Topic: 1974 cb550; Fixin' this baby up!

[riverfever]

That looks awesome!

[KrautKoffin]

Needs more pictures!

[dmonday]

Needs more pictures!

Here's some more for now, but I'll get some better soon.  I'll also be putting together a short video so you can hear the GP Motowerks exhaust too.

Went to sync the carbs last night and the bench sync could not have been anymore on.  I ended up not touching them.


Exhaust fit very well


Tail light with integrated turn signals


Before and after:

[dagersh]

Nice and clean.  Great job.

Gersh

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Needs more pictures!

Here's some more for now, but I'll get some better soon.  I'll also be putting together a short video so you can hear the GP Motowerks exhaust too.

Went to sync the carbs last night and the bench sync could not have been anymore on.  I ended up not touching them.


Exhaust fit very well


Tail light with integrated turn signals


Before and after:

The bike is looking solid.  I like the dual taillight with the integrted signals.  I had something like it as an aftermarket mod on one of my sport bikes (GSXR).

[dmonday]

Installed the LED headlight.

[dmonday]

pic dump

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Great looking bike.  Very very tasteful and nice attention to detail.  I have some similar mods, so maybe I'm a little biased. 

I have been going back and forth as to the mods on my 550, trying to keep it stock-ish but make period correct improvements (with the exception of a more moder radial MC).  I like the dechromed/powdercoated grab rail.  I might have to copy you on that, as I cannot find clean or NOS fork ears, and I'm thinking of PC'ing my forkears black.  I have already eliminated the chrome trim on my tank and seat (as the factory stuff is unobtanium, and I can replace it in the future with generic trim if I really miss it).  I kind of like the dechromed look (removing the trim) and letting the paint stand out.

[dmonday]

Great looking bike.  Very very tasteful and nice attention to detail.  I have some similar mods, so maybe I'm a little biased. 

I have been going back and forth as to the mods on my 550, trying to keep it stock-ish but make period correct improvements (with the exception of a more moder radial MC).  I like the dechromed/powdercoated grab rail.  I might have to copy you on that, as I cannot find clean or NOS fork ears, and I'm thinking of PC'ing my forkears black.  I have already eliminated the chrome trim on my tank and seat (as the factory stuff is unobtanium, and I can replace it in the future with generic trim if I really miss it).  I kind of like the dechromed look (removing the trim) and letting the paint stand out.

Your bike sounds very much like what I'm going for as well.  I like the old look but wanted more modern lighting and also modernize the look a little.  I've had enough sport bikes to know they are not comfortable to ride, so café racer was out from the beginning.  I LOVE the feel/look of the cb400 style bars.  I kept the stock seat b/c this is the bike my wife and I ride together, so I needed something that would not hurt our butts to ride.  I like the brat style seats but I knew we couldn't ride for hours sitting on that type of seat.  I'd love to do a gixxer fork/brake swap in the future, but I won't consider it unless I can retain the handle bars that I have.  My bike is not done yet, but the main big things are.  I absolutely love it now.  It's such a joy to ride and it's a nice "pat on the back" when people come up to you complimenting your bike and start talking with you about bikes (I made it to the gas station 2 miles away before someone did this    ).

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Great looking bike.  Very very tasteful and nice attention to detail.  I have some similar mods, so maybe I'm a little biased. 

I have been going back and forth as to the mods on my 550, trying to keep it stock-ish but make period correct improvements (with the exception of a more moder radial MC).  I like the dechromed/powdercoated grab rail.  I might have to copy you on that, as I cannot find clean or NOS fork ears, and I'm thinking of PC'ing my forkears black.  I have already eliminated the chrome trim on my tank and seat (as the factory stuff is unobtanium, and I can replace it in the future with generic trim if I really miss it).  I kind of like the dechromed look (removing the trim) and letting the paint stand out.

