Topic: Toustic's CB550F - A Swiss' first build

[Toustic]

Hi All,

I recently picked up my bike after months and months of eagerness and delays due to putting my trust in local talent .. (I wish there was a sarcasm font). Anyways, brought it back home, but since the bike's paperwork hasn't cleared customs, and since beautiful Geneva averages 28° lately, I figured I might as well put it on the bench, and make my cold boring weekends in the city worth my while.

I recently wrote a new member introduction should some of you be put off by the lack of background info.

The bike is pretty clean to begin with, as I need to get it registered in strict Switzerland first things first. The exhaust is the only thing that worries me about the registration, although I confident that If I'm back against the wall, I can find a good deal on a CB550F SS exhaust on here.

I do have bigger plans for the little "Emma," but I also realize that I work 10 hours a day in an office and sometimes priorities smack you in the face wether you like it or not.

For now:

- I will do my best to take it apart smartly
- Clean it thoroughly
- Replace the old
- Refinish the used
- Find aftermarket and fab'd parts for an initial fitting (then put aside)
- building my own seat from scratch (should have started with "I have a dream that I was...")
- Rebuild it as close to Swiss Standards, while letting myself have some fun nonetheless.

Alright, without further adue... a deux... ah do... Dammit, I really thought I knew that (note that I was gonna look it up, but I figured I'd show you my honest side early in the process).

Here goes nothing...

That's when I saw her again at the shipper's yard



Brought it to her new home


Had to get creative while finding a way to set the center stand (by myself) - after almost tasting steel when it threatened to fall on me first.


Temporary wood stopper and trashcan structure was the solution (yeah, there are many others but I like trying to figure it out first)



The straps were meant to make sure the bike doesn't take a 3 feet high fall on its side and it's the only high-anchored spot i could find

I need temporary reinforcement under the stand - The yellow wood is basically reinforced crate panels and it's used a lot for structural integrity in construction around here. It's very strong, but I didn't want to take a bet on the sexy concave bend.
Old school woodcutting


The view has its merits


I know it's a lot of unnecessary information but it's my first cafe project and you only get one first project.
If you read my intro, you know I tend to over-extend and keep writing, yet I am a hobbyist photographer so you'll be able to just browse through the many pics (if of interest) I'll post on the project, and infer from context.

Anyways.. that was day 1, thank you in advance for your feedbacks and tips.

[Bankerdanny]

Welcome.

Crude but effective, and best of all cheap, so you can spend money on the bike!

[Toustic]

Welcome.

Crude but effective, and best of all cheap, so you can spend money on the bike!

Ex-Actly..

Tho I do wonder if it the bench would have bare minimum credibility if I painted it all-black, haha

[Stev-o]

Subscribed.  Is the bike a runner? What's the plan.....engine out??

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Hey there. Looking good. I saw your note about the cafe seat and I have stuff I could send you. Your member introduction has turned into an open discussion of chocolate, beer and women. You should be honored! Be careful with that table, you've got a few 40 nuts to bust loose and that might require some force... I like how clean you workspace is: for now. Grease, curse words, boxes of parts are soon to be in the foreground.

[MoMo]

nice shop without further adieu(I had a minor in English Lit)...Larry

[Stev-o]

nice shop without further adieu(I had a minor in English Lit)...Larry

Better stick to paint.......ha!

[MoMo]

nice shop without further adieu(I had a minor in English Lit)...Larry

Better stick to paint.......ha!

My major was fine art-BFA with a drawing and painting concentration.  That and a dollar won't buy you a cup of coffee

[Toustic]

Haha, I'm very honored Franken, very honored indeed. I was going to write something about it and figured it hadn't reached it's debate peak yet... 754 quickly proved me right.

I know it's quite precarious, I'm just stripping it down for the moment, but will not perform the riskier manoeuvres unless assisted. I am going to buy planks and reinforce each side at mid-leg height... I'm worried these will eventually give up. and damage the bike when it's on it's rebuilding phase.

@Stev-O - Yes sir, that's the plan for now, and I can finally get to see the belly of the beast first hand... get an idea of what my parts list, budget and hours I'm gonna be looking at, and go from there.

