Topic: UK 500 four cafe racer build

[deafcaferacer]

Love the clean look of your bike. Keep up the good work.

I get a kick out of reading your posts because of the difference in terminology, especially cussing 

[Kemp]

Used 14.5 inch CB900F shocks on a CB550 build for exactly the same reason. Also dropped the front end 1/2" but kept the stock 19" front wheel with high profile 110/90 Shinko front tire. The thing handles beautifully, rock stable at 100mph, not twitchy at all and has a little nicer turn on corners. (bronze bushings in swingarm from CB750 which was 1" shorter and cartridge emulators in forks)

[Ewan 500K1]

Used 14.5 inch CB900F shocks on a CB550 build for exactly the same reason. Also dropped the front end 1/2" but kept the stock 19" front wheel with high profile 110/90 Shinko front tire. The thing handles beautifully, rock stable at 100mph, not twitchy at all and has a little nicer turn on corners. (bronze bushings in swingarm from CB750 which was 1" shorter and cartridge emulators in forks)

cheers for that Kemp, feeling more confident every day  ... Did you add a damper ? I suppose the shorter swing arm would bring the tear shocks closer to perpincicular and therfore increase the rear end further that just the increase due to the CB900 shocks ?

[Ewan 500K1]

Love the clean look of your bike. Keep up the good work.

I get a kick out of reading your posts because of the difference in terminology, especially cussing 

     
eejit = #$%*ing idiot
effin = #$%*ing
fukin = #$%*ing
bloody eejit = #$%*in idiot that bashed finger with hammer
baistirt = fatherless child
mingin = unpleasent to the eye or nose

[Ewan 500K1]

Drilled and tapped both caliper arms today to add grease nipples. Also flattened off the rear of the pivot arms where the grease nipples were added to make for a closer fit. The nipples extend through the caliper arm body by about a millimetre so had to add a wee washer so that they dont rub on the pivot pin.

Also helicoiled the caliper arm mounting bolt holes on one of the forktubes ... near disaster with one hole. The helicoil didnt see to go in right and the bolt was stiff to turn .... = sheared bolt. Managed to drill it and the helicoil out cleanly , retapped and rehelicoiled (phew)

Santa bought me an hour in a gyrocopter from http://www.chrisjonesgyroplanes.com/ instead of gettin me a powdercoating or chroming voucher. I cant complain tooooooooooooo much but if he thinks I'm giving him a hand in a reindeer free present run round the chimneys next year he's got another thing comin. Powdercoatin on hold till a few bills are paid

[Ewan 500K1]

dot dot dot

[crazypj]

Racing is a different ball game, you may want it to steer real quick
On the street it isn't generally a good idea

still be interesting to know though ?

Don't know why I forgot to answer this, yes, it does get a real bad tank slapper between 115~118mph but is fine over 120 to 130. Even modified 550 doesn't have enough power to quickly accelerate through problem area. Slowing down isn't a problem, tap the front brake and your down below 110 too quick for anything nasty to happen
 Nice to see you did the grease nipple mod on brake arms, guess I was some use after all 

[Ewan 500K1]

Racing is a different ball game, you may want it to steer real quick
On the street it isn't generally a good idea

still be interesting to know though ?

Don't know why I forgot to answer this, yes, it does get a real bad tank slapper between 115~118mph but is fine over 120 to 130. Even modified 550 doesn't have enough power to quickly accelerate through problem area. Slowing down isn't a problem, tap the front brake and your down below 110 too quick for anything nasty to happen
 Nice to see you did the grease nipple mod on brake arms, guess I was some use after all 

that'll be okay then, it tops out at about 105 

[Ewan 500K1]

Dropped the frame, swingarm, botton yoke, rear brake stay, rear brake rod and engine mounts off at WTA Coatings, just outside annan, at the start of the week 

http://www.wtacoatings.co.uk/

Also, Having failed to find any UK / european suppliers of plugs to blank off the tacho drive hole in the rocker cover, I ordered a couple from america, both meant to be for 750's.

First one, from http://www.workingclasschoppers.com . This one is a bit on the loose side and doesnt have a groove for an o-ring.

