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

[riverfever]

Even more impressed now Cal.

[calj737]

Even more impressed now Cal.

What? That I finally finished the wiring after nearly 3 weeks? Yeah, Im stupid like that-

[riverfever]

Now now. You know that's not what I was implying.

[calj737]

calm down, I know what you meant. I'm just having tons of fun today. Been in a very jocular mood all day. Must be the sweltering heat... Frick! Its hot here!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

calm down, I know what you meant. I'm just having tons of fun today. Been in a very jocular mood all day. Must be the sweltering heat... Frick! Its hot here!

Just another mid 70s day in SoCal.

[calj737]

Yeah, but we don't have landslides, earthquakes, raging wild fires, and ding bat celebs to contend with. Just sweltering heat, humidity, beautiful foliage in the fall, outstanding BBQ, Sun tea, and the sweetest young ladies with adorable accents and come hither eyes....

Oh the compromises!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yeah, but we don't have landslides, earthquakes, raging wild fires, and ding bat celebs to contend with. Just sweltering heat, humidity, beautiful foliage in the fall, outstanding BBQ, Sun tea, and the sweetest young ladies with adorable accents and come hither eyes....

Oh the compromises!

Hurricanes, chiggers, ticks, sweltering humidity, rednecks. . .
I'll take the beach.

[cheftuskey121]

Cal don't forget country girls, moonshine, mountains, country girls, fruit ciders, boiled peanuts, and country girls.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Cal don't forget country girls, moonshine, mountains, country girls, fruit ciders, boiled peanuts, and country girls.

Country girls, Georgia peaches. Wait, that's the same thing.

[calj737]

I already mentioned country girls, Chef. And Don, for your proper edification, a Georgia Peach is a Country Girl! "They're sweet as a peach".

Rednecks, huh? What's wrong with rednecks? They can fix anything, they'll leave you alone while you ride, and they'll be there to help you out when you break down. And, some, have the cutest, sweetest daughters ;-) By gummit!

[bwaller]

When push comes to shove, we all suffer from a bit of redneckedness with our 40 yr old motorcycles. Otherwise we'd all be riding some yuppy e-bikes. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

When push comes to shove, we all suffer from a bit of redneckedness with our 40 yr old motorcycles. Otherwise we'd all be riding some yuppy e-bikes. 

Too true. Sometimes a paper clip or a zip tie will get you home.

[RobbyD]

When push comes to shove, we all suffer from a bit of redneckedness with our 40 yr old motorcycles. Otherwise we'd all be riding some yuppy e-bikes. 

Too true. Sometimes a paper clip or a zip tie will get you home.

Lmao, true story!

[calj737]

Funny thing happened on the way to the BMW shop today... Seriously, I'm at the shop locally that specializes in vintage BMW Airheads discussing some technical changes and directions for that project, when low and behold my phone rings. Caller ID: my 20 Year Old. "Dad, I've got some bad news: I wrecked the 550... I'm okay, I went down, but the bike is pretty beat up..."

Well, like any good father, my immediate concern was for his well-being. Stayed calm, ascertained he was okay, and then made arrangements to meet him, wife was closer to bing trailer from the house.

Turns out, he was on a 2 lane road, coming out of curve, large truck hovering a bit, forced him a bit wide into an uphill left-hander, and of course, he hits a patch of sand and gravel. Fortunately, not going too fast, but loses the back tire, grabs the clutch and pumps the bars right, stands it up, and steers into a grassy swale and then into a yard. Not bad, pretty good for a younger rider. Unfortunately, bike low-sided on him but thankfully, not physical damage to him. He was of course wearing his Arai, his new RevIt summer jacket with armor, gloves, and jeans. But, I now have a wee bit of damage to repair...

I wanted a new LED headlight anyway...


I can always find another billet aluminum LED winker from Ellaspede in Oz


Third time's a charm for milling this Aluminum bracket... Zip ties are to get it home...


Uh, that doesn't look stock to me either?


Thankfully, Shawn at Slingshot lives nearby (headlight came up and split the SS line and DOT 3 was all over the fender and triple


I needed to paint the new rear fender, so I think this might buff out. If not, well there's more to re-paint anyway-


Okay, honestly, this hurts a bit. Metal was damn near perfect before paint 


Escaped unscathed!!!


Happen to have another of these hand controls BTW. Good thing, the HL switch broke off too


This will require some effort. Bracket is bent. Might require some $ to remove engine and re-powdercoat the frame to fix properly and completely.


Powder coat is pretty tough stuff. A little soap and water, and I bet this comes up clean


So, pretty lucky really. Regardless of the damage to the bike, the boy is fine, reacted properly, and was wearing full protection. A pretty cheap life lesson and certain it will pay huge dividends for him whenever he rides in the future!

