Author Topic: 1977 CB550F IDK (first build) (Read 178045 times)

minimo · « **Reply #350 on:** April 09, 2015, 11:05:36 PM »

Yes, the full-face bubble shield.
But ya, I probably should look into a full-face for a first-timer, eh?

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #351 on:** April 10, 2015, 03:22:32 AM »

Quote from: minimo on April 09, 2015, 11:05:36 PM

Yes, the full-face bubble shield.
But ya, I probably should look into a full-face for a first-timer, eh?

Do you like the appearance of your face?...even if the answer is no, you are gonna like it a lot less without a jaw!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #352 on:** April 10, 2015, 06:32:21 AM »

I have a 3/4 but I rarely wear it - mostly for rally/parade style rides. Even then, I prefer a full-face helmet. Think about the lower half of your face. Plus the full face offers built-in wind protection.

minimo · « **Reply #353 on:** April 10, 2015, 08:23:12 AM »

Fine arguments, seanbarney41 and CB750 and goldarrow.
While I understand the safety benefits of a full-face, I guess I really don't have a good reason to go open-face other than to wreck my beautiful mug

Thanks for the guidance, y'all!

Any recommends or anyone swear by any full-face helmets? Anyone have their noggin and chin spared by their helmet? If looks mattered a little bit, that vintage look would be nice to maintain.
Biltwell Gringo Vs. Bell Bullitt? Shoei Vs. Arai (though they don't have many, if any classic designs, at least here in the US)?

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SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #354 on:** April 10, 2015, 08:31:33 AM »

Try them on and kind out what is most comfortable for your nugget. Avoid cheap helmets. They tend to be noisier and may lack quality in construction. Remember it is your brain and face you are protecting. Arai and Shoei are pricey but VERY high in quality and design.

Bigsam302 · « **Reply #355 on:** April 10, 2015, 09:12:43 AM »

Well said Cal! I was in an accident on my sportbike about 10 years ago. I broke my leg, but I didn't have any road rash because I always wear my leathers. My helmet bounced on the pavement twice (I actually bounced on my head and don't know how I didn't break my neck), and it was just scratched. To this day I will wear nothing less than Arai helmets.

Since I started building my café racer I've been considering an open-faced helmet, because I want to vintage look with goggles, but I can't bring myself to commit to it. So I'm just going to get a matte black Arai helmet and get it custom-painted with some vintage logos or something.

minimo · « **Reply #356 on:** April 10, 2015, 09:58:19 AM »

Thanks, CB750, calj737, and Bigsam.
I'm looking into an Arai - because I think my head is worth it

I was looking into the Shoei Neotec, but the modular things make it seem a lil gimmicky...
Maybe looking at the Shoei RF-1200
http://www.shoei-helmets.com/Helmet.aspx?RF-1200&h=24&t=1

Or, an entry-level Arai. Maybe the Vector 2 in Diamond Black http://www.araiamericas.com/default.aspx?pageid=57#/helmets/moto/vector-2/solid/diamond-black/8

minimo · « **Reply #357 on:** April 10, 2015, 10:31:33 AM »

Btw, BRITTOWN (2008 documentary) recommended for you moto nerds. Beautiful rebuild of a classic Triumph 650 Bonneville.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #358 on:** April 10, 2015, 06:15:50 PM »

Quote from: minimo on April 10, 2015, 08:23:12 AM

Fine arguments, seanbarney41 and CB750 and goldarrow.
While I understand the safety benefits of a full-face, I guess I really don't have a good reason to go open-face other than to wreck my beautiful mug

Thanks for the guidance, y'all!

Any recommends or anyone swear by any full-face helmets? Anyone have their noggin and chin spared by their helmet? If looks mattered a little bit, that vintage look would be nice to maintain.
Biltwell Gringo Vs. Bell Bullitt? Shoei Vs. Arai (though they don't have many, if any classic designs, at least here in the US)?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

no specific recommendations, just that a cheaper full face is gonna be better than an expensive open face. Might check out the Bell line, good quality, lower prices than Shoei/Arai and some have a little more vintage style.
I have had more than a few get offs and every time a head impact was involved, sure enough, the tell tale scrape on the helmet was in the chin/face area...and I have rode away from every one of them (currently knocking on wood) with my ugly mug still intact and attached.

minimo · « **Reply #359 on:** April 10, 2015, 06:27:01 PM »

Thanks, seanbarney41. Yeah, I was looking at those vintage-y helmets from Bell and Builtwell. I like the idea of supporting the made-in-USA-ness about those buckets. I guess like CB750 says, I should try some on to see what's the best fit for my 23" head. I'll be calling around. And yes, knock on wood for all of us to keep our mugs (even the ugly ones ;-) intact and attached.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #360 on:** April 10, 2015, 06:50:18 PM »

Keep in mind that it will be pretty snug when you put it on the first time. You don't want any slop but you don't want it uncomfortably tight either.

minimo · « **Reply #361 on:** April 14, 2015, 11:22:19 PM »

More helmet options...

minimo · « **Reply #362 on:** April 22, 2015, 08:47:57 PM »

Holy mother of swing arms!
It's on. Easier than expected.

minimo · « **Reply #363 on:** April 22, 2015, 11:39:27 PM »

View from the back of the bus

minimo · « **Reply #364 on:** April 23, 2015, 03:56:14 AM »

A partial mock-up of the drag bars. Stock MC with Slingshot Cycles SS braided steel front brake hoses (with even a Speed Bleeder to boot, in the caliper that is).

