuned!

If you want to see the build page for the Bullitt CB, and see how far she came, check it out here.

Patrick Flynn

Patrick Flynn

Patrick Flynn, a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, combines over a decade of OEM motorcycle marketing experience with his passion for custom builds. Since 2008, he has been the driving force behind The Bullitt, a digital platform celebrating the art and culture of motorcycles.