This might be obvious, but...

[guest288]

As some of you may know, I'm currently trying to rebuild my Honda XBR but progress is, err, slow.
I've had the frame, swingarm and stands blasted and powder coated, and I'm starting to blank off the engine ports prior to having the engine blasted. I haven't started on the front end yet, and everything else is generally strewn around the garage. I bought a second hand bike lift, so I'm ready to go. The question is this- What order should I follow to rebuild the bike? Should I get everything cleaned and prepped first, then just have re-assembling to do at the end? Or should I get the frame done, do the front end, and put the engine in last?
Any help greatly appreciated.

[Andy M]

No fixed order I can think of. How will it be easier to support and get at? With the MZ I worked back to front as the backwheel and stand gave me support while doing the electrics. The engine then went in from the front (no down tube) and the forks were the last major item. With a down tube I can see getting a rolling chassis might work best, with a middle outwards approach on the loom etc.

Andy

[squirrelciv]

Firstly, I'm worried when you say you're blocking off engine ports before blasting. Trust me, the grit will get in! I for one wouldn't contemplate blasting a complete engine, infact, I wouldn't bead blast a dismantled one either.

Apart from that, if I had a choice and a bike lift, I would get the bottom end in the frame first, and build out from there. One tip is to lie the engine on the bench and slip the frame over the top, which can only be done if the frame is completely bare. Once the bottom half is bolted in, the whole assembly can be mounted on the lift and everything else can be added starting from the middle and working out.

Best of luck matey.

[guest18]

Well it's a while since I did one (  ) but when I did I put the engine on it's side (on some rag) and then put the bare frame over it and bolted it up. The swingarm/suspension/rear wheel were already assembled as a complete unit, likewise the front wheel/forks.
It meant that I had "piles of bits" for longer but then in the space of a day it went from piles of bits to complete rolling chassis and 70 or 80% done... a bike lift is useful for this as once the frame/engine is together you can sit it on soft blocks across the lift while you do all the awkward bits, airbox, oil tank, loom etc etc and then when ready it can be adjusted to the right height to attach the front and rear suspension assemblies with minimum lifting and dragging and max use of mhe 
Good luck! 

[J Hop]

I suggest building it up "rough" first (bolting everything up loosely) just to see how everything is going to fit.  There is nothing worse than getting everything painted perfectly only to find you want a bracket welded on, or something ground off.