Fingers are crossed that the battery mount is going to work. So far so good (gulp)

I think we're finally getting somewhere. Check out the 16" Harley rear. The guys at Johnson & Wood (NoHo) told me that was a common mod back in the day to save gas. I wasn't sure I'd like the look when first heard that but now I'm kinda liking it

I ordered a pair of Biltwell Thruster grips (and I don't know why). I like the look/feel of the original grips so I may keep them on. I'm also going to swap out the clutch cables for a set of Motion Pros. The current stock setup is sticky; there might be a fray in the line, I bet.
What a night. Probably the most productive I've been in a single day amid the three years it's taken me to get to this stage. I feel like I've come far but there's still so much more to do and get into.
Next up is to get the chain on, maybe finish up the rear brake assembly if possible. It's almost 4am. What am I doing with my life?
This weekend is the long-awaited motorcycle training course. I'll be sure to rest up well to try to soak in every bit of info provided.

minimo · « **Reply #365 on:** April 23, 2015, 04:06:46 AM »

Copy that, calj737. Thanks for the tips.
Good call. Like I said, I'll be swapping out the cables for some Motion Pros. I hope that the cable change will make for some fluid movement

minimo · « **Reply #366 on:** April 24, 2015, 12:26:45 AM »

The e-clip comes in a close second in terms of pain-in-the-assness to the darn valve keepers.
Be sure to have some deflectors around while you're putting the e-clip back on the underside of the kill switch knob or else pew-pew-ricochet off your forehead and rolls onto the drain.

minimo · « **Reply #367 on:** April 24, 2015, 04:33:19 PM »

Having a real oh hell moment right now.
Was the rear brake pivot shaft supposed to fit on BEFORE the swing arm installation on the '77 CB550F? Nowhere in my manuals does it state that (and some rear brake pivot shafts look different across some CB550 rebuilds I'm following, particularly SohRon's). Is it possible I can leave my swing arm on and just remove the wheel to lift up the swing arm to max clearance? Help!

Getting ready for my first day at motorcycle training class. I feel the same nervous excitement I felt as a child on my first day of school.

minimo · « **Reply #368 on:** April 24, 2015, 04:38:50 PM »

There's a tiny dot on the end of the pivot shaft and supposedly, according to SohRon (and nowhere in my manuals, might I add) it's to point up in the 12:00 position. The only feasible way I can fit the L of the pivot and to position it easily is by removing the swing arm. Please tell me there's an alternative - I don't wanna risk marring my swing arm bushings

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #369 on:** April 24, 2015, 10:14:28 PM »

Have fun with the class and acquire some good habits.

minimo · « **Reply #370 on:** April 24, 2015, 10:21:47 PM »

Thanks, CB750! Class is good so far. It was full. People of all ages, race, gender, and size. Tomorrow, we hit the school yard for riding. Woo hoo! An early start though so no more tooling around tonight.

Still scratching my head about the pivot shaft - I plan on removing the swing arm when I get a chance (maybe Sunday). I'm not crazy about this process but it must be done (unless there's some crazy way I have to configure the pivot shaft from the center stand area under the swing arm to make it fit and point the way it should).

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #371 on:** April 24, 2015, 11:43:12 PM »

pretty sure your swing arm has to come off...not that bad, takes 15 minutes. $:-\$

minimo · « **Reply #372 on:** April 24, 2015, 11:46:58 PM »

Thanks for chiming in, seanbarney41. So, no harm done to the swing arm pivot caps (not sure what they're called but the caps that cover the opening ends of the swing arm - the bushings). I guess I gotta be careful. Oh man, the thing is so filled with grease, and the good stuff too, Honda Moly 60. Oh well. Thanks!

minimo · « **Reply #373 on:** April 25, 2015, 05:21:58 PM »

Cool, calj737. Maybe I'll pull the axle, unbolt the shocks (already off), and rotate the arm down as you suggest. Thanks for the fast replies, guys. I hope to get to this today. Had a very early start today with my 2nd day of motorcycle class and I need a little nap. Oh, and not only do I now know how to turn on a motorcycle and shift and find the "friction zone", I also passed the classroom written test. Woo hoo! Motorcycle riding is so much fun too. I had no idea. Gives me a nice push to get this project finished sooner so I can ride!

minimo · « **Reply #374 on:** April 25, 2015, 08:02:45 PM »

What would I do without y'all??

I'm also proud to report that I think I'm getting good at this 'cos the swing arm went back on with a single blow, baby. Oh, what a feeling.

I ended up removing the wheel and the swing arm. That made sense after all. The pivot shaft is on correct now (I think? I hope). Even got the battery tray on there (before the swing arm went on, of course). Gonna clean up and give it a rest - motorcycle class begins early again tomorrow AM.

Thanks again, calj737 and everyone. You're all my saviors.

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Author Topic: 1977 CB550F IDK (first build) (Read 178045 times)