Topic: 76 CB550 cafe bike, just purchased w/too many questions - pics

[prov431]

So I always wanted a cafe bike after no less than 43 sport bikes over the years...I found one I liked in St. Pete, FL.





I need to powder coat the Carpy header - it's currently painted and already flaking off. I'm not too certain about the carb settings - the bike is painfully lacking in zero to 1/4 throttle under load - just doesn't like it...but once above a few 2000 rpm it pulls smooth and hard to over 8k no issue. I haven't had carbs / pods / jetting on a bike in forever so I'm at a loss of what to do. I'm thinking pilot jet air screws..but not sure.
I'm fighting an untrue front wheel, likes to send feedback to the bars at about 50 mph-60 mph - I wrung all the spokes and they all played a differnent tune, so I did my best to tighten to the point they all sound similar - I'm close and it made a nice difference, but it's not anal perfect as I want it.
Hate the brakes....but then again a drum and single disk isn't what I'm used too. I downshift a lot to engine brake to help out...I'm sure I could spend thousands in aftermarket upgrades, not sure if it's worth it though.
Also curious about valve tick - I know on some of my older bikes it was more notable....and I hear it on this 550...just don't recall what is "normal". Below is an summary of the bike build from the shop I bought it from, I would very much appreciate any and all feedback!

For those that like a long post - keep reading....
A Honda CB550 is the latest build from Brad Replogle of Cafe Creations & Customs in St. Pete Fl. Transformed; this custom Honda CB550 has received a full restoration while being converted to a Cafe Racer.
The bike started out a couple of months ago as a classic 80s rider, Vetter Rooster fairing, king/queen seat and so on, a real eyesore!
According to Brad “Well as I began to take it apart I saw it was actually very well taken care of and clean under the oil coating from the head gasket leaks. I decided to keep it as stock as I could while doing a Cafe conversion on it.
After a trip to my buddies over at Dime City Cycles to pick up parts it then began. Weight savings were accomplished by removing the stock seat, exhaust, fenders (while retaining the fork brace from the front fender), center stand and replacing the battery with a TruGel battery.
The engine was disassembled, painted, polished and resealed with new gaskets. The carbs were detailed and rejetted to match the old school velocity stacks and the header from Carpy. This may be one of the best sounding 550′s on the planet thanks to that exhaust. It is light weight, baffled and patterned after an old Yoshi system. While the polishing wheel was running the front end was polished including the fork legs, caliper and mount, top triple tree, master cylinder, as well as the handlebar controls.”
The front end of this Honda CB550 was reassembled with progressive fork springs and using classic clubman bars, mini gauges mounted on aluminum mount from DCC. The turn signals were replaced with mini billet units; the front lighting is new including all trim rings. DCC’s new fully indexable rearsets were used in conjunction with the bars up front to give it that racer feel.
The seat is a Thruxton unit from Legendary-Motorcycles, it also uses their integrated pad system. A mini cat eye taillight brings up the rear. A stunning red paint job was applied to this custom Honda CB550 including the stock side covers that often get left off when doing a bike like this. The headlight shell sports the same to brighten the front end a little further.
All the stock electrics remain intact including the harness which was in great shape with the exception of the ground circuit. The finished bike is a classic transformation from Cafe Creations & Customs, red and black on this bike is a hit! Here’s your chance to own this custom Honda CB550

[flybox1]

clean looking cafe you have there.
exhaust....get it media blasted and then ceramic coated.  paint and powder wont last as long, IMO.

Carbs -  getting rid of that lag isnt as difficult as you think.  carbs should come off for a once over... and so you know what jets are in there.  it might just need a cleaning, could be air fuel screw adjustments....might need new pilot jets.  you'll need to start a thread on that alone ...for tuning to your stacks and exhaust.

front wheel - you can do a decent job truing it while its on the bike, but its most accurate to pull it off and get it in a stand for truing/balance.  or take it to a shop.   above and beyond that,  fork fluid flush, easy.  steering dampener.  already has progressive springs.

