Author Topic: CB550 Track Bike (Read 39518 times)

FunJimmy · « **Reply #125 on:** October 23, 2014, 08:37:16 pm »

Fantastic job on the track bike. Sounds amazing.
Think it's time to check out those Megs.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #126 on:** October 23, 2014, 09:04:16 pm »

Those megaphones bark like an angry junkyard dog! Love them!

bwaller · « **Reply #127 on:** October 24, 2014, 04:42:43 am »

If you guys are serious about a set of megas contact Tintop, he told me he was looking for a 4-1 because the constabularies were not too fond of his.

You might be able to talk him into parting with them.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #128 on:** October 24, 2014, 08:56:51 am »

Quote from: bwaller on October 24, 2014, 04:42:43 am

If you guys are serious about a set of megas contact Tintop, he told me he was looking for a 4-1 because the constabularies were not too fond of his. You might be able to talk him into parting with them.

I'm all talk. Don't need to turn up the heat score any higher.
My 4-1 with Meg is plenty good at getting attention already.

Rocketman · « **Reply #129 on:** November 08, 2014, 06:48:23 pm »

Made another dyno run Friday and picked up 2 HP, up to 48 at the rear wheel. The needles were a dead end, way too rich. Upped the mains from 130 to 135 as it was nearly 40 degrees F cooler than the last dyno session. Going to go back to the 77 CB750 needles and see what shimming will do. Not sure why I did not think to try that while I was on the dyno. Just need to find that abandoned road where I can run without worrying about "The Man".

Or, maybe a track day before winter closes in if it is not too late.

bwaller · « **Reply #130 on:** November 09, 2014, 08:49:36 am »

If you find that quiet stretch of road, take an enclosed trailer (if you have one) to park the bike in to perform any changes. Roll it right into the trailer at the end of your run and strap it down quickly before doing anything else. It's easier to explain why you're stopped on the side of road with a trailer than a racebike with no license! Believe me, the boys in blue won't dig you riding up & down a public road....been there, done that!

What size JE's?

Rocketman · « **Reply #131 on:** November 10, 2014, 08:36:03 am »

Yes, the County Sheriffs have no sense of humor about racebikes on the street.

Got my first ticket at 14 riding my home built mini bike on the street!

Rocketman · « **Reply #132 on:** November 10, 2014, 08:42:32 am »

The pistons are JE DP592/61s from Dynoman. Sixty one mm with a displacement of 592cc. The compression ratio is supposed to be 10.5 to 1, but I have not checked.

Rocketman · « **Reply #133 on:** November 20, 2014, 05:11:21 pm »

I threw caution to the wind and did some back road carb testing. Between 3K to 5 K the motor stumbles. Based on the Dyno it is lean. From 5K to red line it pulls like a freight train. With a 10.5K redline that gives me a 5.5K powerband, good enough for the track. Currently I have 2 shims under the needle clip in its lowest position, which is like one more clip groove. We had an early snow so no more testing is planned this year. Need to build the fairing mounts, repaint the frame and fairing, and put it all back together for next year. Will need to add a catch pan for the motor also. I'll post pictures as progress is made.

Plan to attend a riders school for a race license early next year and then hit a few vintage race events.

Rocketman · « **Reply #134 on:** June 27, 2015, 06:18:20 pm »

I'm sure anyone following my build wondered if I was ever going to finish the project. The good news is progress continues to be made. Bad news still not quite finished. Spent the winter prepping the bike for some vintage racing and started rebuilding my old Suzuki 2 stroke race bike. I passed the AHRMA race school at Road America and raced on Saturday. It was a replay of the late 60's. Yamaha 2 stroke twins versus Honda 4 cylinder 4 stoke. The Yamaha's won the day, but I managed a 3rd place. Not too bad for the first outing for the bike and my first race in 29 years. Plan to start a new post under Hi-Performance with the details.

Here are some photos of additions and changes to the bike.

Added a fairing mount to the tach mount and 2 fairing mounts to the frame.

After the race I bit the bullet and bought a set of 29mm Keihin CR carbs. Just could not get the needles I needed for the CB750 carbs I was trying to use. Had nothing between 3 and 6 thousand as I was too lean. Christmas came early, aren't they pretty?

Here is a shot of the bike at Road America. Still waiting on the full fairing. Will post a picture once I have it on the bike.

