Hi all.
So, as the name says, I'm Spoone (the e is silent, and please, no Tick jokes?) I'm from Everett, Washington, way out here in the Pacific North Wet, and I've been around motorcycles since before birth (Serious. My was was racing at 4 months preggers, before she learned that I was on the way!
) I've had Yamaha's (a slew of RD's, 250/350 and the demon 400F), got a trio of the green blooded variety in my garage at the moment (a Vulcan 500 for the wife, my 85 GPZ900R, and a 96 GPZ1100). They all need the same thing...namely, batteries, carbs cleaned, and tabs...and maybe a clutch or two..
And now, for the reason I'm here... (and full disclosure, I have been a professional bike mechanic, in my past, with certs from the 4 Japanese companies)
I have been given (for a pittance of a price) a '76 CB550K. I believe it'd be a K3...uh..3rd generation? The front brake master cylinder is seized, and I'm told the motor still turns over. I do not yet have it home, as I'm about to move to a bigger house (with a bigger garage!!) If the motor turns freely, the rest is cake. It definitely needs a regulator/rectifier. The seat is decayed and as ratty as it could possibly get. It was parked in its current spot about a decade ago, uncovered. Remarkably, it's all there , Tank, side covers, and even the chrome is still good...! (Could'a knocked me over with a two by four!
)
My plan for this poor, neglected beasty is to make it a cafe racer, on as a low a budget as I can possibly get away with.
Among other things, I'll be looking at using mag wheels, instead of spokes (never had the best of luck or results in truing them), dual-disc set-up up front, and some wiring trickery to get LED marker/signal lights worked into the project. I have an idea for paint in my wee little brain.
With a lot of elbow grease, and liberal use of the search function, I'll get'er done, and be happy with the end result.
I'll probably still have a lot of questions about the bike along the way, as I must admit that I'm not at all familiar with Brand H (as you might guess, I've been a Kawi fan devotee most of my life..)
et's see....other stuff about m'self...Hm.
I'm recently married (about 2 months now..
)
I work for a major manufacturer of commercial aircraft, as a quality inspector.
My other hobbies are snowboarding, and my guitar (Epiphone Les Paul 'Nightfall' edition, got for christmas)
I'm a carded member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, where my primary activity/fun is martial combat. As a result, I've had to make my own armor, including pounding and dishing the steel bits, such as a helm. This is a skill set I can bring to bikes, as well...like forming seats, seat pans, and *maybe* gas tanks...
That's it. I think I'm done writin' this here novella.
I'm lookin' forward to chattin' with y'all, and I hope ya have a great day
