Topic: Trad's 74 CB550 K0

[Trad]

Nice job hiding the wiring.  Also like the license plate holder.

Thanks boss. Clean and simple is key on this build. I still have to deal with making an electronics box and the bundle of wires that end behind the carbs. That's really urking me. 

[Maurice]

Looking good. Anxious to see the bolt-on frame brace, as I'll probably be doing the same. The frame I have was already cut and I prefer the stock "arms" as opposed to a "cafe" loop. And truth be told I don't weld.

Do you think there'll be wheel travel issues? That's assuming you're using stock shocks.

Thanks

[Trad]

Looking good. Anxious to see the bolt-on frame brace, as I'll probably be doing the same. The frame I have was already cut and I prefer the stock "arms" as opposed to a "cafe" loop. And truth be told I don't weld.

Do you think there'll be wheel travel issues? That's assuming you're using stock shocks.

Thanks

Thanks mate. I will post photos as soon as I am done with the brace. Waiting for my seat to arrive from BCR and I will use the brace to mount the rear of the seat. I too prefer the look of the stock tail over the hoop.

I have 1" shorter than stock shocks on the bike right now. They are just the $100 slim retro-look shock from Dime City. I will likely swap them out for something else in the same clevis length down the road. I highly doubt there will be any tire interference but I will only know for sure once mounted.

[Trad]

I spent some time yesterday on the front fender. I wasn't planning on running a front fender but I thought I'd chop it shorter, shape the ends, bring it to bare metal and clear coat it. My next step will be to lower it so it sits closer to the tire. Once I get it mounted I'll decide if I want to run it or not. What's the most common method guys have used to lower the fender? I had an idea in mind but we'll see I guess.

[bambuhiphop]

Fender turned out great. I am in the same boat as you in terms of lowering. I will be interested to see what you come up with.

[SF]

Looks great dude don't change the strength of it because it's like a brace. aftermarket fork brace is a must if you don't run that fender.

[Trad]

Fender turned out great. I am in the same boat as you in terms of lowering. I will be interested to see what you come up with.

Thanks mate. I will keep you posted. Your build looks killer btw.

[Trad]

Looks great dude don't change the strength of it because it's like a brace. aftermarket fork brace is a must if you don't run that fender.

Cheers. I rode without the fender the entirinty of the riding season last year before the tear down. I honestly couldn't really notice a difference. Maybe on really hard turns but even then it was negligible, maybe I'm not riding hard enough. haha.  I know I read the thread on this discussion a while back. I agree an aftermarket fork brace would stiffen things up.......a heck of a lot more than the stock fender does even 

I like the billet one cycle x offers.

[bambuhiphop]

Thanks mate. I will keep you posted. Your build looks killer btw.

ditto

[RobbyD]

Loving that tank trad, fender turned out great too.  Keep up the good work buddy

[Trad]

Trad - bear in mind, lowering the fender should also change the radius of the fender. It's based off a concentric arc.

Also, the brace "legs" may have a slight angle to them which needs to be accounted for if you section there (front to back, parallel to the ground) in order to drop the fender.

Without doing the calculations, if think you might need to "pie cut" the brace along the leg, to tuck the fender mounting holes back into alignment, then remove some length from the lower edge of the fender, from the brace leg.

Does any of that make sense?

Another member modified his brace in a similar way, but made a great deal of small kerf cuts to reshape and resize the brace.that seems a lot more work to me.

Thanks for the in depth response, as always, much appreciated. With the beefier Avon's the fender sits fairly close to the tread as is. For the look I'm going for I maybe have to drop it 3/8". I was hoping I could get away with drilling new mounting holes the needed amount up back to accommodate the angle change by bringing it down.

[Trad]

Loving that tank trad, fender turned out great too.  Keep up the good work buddy

Thanks man!

[Trad]

Well, Benjie is pretty well done with the seat. Just needs to take care of some high's and low's on the alloy cowl but that's it. I am more than happy with the outcome. It was built exactly to my spec and he was super helpful the whole way through.

Especially digging the ribbed brown leather upholstery. I think that will go well with the green tank and should pop umoungst all the black and silver. I can't wait to mock it up with the tank.

[pieman]

that seat looks great! Just curious though, why did you not end up going with Kott?

[Trad]

that seat looks great! Just curious though, why did you not end up going with Kott?

Thanks man. Unfortunately Dustin didn't return any of my phone calls or emails. I had previous work done with Benjie at BCR and he was happy to work with me when I sent him the style and dimensions I wanted.

[SF]

Looks dam good!

[Trad]

SF, thanks mate.

I just noticed that Benjies seat bracket has a cross brace on it and I am in the midst of making my own. The one he has on there will no doubt hit the tire on compression. Bah, I better address that before he sends it out.

[tweakin]

love the tail section.  simple and understated....

[Trad]

love the tail section.  simple and understated....

tweakin, thanks for the compliment. Your builds are off the hook amazing, keep it up!

On another I talked to Benjie and the flat bar on the rear of the seat is just for mock up and not a brace or part of the seat bracket. I should have finished photos by the end of the week.

[Maurice]

Ah the bracket needs to be inverted at the very least, looks like all you need is an angle piece separate from the vertical ones. What a stunning tail, fits with the tank very nicely. I'd go this route but I like the ability to carry a passenger.

[Trad]

Ah the bracket needs to be inverted at the very least, looks like all you need is an angle piece separate from the vertical ones. What a stunning tail, fits with the tank very nicely. I'd go this route but I like the ability to carry a passenger.

Thanks Maurice. Benjie killed it! I was puzzled by the horizontal flat bar and thought it was a brace. It was good to hear it was just for mock up. I figured anyone should know that a brace that low would kiss the tires on ever bump and valley, I was right. haha

[Maurice]

Oh I missed that part... duh (facepalm smiley)

[Trad]

Oh I missed that part... duh (facepalm smiley)

Haha, no sweat.

[Trad]

Well, the seat is complete and Benjie will be shipping it off Monday morning. This is probably my favourite piece of this build. I was chatting with him and he incorporated my idea for the rear brace and seat mount together. So excited to receive it. The fit and finish looks amazing.

[Trad]

So, due to the unusual weather system this winter you've moved Christmas to next week!? Please, don't tell my kids...

Seat looks friggin' beautiful. Benjie does do some really nice work.

calj737, It sure does feel like Christmas. "friggin' beautiful" is a great description. haha. Cheers mate.