Topic: '76 CB550 w/ '05 CBR1000 front end

[mundi]

This is my first bike build, so go easy on me. I recently picked up a '76 CB550, and I've had a '05 CBR1000 front end sitting around for a while, and now its time to merge the two. I picked the bike up for $1200, which in Aus is a fair price for it I guess. It starts and runs well, but its missing a few things. Anyway, I'm looking for help with the mods. Is it better to ask in here or to ask in the Tech section?

First question: I checked the All Balls fork conversion site and it says the steering stem bearings are the same, and in a rush I checked the stem length and the CBR1000 stem is a couple of mm longer. What will I need to do to compensate for that? Thanks in advance

[Bankerdanny]

If it's just a couple MM then you might be able to compensate with a washer. Otherwise you will need to swap in the stem from your 550 tree.

[calj737]

B-Danny May well be right, but you should also check the thickness of the top clamps between the two setups. A couple of MM can easily be the difference between the clamps (or a space as BDanny suggests). The All Balls kit may well come with an added space, but do compare thicknesses before you get too alarmed.

[Damage Inc]

Hey Mundi, sounds like an interesting project. Plenty of photos pls. I'll be watching your front end conversion with keen interest. Good luck.

[mundi]

Okay, had a chance to pull bearings off stems and start measuring. Pictures below. CBR stem is 224mm long, CB stem is  215mm and was off a 71 CB500 front end i had lying around. I assumed they were the same as my 550. I should definitely check that... Guess i was out by a couple of mm...
Any problem with using a 9mm spacer on the bottom below the bearing? Or am i just putting off the inevitable and i need to go swap stems out?

[mundi]

Top clamp thickness of the CBR is 16mm, CB is 19mm.

[calj737]

I don't think you'd want to use a single 9MM spacer. Mock it up with dust seal and washer on bottom of stem (below steering head) and then dust seal and washer under top clamp. Install the nut and check for overall length. Which top clamp are you going to use? If you need an additional spacer, Id press the CBR stem back and cut off the 9mm at the bottom of the length, shortening the overall stem exposure.

You could also switch the stems by having them pressed out of the original trees and into the opposite tree if you don't/can't shorten the CBR stem.

[Bankerdanny]

I think you are just putting off the inevitable

[Longfellow]

I used an 06' 600rr front end on my cb550 and shimmed it with one of the washers all balls supplied with their steering bearing kit ( about 5mm.) It should be the exact same for you once everything is in place. You will have enough threads on the other side to hold everything in place.

[mundi]

Thanks everyone, just waiting on bearings then I'll report back on how it goes and if I had to swap stems

[redrider736]

Looking into this kind of swap/upgrade as well. Went onto All Balls site and found a list of bikes that I am able to do this kind of conversion, but what do you do for a front rim/hub ??

Found a local guy that has triple tree/forks off of a CBR F4 in great condition. Don't want to buy it with knowing what I am getting myself into.

[mundi]

My front end came with wheel and everything, but I was planning on swapping to a spoked wheel later. I think a few others are using Harley hubs with spacers but I'd need to double check some threads

[Retro Rocket]

Can you tell me what the offset is on those CBR triples, I have a 2008 CBR1000 set of forks and am trying to work out what triples to use..?

Thanks

[redrider736]

My front end came with wheel and everything, but I was planning on swapping to a spoked wheel later. I think a few others are using Harley hubs with spacers but I'd need to double check some threads

That's the info I am needing !! I want to run a spoked rim to match my rear but not sure what I need to order for a Hub or new Rim ?? Any help would be greatly appreciated !!



This was the vid that made me want to look into this mod. All Balls Racing was mentioned in the vid.
1968 Honda CB350 Custom Cafe Racer



My Apologies for HighJack'n this thread !!

[Retro Rocket]

My front end came with wheel and everything, but I was planning on swapping to a spoked wheel later. I think a few others are using Harley hubs with spacers but I'd need to double check some threads

That's the info I am needing !! I want to run a spoked rim to match my rear but not sure what I need to order for a Hub or new Rim ?? Any help would be greatly appreciated !!



This was the vid that made me want to look into this mod. All Balls Racing was mentioned in the vid.
1968 Honda CB350 Custom Cafe Racer



My Apologies for HighJack'n this thread !!

