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

[Bru-tom]

South Africa.

WOW!!  Shipping must be a monster!

welcome to my world!!! shipping is always a biyatch!

Great looking bike mate and great spray job hehehe 

[calj737]

Thanks, Tom. Yep, shipping to and from RSA is downright pricey. Gotta make it tough on consumers there to buy at an advantage. And dreadful for small businesses (like Kevin) to attract customers from the outside.

Pacing up and down the porch bundled up in 3 layers chanting for Spring so I can get this out, cleaned properly, and some decent pics shot. More for my amusement but perhaps for some posterity too.

[Bru-tom]

i should hope so because you guys get enough money from us South Africans as it is everything for us is imported

i dont know what i would do if i were stuck indoors for long periods hey, the coldest temps we get here in winter is like 13 degrees Celsius! which is still warm compared to the rest of the world, im sure you guys will be like running around in shorts and t-shirts in those temps hahaha.

cant wait for updated pics Mr.

[calj737]

Yup, was in JoBurg and Sun City 10 years back in June. Awfully darn chilly in the mornings, but quite warm by mid-day. Beautiful country, really beautiful.

[RSTLESS]

I really like your chain guard. Did you make it yourself?

[calj737]

Thanks, but no. Part of the swing arm assembly I bought thru ttr400.com. Comes out of South Africa. Page 2, mid way down is the unit. Or, part of the whole swing arm assembly, around $500 bucks plus shipping.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Thanks, but no. Part of the swing arm assembly I bought thru ttr400.com. Comes out of South Africa. Page 2, mid way down is the unit. Or, part of the whole swing arm assembly, around $500 bucks plus shipping.

FYI -- Currently, he's pricing the swingarm at $580 plus $100 for shipping to the US.

[calj737]

That seems consistent overall. May have been $550 plus shipping. I don't recall specifically, been about a year since.

One thing though, bet he's still awfully cool guy to do biz with-

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That seems consistent overall. May have been $550 plus shipping. I don't recall specifically, been about a year since.

One thing though, bet he's still awfully cool guy to do biz with-

Definitely seems cool.  I've been trading emails with him.  I'd rather get one in the stock length (he's making them about shorter than stock).  It's tough trying to visualize what he's describing.  But, yes, he is very decent to deal with. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Cal,

Cool talking to you today. 

Don

[calj737]

Ditto. But Shhhh! On the swing arm.... Spoiling my surprises, Don-

[bwaller]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=126401.0;attach=238590


Lots of cool stuff. There seems to be a serious lack of exhaust clearance, is this just a camera angle thing? Have you changed the pipe some? I thought he made these to tuck in close. I'm not trying to be critical understand. I expect you're not going to be riding aggresively anyway with the rear frame or lack of!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=126401.0;attach=238590


Lots of cool stuff. There seems to be a serious lack of exhaust clearance, is this just a camera angle thing? Have you changed the pipe some? I thought he made these to tuck in close. I'm not trying to be critical understand. I expect you're not going to be riding aggresively anyway with the rear frame or lack of!

bwaller:
I'm fairly certain this is a trick of the eye, due to the camera angle.  The bend that looks like it is toward the ground is actually to the right.  The pipe does not bend downward at all after the 4-1 collector, which is the lowest point with respect to the ground -- and it has plenty of clearance. 

Take a look on the previous page with a shot from a different angle.

The only clearance problems you would have would be if you off-roaded the bike with some serious rocks.

[calj737]

Nice, Don. Ive got you defending me now.

I know it's because you have the same exhaust and know Chris...

Bwaller - what lack of rear frame are you referring to? If you're sniping over the passenger brace, I offer this: there is MORE strength in the seat hoop, swing arm and suspension than stock. Is the look unconventional? Sure. Unsafe? Not in the least.

I'll rely on the expertise of a 30 year veteran who builds spec race frames over the opinions of blokes who opine without technical insight. You're welcome to come down and ride it and judge for yourself. Or stay home. Either way, th bike will be ridden as it was designed and built to be. A street bike.

Thanks for checking in-

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nice, Don. Ive got you defending me now.

I know it's because you have the same exhaust and know Chris...

Bwaller - what lack of rear frame are you referring to? If you're sniping over the passenger brace, I offer this: there is MORE strength in the seat hoop, swing arm and suspension than stock. Is the look unconventional? Sure. Unsafe? Not in the least.

I'll rely on the expertise of a 30 year veteran who builds spec race frames over the opinions of blokes who opine without technical insight. You're welcome to come down and ride it and judge for yourself. Or stay home. Either way, th bike will be ridden as it was designed and built to be. A street bike.

Thanks for checking in-

Any of the many with the MotoGP exhaust are familiar with its characteristics.  It's a well made pipe, based on Yoshimura's 40 year old original design.  BTW - In the new issue of Cafe Racer Magazine, Mike Seate and his crew installed a BRAND NEW Yoshimura 4-1 on a Honda CB1000.  It would appear that Yoshimura is well aware of the popularity of its old design.  The CB1000 pipe is more true to the original, as it has the gentle arched bends on the front of the header.  I'm wondering whether Yoshimura will crack down on the MGP pipe, especially if it decides to ever continue manufacturing the CB750 pipes.  I'm sure there would be a demand for an authentic Yoshimura pipe, if they ever started making them again for our vintage bikes!

[calj737]

Yep, especially with the likeness of his ID tag.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yep, especially with the likeness of his ID tag.

Yes, there apprears to be potential for a federal Lanham (trademark) Act violation. 

I see I am not the only one to get rid of the badge.

[FunJimmy]

Any of the many with the MotoGP exhaust is familiar with its characteristics.

Yes. Some even more that others.

