Topic: Trad's 74 CB550 K0

[Trad]

I like that second one, a lot. Nice lines, and doesn't look like every other cafe out there.

I like the lines of the Kott seat.  Ian Halcott does these, too, and so does Raccia.

Me too, when I emailed Kott he said he only builds them out of steel. I really want Alloy and Benjie was up for making a seat with Kott's lines out of alloy. Do you have contact infer or websites for Halcott or Raccia?

[Trad]

+3 on the second.

I wasn't debating between the two. I'm getting a seat made in the style of the second photo but with the material finish and upholstery of the first. thanks for the input though dude!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I like that second one, a lot. Nice lines, and doesn't look like every other cafe out there.

I like the lines of the Kott seat.  Ian Halcott does these, too, and so does Raccia.

Me too, when I emailed Kott he said he only builds them out of steel. I really want Alloy and Benjie was up for making a seat with Kott's lines out of alloy. Do you have contact infer or websites for Halcott or Raccia?

Ian Halcott
House on Fire Industries/Cafe Racer Seat & Tank
http://caferacerseatandtank.com/
ian@houseonfire.com

I can't say enough nice things about Ian.  He's a real craftsman and a cool dude.  He's proficient with both steel and aluminum.  He's pretty swamped with work right now.  I'm not sure if he's still taking custom orders or just trying to get some of his stock models fabricated.  Hit him up with a call or email.

I haven't personally dealt with Mike LaFountain, but his work looks great (I do not know if he works in aluminum)
http://racciamotorcycles.com
racciamotorcycles@gmail.com
(805) 242-8265

[Trad]

+3 on the second.

I wasn't debating between the two. I'm getting a seat made in the style of the second photo but with the material finish and upholstery of the first. thanks for the input though dude!

It was a compliment, not an opinion. Your work and tastes don't need anyone's opinion, but they deserve our respect.

Thank you! I respect that. Both your builds are looking top notch btw.

[Trad]

Don't mind the wife's bedding decoration.

BUT the NOS tank arrived today safe and sound. It had some areas with 40 years of dust and cob webs but DAMN it cleaned up nice! Anyone have any advice for removing scuffs on single stage paint?

No dents, dings, chips etc. Pretty impressed to be honest. I was expecting worse, especially with how careful the Post is. 

[RobbyD]

Tank looks amazing trad!


You decide on a seat yet?  I was on board with bcr stuff but fell in love with Ian halcotts stuff so I placed a order with him last night and I'm going to rock a my stock tank .  Plus my wife was giving me the stink eye for wanting to drop that kind of coin on a seat and tank.

[DustyRags]

Oh man, that is one gorgeous tank!

[Trad]

Tank looks amazing trad!


You decide on a seat yet?  I was on board with bcr stuff but fell in love with Ian halcotts stuff so I placed a order with him last night and I'm going to rock a my stock tank .  Plus my wife was giving me the stink eye for wanting to drop that kind of coin on a seat and tank.

Thanks Robby! Halcott's stuff is amazing! I actually am getting Benjie to make me an alloy version of a Kott style tank with ribbed brown leather upholstery. Very low cowl and fairly short.

What exactly did you order from Halcott?

[RobbyD]

Steel No.7 fastback seat.  Seems like a very cool dude and responded same day to all my emails.

[Trad]

Steel No.7 fastback seat.  Seems like a very cool dude and responded same day to all my emails.

That's a nice seat. How will it mount? or do you have to figure that out still.

[RobbyD]

Haven't got that far yet.  I know I want to go with a angled seat hoop that fits the curves of the back of the hump. From there I'll build me a pan for all the electronics and some kind of set up for mounting. 

From the pics I've seen I haven't seen one mounted up with a hoop, most are just the stock rear frame section.

I'm really liking your build man, Gives me some inspiration for mine.  Mine will be a lot more slow going.  Can't wait to see how your alloy bcr seat turns out

[Trad]

Trad - are the scuffs on the tank in the side panels or the top? If they are in the top, they can be wet sanded. I've done it numerous times. 1,000 then 2,000 then straight to buffing with an orange foam pad, then to white pad.

