Topic: Project UFB 1975 cb550 (exhaust done)

[Mcwilliams570]

In the fine state of Delaware this is what 50 bucks get you for a parts bike ugly isn't it. For the last 6 months I have been moving this piece of junk around my garage (shed) to work on other bikes. Decided if I am going to keep moving it around might as well make it look like something. I picked up an engine for 20 bucks in New York that was going to be sold for scrap so will use that in it.

Not sure where this is going to go yet. I have done the cafe thing and I am sure as hell not going to restore it. Scott's build the sweep the floor one was cool so I am going to go that route. Just use things I have around the garage,can make or trade for.



The last couple of days have torn the engine down. The engine doesn't look that bad need to measure and order some gaskets etc for it. Was interesting that it was missing one puck on top not sure where that went too but had to be leaking pretty bad. The cam chain tensioner is cracked in several spots will replace that and go from there.







I had this gas tank sitting around think someone said it was a early 80's dohc one not sure though.








It is a big tank about as long as a cb500t tank but much wider not sure about the look yet. It is cool that the sidecover hole on the tank matches the 550 sidecover hole if I had sidecovers to put on it lol. Will have to make my own or something doing this on a very tight budget.

Things I know I will have to buy is besides all the usual stuff
-carbs
-airbox
-rear rim
-tires
-headlamp

Will update as I move along.

Thanks Matt

[goldarrow]

Subscriber #1!

[Tews19]

#2 for Tews!  The tanks looks like you have a nice candidate for a CR replica? Subscribed as your work is sweet!

[Mcwilliams570]

Subscriber #1!

#2 for Tews!  The tanks looks like you have a nice candidate for a CR replica? Subscribed as your work is sweet!

Thanks guys. Yeah Tews I picked the tank up awhile ago for a special project that I wanted to do but I am still in the planning stages on it so figured I would knock this one out. You are close on a CR replica but I will be doing a 1985 NSR500 Freddie Spencer bike out of a cb550 I am just trying to figure out how far down the rabbit hole I want to go on that one



Matt

[goldarrow]

Nice plan. But finding the fairing could be a real challenge....

[Gurp]

Nice i love the abition moving from one project to the next.

[Mcwilliams570]

Nice i love the abition moving from one project to the next.

Thanks Gurp.

Nice plan. But finding the fairing could be a real challenge....

Yeah that will be the hardest part. Trying to decide if I want to go old school with it or go with a modern front end and single shock in back but meh is on the back burner for now while I am still deciding what to do.


Havent done much on the bike yet been working alot should have some free time this week. I was selling a set of Yamaha vmax exhaust and a guy called said he was interested in them. I brought them over to him and traded the set of exhaust for 2 1971 cb500 bikes and best of all he had a cb500t gas tank that I used on my last project. So for a set of vmax headers and exhaust I got them. I was asking him about the blue one and he didnt know much about only that he picked it up a few days ago for a project then decided it was to much work.

The blue one is mostly there but the front end isnt right it looks like a 1975 or so cb500t forks and fender because of the single fender brace. Gas tank on the inside looks good the engine turns over and most of the parts are there. The parts bike came with a couple of boxes of parts looks like its missing the tank, sidecover, seat and exhaust.

Now gotta make room in the shed for them till I decide what to do with them.

[MoMo]

Matt,  from your photos it looks like you still have the Silverwing.  If you need any help or advice give me a call.  I am off Wed and Thurs. this week...Take care...Larry

[goldarrow]

Bummer those exhausts on blue bike are dinged up.

Nice score still.

I'm interested in those Honda tank emblems if you have no need for them.

[Tews19]

Another 500T tank? Man......

[Mcwilliams570]

Matt,  from your photos it looks like you still have the Silverwing.  If you need any help or advice give me a call.  I am off Wed and Thurs. this week...Take care...Larry

Silverwing is sold larry the guy is going to do a bobber out of it

Bummer those exhausts on blue bike are dinged up.

Nice score still.

I'm interested in those Honda tank emblems if you have no need for them.

Goldarrow the emblems are yours. I think I am going to use it as a parts bike for the 550. Give me a week or so to figure out what I am going to do with it.

Another 500T tank? Man......

Yeah man I just love the shape of that tank nice lines and a very small indent in it just a good looking tank in my opinion I buy them whenever I see them

Matt

[rb550four]

Matt,
  2 more cb's? It's not really an obsession ya know, it's an addiction, no known cure. Congratulations!
   At a 2 at a time rate, your shop should be stuffed like mine in 3 or 4 months. What fun !
                                                                                               RB

[Stev-o]

Mc -  the front fender on the Blue 550 could be from a 550F model.

Do you have an extra 550 tank?

[RAFster122s]

+1 on the F fender, more likely I think.
Well, you have a 550 to measure from, you could block up the bare frame with blue 2 inch foam (or pink) and sand it to the shape you are after. I have some tips for how you get the sides to match.  Use spray adhesive to build the blocks to size. Then on a good bench that doesn't twist the blocks, you lay up fiberglass panels and use carbon fiber tow crisscrossed to help boost rigidity. 10 oz boat cloth for initial layers and finish with some 3 oz and then some veil. You have to lay up each panel from bottom to top layer in one sitting which will take several hours to do.  Your back will probably be killing you when you are done. It also helps to have a helper and all your cloth is precut for the panels giving the bias of 45 for each layer for best strength and rigidity.
End result with some ligh sanding and bondo, some mounting flanges built in or added and some brackets fabricated to give it the mounts from frame and you have a very cool very custom fairing.