Now, to explain why this bike is back on the rack to the wife 

[Maurice]

Bummer, man, glad your kid is ok. Everything else is replaceable.

[KrautKoffin]

Glad to hear your son is ok!

[Gman]

Glad to hear your son is OK.  As you said, priorities: 1) family, 2) everything else.  Hopefully, going down once and walking away will give him some experience that could have been much more costly.  It pleases me that he had on full protection - many young riders don't feel the need to cover up, as it could never happen to them.   Good luck getting the bike back in running nick.

Peace,
G
(Still don't envy the wife chat, though.)

[Tews19]

Being a father those can be the scariest moments knowing a child is in an accident. Glad he came away unscathed.  Bikes come and go.

[calj737]

Appreciate very much the concern for the boy: but he's just fine. He was more concerned I'd do the Incredible Hulk on him ;-)

Odd thing, Tews, I can't seem to get this damn bike out of the garage no matter when I say, " Finally, it's done!"  Damn thing keeps turning back up looking wantingly at the empty parts shelf with "What more do you have for me?" eyes.. Thinking about renaming it to Christine.

[Retro Rocket]

Glad to hear your son is ok!

+1, sounds like he did well....

[bwaller]

Yes Cal, the lad did ok. Getting off it in the grass saved some asphalt damage to both rider & motorcycle. Oh it's always heart breaking looking at them in this state but the build part was already done. The rebuild will be quicker because there won't be as much time lost staring at it.

All's well that ends well, nothing that can't be fixed. Good on ya for teaching him to dress the part.

[Bankerdanny]

Glad he was wearing his gear. I bet he always does after this.

[calj737]

Surveyed the damage tonight, not too bad. New headlight (ordered), new winker mounting bolt (ordered), new gauge bracket ( ), some re-wiring of the push buttons, new rearset bracket on left side (gonna have to cut and re-weld it) and of course the body work. Oh, and need a new upper brake hose, will have to get in touch with Shawn.

All in all, pretty cheap really (about $150 total expenses) and some work with the mill, torch, TIG and spray gun. At least his brand new jacket cleaned up and he's only got a couple of very minor scuffs on his left leg.

After some reflection on his part, he concluded his mistake: wrong line in the turn. Too far to the inside on that particular curve. It didn't leave him enough room to dive in, or avoid an on-comer. As I said, pretty cheap lesson about riding and awfully good result in a bad situation. Further down the road, he'd have been in the hardwoods as there are no yards in that next stretch.

Bike will get fixed and be back up and running pretty quickly. A week or two. Then off to the dyno for proper and full tuning.

Appreciate all the well wishes, guys!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Surveyed the damage tonight, not too bad. New headlight (ordered), new winker mounting bolt (ordered), new gauge bracket ( ), some re-wiring of the push buttons, new rearset bracket on left side (gonna have to cut and re-weld it) and of course the body work. Oh, and need a new upper brake hose, will have to get in touch with Shawn.

All in all, pretty cheap really (about $150 total expenses) and some work with the mill, torch, TIG and spray gun. At least his brand new jacket cleaned up and he's only got a couple of very minor scuffs on his left leg.

After some reflection on his part, he concluded his mistake: wrong line in the turn. Too far to the inside on that particular curve. It didn't leave him enough room to dive in, or avoid an on-comer. As I said, pretty cheap lesson about riding and awfully good result in a bad situation. Further down the road, he'd have been in the hardwoods as there are no yards in that next stretch.

Bike will get fixed and be back up and running pretty quickly. A week or two. Then off to the dyno for proper and full tuning.

Appreciate all the well wishes, guys!

Wow, a Cal. Sorry to hear about your son's off, but glad he was not hurt. Any stuff can be repaired or replaced. Good for him wearing his gear and handles it well.

How are the forks and trees?

[calj737]

Structurally the bike is completely unscathed. Fires right up, idles perfectly, chain was undamaged, rear wheel still aligned. Basically, the bike slid out from under him in the grass on the left side only. Didn't even bust a mirror! He did break the Hi/Low switch on the controls. Sheared a winker, stuff like that. Thank God my MotoGadget gauge escaped too!

I came home last evening from running #2 boy around to find him having washed and cleaned the whole bike. That helped a great deal identify the damage.

The two boys who ride have only a few unwavering rules with me: helmet always buckled, jacket zipped, pants- never shorts, and gloves. I've bought them top of the line helmets and jackets that are seasonally appropriate to aide in their comfort. Have told them: better to sweat a pound of water than leak an ounce of blood. Fortunately, they don't give me any guff on that.

I think it all turned out pretty well. They both have witnessed the hazards of riding and being "wrong" about where they are in the lane; they've seen how quickly fun turns to "Oh Sh!t, and they realize that no matter how hot it is, sweating is far better than bleeding. 

Job done!