[bjbuchanan]

The bike is real nice. Start off by searching velocity stacks on a 550, jetting stuff like that up in the left search engine

You can add dual disc up front and a different MC along with some stainless flex lines and the stopping will seem a bit less pathetic

Remember you don't have accelerator pumps or EFI so if you romp the throttle super fast you will get a stumble. A quick roll will work. You gotta figure out what pilot jets are in it, maybe they didn't bump them up after putting the stacks in

This bike will seem more noisy than newer bikes. You shouldn't have a heavy clatter or anything it should sound kinda like a pro sewing machine. Weird description but kinda appropriate. Check the valve lash it is easy and just checking takes a half hour. The shop may have it set up on the loose side because loose can't hurt anything

[Rigid]

There is a reason manufacturers employ offices full of engineers.  Its called development.  Your brakes are a snap shot in time, a very long time ago.  Until you embrace that this is an old bike, which is most of its appeal, you will be disappointed in just about everything about it.  That front rim will need more than a twist and a twang.  Trueing is all spokes to the correct torque and the rim verified straight and centered.  It is a sharp bike.

[Scott S]

 It looks like you already have braided SS lines....you'd be amazed at what a difference a set of EBC pads and shoes will make.

[george]

Nice , you can be proud of that bike , enjoy !!

[prov431]

Thanks for the replies and comments gents.

I certainly agree that I bought the bike for the vintage appeal; I actually don't expect it to perform to today's tech standards....just wishful thinking It's a cool feeling to ride this old thing, it gets a lot of thumbs up, which I'm not used too!
I will have the carbs looked at to see if there is an air / jet adjustment that will give me some improvement with the 0-1/4 throttle range, as well as have the valves checked. I see the sticky for all the shop manuals on the forum, I'll be downloading shortly (awesome!!)

Thanks for the tip on the ceramic coat for the exhaust, that looks like the way to go and I have a shop local to me that can do it.
As for the wheel trueing, indeed the wheel is coming off the bike and being adjusted by someone that has much more experience than I do with spokes (at least I gave it a try and got a little success out of it).

I guess the only question I have left is - anything particular I should know about a 76' 550E? I bought this bike on a whim..zero research!

[flybox1]

download the shop manual from this site.
complete all the maintenance items when suggested.
ride it regularly, and you'll enjoy it for years.

[prov431]

Downloaded all the maintenance manuals - awesome stuff, thanks to the gent who put those up!

Working through a few issues, then hopefully will have this thing sorted to my liking.
I've got an appointment to drop off the header for ceramic coating, picked up some plugs, oil and filter, got a carb guy lined up, as well as a valve check too.
After that just need to get the front wheel trued up and I believe I will be enjoying this ride.

[Rigid]

There will always be something else, planned or unplanned, nature of the beast.  Enjoy.

[Geeto67]

get a dwell meter and test that tach through the rev range. I have NEVER seen a mechanical drive mini tach that was accurate for the cb550 and most custom shops are more like parts assemblers than people that do actual research. If the tach is off than it will be much harder to do maintenance that requires a steady and correct idle.

[bjbuchanan]

^^^He is right. They never have the right ratio for cb550 so you might want to check that out

[prov431]

Thanks fot the tips gents - is there anything else I should be looking at or anything special about this year/model...like I said earlier, I bought this on a whim and didn't do my usual pre-purchase research.

[bruzer59]

prov431

your bike has a GREAT look to it ,!!!   low & lean good luck with it

  it gives me a big SMILE

                                       ~0~   bruzer

[prov431]

Thanks brother!

[K3Owner]

My, that is a beautiful bike - congratulations on a great find! I see that they replaced the front tire with what looks like more modern rubber. Modern metric replacements aren't always a right replacement on our bikes. A shop replaced mine back in the day and she could not be made even. Wobble when I let go of the bars ensued until I scrapped the tire and replaced it myself.

Just saying - it might not be your rim/spokes...

[strynboen]

thek the cam chain if it make rattel. a bit triczy to adjust.a vaccum cyncro vill then take the rest of the noise ..and make it spinn like a cat