I won't kid you, it is a lot of work but it is very rewarding with the end results.

What is it, airtech that makes the repro fairings?  They are pricey pieces and this will cost you in materials and sweat equity.

[Mcwilliams570]

Matt,
  2 more cb's? It's not really an obsession ya know, it's an addiction, no known cure. Congratulations!
   At a 2 at a time rate, your shop should be stuffed like mine in 3 or 4 months. What fun !
                                                                                               RB

Yeah motorcycles are an obsession and lol my shed/workshop cant hold much more most I have had in there at one time was 8 of them.

Mc -  the front fender on the Blue 550 could be from a 550F model.

Do you have an extra 550 tank?

You are probally right stev-o didn't even think of the 550f model. I just traded 2 550 tanks for a shotgun Are you looking for a real nice one or one that is going to need some work? Let me know.

+1 on the F fender, more likely I think.
Well, you have a 550 to measure from, you could block up the bare frame with blue 2 inch foam (or pink) and sand it to the shape you are after. I have some tips for how you get the sides to match.  Use spray adhesive to build the blocks to size. Then on a good bench that doesn't twist the blocks, you lay up fiberglass panels and use carbon fiber tow crisscrossed to help boost rigidity. 10 oz boat cloth for initial layers and finish with some 3 oz and then some veil. You have to lay up each panel from bottom to top layer in one sitting which will take several hours to do.  Your back will probably be killing you when you are done. It also helps to have a helper and all your cloth is precut for the panels giving the bias of 45 for each layer for best strength and rigidity.
End result with some ligh sanding and bondo, some mounting flanges built in or added and some brackets fabricated to give it the mounts from frame and you have a very cool very custom fairing.

I won't kid you, it is a lot of work but it is very rewarding with the end results.

What is it, airtech that makes the repro fairings?  They are pricey pieces and this will cost you in materials and sweat equity.

Yeah RAFster122s I have thought about making my own I am also looking at maybe a cr750 fairing and then modifying that. When I do the nsr500 bike it wont be a exact copy of it main thing is getting the paint and decals as close as possible. All my friends even my wife are wanting me to do that bike I just dint like to rush things. It will be a fun build probally will take me a year to do it like my last project. This one is going to be a bit quicker once the parts start arriving

Matt

[Stev-o]

2 tanks for that shotgun, good deal!  Looking for a 550 tank with minimal rust on the inside and minimal dents out. Thx

[MoMo]

Nice blast cabinet, Matt...Larry

[Gurp]

Jealous of your work space lol.. its huge compared to mine. Mine fits none bike and a few parts and tools.

[goldarrow]

This UFB build will be interesting to see...what's UFB stand for anyways?

I'm working everything out of my backyard, now I really need to clean up things a bit before the rain comes....yes I'm jealous you all with shed or garage space :p

Edit: UFB = Unidentified Flying Bike?

[Mcwilliams570]

2 tanks for that shotgun, good deal!  Looking for a 550 tank with minimal rust on the inside and minimal dents out. Thx

Will keep an eye out for you Stev-o.

Nice blast cabinet, Matt...Larry

Yeah need to get a bigger compressor now Larry..

Jealous of your work space lol.. its huge compared to mine. Mine fits none bike and a few parts and tools.

If I think I am seeing what I think it is you have all the space you need.. That is a BEER on the counter isnt it

This UFB build will be interesting to see...what's UFB stand for anyways?

I'm working everything out of my backyard, now I really need to clean up things a bit before the rain comes....yes I'm jealous you all with shed or garage space :p

Edit: UFB = Unidentified Flying Bike?

UFB= Ugly Fu!king Bastard

Matt

[nccb]

I wish I could find a bike for 70 bucks!

[RAFster122s]

Nccb, calling what he found for 70 a bike is generous. It was a titled rolling frame from what I can see.

[Gurp]

Yeah thats a beer. As soon as me and the ole lady get a new washer and dryer im planning on getting  a 10 by 14 metal building from lowes lol

[Mcwilliams570]

Got all the engine parts ordered just waiting for them to all arrive. Last thing I am working on is hooking up a cb500 stator to a cb550 looks like it will fit but the connection is different.



I figure I can splice a 550 connector on it anyone see any problems with doing that.

-where can I buy a new connector at.
-does anyone have a old one they would sell or trade.
-does anyone have a cb550 stator they would sell or trade.

Dad sent me a few pictures of his speedster that he is building. The body work just got done is made out of aluminium. Looks pretty cool. Dad has it figured out the car will do about 100 that has got to be scary as hell in that car lol.







Matt

[Stev-o]

Matt- that car is awesome!  '32 Ford?

I don't know the 550 as well as the 750, but something is wrong. You sure you have the right part?
(the 750 has bullet connectors )

Connectors here....

http://www.vintageconnections.com/