Author Topic: cb550 veloce racer  (Read 27162 times)

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Offline motorlou

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cb550 veloce racer
« on: January 02, 2013, 08:42:40 PM »
Hey guys, been a long time since i posted anything on this forum, even when i did it was just briefly as i had just picked up this project. i build bikes for a living and just wanted to share this cb550 project i currently started. it is a 1974 cb550 K0 i got for $100! i am into boardtrackers, old bikes and such so i will be making this thing into a little speed racer of sorts. my plans for it will be a new frame, new tanks and a suspension fashioned after an old 1924 norton. i am including a few pics of previous bikes i've made and also the progress on the cb550. thanks for your time and check out the pics.........

recent projects:

xs400





gs750






kz1000P






harley sportster






same harley sportster......just done again






cb550 project

































 
« Last Edit: January 02, 2013, 08:45:15 PM by motorlou »

Offline iron_worker

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2013, 08:01:37 AM »
Some pretty serious custom work going on in here. I'm interested.

IW

Offline stuartni

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2013, 08:03:14 AM »
very nice

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2013, 09:10:13 AM »
thanks guys, this bike is going to be a jewel in just a couple of months. i can't wait to ride her. nothing like riding an old honda!

Offline Damage Inc

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2013, 10:58:32 AM »
Impressive work Motorola. I'll be watching your thread with interest. Plenty of pictures pls.
There is nothing Man makes, that Man can't break.

Offline rb550four

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2013, 11:29:45 AM »
 I like the antique theme that you have captured in your other creations  (frame , and suspension choices), goes nicely ( Visually) with more modern day power plants.
  I was wondering about the 24 Norton though, all models for that year ( that I could find ) had an elongated semi rectangular tank ( not that I don't like your tank) on a longer spine. That being the inspiration, and that you have previously succeeded in capturing the look and stance of earlier machines, I must ask, and in no offensive way, because I can see that you are talented, but why did you choose to go with a short spine and an even shorter blimp shaped tank? To me , it doesn't fit your trademark style of previous works and almost  comes off being bobberish, again no offence. I can see that you are an artist and I can understand that a good design done many times over can seem same old -same old to you and you may feel that you need a change. But I must say, after a lifetime of chopper magazines,cafe, and the bobber craze, that your trademark style of antique/modern machines is refreshing and different, mixing the simplicity of yesteryear with recent technology ... I think your builds are just brilliant but ,this one looks like a bobber to me.
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline rb550four

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2013, 01:33:42 PM »
if your vision is even similar to this
http://www.norton.uk.com/flyer8.jpg
or
http://www.norton.uk.com/chassisa.JPG
and you can pull it off, you're the man. You have talent, skills, and a good eye, dazzle us.
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline Geeto67

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2013, 03:18:40 PM »
on an unrelated note, what's the front brake setup/wheel you have on this bike?:



I have a cb550 chop with the same springer and the hallcraft minidrum isn't cutting it. I was told I couldn't run a disc brake with the narrow springer but this is the second setup I have seen just like that.
Maintenance Matters Most

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2013, 06:18:39 PM »
if your vision is even similar to this
http://www.norton.uk.com/flyer8.jpg
or
http://www.norton.uk.com/chassisa.JPG
and you can pull it off, you're the man. You have talent, skills, and a good eye, dazzle us.

thanks for all the kind words fellas. i feel priviledged to be able to do this for a living now(completely gratifying). i used to be a masonry contractor till the bottom end fell out of my business about 5/6 years ago! when i make bikes, most of the time i take certain features from different bikes and mix/match them to my liking, of course adding my own elements as well. when i saw this bike i wanted to make it short but skinny. not a replica of a norton but incorporating some features. i will be fabricating a front end based on the 1924 norton m18 front end in the pic below........




Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2013, 06:24:33 PM »
on an unrelated note, what's the front brake setup/wheel you have on this bike?:



I have a cb550 chop with the same springer and the hallcraft minidrum isn't cutting it. I was told I couldn't run a disc brake with the narrow springer but this is the second setup I have seen just like that.

hey geeto67. the front wheel is a "narrowglide" wheel i bought off ebay and the front brake is a GMA caliper for a springer. not sure where the brake came from cause a friend of mine swapped me for some fab work. yep you can run a disk brake on your springer.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2013, 07:37:43 PM »
Really like that xs400.  Subscribed to see this 550, looking good so far....
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2013, 08:23:18 PM »
Really like that xs400.  Subscribed to see this 550, looking good so far....

thanks steve. i started fabricating the xs400 a couple years ago as a personal project. then a customer came along and took interest in it. i finished building the bike and let the customer colaborate on picking colors/finishes. you can see the build thread over on the xs400.com forums, it was a featured cover bike for the site awhile back
« Last Edit: January 03, 2013, 08:36:56 PM by motorlou »

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #12 on: January 08, 2013, 05:31:53 PM »
no real progress just wanted to share some pics of a bike that came in late last week. it is a cb500. doing a new frame bobber style for it. finally my liitle honda feels right at home with her twin!!!











Offline starsnbars89

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2013, 05:38:07 PM »
I'm likin' what I'm seeing! Subscribed! ;D
"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"

Offline rb550four

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2013, 06:21:19 PM »
Twins! Congratulations! Double the pleasure, double the fun!
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2013, 06:25:06 PM »
all i have to do now is tone up my riding skills to ride 2 at a time!!  8)

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #16 on: January 10, 2013, 12:03:11 AM »
here is a quick pic of the rear fender and floorboards i mounted up today. i think i will be putting some speed holes in them both and keeping the theme through out the bike............oh, and the twin






Offline iron_worker

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #17 on: January 10, 2013, 06:04:14 AM »
Are your tanks and fenders all brazed?

IW

Offline Tews19

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #18 on: January 10, 2013, 06:26:30 AM »
Very different.. I like, keep the updates coming.
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #19 on: January 10, 2013, 10:38:38 AM »
Are your tanks and fenders all brazed?

IW

yep i love brazing and do it is often is i can just cause it's fun. here is a little "how to video" i did awhile back

bronze brazing a set of tanks together

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #20 on: January 11, 2013, 05:48:02 PM »
don't mean to keep hijacking my own thread but i am almost done with my part of this project. just a few more frame members and gussets to weld, a battery box and pipes, then it's off to the owners garage for them to finish up. did i mention this is for a lady customer?......................






Offline rb550four

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #21 on: January 11, 2013, 08:26:05 PM »
Wondering. Any rear engine mounts? Is the lady customer a welder too? I just had to ask.
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline motorlou

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #22 on: January 11, 2013, 10:57:38 PM »
yep i still need to fab the seat post, rear engine mount, battery/electrical box. brake stay anchor, brake pedal pivot and mount the coil but that's it i swear!!! ;D damn. if the girl that is getting this bike knew how to weld.............hell i would leave my wife for damn sure!!! ha ha ha ha ha

Offline starsnbars89

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #23 on: January 12, 2013, 06:29:47 AM »
I actually met a girl who knew how to weld! She went to school for it and everything! If her boyfriend hadn't looked so intimidating... ;D
"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." ~Proverbs 13:20
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." ~Proverbs 13:12
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost." ~J. R. R. Tolkein

'80 Honda CB650 "Cassandra"--SOLD
'81 Kawasaki KZ440LTD "Sylvia"--SOLD
'80 Suzuki GS550L "Joyce aka 'The Sunset Bike'"--SOLD
'78 Suzuki GS750E "Jolene"

Offline DustyRags

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Re: cb550 veloce racer
« Reply #24 on: January 12, 2013, 03:28:00 PM »
Man, I just found this thread- looks like you do some amazing stuff! I'm just getting a chance to set up my own shop for the first time, and I'm seriously looking forward to doing some stuff like this. I'll be following here, for sure!
1976 CB550K- sold
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 500- sold
2000 CB750 Nighthawk - sold
1975 XL350 - crashed
2004 Suzuki Vstrom 650 - sold