Topic: 74 CB550 Modern Cafe - Isn't this thing done yet?

[calj737]

Almost done with final fab and assembly and ready for wiring

[calj737]

New MotoGP exhaust arrived this evening. Couldn't wait until sunrise to test fit. Like a glove, and no interference with rear sets! Phew!!!!

Off to ceramic coating in the AM. Finally, getting all the little things wrapped up to get this thing wired and fired!

[calj737]

Have just about got my rearset linkages worked out. Gotta wait until the exhaust is back from powder coat to fashion up a hangar for the exhaust.

And finally finished the front fender, brackets and caliper install. Had wanted to install the caliper behind the fork, couldn't make it work out. And the fender brackets from Benjie could not accommodate the fork lowers being reversed. Oh well...

[calj737]

Pic of rear set

[calj737]

Shifter

[calj737]

front end shot

[calj737]

New MotoGP exhaust back from ceramic coating inside and out. Satin black with silver end cap. Fits perfectly (thanks, Chris!) and tucks under the bike beautifully.

[calj737]

Some updated pics as I loaded my bike to head off to tuning shop. Getting it back tomorrow to chase down some electrical gremlins.


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[FunJimmy]

The bike is looking fantastic.
I must have missed it, but what swingarm are you using?
I really need to make a chain guard. Could you post or PM me a couple pictures or your chaing guard?

Thanks
FJ

[Trad]

Looking good man!

[calj737]

Appreciate the compliments. I've still got a rear fender to mold up and paint then mount. It's going to run only on the underside of the seat, towards the triangle. Should "finish" off the look much better. There's a pan fully underneath to provide protection, so this is only to spare the carbs any debris being slung forward.

Have definitely learned a great deal during this build. It's already paying dividends on my underway 500. Also, has given other ideas about further fabrication and custom machined parts. It's going to be several weeks to get some progress on that build, but fortunately, this will wrap up just about the time I can make new progress there.

And, the damn weather should be breaking just in time!!!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nice progress.  The Joker Machine gear accents the bike well.

A few questions:

(1) I, too, looked back on your string about the boxed swingarm.  Can you provide some details?

(2) I noticed that you remounted your brake caliper in a conventional manner (versus your behind the wheel set up).  How come?

(3) Who slotted your brake disc and how (laser or milled)?

[calj737]

Happy to do so:

1. Swing arm is from Kevin Bidgood, TTR400. It's a beautifully made piece and he's a helluva nice guy.

2. Had to resort to mounting the calipers back in front due to the fender brackets from Benjie, couldn't be adjusted to deal with the forks being reversed. I had already invested in the fender, brackets, paint  and powder coating, so I relented... I liked the look much better backwards though.

3. It was milled on a CNC by a local machinist I was introduced to, who's become a pretty good friend quickly. He will be doing some pretty neat stuff for my 500 build. It took him about 45' to lay out, program, and cut. Guy is whacked talented and has every machine you could ever want. A real Man Cave for gear heads.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Happy to do so:

1. Swing arm is from Kevin Bidgood, TTR400. It's a beautifully made piece and he's a helluva nice guy.

2. Had to resort to mounting the calipers back in front due to the fender brackets from Benjie, couldn't be adjusted to deal with the forks being reversed. I had already invested in the fender, brackets, paint  and powder coating, so I relented... I liked the look much better backwards though.

3. It was milled on a CNC by a local machinist I was introduced to, who's become a pretty good friend quickly. He will be doing some pretty neat stuff for my 500 build. It took him about 45' to lay out, program, and cut. Guy is whacked talented and has every machine you could ever want. A real Man Cave for gear heads.

Thanks for the tip about Kevin Bidgood at TTR400.  Where is he located (I coulldn't tell from the website)?

[calj737]

South Africa.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

South Africa.

WOW!!  Shipping must be a monster!

[calj737]

Yep, it was. Around $150 to ship it. Kevin's a great guy and makes a great product. But the distance is prohibitive.

Im making my own on my next builds, so I won't be dealing with RSA postal issues.