Thanks for following my adventure.

bwaller · « **Reply #135 on:** June 28, 2015, 05:37:34 am »

Well done. Finishing 3rd to 2 stroke GP bikes is nothing to sneeze at. What class is this? You'll certainly appreciate the carbs. Not that I have CR's on mine, but most do, and they contribute to the package.

Rocketman · « **Reply #136 on:** June 28, 2015, 01:09:39 pm »

Running in the Formula 500 class. CB550's are included with CB500's. Based on just starting and reving the CR's they seem to run cleaner. Although after dropping nearly a grand it may be my imagination!

Looking forward to getting it back on the dyno for some tuning and HP numbers.

bwaller · « **Reply #137 on:** June 28, 2015, 01:32:06 pm »

So H1R's, A7R's and TR2-3's among others. They'll keep you honest.

bj · « **Reply #138 on:** June 28, 2015, 04:52:46 pm »

Are you going to NJMP in two weeks rocketman?

Rocketman · « **Reply #139 on:** June 28, 2015, 05:55:01 pm »

Still a working man, so my next race is just an hour from home at Mid-Ohio during the Vintage days. Barber is also on the schedule. I hit the magic age next year and will stop punching the proverbial time clock June 1, 2016. Should free up my schedule considerably. I'll have lots of time if the money holds out.

bj · « **Reply #140 on:** June 28, 2015, 06:49:26 pm »

Bummer. Guess I'll have to wait until October to check out your bike in person. Enjoy Mid-O. WERA runs the roadracing and does a fantastic job. It's is a great track, as long as it's dry. Slicker than grease when wet though. It'll be interesting to see what your lap times are there.

754 · « **Reply #141 on:** June 28, 2015, 06:57:39 pm »

The class these bike run in, can you enter single cylinders?
Just thinking, and I have not read the whole thread...but..
The old Honda singles from the 70, s bored and stroked,are putting out 45-50 hp..or more.. And. I am going hmmm.. . There was a bored /stroked 490cc at our flattrack. Races and they run against the 750,s on some of the tracks.... They must pull pretty hard out of the corners on a tight. Twisty track..

Rocketman · « **Reply #142 on:** June 30, 2015, 04:31:26 am »

On a twisty track, think Loudon, a single can be a great choice. No reason you could not run one in Formula 500 that I know.

bwaller · « **Reply #143 on:** June 30, 2015, 05:46:15 am »

Frank there are at least four Yamaha 500+ singles in the VRRA. Very light, with huge torque off the corners. In the right hands on a tight track they are competitive.

Rocketman · « **Reply #144 on:** October 20, 2015, 07:08:59 pm »

My racing season ended with Barber, so time to get back to the fairing project. The back story is a tale of trials and tribulations. My first try was borrowing a RC Honda mold from Terry Naughten of Team Hansen. His mold was made from an original factory fairing. Terry loaned the fairing to me on the condition I did not make my own mold and sell copies. My buddy from Nationals Fiberglass pulled a fairing from Terry's mold. Plan was to mount it to the 550 and life would be good. Unfortunately the factory Honda roadracers were extremely narrow, about 16 inches and my 550 is 19 inches. So how do you widen a fairing? My solution was to cut it down the middle and add a 3 inch section. Of course, this would now require a new mold for the modified fairing. Not wanting to go back on my promise, I explained my dilemma to Terry. He graciously agreed to my making a new mold for the modified fairing.

At this point the original from which the new mold will be made is nearly finished. The goal is to make it as perfect as possible as the better the original, the better the mold, and the better the finished fairings. Here are a couple of photos showing the 3 inch section I added and the original. Plan is to finish the project over the winter and have the fairing on the bike in the Spring.

nvr2old · « **Reply #145 on:** October 21, 2015, 10:22:34 am »

That's the beauty of fiberglass..unlimited options for modification. Have you found a wind screen that will accommodate the 3" widening?

Rocketman · « **Reply #146 on:** October 21, 2015, 11:07:19 am »

I had a couple of Gustafson windscreens in the shop from other race bikes, including a TZ750. It seems to be a perfect fit. Sometimes you just get lucky!

bwaller · « **Reply #147 on:** October 21, 2015, 03:52:42 pm »

Gotta be good to be lucky!

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #148 on:** October 21, 2015, 04:10:18 pm »

Nice job widening the fairing. Can't wait to see it mounted.

Godffery · « **Reply #149 on:** October 24, 2015, 11:11:24 pm »

How are those CR29's performing for you?
I prefer the CR26's for the CB550 motor. Or is your Motor built to the hilt... ; }

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Author Topic: CB550 Track Bike (Read 39518 times)