Author Topic: 1976 CB550F - making it good, one step at a time (Read 122054 times)

RAFster122s · « **Reply #575 on:** August 18, 2018, 04:54:37 PM »

Lilly is a gorgeous dog, what breed? David

flatlander · « **Reply #576 on:** August 18, 2018, 10:58:50 PM »

she's a vizsla - hungarian hunting dog.
and here's another pic, just for you:

flatlander · « **Reply #577 on:** August 18, 2018, 11:04:32 PM »

Quote from: SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan on August 18, 2018, 08:57:28 AM

Quote from: flatlander on August 18, 2018, 03:01:33 AM
my 550 was the oldest and smallest capacity bike in the pack. however, it was definitely not slowing anything down. in fact, most of the time on these small roads it was me and the thruxton leading with the rest lagging behind. so the work put in the bike so far seems to have worked
of course on a wide straight highway it would've been a different game...

I've found this to be true as long as the road is technical and twisty -- the middleweight bikes can carry so much more corner speed, but lag on the open highways unless you rev them harder.

Great looking trip!!

yes right. but this is not a modern middleweight. with this group of bikes and riders i was surprised how well the old lady did - and so were the others, they commented on it scratching their heads

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #578 on:** August 18, 2018, 11:41:47 PM »

Quote from: flatlander on August 18, 2018, 11:04:32 PM

Quote from: SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan on August 18, 2018, 08:57:28 AM
Quote from: flatlander on August 18, 2018, 03:01:33 AM
my 550 was the oldest and smallest capacity bike in the pack. however, it was definitely not slowing anything down. in fact, most of the time on these small roads it was me and the thruxton leading with the rest lagging behind. so the work put in the bike so far seems to have worked
of course on a wide straight highway it would've been a different game...

I've found this to be true as long as the road is technical and twisty -- the middleweight bikes can carry so much more corner speed, but lag on the open highways unless you rev them harder.

Great looking trip!!

yes right. but this is not a modern middleweight. with this group of bikes and riders i was surprised how well the old lady did - and so were the others, they commented on it scratching their heads

I've been on rides with CB750s and comparable 750/1000cc vintage bikes on my CB550. In tighter corner-laden roads like Palos Verdes or the Snake in Malibu, I can carry much more corner speed.

Stev-o · « **Reply #579 on:** August 22, 2018, 08:08:45 AM »

Looks like a great trip...

flatlander · « **Reply #580 on:** August 23, 2018, 11:00:53 PM »

it was, but too short! having a madly busy time at work now, no time for bike stuff

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #581 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:07:14 AM »

Story of my life.

flatlander · « **Reply #582 on:** September 11, 2018, 12:55:04 PM »

during the engine build i installed a megacycle 126-00 cam. the webcam 358a is a similar, mild performance profile but i could not find any direct comparison between the two.
when the opportunity arose to pick up an unused 358a i grabbed it and dropped it.

overall they are very similar, the important difference being that the 358a brings in max torque a bit earlier which suits me very well. so i'll be keeping that one.

resulting dyno chart:

more here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,134461.msg2025855.html#msg2025855

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #583 on:** September 11, 2018, 03:57:43 PM »

10,122.8 rpm!!! That thing was screaming for mercy.

flatlander · « **Reply #584 on:** September 12, 2018, 06:11:38 AM »

let it scream!
the max numbers are a bit misleading, it's more interesting to see in the chart where power starts coming in.
past about 8k it starts climbing over 50hp and from about 9k on it has peak hp. there's nothing wrong with using that range. realistically, on the road i don't see myself keeping it at 10k for extended periods. an occasional spike should not hurt, though.

MRieck · « **Reply #585 on:** September 12, 2018, 07:14:05 AM »

It is nice to see the power does not drop off well past 10,000 RPM. Would be interesting to see what a 126-20 would do....definitely more peak power and torque would stay the same but not be as strong as early.

flatlander · « **Reply #586 on:** September 12, 2018, 07:42:09 AM »

yes mike, the early pull is what i was looking for as it's not a race engine that's constantly pushed to high revs. i'd be willing to try out a 126-20 for comparison if someone can donate one

remember, we discussed this and that's why we went for the milder cam? maybe of interest for you as well: the 358a gives max torque earlier than the 126-00, with peak values for both hp and torque being equal.