Next one from member 754 on the US site , this is a much snugger fit and has an o-ring groove. I think he still has more available.

[crazypj]

I make them as well but don't generally sell for the 4's as removing the complete drive and fitting a plate looks neater on 500/550
I made it initially to fit speedo drive but it worked as tach plug on CB350/360 and various other Honda's (450/500twin) The 'O' rings are to keep dirt out rather than oil in but they work for that as well. People who make them without 'O' rings don't ride or work on bikes so don't know what they are doing - take the money and run 

Made a different piece to remove speedo drive when using electronic speedo (CB400f wheel with CBR600 disc rotors)

[Ewan 500K1]

Got my bits back from powder coating today . £165 including a tiny bit of spot welding. Very happy with the job, the coaters blanked off all bearing surfaces, thread holes etc.   

[Ewan 500K1]

Just need a few bits chromed now before putting it all back togeather.

[Ewan 500K1]

Looks nice, Ewan. Here in the states, it's become increasingly more difficult to do real chrome. Many have turned to nickel plating as an option. Rust doesn't adhere to nickel, has a similar appearance, and can look better. Just a thought...

... but I'd need to spend more elbow grease on polishing it ? 

[Ewan 500K1]

Looks nice, Ewan. Here in the states, it's become increasingly more difficult to do real chrome. Many have turned to nickel plating as an option. Rust doesn't adhere to nickel, has a similar appearance, and can look better. Just a thought...

... but I'd need to spend more elbow grease on polishing it ? 

woooooof ......just got a quote for chroming by sending off some photos. £168 ($277) for the bits in the pic above. ....... is nickel cheaper ?

[Ewan 500K1]

Don't need to polish nickel any more (likely less) than chrome.

Cheaper, yes! You can buy a DIY kit and do it yourself. I know your in the UK, but Caswell sells a kit for anodising, nickel or copper plating. Small scale kits, but I think just enough to do your bike.

http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/anodizing-products/anodizing-kits.html

Have a look and see if it might address your needs for less.

cheers Cal, had a gander. They have a european distributer: http://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/electronic.htm
cheapest nickel kit is £192 ($316) ...so still a bit on the pricey side for the sake of a mudguard , a wee bit of wire, horn cover  and a brake arm.  I've made a few other enquiry's for chroming  quotes from companies over here, ... we'll see

[Ewan 500K1]

Picked up chroming job  from Cumbria Metal Finshers today, proper triple coating. Seems like a decent job and reasonably priced at £120 inc VAT. I'm happy with what they've done http://cumbriametalfinishingltd.co.uk/

[Ewan 500K1]

So, now that the frame has been coated and I've got my chroming back, I'm ready for the final reassembly .... summer here we come   

Engine in the frame, new headstock bearings in, new swingarm shock mout bushes installed, swing arm on, Hagon 14 and a half inch rear shocks on.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's exciting.  Keep the momentum going!

[Ewan 500K1]

That's exciting.  Keep the momentum going!

Momentum !!! ... its taken near two an a half years so far ... but at least I'm not needing to spend ony mair spondoolies ... so should get a bit faster now 

[Ewan 500K1]

Back wheel on, forks on, front wheel on. Chain clearance with longer rear shocks not leaving much room .. might need to get a swing arm protector

[Ewan 500K1]

Tarozzi rearsets on... not get enough "spring back" on the brake lever side using the stock honda spring, will need to think about that.

[Ewan 500K1]

Baffled Exhausts & NHK 500 ODM Steering Damper on.  Close up photos of the steering damper show left and right full locks (bearing in mind the steering stop was extended 10cm either way)

[flybox1]

nice dampener setup, but why on the throttle hand side? 

[Ewan 500K1]

nice dampener setup, but why on the throttle hand side? 

... coz its that side of the lower triple T that has the threaded bolt hole in it for the damper ..... and why not anyway, is there an advantage to having it on t'other side ? 

[Ewan 500K1]

Only so you can adjust with the left hand while riding and not take your hand off the throttle. I've seen it both ways...

aha .. now I get it, cheers Cal.  Existing hole in the triple T did for me though