Then black side panels are VERY tricky. They are a single stage only (as I suspect you realize). You "can" wet sand them, but be very gentle. I'd start at 2,000 grit, sand in opposite direction of the scratches. Then go immediately to buffing with white pad. The buffing will remove some color, so go easy. if the scratch is too deep, it won't come out, but you may be able to knock it back enough to be happy with it.

Of course, a high quality synthetic waxing afterwards is highly recommended. And I always begin wax/buff work with using Denatured Alcohol to wipe down the paint first. Won't hurt it a bit, strips any residue off. Then I clean the paint with a clay bar to remove any remaining surface contaminants that may come loose and scratch deeper.

Here's a pic of a members tank I helped him out with (it was very badly oxidized and wicked scratched). Came out very nicely and he was super stoked.

Hey calj737,

Thanks for the input! the scuffs are in the metallic green section. Nothing really deep at all but enough to want to do something about it. The black side sections are fine so I'll leave that area alone. I was under the impression that the top/primary colour was also a single stage can you confirm? If it's base clear than I am totally confident wet sanding it.

Cheers!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Haven't got that far yet.  I know I want to go with a angled seat hoop that fits the curves of the back of the hump. From there I'll build me a pan for all the electronics and some kind of set up for mounting. 

From the pics I've seen I haven't seen one mounted up with a hoop, most are just the stock rear frame section.

I'm really liking your build man, Gives me some inspiration for mine.  Mine will be a lot more slow going.  Can't wait to see how your alloy bcr seat turns out

Unless you specify otherwise, the seats are sized to fit over the frame rails.  You can weld tabs into your frame to screw fasteners directly into the seat, or just about any other method, like Frankenstuff's rubber seat mount rings (which I used on my last build).

[Trad]

The metallics are 2 stage applications so you can safely wet sand. But they are thin, so don't go nuts! Less grit, less pressure, jump farther between grits.

Well, I just finished up. Turned out fantastic! There were a couple scratches that I left in fear of burning through the clear. Very very minimal.

An in all, the thing looks new off the assembly line in 1974 

I wet sanded with 800, then 1000. Then cut it on the orbital with a medium abrasive then by hand with a mild compound. Looks like glass now. I'll get some finished photos when the suns out.

[brandEn]

This looks like a cool project!

[Trad]

This looks like a cool project!

Cheers mate.

Just waiting on parts in the post and I will keep the updates coming.

[emripires]

Right on Jared!

[Trad]

Right on Jared!

Thanks Emri. 1st Post!

[Trad]

Alright, Cylinder is bored and honed for the 60mm JE pistons. These are the flat top JE 10.5:1 Pistons.

Cylinder Head has been cleaned right up and rebuilt. I had to find a new one after the machine shop broke those fins on the first  The cases were painted black and I decided to leave the cylinder and the head in raw alloy, untreated/painted.

I spent a bunch time brushing alloy bits on the engine.

[Trad]

My carbs got finished up by Harisluv. I wanted to make sure they are rebuilt before the engine fires for the first time and the piston rings seal. Last thing I want is to have a poor break in.

110 mains 40 slow, needle clip in the 5th position from the top and air screws turned 1.5 out. These are 73 CB 500 carbs BTW. We will see how the setup guess work goes.

Thanks again James.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

James does amazing work.

[Trad]

James does amazing work.

Yeah Don, I'm excited to get them back. They look mint and I'm sure they will function just the same.

[754]

Trad, you have an ad in Wanted, can you let us know if you still need that ?

[Trad]

I spent about 2 hours with the wire wheel and scotch-brite cleaning and finishing the Carpy pipe. I'm going to leave it in the raw steel. I am tempted to ceramic coat it for the reduced heat, but I flat out love the look of the raw steel. Thoughts?

Still waiting on my 358a webcam, BCR alloy seat, and shaved tripe clamp to arrive.

[Trad]

Have just the inside coated. Best of both worlds!

That's a good idea! I wonder if it would be tough for the coater to just do the inside? I will make a few calls this week and see what I can find.

I still want the pipe you have!!!! haha It's just not a top priority as I already have a decent one. In time.