Topic: 1975 CB550K1 - Stock-ish Restomod - More Mods

[Tews19]

That said, I've notice the nights are getting cold -- down to the low 60s in the middle of the night.  Brrrrrr!!
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Oh that's grimey! We hit 60 now and we are happy!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That said, I've notice the nights are getting cold -- down to the low 60s in the middle of the night.  Brrrrrr!!

Oh that's grimey! We hit 60 now and we are happy!
[/quote]

Yeah, but you have Cycle X, the Packers (STILL no NFL football team in LA), lots of German food, mid-West farmers' daughters and cheese.  All good!  We just have blazingly hot women that have attitude and/or are head cases.    Except for my girlfriend, of course!

[Tews19]

That said, I've notice the nights are getting cold -- down to the low 60s in the middle of the night.  Brrrrrr!!

Oh that's grimey! We hit 60 now and we are happy!

Yeah, but you have Cycle X, the Packers (STILL no NFL football team in LA), lots of German food, mid-West farmers' daughters and cheese.  All good!  We just have blazingly hot women that have attitude and/or are head cases.    Except for my girlfriend, of course!
[/quote]


 Farm girls?? Sigh...... Only if you knew.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That said, I've notice the nights are getting cold -- down to the low 60s in the middle of the night.  Brrrrrr!!

Oh that's grimey! We hit 60 now and we are happy!

Yeah, but you have Cycle X, the Packers (STILL no NFL football team in LA), lots of German food, mid-West farmers' daughters and cheese.  All good!  We just have blazingly hot women that have attitude and/or are head cases.    Except for my girlfriend, of course!

 Farm girls?? Sigh...... Only if you knew.
[/quote]

What?!  The Beach Boys lied!?   

[calj737]

They grow farm girls in VT too. Just ask my wife! No make-up, no jewelry, 1 black dress, 1 pair of pumps.

I'll have to tell you the story of the trip to the jewelry store one day...

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I don't know about the no make up, etc. I just thought they were sweet, pretty, down-to-earth girls!

[Free Booter]

Have a TKAT fork brace on my 750. I love it!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I'm trying to rid the bike of speed wobble that seems to come on at about 80-85 mph.  Very unsettling.

The bike has new roller bearings in the steering head and wheels (front and back), and new bronze swingarm bushings. 

The only thing not replaced were the bottom bushings for the shock mounts.

Any other ideas??

[Tews19]

Is it possible the fork fluid is uneven? Or possibly the tire needs to be trued?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Is it possible the fork fluid is uneven? Or possibly the tire needs to be trued?

Fork fluid is even -- checked when the forks were rebuilt with new RaceTech internals.

I'll lift the wheel and spin it to verify for trueness.

It's strange that it only comes on at the "frequency" of that higher speed.

[Tews19]

Is it possible maybe the wheel itself moved on the rim?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Is it possible maybe the wheel itself moved on the rim?

Seriously doubt it.  No burn outs or rear lock ups to torque it.

[Tews19]

Is it possible maybe the wheel itself moved on the rim?

Seriously doubt it.  No burn outs or rear lock ups to torque it.

WEAK! Just playing!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I guess I didn't catch the tire trueness comment and thought you were referring to the wheel. 

So does anyone have any real suggestions.

[nvr2old]

I had a couple of questions that may stir up a hopeful solution..

I read back through an earlier post that said you took it out for 5-6 hrs. and rode it pretty hard.  Did it display the shake then..?  Does it happen only in a straight line?  You also mentioned it was a little unsettling going into corners.  Is that at slow speeds or fast sweepers?  Could it be something as simple as a slightly over-tightened steering stem nut?  Just throwing things out there..

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Good questions and suggestions.

The hard riding was in twisties and I don't recall having the wobble.  Only on the straights and on the freeway.  The unsettling was a corner or two where the pavement was rough and I lost some traction on the front end.  I am not entirely positive but I think the wobble is coming from the rear.  I'll check the tension on the nut, too.  Thanks!

[bwaller]

Are the wheels aligned? A weave can start from a tight or loose steering stem. After installing often times they will need to be retightened a couple times. Are the shocks longer than stock, front end taller or shorter than stock? Spokes tight, tires seated properly, pressures correct? No fairing of any kind?

Did you have the S/A bushings made or did you buy them from a supplier? Some bushings tend to be slightly oversize. If I may I would suggest a different solution to torqueing the swingarm pivot bolt. With the shocks & wheel removed, and the pivot well greased, lift the arm to full travel top. Tighten the nut until the arm drops slowly (smoothly) under its own weight to the bottom of the travel. Often I found this method takes a bit more torque than Honda recommends.

Good luck, you'll find the cause.



 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Are the wheels aligned? A weave can start from a tight or loose steering stem. After installing often times they will need to be retightened a couple times. Are the shocks longer than stock, front end taller or shorter than stock? Spokes tight, tires seated properly, pressures correct? No fairing of any kind?

Did you have the S/A bushings made or did you buy them from a supplier? Some bushings tend to be slightly oversize. If I may I would suggest a different solution to torqueing the swingarm pivot bolt. With the shocks & wheel removed, and the pivot well greased, lift the arm to full travel top. Tighten the nut until the arm drops slowly (smoothly) under its own weight to the bottom of the travel. Often I found this method takes a bit more torque than Honda recommends.

Good luck, you'll find the cause.

Brent.
Thanks for all of the ideas.  Now for the process of elimination.  I'll get to checking the pivot.

The bushings were sourced from a legit supplier.  They went in normally -- nuts and washers method.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So I rode the bike yesterday and notice another distinction.  The wobble/oscillation only seems to occur on grooved freeway pavement, and not on asphalt.  My 750, however, doesn't do this.

[bwaller]

Very likely different tires.

[Retro Rocket]

Very likely different tires.

I agree, some tires track lines and grooves way more than others, thats where those crappy Firestones really fail...

[Tews19]

That's normal if I'm thinking of the same road distinction. Lately around here the highway and more driven on roads have these like 1/2-1" creases. You can hear the pitch of the tire humming more as well on these newer roads.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Interesting. 

I run Avon RoadRiders on my 550.  Bridgestone Spitfires on my 750.  I am planning to replace the Spitfires for something stickier.  The Spitfires feel like I'm riding on hard plastic hoops -- lack of feel in the corners, but no wobble.  I was thinking of swapping to the Avons, since they have better feel, but maybe I should try Bridgestone BT45s instead.

I'd be better off oiling up my tires than using Firestones in corners!

[Tews19]

I've used BT45s on a few CB's. I really like them and will continue to use them. I did however only get 5500 miles out of the rear. The middle is worn bad and I don't do burn outs.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I've used BT45s on a few CB's. I really like them and will continue to use them. I did however only get 5500 miles out of the rear. The middle is worn bad and I don't do burn outs.

I don't mind so much about getting a ton of miles out of them, as long as they give decent traction.  I'm not used to getting a huge number of miles on my sportbike tires S20s.