[bwaller]

Nice, Don. Ive got you defending me now.

I know it's because you have the same exhaust and know Chris...

Bwaller - what lack of rear frame are you referring to? If you're sniping over the passenger brace, I offer this: there is MORE strength in the seat hoop, swing arm and suspension than stock. Is the look unconventional? Sure. Unsafe? Not in the least.

I'll rely on the expertise of a 30 year veteran who builds spec race frames over the opinions of blokes who opine without technical insight. You're welcome to come down and ride it and judge for yourself. Or stay home. Either way, th bike will be ridden as it was designed and built to be. A street bike.

Thanks for checking in-

No man, I don't need to ride your bike or snipe at it. You pay attention to your veteran, and this technically challenged bloke will continue to trudge along in the dark. I'm sure you'll do fine.       

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Any of the many with the MotoGP exhaust is familiar with its characteristics.

Yes. Some even more that others.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

front end shot

Cal,

Just out of curiosity, when you installed the Joker Machine triples onto your 550, did you have to machine the steering stem to a shorter length, since it comes ready to fit on a 750?  If so, how did you do it?  Hydrolic press out, machine, and press back in?

I still have a spare JM triple (I was originally going to use it on my 750, but then decided to go with the CBR600RR front for my 750), and didn't know if "one day" I might save it for my more stock-looking 550.  Of course, that would totally defeat the purpose of keeping it "stockish" and slide it that much further to a restomod.  I guess I had too much coffee this morning!  I was thinking about whether to sell it or keeping it IF I decided to do that WAY down the road.

[calj737]

I did exactly as you suspect: 55 ton press to shove the stem back to an exposed length compatible with the 550 neck. If I recall, I removed .780 and it fit like a glove.

I had called and spoken with Brandon (?) about making a 550 stem and allowing them to press them in or send to a customer as a threaded or weld-ready unit. He indicated they don't get enough requests for 500/550s to warrant the effort. Shame really, their stuff is so very nice!

I'd also like to modify the underside of the top clamp to better fit the neck of the 550, but in the end, it doesn't really matter as the clamp is secured to the stem and rides on the bearing. But if I were to make a 550 specific unit, I would make that change.

If you pursue this route, definitely gotta do the cartridges and emulators ;-) and dual discs!

By the way, I'm in the midst of making a new gauge bracket for this triple to mount a single MotoGadget ChronoClassic. Analog tach but LCD speedo and info center. If you need something, let me know.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I did exactly as you suspect: 55 ton press to shove the stem back to an exposed length compatible with the 550 neck. If I recall, I removed .780 and it fit like a glove.

I had called and spoken with Brandon (?) about making a 550 stem and allowing them to press them in or send to a customer as a threaded or weld-ready unit. He indicated they don't get enough requests for 500/550s to warrant the effort. Shame really, their stuff is so very nice!

I'd also like to modify the underside of the top clamp to better fit the neck of the 550, but in the end, it doesn't really matter as the clamp is secured to the stem and rides on the bearing. But if I were to make a 550 specific unit, I would make that change.

If you pursue this route, definitely gotta do the cartridges and emulators ;-) and dual discs!

By the way, I'm in the midst of making a new gauge bracket for this triple to mount a single MotoGadget ChronoClassic. Analog tach but LCD speedo and info center. If you need something, let me know.

Cal,

I think I've bought into the idea of going dual disc (getting hardware from Goddfrey) and emulators.  I will make these changes since they are period correct and unseen (as to the suspension upgrade).

I'm not ready to change up the triple at this point, since it will really deviate from the stock aesthetic.  At present, the bike is fairly stock looking, save for the adjustable clubmans, bobbed front fender, rear brake light, brake master cylinder and exhaust.  WHERE DOES IT STOP!? 

I think that part of wanting to keep it "stockish" is to not break the bank on mods, when I am already going to spend a significant amount on the other 750 and 550, and to keep this one on the road and ridable for me and my girlfriend. 

That said, I have just about all the hardware for a Joker Machine front, except the internals and new fork tubes (I'm sure the old ones are extra-crispy under the fork ears).  Since the original guages are in such good shape, I want to keep them, so I would likely use the JM bracket if I ever do that swap.  Thanks, though!  Especially for the 0.78" measurement.  Great to know if I go forward with the JM tree in the future!  God knows it is difficult to leave our bikes "finished."

[garygnu]

Any of the many with the MotoGP exhaust is familiar with its characteristics.

Yes. Some even more that others.

I'm not sure what ya'll are talking about here, but I was really surprised when I started my bike up that it wasn't that loud with that pipe.. and it felt like a fracking industrial fan blowing air out the back.  I had a little Suzuki rm80 when I was a kid that was waayy.. louder.  (and #$%*tier, just way more offensive.)  My Honda Hurricane was way too quiet..  Personally, I think, the gpmoto 4-1 sounds pretty #$%*ing cool.. just right in my book.

[calj737]

Gary - Some of that is "inside" history, but mostly, it's about how many people buy and love the exhaust. It is a very well made unit, fits perfectly, and sounds right. Mine is pretty loud actually. I suspect some of the noise at RPM is due to improperly tuned carbs though. Rode it around last night with my 15.6 year old in tow on his bike (Learner's permit) and it was a GD, Frickin' blast! Rode thru an open development for safety, and had people coming to their windows to see what all the "ruckus" was. 

In the end, it's the only exhaust system I've seen as a kit I'd buy. The Mac systems look decent, but rust and don't fit well. We've got a V-H on my sons Suz GS that after 1 year I pulled off and had ceramic coated inside and out to save it before it died.

I like Chris' system so well, I ordered and will install another on my 500 build.