Your bike sounds very much like what I'm going for as well.  I like the old look but wanted more modern lighting and also modernize the look a little.  I've had enough sport bikes to know they are not comfortable to ride, so café racer was out from the beginning.  I LOVE the feel/look of the cb400 style bars.  I kept the stock seat b/c this is the bike my wife and I ride together, so I needed something that would not hurt our butts to ride.  I like the brat style seats but I knew we couldn't ride for hours sitting on that type of seat.  I'd love to do a gixxer fork/brake swap in the future, but I won't consider it unless I can retain the handle bars that I have.  My bike is not done yet, but the main big things are.  I absolutely love it now.  It's such a joy to ride and it's a nice "pat on the back" when people come up to you complimenting your bike and start talking with you about bikes (I made it to the gas station 2 miles away before someone did this    ).

I think we have similar goals as to these bikes.  I, too, kept the stock seat so I can have something to ride 2-up with the better half.  I am not swapping a GSXR front on this bike, because I want to keep the look mostly stock; I have another 550 that I am planning to modernize.  With this stockish one, I am planning to upgrade the fork internals and add a second caliper/rotor since I am not satisfied with the stock brakes. 

With yours, you could do a modern front end and have some custom triples that would accept handlebar mounts, but it would really change the classic look.  I did notice that your forks no longer have gaitors and now sport the later dust boots.  Any particular reason? 

[dmonday]

I didn't use the gaitors because they're made to go into the stock headlight ears and I didn't use those.  I also wanted some more chrome up front to help balance the bike out more. 

Check this out:

That's my brake fix.  I found the problem with the stock brakes is there is a ton of play before it even compresses the piston in the master cylinder and then it needs to move enough that you build brake pressure.  By the time you start getting any braking you can't have any fingers in between the lever and the grip.  The nut takes up the space (60 sec. epoxied in there).  I forgot about it this morning (I put it on last night) and hit the brakes at the end of my road and it surprised me!  I HAD GOOD FRONT BRAKES NOW!!!  I can brake now with one finger and it brakes hard enough the forks will compress and it never would do that without the spacer nut in there.

Here are some night shots with the LED light.  Really shows the cut off well.  I really like the LED, it's very bright.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I've been really happy with my Truck Lite LED, too. Bright, but not obnoxious, and it puts much less of a strain on the electrical system. It's just heavy. Mine cracked my new headlight bucket like an egg after running into a small pothole. That said, I'm buying the lights and metal buckets for my my new projects with modern upgrades.

[dmonday]

Just got back from Florida. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's a substantial distance!  Hope you were "geared up" better than shorts and a t-shirt. 

[dmonday]

That's a substantial distance!  Hope you were "geared up" better than shorts and a t-shirt. 

Trailered that bad boy! 

Had a great time on it.  Seriously every stop while trailering it down and riding it someone commented on it, took pics or talked bikes with me.  You meet the nicest people on a Honda.  Had a seriously great time and it's always nice to get compliments. 

[riverfever]

Good idea for fixing the slop in the brake lever. Mine isn't nearly as bad as you described yours being but I'd love it to be a bit tighter. I'll look at doing something similar. Bike looks great.

[dmonday]

[Chaser60]

Great looking bike.  Also love the tail lamp / integrated turnsignals.   I may have missed it, but did you say the brand / where you purchased?

[dmonday]

Great looking bike.  Also love the tail lamp / integrated turnsignals.   I may have missed it, but did you say the brand / where you purchased?

Thank you.  I don't think I mentioned it but it's for an R6.  I bought it off of ebay. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's a great shot!

[deafcaferacer]

That's a great shot!

Ditto. Did you get that off the Gopro Hero 3?

[dmonday]

That's a great shot!

Ditto. Did you get that off the Gopro Hero 3?

Go Pro Hero 2 

[Bootsey]

Hey, great build, looks fantastic.
Quick question about setting up the TrailTech gauge. Much to sort out with it? What ignition system are you running? Any other mods that had to be done to accommodate it?

[igotalotofrice]

Very nice...looks like mine! 

BTW, where did you get the integrated tail light?  I love it!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Very nice...looks like mine! 

BTW, where did you get the integrated tail light?  I love it!

See above (I asked the same question).  It's an aftermarket light for a Yamaha R6.