Author Topic: Norwegian 78 cb550 (gsxr front, 592cc, EFI conversion +++)  (Read 10183 times)

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Offline Harald F

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Norwegian 78 cb550 (gsxr front, 592cc, EFI conversion +++)
« on: March 23, 2013, 08:12:40 pm »
Yet another cafe project on this forum.

Im normally a car guy, mainly using a 400whp miata for track use but wanted a bike project too, and ive wanted a slightly modernised cb cafe race style bike for some time.

The bike i got was in good shape, but it needed a lot of work done (as do all old bikes/cars) when you really start looking over it.



quickly started tearing it apart..


tested the carpy exhaust for fitment before taking any more bits of the bike..


stripped the frame..



engine will be rebuildt, probably getting the heads ported, everything will be blasted and repainted or polished.

front end will feature a gsxr fork/brakes etc.


The tank will be swapped for a holtworks alu tank. all electrics will be redone. wheels front and rear rebuildt.
Frame will be powdercoated+++

more to come , but hey, its a start. :)

hope you guys approve even if it will not be a "classic" cafe racer using stock fork etc.
« Last Edit: December 25, 2014, 10:00:43 pm by Harald F »

Offline chris mcshifty

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2013, 11:25:40 pm »
Looks like a great start like the GIXXER front end do you plan to keep the stock tank

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2013, 12:22:56 am »
Looks like a great start like the GIXXER front end do you plan to keep the stock tank
Haha. The tank isn't even cold yet!

Looking forward to this project.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
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"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

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Offline deafcaferacer

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2013, 09:37:28 am »
Love the carpy exhaust. Are you planning to leave that bare?
'73 CB750k engine, hubs, and a '76 tank, on 'a 78 frame. Go figure.

Offline strynboen

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2013, 11:32:00 am »
hey can i bay the left over parts..i have a 78 550 k3..that i try to hold stock .....are in hønefoss this summer...(i hope)
« Last Edit: March 24, 2013, 01:11:55 pm by strynboen »
i kan not speak english/but trying!!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60973.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144758.0
i hate all this v-w.... vords

Offline Zac02

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2013, 12:07:32 pm »
Love the build! Ive got the same bike in the middle of a big build, wish I would have taken better pictures. How difficult was it to convert the forks over?
lets make it bad A$$!

Offline Leafshutter

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2013, 02:42:30 pm »
Like it! I´m in!  ;D

Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2013, 02:27:57 pm »
full teardown..   all gaskets, oil seals, piston rings, and chains and guides will be replaced. The engine will also be given a full upgrade on the finish outside :)




Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2013, 06:09:09 am »



Offline strynboen

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2013, 06:13:38 am »
can you get the chain to run aside this monster tire sopose to fit that rim :o
i kan not speak english/but trying!!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60973.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144758.0
i hate all this v-w.... vords

Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2013, 03:32:18 pm »
its not that wide. people on the forum has done this before, squirley etc..

got a bit more done today.
finished mounting the fork(previous pictures was just for test without bearings etc)
tried the front wheel on the axle. started adapting the controls. will do some more stuff tomorrow :)


clutch side control modified to use clutch handle from gsxr but switches from the CB. CB clutch handle removed.


wheel will fit ok. need to make some spacers and get discs.



« Last Edit: March 27, 2013, 03:35:17 pm by Harald F »

Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2013, 02:58:34 am »
started working on the rear end..
cut away some of the dust cover for the sprocket side of the hub, to reveal mor of the hub. just because i liked the look.
The hub will be polished before being laced up with a new rim



Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #12 on: March 30, 2013, 03:00:36 am »
oh, and to answer a couple of questions..

when im finished, any stock parts left will be up for sale if any local CB owners need them.

im not keeping the stock tank, and the carpy exhaust will be coated black i think.

Offline snowman

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #13 on: March 30, 2013, 04:30:34 am »
Looking good, I'm subscribed.......

Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2013, 12:04:48 pm »
Today i have started refinishing some of the engine parts.   satin matte black and all bolts are polished stainless steel.



all these small things take a lot of time, but it keep telling myself its worth doing it right the first time.  :)


Offline henrikm

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #15 on: April 01, 2013, 08:20:26 am »
Looking good! What paint did you use for the engine parts?

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Offline Viktor.J

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #16 on: April 01, 2013, 10:48:54 am »
Looking good ! And what a speed, obiously you've done this kind of work beafore :D

Lycka till hälsningar ifrån Sverige !  :P
Please ! Take a look and give me feedback in my project thread, its much needed :)
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=112745.0

Honda CB750 K2

Offline strynboen

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #17 on: April 01, 2013, 10:59:43 am »
det ser super proff ud..med udsøgte fine dele.,.det bliver en kool helveds maskine..skål i tuborg..fra danmark

you must have good frinds/ kontakts..vith all this proff parts..and this speed build..it vill run this summer..
i kan not speak english/but trying!!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60973.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144758.0
i hate all this v-w.... vords

Offline Blitzburgh207

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #18 on: April 03, 2013, 09:10:47 am »
This looks like a fun one to watch  8)
1978 CB750 K8

Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #19 on: April 03, 2013, 11:53:43 am »
Wicked!!

I'll be following as well. :)

Fyi.. You can fit a even bigger rear if you so inclined :) lol
Untitled by cameron.bateman, on FlickrRustyOlive, on Flickr

Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #20 on: April 06, 2013, 03:14:47 pm »
thanks for the replies guys..  this is my first bike Viktor. never even owned a moped/scooter, but i have spent lots of time building cars.:)

latest update is small, but i refinished the switches. glass blasted the housings, and rebuildt/overhauled the switches inside.also cut of the clutch handle on the left switch, regrinded the housing so it is not possible to see that its missing a clutch handle. Using the GSXR clutch handle so it looks like the brake handle, but  i want to keep the stock switches as a feel the gsxr switches look too modern.




Rustyolive.. i think a 3.5" will be wide enough :)

strynboen: the plan is to have the bike up and running some time during this summer.. i get some help from friends if i need it, and i also have contacts that can help me machine parts(like spacers for the front wheel, adapters for discs etc.

Next week i will get the wheels powdercoated gloss black, and get the spacers etc for the front wheel finished.
Hopefully also get the crank cases etc cleaned and refinished, sylinders honed, and then start rebuilding things. these things take a lot of time.



Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #21 on: April 20, 2013, 01:23:01 am »



pickup up the rims from powdercoating on monday, the engine block/ head etc from cleaning and machining/honing in a week or so. Then i can reassemble the engine.

Thinking of stretching the swingarm 1,5"- 2".

need to figure out what discs to use up front so i can get those installed. May need adapterplates/spacers for that.

Progress is slow, but its getting there.

Offline chris mcshifty

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #22 on: April 20, 2013, 11:16:17 am »
If your going to stretch the swingarm that far I believe the 650 swingarm will bolt up and give u that 2 inch stretch no cutting needed

Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #23 on: April 23, 2013, 10:18:15 am »
rims back from powdercoating. gloss black. superb finish as usual from this guy.




Offline Harald F

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Re: Norwegian 78 cb550 cafe project
« Reply #24 on: April 30, 2013, 11:53:43 pm »
If your going to stretch the swingarm that far I believe the 650 swingarm will bolt up and give u that 2 inch stretch no cutting needed

can anyone verify this? is infact the 650 swingarm 2" longer than the cb550k arm?