Topic: CB550 Gulf road race build 592cc

[Dimitri13]

What a great way to start the second page

Small, but big update.

Just ordered the Dynoman stage 2 kit, along with new valves, guides, and Progressive fork springs and shocks. I was planning on getting +1" shocks, but I was talked out of it.

I think I'll be sticking with the original paint scheme, inspired by Ringo's Gulf build. Obviously it won't be anywhere near the quality of his build, but I'll try my best (way better than I've been trying so far).

I'm picking up a set of (used) OEM HM323s. Hopefully they'll look good and flow with the rest of the bike.

Some inspiration just in case I get stuck or side-tracked again.

[TS250]

Haha, well your "inspiration" is a little out of date now!  Here ya go:







And with the clear ignition cover and Anti-Pod:




I haven't adjusted color balance for these, so they may look a little off.

List of changes since you last saw her:
10.5:1 CR JE pistons, 591cc
Webcam 358b grind
Anti-Pod
Oregon Motorcycle Parts R/R
Packed muffler and made new baffle
Custom molded carbon fiber front fender, rear hugger, and belly pan
Dual front disc w/gsxr master cylinder
Fork brace
Race Tech fork springs and cartridge emulators.
Powered the steering damper
Aluminum clip-ons
Triple clamp, sprocket cover, and axle spacers machined to reduce weight further.

And I sold it. 


Cheers man, good luck sorting her out.
Chris

[Dimitri13]

Hey Ringo, thanks for the update! I saw that version at some point on the site you referred me to, but completely forgot about it. As for the changes, mine will be very similary. 592cc 10.5:1 CR pistons from DynoMan, webcam 358b grind, stacks (I'll see how they go), solid state r/r (likely Oregon, or whatever the one cyclex sells), MotoGPWerks exhaust, glass front fender (not in the budget atm), and I LOVE the belly pan, not sure I'm skilled enough to do one up, GSXR1000 front end conversion with stock wheel size (big $$$, will do eventually), fork brace from FFTP, cartridge emulators and steering damper (kinda $$, eventually), cyclex clip-ons, and billet aluminum top clamp ($$, eventually).

Any info or pics on the sprocket cover and spacers? And I'd REALLLLLLLLLLY love to know what brand/color you used for your blue and tangerine, I just can't quite find the right swatch at the coaters. And what tank is that, I don't think I've seen it before. Custom? And looks like the tail matches as well. I likely won't use them (don't wanna be too big of a copycat haha), but I'd just like to know.
_________________________

Received (most of) my parts today.



Kibblewhite valves, valve springs, and valve guides
APE heavy duty studs
Barnett heavy duty clutch; steel and fiber plates, and springs
Progressive fork springs and shocks, black on black
CycleX clip-ons, black

Not picture:
WebCam 358b cam (shipped from webcam)
Dynoman 592cc high compression pistons (delayed due to Sandy)

[TS250]

Very nice! The sprocket cover and spacers are done by a friend.  The spacers, he's just recreating in aluminum.  The sprocket cover was just thoroughly lightened.  It was finished after I sold it, so I don't have any photos yet.  I'll post them when I get them from the new owner.  The tank and seat, I made myself, like the rest of the body work.  As for the paint, the brand was varied, but hope this helps:

[Dimitri13]

Can't wait for the pictures Chris.

Parts are still trickling in. This looks hot (pun intended).

[TS250]

That's the 58b grind, right?  With that cam, I noticed a bit of a loss in the low end, but the high rpm gain is well worth it.  That combined with the JE piston set makes for some decent fun in the higher revs.  You'll like it.

[Dimitri13]

Yep, the wevcam 358b grind. I'm not too worried about the low end loss too much, as I won't be spending much time in traffic.

I sure hope I do. Looking at my budget and timeline though, I won't be done with this build until after the new year

[stuartni]

bike looks amazing, where did you get the rear carbon fender from

[Dimitri13]

Stuart, I believe he said he made all the CF parts as well as the bodywork.

Chris, I can't really tell where either side of the steering damper are mounted. Care to share? And what brand is that?

