Topic: College build '78 cb550 cafe. Creating the Old

[Strangexj86]

hey guys, new to the forum, just picked up my first bike last week; a 1978 cb550. The PO had done quite a bit of work to it. New wrapped headers into vance &hines exhaust. new aluminum side markers, headlight, handle grips, clubman handle bars, end mirrors, new ignition and upgraded coil system. valve's redon 500miles ago. timing chain replaced, etc. etc.

Anyways, i'm super excited to finally have a potential cafe racer, looking forward to making this a nice winter project.

I'm having a little trouble navigating through this forum (i'm used to r3vlimited for bmw e30's) on my usual forums there was a search option where you could search in the specific thread section you were viewing. Anything like that on here? it seems like you can only do a generic google or forum search that doesnt really work.

anyways here's a few pics of my "new" bike.

[brewsky]

Welcome!

I just got a "new to me" 78 550 also.

Yours looks much nicer though!

[Strangexj86]

thanks guys. I cant wait to start messign with this thing. I've predominantly worked with german car's (extensively) so my mechanical ability is high enough where Im confident i can turn this into something great. I've already started forming up a new seat mold so we'll see how that goes.

[Magilla]

When searching, use google and ad SOHC to your search.  That seems to work pretty well at bringing you to the right topic.

Nice bike.  Looks like it was well cared for.

[ChuckG750f1]

Welcome to the forum.  Nice bike!  It's great that you started right off with pics too.  Keep it up (a lot of members can't read).  . -Chuck

[Strangexj86]

finished up a few additions to the bike yesterday. mini gauges with indicator lights and smaller bar end mirrors. let me know what you think.

the tank, seat, and rear sets are next

[Tews19]

What are your plans for the tank?

[Tews19]

Oh yeah very nice bike! Had the same one last year. Sold it and picked up an identical  77 yesterday are you going with the naked look?

On the main page use the google search. Look up Andrew. Same bike turned into a cafe with the stock tank. Bike was sick. I plan to do the same with this one I got yesterday.

Edit- found the build. Check it out. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=97338.100

[Stev-o]

Welcome Strange.  I have a 550 too...

[Strangexj86]

What are your plans for the tank?

i am pretty sure i'm going to go with a gs450 tank. i wanted to weld up a tank myself but it is just more work than i want to do right now and the gs450 tanks are awesome and cheap.

Oh yeah very nice bike! Had the same one last year. Sold it and picked up an identical  77 yesterday are you going with the naked look?

On the main page use the google search. Look up Andrew. Same bike turned into a cafe with the stock tank. Bike was sick. I plan to do the same with this one I got yesterday.

Edit- found the build. Check it out. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=97338.100

thats a pretty sweet bike. as for the naked look yeah. stripping the frame and relocating all the electrical. I wont be getting to it till maybe october when the weather turns and i cant ride anymore.

[Strangexj86]

Quick Update:

i took off both fenders and wired in a litle brake light underneath the seat. I'm happy with the outcome, especially since it was only $5 at Shucks.

Here's some pics for you guys.

[jason41987]

youre lucky.. my CB550 came without a seat, without a tank, no muffler, no front brake caliper, no key, and no wiring or electrical system.. no turn signals either... heh, i got a title with it though

[Gurp]

Its beautiful... Love the exhaust. Great. Bike man

[Strangexj86]

thanks man! I'm really happy with the way the bike is turning out. I couldnt havestarted with a better bike.

I'll try and get a sound clip of the exhaust. it sounds awesome

[Tews19]

You should really put the frint fender on or get a front brace. Safety first!

[Strangexj86]

im fabbing a custom front fender in my metal fab class right now. COming soon!

SO on another note, came home yesterday morning only to find that someone tipped my bike over, broke my end mirror clean off, dented my tank, bent my handlebars, bent my rear foot brake, scraped my new exhaust and dmaged my seat key slot.

No note, no nothing. Didnt even bother picking up the broken pieces off the ground. They didnt even attempt to have the bike stand up. What is this world coming to?

[Strangexj86]

update: ive been posting over in dotheton but I figured I should post my progress over here too.

here ya go, hope you guys dig it.

Here't the progress in the past week or so..



stripped the frame to bare metal. Took forever! Used aircraft stripper and steel wool. Going to be black oxidizing it this week.



fabbed up a rear fender out of 16 gauge sheet metal.



welded on little tabs so the fender is removable.




UPDATE: Frame is officially done. Couple coats of InstaBlack using the room temperature black oxide process and a coating of Boeshield T-9 Corrosion Protection and Rust prevention.

All tabs were mig welded, 16 gauge sheet metal cut with a plasma cutter and fine tuned with a bench grinder and hand grinder. The rear fender portion is one continuous piece from rear trailing arm up to the new seat loop.

here's a quick teaser for the shop I have complete access to. WSU's Metal fabrication and engineering lab shop. Loaded with industrial size lathe's, MIG, TIG, ARC, Oxy, Piranha cutter, drill presses, verticle and horizontal mills, and plasma cutters. Its any wrenchers wet dream.


and now.... on to the bike. Hope you guys like it.

[IAmCitizenMe]

I am keeping an eye on this one.

[Strangexj86]

I am keeping an eye on this one.

I'll try to not dissapoint.

[alancop]

Cool to see another bimmer guy around here! I have an e36 325 that I work on when I'm not working on my '78 CB550K, It's a ton of fun.

[cabrala]

Where did that seat you had on there end up? It was a nice looking one that was definitely not stock on the '78 550 model. At first I was thinking that it was a '77 or earlier 550 seat, but the little flip up at the tail of it has me thinking otherwise too; maybe 400F?

Either way you've got some good bones to work with and I wish you luck and enjoyment.

[ladyrocket]

Will your rear wheel come close to hitting the fender you made if the shocks are compressed?

[Geeto67]

couple of points:

1) if you keep those mini gauges the tach won't be accurate. As far as I know there isn't anybody making a mini tach in the appropriate ratio for the 550/500/400/350F and twins. If you don't believe me put a dwell meter on it and check it yourself.

2) you needed to have the swingarm in place with the fully assembled rear wheel/tire and the shocks (minus the springs so you can compress them to the bumpstop) to check for clearance when you were fabbing up your hoop. I would check your clearance before you paint the frame.

[Viktor.J]

I love your Twin Peaks themed garage

[Strangexj86]

Cool to see another bimmer guy around here! I have an e36 325 that I work on when I'm not working on my '78 CB550K, It's a ton of fun.

nice! And yeah this is my project while im not in Seattle working on my e30.

Where did that seat you had on there end up? It was a nice looking one that was definitely not stock on the '78 550 model. At first I was thinking that it was a '77 or earlier 550 seat, but the little flip up at the tail of it has me thinking otherwise too; maybe 400F?

Either way you've got some good bones to work with and I wish you luck and enjoyment.

The seat is not being used now. I'll be fiberglassing my own when I get to that point. I'm not sure what model the seat is from. It was the one that was on the bike when i bought it. And thanks! I really like working on this thing.

its pretty close but it wont hit. I'll be upgrading the shocks to a taller and stiffer set so I'm good there.