There's some misinformation in that video, when talking about the steering damper he says he fitted it because the offset on the triple clamps made the front more nervous, thats completely wrong. Most people see less offset and automatically thing less trail and thats just not the case, less offset means MORE TRAIL, which adds stability to the bike but can make the front less responsive and make it feel like it wants to fall into corners, steering dampers are usually used when trail is reduced due to the nervous feel of the front end and the fact that your more likely to get a tank slapper with reduced trail, thats not the case with this bike.

[mundi]

Can you tell me what the offset is on those CBR triples, I have a 2008 CBR1000 set of forks and am trying to work out what triples to use..?

Thanks

Just did a quick search and I think the offset for the 08 is 27.5 as per this thread

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/64741-cbr600rr-triple-clamp-offset/page-2

[mundi]

My front end came with wheel and everything, but I was planning on swapping to a spoked wheel later. I think a few others are using Harley hubs with spacers but I'd need to double check some threads

That's the info I am needing !! I want to run a spoked rim to match my rear but not sure what I need to order for a Hub or new Rim ?? Any help would be greatly appreciated !!



This was the vid that made me want to look into this mod. All Balls Racing was mentioned in the vid.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjzQuA9NQ5s#ws]1968 Honda CB350 Custom Cafe Racer][/url]

My front end came with wheel and everything, but I was planning on swapping to a spoked wheel later. I think a few others are using Harley hubs with spacers but I'd need to double check some threads

That's the info I am needing !! I want to run a spoked rim to match my rear but not sure what I need to order for a Hub or new Rim ?? Any help would be greatly appreciated !!



This was the vid that made me want to look into this mod. All Balls Racing was mentioned in the vid.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjzQuA9NQ5s#ws]1968 Honda CB350 Custom Cafe Racer[/url]



My Apologies for HighJack'n this thread !!

I was hoping to do what Squirley did in this thread, reply #16

[url=http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=34836.0]http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=34836.0[/url]

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I recognize where the guy is riding in Orange County.  I cannot believe he hasn't been pulled over -- no headlight or signals.  Lucky so far!

[mundi]

Bearings finally turned up from All Balls and I got a chance to put the front end on. Kit numbers 99-3511-5 and 99-3512-5. I used the larger of the two spacers provided in the kit and used a punch to get the bottom bearing. Old front end came apart easy enough, the existing wiring loom is a bit of a mess and will take some sorting. Tapped out the old bearing races in the neck with a drift, then tapped in the new races after leaving them in the freezer for about 20 minutes. The bottom race sits into the frame a little, the top sits proud a little. Everything then just bolted straight up, only thing I had the do was trim the top tab on the frame to get the top clamp on. The old stem nut fit back on, and the ignition assembly will bolt into the stock location with the bolts from the CBR1000 that I don't have which are slightly larger in diameter than the CB550 ones. The steering stops will work, but mine were butchered a bit from the previous owner of the front end. Photos are attached below. Excuse the mess, we recently moved and the garage is the last place to be cleaned up.

[mundi]

Here you can see where it was contacting on the frame. I just ground this off and the top clamp went straight on

[mundi]

And as it sits now. I have a lot of work ahead of me...

[PGF550F]

looks great! Much fun will be had with the wiring, it looks like there are some "Aftermarket" additions to it. They can be a challenge to solve. That front wheel doesnt really look out of place when you look at it. But everyone seems to want a spoked wheel.

[Kemp]

the offset on a stock CB500/550 is 45mm and rake seems around 25.5 degrees. So with 17" front wheel you make be quickening the steering a fair amount depending on how much longer or shorter the forks are compared to stock (about 28.5 inch stock). Might tend to fall in a bit into corners but should be stable but quite stiff. The brakes will be awesome!

[Retro Rocket]

the offset on a stock CB500/550 is 45mm and rake seems around 25.5 degrees. So with 17" front wheel you make be quickening the steering a fair amount depending on how much longer or shorter the forks are compared to stock (about 28.5 inch stock). Might tend to fall in a bit into corners but should be stable but quite stiff. The brakes will be awesome!

The CBR triple clamps are around  30mm offset , that adds trail so it may even out the handling, more trail slows the front, adds stability......

[calj737]

looks great! Much fun will be had with the wiring, it looks like there are some "Aftermarket" additions to it. They can be a challenge to solve.

A great solution to the wiring, especially vintage harness to modern controls is the MotoGadget M-Unit. Used in conjunction with their M-Button, simplifies everything. It is pricey, but wicked elegant. I just learned the hard way on my last project, and will be adopting this solution on my next bike that beings next weekend.