Author Topic: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project  (Read 6556 times)

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Offline otosjay

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finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« on: May 01, 2012, 01:18:18 AM »
New to bike building but I'm having a great time with this project.  No real big bucks spent other than the exhaust (stainless Yoshi replica by Lossa Engineering).  Mostly just long hours tearing it down and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

I've got longer shocks to put on but other than that, some pics attached showing where she's headed.  I live near Daytona Beach (Harley Nation) so not a lot of people around hear appreciate these bikes so I'm interested in some feedback ... Let me know what ya think!

« Last Edit: May 01, 2012, 08:07:30 AM by otosjay »

Offline fastbroshi

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2012, 01:41:10 AM »
Looking good so far, especially the tank.
Just call me Timmaaaaay!!!

Offline CH

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2012, 03:27:09 AM »
what seat is that?

Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2012, 06:55:56 AM »
Thanks guys ...

@CH ... the seat is from Glass From the Past ... it took me 3 months to find it!

part number VINBTD at gftpstore.com

Offline CH

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2012, 12:19:04 PM »
thanks! love the look your bike has going

also, what year bike are those wheels off of? yahama mags correct?


Offline luceja

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2012, 02:42:33 PM »
Also curious about the wheels. Looks like an absolutely excellent project!
'75 cb400f, '77 cb550f , CB160 road racer, '88 Hawk GT track bike, FZR400 race bike, and a bunch of old hondas in boxes.

Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2012, 03:21:35 PM »
The wheels are actually Lesters ...

Check out this ad ... "because the make you look good" ... hahaha

Maybe make the bike look good but me ... not a chance.






Offline luceja

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2012, 03:47:12 PM »
dang, nice. I've had trouble finding a rear drum, 18" cast wheel, lots of 16's however. You're puttin 'em to good use!
'75 cb400f, '77 cb550f , CB160 road racer, '88 Hawk GT track bike, FZR400 race bike, and a bunch of old hondas in boxes.

Offline Greggo

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2012, 04:47:29 PM »
The Lesters look great!  (So does the whole bike ;) )  Did they come with the bike?  Are they correct for CB500/550's?

Offline jinx2350

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2012, 09:36:12 AM »
Into it!  Loving the blacked out Lesters. I just missed a set on ebay last week for $485.  Not sure if that was worth it, but I think I might have gone for it if I had paid attention to the auction. Those things just make the cb550 look so tough. GFTP is rad too. best prices on fiberglass seats I've seen.
'77 CB550 - Dirty Gold, sold in 2014
'79 CB650 - Mostly original, doing a bit of a refresh right now.

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Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2012, 09:49:58 AM »
@jinx2350 ... haha ... yeah I probably wouldn't have been rebuilding the bike if I didn't have the lesters but I would have paid that much if I was looking for them because a spoke rebuild aint cheap either and I like not having to run tubes.  I had them on there when the bike was stock and they just looked out of place ... but stripped down to skin and bones and the Lesters just brought the bike to life.

Offline Greggo

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2012, 10:36:28 AM »
@jinx2350 ... haha ... yeah I probably wouldn't have been rebuilding the bike if I didn't have the lesters but I would have paid that much if I was looking for them because a spoke rebuild aint cheap either and I like not having to run tubes.  I had them on there when the bike was stock and they just looked out of place ... but stripped down to skin and bones and the Lesters just brought the bike to life.


Dude, you need to run tubes on those rims!!
   I know they say tubeless on the rim, but it is strongly suggested you run them as a safety feature.

Offline Statenheimer

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2012, 12:35:02 PM »
Love the bike.  Pretty much how I picture my 550 cafe looking as soon as the resto is on the road.

Might be a noob question, but I have to ask:  What in the world is the long attachment on your center stand?
'75 550F - Resto/mod - Riding - But never really finished...
'76 550K - Cafe build - On hold
'78 550K - Parts - Good engine for another day
'73 500 - Parts - Engine seized
'90 CB-1 - No longer seized! but still title-less

Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2012, 12:51:43 PM »
@greggo ... I hear what you're saying ... but I'm pretty comfortable without.

@statenheimer ... haha ... that's my flinstone style brake ... haha ... the long arm and what looks like a center stand is all one piece and can only be used when the back half of this particular exhaust is off.  The shaft on the bike stays on the bike.  The center stand is cut so that the shaft on the bike rests on an open section of the stand.  Pull the long extension down and the bike comes up.  The bike will have about an inch longer shocks so it will essentially have this stance when not on the stand so the stand will only get it a hair off the floor once the new shocks go on.

Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2012, 04:55:07 PM »
So these are the shocks I'm putting on.  The guy I owe all my inspiration to has been helping me out left and right on anything I don't have the tools for (welding for example) and found a mint condition set of these at a swap meet to go on there.  They are 13.5" eye to eye vs the 12.5" that's on there now.  Swingarm is getting re-worked but these are some kick arse shocks ...

http://goo.gl/4IJws

Offline Greggo

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2012, 05:06:34 PM »
Those are very nice shocks I hear.  All chrome?

Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #16 on: May 07, 2012, 05:12:57 PM »
Body is aluminum.  Preload perch and springs are Chrome.

Definitely a solidly built piece.
« Last Edit: May 07, 2012, 05:23:35 PM by otosjay »

Offline jinx2350

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #17 on: May 09, 2012, 01:26:51 PM »
BTW, I've got the same exhaust.  miss my center stand sometimes, but man it's nice. eye pleasing, light weight, and sounds mean.
'77 CB550 - Dirty Gold, sold in 2014
'79 CB650 - Mostly original, doing a bit of a refresh right now.

instagram: acheatham

Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #18 on: May 09, 2012, 01:32:32 PM »
BTW, I've got the same exhaust.  miss my center stand sometimes, but man it's nice. eye pleasing, light weight, and sounds mean.

I cannot wait until I get to the point where I can here her fire up with that bad boy on there.  Have only heard a few sound clips but from what I've heard, it's the sound that all other exhausts should be judged by.

Got any pics of yours together ?  Or sound clips?

Offline jinx2350

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #19 on: May 09, 2012, 01:38:39 PM »




Had someone fab a quick bracket for me to hang off the rear passenger peg.  If you've cut yours off, you might have to get creative.  No sound clips, as it's not quite tuned correctly.  No top end, and gets bogged down when i really snap on the throttle. Need to re-jet.  I've heard 105 is a good spot to start with the stock airbox, but I'm fairly clueless about carb tuning.

AC
'77 CB550 - Dirty Gold, sold in 2014
'79 CB650 - Mostly original, doing a bit of a refresh right now.

instagram: acheatham

Offline jinx2350

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #20 on: May 10, 2012, 02:23:25 PM »
couple questions for you..

What tires are those?

Is your top triple flipped upside down?
'77 CB550 - Dirty Gold, sold in 2014
'79 CB650 - Mostly original, doing a bit of a refresh right now.

instagram: acheatham

Offline IRISHCBRACER

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #21 on: May 10, 2012, 04:31:37 PM »
What is exhaust is are you using in these pictures?





Had someone fab a quick bracket for me to hang off the rear passenger peg.  If you've cut yours off, you might have to get creative.  No sound clips, as it's not quite tuned correctly.  No top end, and gets bogged down when i really snap on the throttle. Need to re-jet.  I've heard 105 is a good spot to start with the stock airbox, but I'm fairly clueless about carb tuning.

AC

Offline IRISHCBRACER

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #22 on: May 10, 2012, 04:33:58 PM »
oops, I read the thread in more detail.  Is the Yosh replica you have made of stainless? It looks very yellow.

Offline otosjay

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #23 on: May 10, 2012, 06:32:18 PM »
Yep .. Flipped top tree.   Looks real good and allows me to tuck the clips on below the tree ... I have since lowered them from where they are in this pic by about 3/4 inch.  A single gauge will fit perfectly in the cutout that used to be the mounting points for the dual gauges.

The tires are Shenkos 230's ... 110/90 front and 120/90 rear.  http://www.bikebandit.com/shinko-230-tour-master-motorcycle-tire

That exhaust  on Jinx's bike is stainless and I'd actually call it bronzed ... Which if it happens on my bike I'd be totally cool with that.   But my guess is that the bike is running lean.

Jinx I dig your instagram feed BTW.  Looks like your a tog.  I've got some stuff here ... Shutterhead.com haven't updated it in a while though. You got anything else?

Offline xsmooth69x

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Re: finallyfast.com is my CB550 Project
« Reply #24 on: May 29, 2012, 11:02:10 PM »
what clip ons are those and where did u get it. build looks amazing btw
1975 CB550 (FINISHED?!?!?)
first motorcycle ever!!! ow and i dont know how to ride it either :D

raw rust rice venti quad shot cafe racing latte project aka my build..... http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88853.0

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1972 cb750 - next in line for some <3