MRieck · « **Reply #587 on:** September 12, 2018, 12:09:13 PM »

Quote from: flatlander on September 12, 2018, 07:42:09 AM

remember, we discussed this and that's why we went for the milder cam?

I clearly remember talking about and how happy you were with the overall increase in torque....something like 10 or 12 ft lbs. I can pretty much help develop a head/piston combination to help get whatever the rider wants.

flatlander · « **Reply #588 on:** September 13, 2018, 04:36:09 AM »

ha, yes! the living proof is in my frame. if i ever get to meet you in person i have to buy you a beverage or two.

Stev-o · « **Reply #589 on:** September 13, 2018, 06:53:40 AM »

Very impressive.....can I do a test ride so I can compare it to my stock 550F?!

flatlander · « **Reply #590 on:** September 14, 2018, 03:00:57 AM »

give me a shout when you come to amsterdam, and we can arrange that!
cal has been here but it was crap weather and he had no riding gear so it was only a visual inspection.

flatlander · « **Reply #591 on:** November 27, 2019, 09:40:05 AM »

i did have some ideas for work i wanted to do over the winter months... but fate gave me a different agenda:

it was a pile-up accident on the motorway. 4 cars in front of me ran into each other. i realised i could not brake to standstill before hitting them and escaped to the shoulder on the left (i always try to be in a lane with an accessible shoulder, exactly for this reason). precious little time and even less space, but that worked. the car that had been behind me, crashed into the car that had been in front of me - glad i wasn't in there!

so i thought i was safe and slowed down. then my rear-end went... all i could think was "WTF" as i went down. there had been no indication of sliding or anything, i was totally puzzled.
looking back while on the ground i saw that other car behind me: 2 cars down from where i had been, it had taken the same route onto the shoulder but didn't brake hard enough and touched my rear which knocked the bike over. crap.
still a lucky situation as we were both almost at standstill when this happened. i'm not hurt and the bike's not too badly damaged.

this is what i saw at the towing service's place. today they delivered the bike back to me, will still need to inspect it more carefully. what i see so far - nothing a little duct tape can't fix

calj737 · « **Reply #592 on:** November 27, 2019, 11:58:45 AM »

Pictures aren't showing on my end.

Glad you're okay!

flatlander · « **Reply #593 on:** November 27, 2019, 12:11:03 PM »

pix should be fixed now.
yes i'm totally fine, thanks! dealing with insurance report now...

Stev-o · « **Reply #594 on:** November 27, 2019, 01:55:02 PM »

Sorry to hear FL. Good to here you are ok.

Cannot see pic.

Scott S · « **Reply #595 on:** November 27, 2019, 05:59:59 PM »

No pics for me, either.

flatlander · « **Reply #596 on:** November 27, 2019, 11:06:48 PM »

pictures disappeared again, that sucks.
will need to fiddle with them to make a sable link. sorry about that.

strynboen · « **Reply #597 on:** November 28, 2019, 08:44:46 AM »

good that you are all right..look for crack in the paint..araund the stering head..its the soft point...but as long you nod hit for a hard stop..i think its only minor damage..but paint can be expensive...so thek carefull all stuff for damage...

Bootsey · « **Reply #598 on:** November 28, 2019, 12:57:16 PM »

Damn, that sounds like a hectic situation to be in & you handled it well. Glad you're ok.
Are those glorious pipes ok too?

flatlander · « **Reply #599 on:** November 28, 2019, 01:34:23 PM »

strynboen:
thanks, and yes i'll inspect everything carefully on the weekend. so far it looks like no serious damage - fingers crossed...

bootsey:
thank you, too. hectic is something else... those split seconds between "yay i escaped the squeeze" and "why the F am i going sideways and down" were priceless, in a way

pipes seem to be ok at first glance, but will need to check everything more thoroughly.

News:

Author Topic: 1976 CB550F - making it good, one step at a time (Read 122054 times)