Author Topic: Recent mods - fender / brake light / bars etc. (Read 6761 times)

Tim. · « **on:** June 02, 2006, 08:19:12 PM »

Well, I received the new brake light in the mail today, and couldn't resist digging in.

Bent the light bracket to 90 degrees and used the license plate mount to attach to the tool box studs on the bottom of the seat pan. Had to slightly lengthen the slots on the bracket to mate with the bolts, but only a little. Spaced it off the seatpan with a single nut on each side. Left enough stud for the bracket, a washer and another nut.

Working on a new seat for it, and have flush mount signal lights coming which will go on the frame where the grab bar bolts used to go through to the rear fender. Signals mount with adhesive - will route the wires through the existing holes in the frame.

Tim. · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2006, 08:22:55 PM »

More pics - shorter muffler is going on soon - will get it cut down and pipe sized to mate with the stock header/gasket. The flanged area on the muffler is very close as-is, just a touch small to fit over the gasket. The pipe will be cut down so the bracket is in line with the rear foot peg mount.

Tim. · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2006, 08:25:30 PM »

These are the drag bars I drilled and installed a week or so ago. A compromise between stock and clubman. I'll likely go with clubmans eventually.

Tim. · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2006, 08:27:16 PM »

Current profile - will be much improved with different seat and shorter muffler.

Pirate Gonzo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2006, 11:07:28 PM »

Looks really nice!! Is that a Cat eye Taillight? I like the mounting of it. Are you going to hang the plate off the lower left?

78CB750F1 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2006, 12:21:22 AM »

Looks great - what seat are you going to use?

Tim. · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2006, 05:39:09 AM »

Yep - cat eye taillight, straight from Taiwan

License plate will be on a sidemount bracket on the left side of the bike. It won't be lit up, at least for now. I'll either add LED licence plate bolts or some other method of lighting it up so the cops don't freak out.

Front fender is going too, along with speedo (replaced with bicycle computer).

The seat I'm working on is another CB550F seat that I'm changing the profile of. Will look something like:

http://www.britcycle.com/Products/51312ANortonRacingSeat.htm

Chris Liston · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2006, 06:52:00 AM »

Looks great. Please let me know where you found those blinker lights. very nice.

KB02 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2006, 06:56:19 AM »

Lookin' nice!!! I love that color.

What tires are you running on that?

Tim. · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2006, 07:18:22 AM »

The signals are from good ol' eBay

http://stores.ebay.com/LuckyBike-accessories_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ0QQftidZ2QQpZ2QQtZkm

The colour is factory original Sunrise Orange. The tires are Pirelli Sport Demons:

http://www.pirellimoto.com/en_96/tires/template_categorie.jhtml?selected=desc&catid=96STXPL&productid=16927&nome=SPORT_DEMON

KCs76Cafe · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2006, 07:26:26 AM »

Looking good tintin. I like the look of the cateye.

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2006, 12:05:36 PM »

Looks great !
Any worries about taillight to rear tire "love" over a good bump ??

upperlake04 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2006, 12:39:38 PM »

looking good tintin, the new seat will set it all off nicely. Nice also to see the friendly gesture to the south of 49ers, I understand today we begin a kinder, gentler SOHC/4.. YES!!

glendaler · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2006, 12:47:38 PM »

that's a great looking bike, thats exactly what i want to do with my bike, let us know how the turn signals go. thats a really good idea.

Tim. · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2006, 03:53:12 PM »

Here's the license plate bracket - made it today.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=10440.0

Tim. · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2006, 07:39:44 PM »

Quote from: ProTeal55 on June 03, 2006, 12:05:36 PM

Looks great !
Any worries about taillight to rear tire "love" over a good bump ??

Well, if I hit such a bump that my rear shocks compress the distance between the tire and the light, losing my light will be the last thing I'm worried about

I'm not sure if the wheel would even travel that far - what is the travel on a set of rear shocks anyhow?

Tim. · « **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2006, 05:14:58 PM »

Added a muffler that's been following me around from house to house for the last 6-7 years. Chopped the pipe down and it slid onto the 550 header perfectly. Much more aggressive sound, 1/2 the size and 1/3 the weight of the stock bazooka and actually noticed more power

Had to remove the centre stand without having the stopper on the original muffler to hold it away from the chain. Only solution I see is to add something to the left rear footpeg bracket to hold it down, or just live without.

I left the pin in for the centre stand - I figure worst case I could use a floor jack to lift the bike from under the pin with a grooved wood adaptor.

Tim. · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2006, 05:20:05 PM »

And this is what a CB750F tank looks like on a 550

Chris Liston · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2006, 06:29:00 PM »

Looks good. what year tank is that, and where did you get that seat

Jarkko68 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2006, 06:39:48 PM »

Hi Tintin!Nice bike!What is the sound like with shorter muffler?

