Topic: What drum brake front wheel fits a 75 CB550?

[radgto]

I went through the FAQ and didn't find the answer.

I'm looking for a stock Honda front wheel with a drum brake that will be a direct bolt on for a 75 CB 550?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[dave500]

early cb450 dohc would have to be close?

[brewsky]

Or maybe CL450 DOHC?

[Geeto67]

Why? are the stock disc brakes not bad enough that you want to make sure you really can't stop? The cb450 drum is inadequate for the cb450, having it work harder to stop a heavier bike is poor logic.

FWIW the best brake for this kind of application is Suzuki GT750/550 4LS drum. Pretty easy to adapt since I think the axle diameter is the same as a cb and is also the racing standard. However, these drums are expensive for a reason - they work. Suzuki T500 drum is also a pretty good brake and used on a lot of ligher race bikes. They have hub cracking issues under racing conditions, but that is not a common occurance in street riding. It also has the same axle diameter.

[greenjeans]

I believe the CL and CB450 brakes are the same.  You'll  need some shims or spacers made up - no biggie there.  The orange bike in my avatar sports a CL450 brake.  You can keep a speeedometer as well.

Any while they don't stop like a modern brake, they'll stop you.    Now, I wouldn't go racing with it or, do endos, but it will work fine if you know what

you have....   The GT 750 brakes are cool, but they have become very expensive as of late and need some machining done to an axle and brake plates

to get to fit between the stock fork legs.

[Geeto67]

very expensive? eh....that's relative. compared to a grimeca, fontana, ceriani, oldani, etc....they are still a good deal. Even compared to the amount of work you would need to do to adapt a guzzi or some other large bike brake it is still a good deal. It just isn't a cheap as a disc brake, or dual discs, or even a GL front end swap.

[radgto]

It's for a flat track bobber build, right now it has no front brake but it's a pretty scary ride that way so I want to go with something old school looking and a drum is better than no front brake at all.

Thanks for the help.

[greenjeans]

Go for it.    Even the CL450 brake is better than no brake.    If you can luck into one off a GT750 for under $500 pick it up.   

A drum would definitely suit the style of that bobber.   Cool bike.

[Geeto67]

yeah, there are so many other things preventing you from riding that thing fast, inadequate brakes are the least of your worries. 450 or T500.