[TS250]

Hey Dimitri,
It's a late model GSXR750 electronic damper.  There's also non-powered versions out there from other years, which would be easier than wiring one like this up.

To mount it, I welded together a bracket that attaches to the frame, to keep the damper away from the tank.










And Stuart-  yes, the fiberglass and carbon parts are all one-off pieces.

[matt mattison]

That's the 58b grind, right?  With that cam, I noticed a bit of a loss in the low end, but the high rpm gain is well worth it.  That combined with the JE piston set makes for some decent fun in the higher revs.  You'll like it.

Would a change in the sprockets get some of that low end power back?

[TS250]

I went up to a 40-tooth rear, from a 37 stock.  It did help a little, but I don't like the reduction in top-end speed.  After going up one on the counter shaft sprocket (keeping the rear 40, which brings me to near stock, less than +1 in the rear equivalent) it's much better. 

The loss in low end power isn't nearly as bad as I may have made it sound.  It's noticeable if you're paying attention, but nothing that really bothers, in my opinion.

[Dimitri13]

Where'd you get the 40-tooth sprocket? Did you have to have it custom made? I couldn't find anything except - sprockets for the rear, but I was able to find + and - for the front, and I was planning on trying out a -1 in the front and keeping the rear the same.

[TS250]

That's definitely one way to do it.  Honestly, after the engine work, I preferred near-stock gearing.  Topping out at 100-105 with the 40-tooth and stock countershaft wasn't fun.  Plus the revs were fairly high for cruising.  That's why I went up on the countershaft as well.

The rear sprocket was a custom job, made by Sprocket Specialists.  I went that route to get one made from aluminum--quite a bit lighter that the stock steel.  It doesn't last as long, but we're still talking tens of thousands on miles...   If I recall, it was about $70.

[Viktor.J]

Hey Dimitri,
It's a late model GSXR750 electronic damper.  There's also non-powered versions out there from other years, which would be easier than wiring one like this up.

To mount it, I welded together a bracket that attaches to the frame, to keep the damper away from the tank.










And Stuart-  yes, the fiberglass and carbon parts are all one-off pieces.

Do you know what "stroke" it is on that damper ?
Im locking for a damper but want to know if it fits. The meassure ive have so far is "at least 90mm", but this one looks smaler. Maybe almost every length is ok and that it's the way of mountin it that mathers ?

[TS250]

I couldn't tell you.  I do know that there is a few millimeters extra on both sides fully cranked, because I had to enlarge the steering stops a little for tank clearance.  Could be too little with a stock setup?  It also depends greatly on where you mount it.  If I had mounted it to the fork tubes with a bracket, like a lot of folks do, there very well may have not been enough play or stroke.  I think it also would have dampened TOO much if I'd gone that route.  Having the mount closer to the axis yields less resistance, which is best for this damper when powered (it's strong!).

[mazen0822]

That's the 58b grind, right?  With that cam, I noticed a bit of a loss in the low end, but the high rpm gain is well worth it.  That combined with the JE piston set makes for some decent fun in the higher revs.  You'll like it.

Where did you get the JE pistons from. I contacted them but was told they don't make any?

[Bluegreen]

That's the 58b grind, right?  With that cam, I noticed a bit of a loss in the low end, but the high rpm gain is well worth it.  That combined with the JE piston set makes for some decent fun in the higher revs.  You'll like it.

Where did you get the JE pistons from. I contacted them but was told they don't make any?

Here's where I got mine:

http://www.dynoman.net/engine/pistons/dp-CB550.html

[TS250]

Same.

[Dimitri13]

Oh, the pistons Dynoman is sourcing are JE? I meant to ask him what company he was getting his pistons from

Although... Dynoman says the pistons are coming from the east coast, but JE is in CA.

[Bluegreen]

Maybe they changed, but my JE's came from there.

[Dimitri13]

I sent Dynoman an email, I should have a response tomorrow. What sucks is that the pistons are delayed about 3 weeks.

[Dimitri13]

A quote from buzz at dynoman " The pistons are our design and are custom made for us by JE."

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Can I come to Hawaii and go for a ride?

[Dimitri13]

You sure can