Author Topic: my first build: bratstyle 550f yard find (Read 5942 times)

vantastic550 · « **on:** January 24, 2012, 05:45:41 PM »

found this 77 550f under a tarp in behind a apt building. did some door knocking and found the owner and offered to buy it american pickers style. guy seemed like a total pack rat but he had the title and the keys and took 200 bucks.
So i'm gonna build a bratstyle low budget bike with it.

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2012, 05:50:36 PM »

nice. You are off to a better start than most. Looks like plenty of stuff to sell off to fund the little brat.

Stev-o · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2012, 05:54:33 PM »

Welcome! First thing I would do is take that fairing off.

Tews19 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2012, 05:56:08 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on January 24, 2012, 05:54:33 PM

Welcome! First thing I would do is take that fairing off.

+1 Post more pics on here as well so we can look at her

vantastic550 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2012, 05:58:11 PM »

owner said he bought it new in 77 and rode it till 83 and then chained it too that tree since then.
so it could use a little love for sure.
I got it home and started cleaning it up and stripping things off it.

vantastic550 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:13:17 PM »

a few months have gone by since i got her i had a 75 550 that i was working on for a friend so i borrowed the carbs off that changed the oil and spark plugs put a battery in they got her fired up. running mind you not ridable yet, but i know the motor is goodish....
shortly after that i bought an early 750 tank and borrowed the seat off the loner 550 to start the mock up process.

vantastic550 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:23:42 PM »

here is where i am now. i moved into a small house in denver with a garage all my own:) and started setting it up for the bike work. built a bench and work table/cart. got a sandblaster and soda blaster, hot coat gun and big ole air compressor and a buffer.
so here are some pics of her this week....
i'm trying to come up with a cheap simple way to modify the frame for a brat style seat. and make her look a bit more bobbed and stout hence the 750 tank on a 550... going for the short muscular look...

vantastic550 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:25:44 PM »

i hacked off al the frame tabs that usually get cut and cut the sub frame right by the seat arch so i could use that to hold the rear fender and support the seat. and mocked up the rear fender mounting.

naber11 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:29:29 PM »

I built this 550F with superbike bars, made my own seat, its more street fighter than brat, I have two more in the works and plan to do the same style. I think the seat makes the diff

FrankenFrankenstuff · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:30:36 PM »

fastest build thread ever. I have a Cb550F tank that you can have for short $$. The guy I got it from brazed the heck out of the pinholes then used the POR 15 tank liner. Still looks stock.

I have to ask before Steve O does. Is that a spray tan booth in your shop?

vantastic550 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:33:12 PM »

then i started cutting up the seat pan (this is the original pan and its pretty rusted out but i figured i could use it as a template then buy another to do the mod to). I removed a few inches from the middle then i put the front and back together . i still need to remove a strip from the middle of it longways to make everything mesh well. but i think this hides the rear frame arch well and allows for a brat style seat cover....
what do you guys think?

vantastic550 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:37:45 PM »

slowest build ever franken, i was just catching you guys up i got her almost a year ago and just got rolling with the progress. but new garage full of new tools helps a lot.
and thats my sandblasting booth:)

vantastic550 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:41:23 PM »

Quote from: naber11 on January 24, 2012, 06:29:29 PM

I built this 550F with superbike bars, made my own seat, its more street fighter than brat, I have two more in the works and plan to do the same style. I think the seat makes the diff

nabber got any closeup pics on that seat how you built it?
looks good

naber11 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:43:12 PM »

Hey Franken, if van doesn't take the 550F tank I can use it. How much?

Stev-o · « **Reply #14 on:** January 24, 2012, 07:01:46 PM »

Is that a spray tan booth in your garage?

Love that 4 into 1 exhaust!

naber11 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 24, 2012, 07:05:12 PM »

Ok, the seat story: 1st attempt at a fiberglass seat, took a 1" wooden shelf board, cut it to size of frame, used construction paper and duct tape to mock up the rear part of seat, then aluminum tape over the const paper for strength, then 5 layers of fiberglass and alot of resin, and alot of sanding and prep before paint, bought a cheap light/tag combo mounted under the rear, check the muffler, its a autozone cherrybomb for $20 bucks, sounds awesome, it was a cheap build. wheels and spokes were hand sanded before enamel paint, and avon tires, total cost of build just under $1000, sold the bike for $3900 on craigslist in 12 hours

vantastic550 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2012, 08:19:53 PM »

sweet. i love the muffler idea. how was it to fit the cherry bomb?
what kinda wheel paint /method did you use?
i'm thinking of doing my rims in red and spokes raw and polished and black hubs

naber11 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 25, 2012, 06:51:44 PM »

I sanded the rims alot and also each spoke. spray can enamel from advance auto i think, flat black, same paint on lower forks, frame, etc. rode it for a year with no paint problems. Sand everything alot.
Took cheapo-muff to muff shop and for $20 bucks he welded the header end diameter on one end of muff and also added a hanger to bolt muff to bike. I have two more 550's in the barn and will be building them the same way with the same type seat. notice the seat does not align 100% with tank, etc. I will make new seats hang lower over the frame rails. It costs about $50 for the fiberglass seat. The seat is what makes the bike and was main selling point. The muffler setup makes these 550 engines sound low and loud.

lucky · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2012, 11:49:38 AM »

I bought a Moroso muffler that looks just like that.
The inside has a spiral screw design that is supposed to keep the flow unobstructed.
It is all metal no packing.
Is that one the same? Or does it have fiberglass packing inside?

Sure would like to hear that muffler.

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Author Topic: my first build: bratstyle 550f yard find (Read 5942 times)