[JoeP]

That's a great looking bike. Love the color scheme! It's the same color that I was thinking of for my build. Is there a reason for the gap between the seat and tank?

[calj737]

The gap that shows is larger in the pictures than it is in person. The seat is not fully installed in any of the pictures. BUT, there is a gap. Mid-build, changed tanks and seats 2 times. Ultimately, liked the stock tank the most, but this seat. Problem is, the seat was sized for a different tank, or this tank with a different seat...

At some point, I'll re-make a new seat and cinch it up. Its about 3/4" in actuality. Hopefully, it won't be too much of a boggle when fully bolted in.

Thanks for the paint compliment. When clean and in the sun, it actually looks really beautiful. My buddy painted it, and he did a fantastic job. Flawless application and just the right "sheen" to it. Some very careful wet sanding of the matte finish brought it out without any flaws, without shining it up too much.

[calj737]

Went by the tuning shop today. They were almost done with carb tuning and about to head to dyno... Bike sounded great! Anyone who is considering the MotoGP system, buy it. Not even loud, just throaty. May be different >6k RPMs, but from idle to 2,500 it was really a clean, heavy breather.

Traveling for work for the next 2 days, picking up on Friday. Please God, sunshine, sunshine sunshine this weekend!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yep, it was. Around $150 to ship it. Kevin's a great guy and makes a great product. But the distance is prohibitive.

Im making my own on my next builds, so I won't be dealing with RSA postal issues.

I exchanged a couple of emails with Kevin.  He'll ship for $100, so I might go for it.  He said that the swingarm is 10mm shorter than the 550 stock swingarm but that it allows for more adjustment.  With the adjustment fully extended, is the wheelbase shorter than stock?

[calj737]

I never measured. Add to that, I'm running a 16" rear, so it will feel very different on my bike. I would suggest that you recommend he make the axle a bit longer. Mine was "just" long enough to expose the safety wire hole. And my adjusted bolts surface rusted almost immediately. I'll need to treat them or replace them with SS.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I never measured. Add to that, I'm running a 16" rear, so it will feel very different on my bike. I would suggest that you recommend he make the axle a bit longer. Mine was "just" long enough to expose the safety wire hole. And my adjusted bolts surface rusted almost immediately. I'll need to treat them or replace them with SS.

All good ideas.  I passed them on to Kevin to see what he's willing to do.

[calj737]

2 more things about Kevin:

1. When I ordered (last February) South Africa Postal Service was just winding up a lengthy strike. This prolonged his ability to ship my order. He kept in touch regularly, but in the end, it added some extra time. No worries, I was early in the build.

2. The first order he shipped, NEVER arrived. We waited about 12-14 weeks. Due to the means he shipped it, there was no International tracking (Postal method, not Carrier). I offered to split the cost of another arm, pay the product/he pay shipping or vice-versa. He adamantly refused and shipped me another setup without charging me. Pretty rare!

To date, I've never received the original, nor has he. I feel badly for him, but have immense respect for the guy. He makes some gorgeous stuff and from other members who know him, they all attest to his being a great guy all around.

However much it costs, you'll be very pleased. I'm sure shipping now (as with my second order) will be very timely. And you'll be delighted doing business with him.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

2 more things about Kevin:

1. When I ordered (last February) South Africa Postal Service was just winding up a lengthy strike. This prolonged his ability to ship my order. He kept in touch regularly, but in the end, it added some extra time. No worries, I was early in the build.

2. The first order he shipped, NEVER arrived. We waited about 12-14 weeks. Due to the means he shipped it, there was no International tracking (Postal method, not Carrier). I offered to split the cost of another arm, pay the product/he pay shipping or vice-versa. He adamantly refused and shipped me another setup without charging me. Pretty rare!

To date, I've never received the original, nor has he. I feel badly for him, but have immense respect for the guy. He makes some gorgeous stuff and from other members who know him, they all attest to his being a great guy all around.

However much it costs, you'll be very pleased. I'm sure shipping now (as with my second order) will be very timely. And you'll be delighted doing business with him.

Thanks for the intel. All good to know.