@MoMo - I'm actually pretty bummed out to read that the one word I pointed out to be ignorant about was French... Oh Well, at least I can admit it - CHeers to That


So.. Here is a bit of an overview of what happened today... I took my time, took pictures of pretty much any bolt I took out haha. I'm not gonna post it all don't worry, just being overly methodic but I'm sure it'll pay off later.

yep, no calor, no vino


first broken bolt... with a handtool (Yeah, I work out.. why do you ask?)


Is it supposed to be such a clusterfrack?


Cheaper Tires in the US, so you can tell it came with a brand new set of Shinko 712s.

- I did get to ride a few miles down the PCH, Venice Blvd , Laurel Canyon, and Muholland before leaving her to the shippers. I almost don't want to clean that California dirt till it's finished.


Trashcan 2 - Problems 0


First mishap... I gues I thought a cup would suffice (didn't expect it to comes out like that either


Is this normal? (left and right respectively) Is it rust deposit? Bad sealing? Or is it just the color it's supposed to look like eventually?


And more...




That's it for the weekend.

Good night

[MoMo]

Right cup most likely has water mixed in with fork fluid- new seals will correct that as long as tubes are not pitted.
Try using large eyelets with washers and shorter tie downs to secure the bike.
Headlight wiring looks intimidating but Honda color code is the same with every model.
Who knows what happened to the frame rear section-does look as though someone decided to beat the snot out of it.

[Stev-o]

That is so cool that you bought the bike in Cali and was able to ride it there. Did you know bikes there sell for sometimes double as other parts of the States?
But a trip to Wisconsin wouldn't have been half the fun!

You have a vineyard in your back yard??

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Steve o and I are buying plane tickets tonight! We will sit and drink while spitting quick words.of encouragement while you bust knuckles. I will bring you some PB Blaster. Your busting dry nuts dude.....prob rusted like a weld anyway. They salt the roads in Wisconsin.

[Toustic]

That is so cool that you bought the bike in Cali and was able to ride it there. Did you know bikes there sell for sometimes double as other parts of the States?
But a trip to Wisconsin wouldn't have been half the fun!

You have a vineyard in your back yard??

Oh yeah, I know California is a rip-off, which is why this bike actually came from Arkansas, found for me by a California based CB builder, on the cheap side (at least I'd like to think that).

There is a vineyard a few hundred feet from my improvised temporary shop, and I see those mountain tops from my window.
I'll take a picture of it next time.

Thanks for the feedback guys, this is really helpful stuff.
Gotta love worldwide communities.

[Toustic]

Hi All,

(Should you not care to hear about my personal accomplishments outside of the shop and therefore my personal life, please skip to the Cheeky smiley below)

Had a big week at work so I didn't get to go to the shop so much. Reviews week at the office, although I come bearing good news (at least for myself)... Your humble servant is now proud to announce that he was put in charge of representing BMW Motorrad's best interests.

Now I get to finally be working on my motorcycle, go to the office, and make some money working with motorcycles.
Dang ... It's a good time to be alive.




Anyways, I got to go to the shop the one time, and I must admit there was chemistry and one thing lead to another...I have gotten the old lady naked
---




While setting the parts down on this table, I didn't realize it at first, but it's basically all the parts that will eventually come off the bike when I get to do what I want with its looks.





I have promised my parents that I will do all that's in my power to make this 36 years old bike safe, which is why I'm upgrading the whole brake line.
Braided stainless cables, ceramic pads, and drilled rotors. Same goes for the rear suspension (I haven' figured out what I want to do with the front fork (double 550 disc brake, or recent donor fork + brake assembly).


Don't worry, I'm not throwing anything away, but I'm not going to sell anything either. Because know that one day or another, a hotshot cop is gonna bust my nuts for not having OEM parts on my bike and make me put them back on.





I have a question that never really crossed my mine before.
When you disassemble the bike. All bolts and nuts, and pads are pretty much rotten and lost their edges, but how do you actually shop for a new set of hardware like that? I know that there are many engine bolt kits, but I was wondering if it was dumb to think I could go to a hardware store with a list of quantities and each kind of bolt I need with me, and purchase each bolt and nuts individually.


