Author Topic: 1975 CB550 brat build... (new pics, new bars, new stuff) (Read 36852 times)

Goldbug · « **Reply #25 on:** August 22, 2012, 08:50:32 AM »

What brand and size tires? I think that's what I want for my 550.

xnewmanx · « **Reply #26 on:** August 22, 2012, 12:57:04 PM »

OK, lots of updates.

In order to decide what I wanted to do with the bars,

I drew them in CAD:

Then printed them on my 3D printer at work:

Decided I liked them so I translated the pieces into flat paper templates, then wrapped them around the pipes so I knew how to cut them:

The finished bars. I decided not to paint them and just clear coated them.

Before installing them I went on a ride and one of my cool cast iron headlight nuts fell off (must buy loctite) so I made these brass ones up to replace them. Not as cool as the cast Iron ones, but whatever, made them on my lunchbreak at work.

And here are some shots of the bars installed with the vicious cycles internal throttle:

Oh yeah... and I got this too:

xnewmanx · « **Reply #27 on:** August 23, 2012, 05:41:43 AM »

Two pics of the whole bike:

kerryb · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2012, 06:25:06 AM »

As I admired this bike in a parking lot near a theater, my wife commented that he should fix the dents in the tank...so I had to explain form following the function of knee fit. I think the pipes are my favorite part.
You sir have some serious skills, oh, and by the way...nice nuts!

cb550choppa · « **Reply #29 on:** August 24, 2012, 05:18:49 PM »

pure awesome

JimJamerino · « **Reply #30 on:** August 24, 2012, 05:42:26 PM »

Way cool build. If I worked in a machine shop, I'd be making stuff for my bike all the time, too.

steakCB550K · « **Reply #31 on:** August 24, 2012, 09:02:00 PM »

great bike and i really like your style. The exhausts are pretty sweet. I am jealous of the stuff you get to play with at work.

MiShift · « **Reply #32 on:** August 25, 2012, 08:13:57 PM »

I've gotta say man, you do some great work! I appreciate your unique ideas and the exhaust is #$%*in! Subscribed!

srbakker · « **Reply #33 on:** August 25, 2012, 08:32:39 PM »

I bow to your skills. Nice work - I love the exhaust!

xnewmanx · « **Reply #34 on:** August 27, 2012, 10:40:25 PM »

Motion shot...

Mugen_Stumpo · « **Reply #35 on:** August 28, 2012, 06:00:07 AM »

ahhahahaha, that's great... looks like a lot of fun as long as you wear an helmet (a great looking one too

)

xnewmanx · « **Reply #36 on:** August 28, 2012, 07:07:00 AM »

I was going about 50mph. No way I wasn't going to wear a helmet.

kerryb · « **Reply #37 on:** August 29, 2012, 12:24:34 PM »

Next time we see this I want to see evidence of protective gloves and a white silk scarf!

longshanks · « **Reply #38 on:** September 01, 2012, 10:45:03 AM »

You gotta post a video of that exhaust note!

Flying J · « **Reply #39 on:** September 02, 2012, 09:48:19 PM »

do you have any pictures of your headers. I would like to make some out of stainless but im not sure how to make the flange for the exhaust clamp. Great looking bike.

xnewmanx · « **Reply #40 on:** September 03, 2012, 04:25:29 AM »

Quote from: ffJMoore on September 02, 2012, 09:48:19 PM

do you have any pictures of your headers. I would like to make some out of stainless but im not sure how to make the flange for the exhaust clamp. Great looking bike.

All I did was weld a small ring into the pipe that the stock flange presses against. The flange is loose, but is technically trapped on there.

Gurp · « **Reply #41 on:** September 03, 2012, 11:04:18 AM »

Your bike was nominated and seconded for bike of the month already.

Congrats

mono · « **Reply #42 on:** September 11, 2012, 02:01:24 PM »

wow. as someone who spent a lot of time RESTORING the exact same bike, this thread made me a little nauseous (i think it was the "beating the tank with a hammer" part, lol) ---- but also i am absolutely impressed by how awesome it is.

great job! "hold nothing sacred" is the attitude i'm taking towards my new build, which if it turns out half as cool as yours i will be happy with. well earned nomination for BOTM.

and +1 to awesome machining/fab skills. those pipes are badass.

xnewmanx · « **Reply #43 on:** September 11, 2012, 02:41:42 PM »

Quote from: mono on September 11, 2012, 02:01:24 PM

wow. as someone who spent a lot of time RESTORING the exact same bike, this thread made me a little nauseous (i think it was the "beating the tank with a hammer" part, lol) ---- but also i am absolutely impressed by how awesome it is.

Thank you. I never really understood why people restored things. I like the idea that I'm driving/riding something that no one anywhere else has/uses. But it's all personal preference.

I guess I'll pop this here too... made these on my lunch...

Headlight mount nuts! I machined them to accept a 100 and 50 yen coin that I had laying around from a Japan trip I took about 10 years ago. Came out pretty sweet I think!

750resurrection · « **Reply #44 on:** September 11, 2012, 09:06:38 PM »

Nice work man, thank you for not "boring restoring" and instead improving outside of the disgusting (restore/cafe/brat) box.
Noticed the matching green striped plug wires.

Post #34 topped it off well - oh yeah that freaking did it - excellent.
Ha!

Thanks - more builds to you (posted here of course) if you ever get the bug again.

xnewmanx · « **Reply #45 on:** September 17, 2012, 10:41:48 AM »

OK. I'm still not certain I am even going to go this rought with the headlights, but I happened upon some fairly rare (in the states at least) headlights off of a Euro spec 80's BMW M3.

I'll decide more once I get them mounted in an actual housing...

Here they are just held on with electrical tape.

And then I drew up these housings:
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And then printed the housing on my 3D printer:

Fresh off the printer...

I'm still skeptical on the overall size... I'll see how I feel about them once they're mocked up again...

mono · « **Reply #46 on:** September 17, 2012, 11:16:39 AM »

super jealous of the 3D printer.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #47 on:** September 17, 2012, 02:52:22 PM »

Love the 3D printer! Wow.

greenjeans · « **Reply #48 on:** September 17, 2012, 02:57:06 PM »

Dare I ask how much that set you back ? The 3-D printer...

Mugen_Stumpo · « **Reply #49 on:** September 17, 2012, 03:25:53 PM »

i really like them...

and i like even better the new grips

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Author Topic: 1975 CB550 brat build... (new pics, new bars, new stuff) (Read 36852 times)