Fish · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2006, 06:51:47 PM »

tintin,

That is an awesome looking bike. I love the mods, nice work!
Are you selling your old muffler? Also if you don't need that goofy old orange tank I'll buy it... and your sidecovers don't really match anymore...

Haha

- Chad

(No, I'm serious. Call me)

3 sticks · « **Reply #21 on:** June 22, 2006, 06:52:40 PM »

NOW its starting to look like a real cafe. I'm seriously digging the visual effects the new tank and seat give off. I'd like to get a new tank for my 78 550 as the stock one is a bit small for my taste.

and i'm with chris. what years' that tank!?

Orcinus · « **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2006, 07:00:28 PM »

Looks like the 77/78 F Tank

STLrocker · « **Reply #23 on:** June 23, 2006, 12:21:44 AM »

Quote from: tintin on June 22, 2006, 05:14:58 PM

Had to remove the centre stand without having the stopper on the original muffler to hold it away from the chain. Only solution I see is to add something to the left rear footpeg bracket to hold it down, or just live without.

I left the pin in for the centre stand - I figure worst case I could use a floor jack to lift the bike from under the pin with a grooved wood adaptor.

no need to worry about floor jacks and wooden adapters. i just leave the centerstand and pin off of my bike until i need it. then it only takes a minute to put it in place and slide the pin in to hold it to the frame. you dont have to tighten the bolts or put the springs on. when you are done, take it right back off.

maksuttt · « **Reply #24 on:** June 23, 2006, 04:45:13 AM »

Nice bike!
Is it possible to make bracket on muffler mounting to stop stand? I have same thing on my bike, if you need picture i can make it on weekend.
Do you ride it?

cafe-starter · « **Reply #25 on:** June 23, 2006, 05:51:38 AM »

where on earth did you get that fantastic tail light

Tim. · « **Reply #26 on:** June 23, 2006, 07:19:21 AM »

Boy oh boy - the questions!

Ok - the tank is unfortunately not mine. It's a friend's who also has a 550F. We were test fitting on my bike as his is currently indisposed. It is a CB750F, pre-'79. It fits like a glove, but you do have to trim the little studs on the frame under the front tank mounting rubbers, and cut the rubbers down. The 750 has a narrower front end than the 550 for one reason or another.

The rear of the tank sits perfectly on the frame. The 750F tank has two little rubber pads in the back end, and they sit firmly on the frame. Couldn't fit better. The rear rubber mount does not line up, but it's a relatively simple matter to secure the tank down to keep it in place.

The seat was a swap-meet find from last weekend. Paid $20 for it

. A little narrow for the 550, but could be made to work. I just put it on there to see what it would look like.

The tail light is a basic ebay cateye light. Go to the beginning of this thread to see how it's mounted to the 550 seat.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4641352200&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT

I noticed when removing the centre stand that the pin was inserted from the right side of the bike. I would have to remove the header to actually get it out far enough to remove completely. I got it out enough to get the stand off, but not without some serious effort. Perhaps it should insert from the left side of the bike where there are no pipes. Who knows.

I ride the bike daily - it's downstairs from my office right now. Hit the 'ton' every time I ride

3 sticks · « **Reply #27 on:** June 23, 2006, 08:12:32 AM »

Quote from: tintin on June 23, 2006, 07:19:21 AM

I ride the bike daily - it's downstairs from my office right now. Hit the 'ton' every time I ride

good man

will

dusterdude · « **Reply #28 on:** June 23, 2006, 08:25:42 AM »

tintin,i bought a piece of angle with holes in it from lowes and cut it and bolted to the left passenger footpeg bracket.

Bodain · « **Reply #29 on:** June 23, 2006, 06:04:42 PM »

Hmmm. I'm liking how you mounted that that taillight to the seat. Imitation is the best form of flatery.

Tim. · « **Reply #30 on:** June 24, 2006, 09:14:30 PM »

I caution anyone mounting the tail light as I did - when I took it out on it's maiden voyage, we went for a very bumpy ride in downtown Toronto. One bump caused the rear to compress enough to nail the light and destroy the lens. Light bent up dragged by the tire. Was able to straighten it back down. Just the lens broke - lightbulb still works and no damage to light housing.

So, I'll wrap it up with some clear red tape till I replace the lens. Haven't had it happen again. Will leave it in place till I'm done my new seat which will have a light mounted on the rear.

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Author Topic: Recent mods - fender / brake light / bars etc. (Read 6761 times)

78CB750F1

upperlake04

glendaler

Jarkko68

3 sticks

cafe-starter

3 sticks