Keep in mind that specialty stores are rare around here or very expensive, and most of my needs will require the internet. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about... I asked in 8 different stores, before finding one that sold baking soda (for soda blasting)... and the bag of 25kg (special order) comes to about 150$ here, and that's cause only a handful actually sell it. I obviously didn't purchase that since I live in the States and I know what It would cost me there.

Also, I'm very unsure about the whole wiring harness, controls, and headlight bucket salad deal... so i basically took it apart as one piece, so I can study the manual and some threads, and see how well I can understand it on my own.





This weekend I plan on taking both days and working towards the engine. I will have a friend helping me pull out the wheels, swingarm, and finally the engine. I yet have to find a way to set it tho (for it to stay in its normal position as you disassemble, any suggestions?


I'm excited to see what's in the engine, and see if I can recognise sings of wear and tear without cheating too much. If I'm lost I'll make sure to keep my computer close, and my SOHC4 support group closer.

For those of you with the patience to read my never ending monologue, I thank you kindly, and promise you best efforts to make you chuckle (that's a tall order).

Good Night

[CBJoe]

I love the views in Switzerland!  I'm usually in the Luzern area a couple times a year for work and the trips have been better and better every time.

Cheers, Joe

[Stev-o]

Congrats on being put in charge of Motorad, can you clarify?


I buy stainless hardware a local specialty store but sounds as if that is not an option for you.  Some guys replate them. 

[Toustic]

Congrats on being put in charge of Motorad, can you clarify?


I buy stainless hardware a local specialty store but sounds as if that is not an option for you.  Some guys replate them.

To clarify... I will be in charge of making sure their bikes get the exposure they deserve on the big screen, and other entertainment media outlets.
i.e.:


Plating costs about 2 and half arms around here, so unfortunately, this can't be my route for this task. I'm saving that kind of money for more important/essential re-plating jobs.
I was wondering if certain certain bolts or tightening hardware are only to be found through the dealer or if I can find them at a regular hardware store (smaller scale Lowe's-like store)!?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

[MoMo]

don't know about your country but many of the smaller stores(True Value for example) have a large assortment of metric chrome, stainless and regular  nuts and bolts. I work at a Home Depot-we do not, Lowes does have a better selection.  www.boltdepot.com is a resource...Larry

[calj737]

nice shop without further adieu(I had a minor in English Lit)...Larry

I believe you mean "ado". Adieu is French for goodbye. Ado is "making a fuss over, delaying". (Majored in English, skipped the Lit).

[Maurice]

Sub'ing.

Do you mind telling me the size of tires you installed? How do they ride?

Thanks

[Toustic]

Sub'ing.

Do you mind telling me the size of tires you installed? How do they ride?

Thanks

Appreciate that mate.
I need to double check next time I'm there as those were picked by me but installed by my guy in LA. It's a great looking tire. The groove down the middle of the front tire gives it a great look and the rear is intimidating for a skinny 550 and they handle amazing. The roads and highways I've ridden those on in LA are pretty darn crappy.. so I was nicely surprised by the strong grip regardless of roads (let's call it) inconsistencies, especially considering the price range.

this link should give you a better (let's face it, less subjective) idea of the Quality/Price I'm talking about. I look forward to hearing what you thought about the ones you'll be ordering soon:
http://www.revzilla.com/product/shinko-712-rear-tires

[Maurice]

Thanks, that's helpful. I'm in the northeast and roads are crappy here too, on my old VFR I put some dents on the rims and almost cut the front tire in half plunging into one it was so bad. Didn't go down there's a god for clumsy bikers.

[Stev-o]

You have "a guy" in L.A.?!  You must be from Cali.....

[Toustic]

You have "a guy" in L.A.?!  You must be from Cali.....

Swiss, born & raised.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You have "a guy" in L.A.?!  You must be from Cali.....

Swiss, born & raised.

Yeah. Who says "Cali" anyway?  Probably the some people who call Orange County "The OC."  It's the left coast, damnit.