Topic: 78' CB550 Build Finished then broke.

[K_Kalynuik]

just goes to show, motorcycles move the soul.

Well put.

[akabek]

you guys should exchange xmas gifts! nice bikes both of ya

Tooo funny.

just came across this thread.  Good to see another nice build in the GTA.....

[PGF550F]

Hey Kenny, do you know what your trail is with the 19" front wheel and the shorter front forks? Your bike looks awesome!

[K_Kalynuik]

Hey Kenny, do you know what your trail is with the 19" front wheel and the shorter front forks? Your bike looks awesome!

Thanks Man!
Actually I do not know the trail. I have changed a few things with the front end this winter and I still have the forks apart and off the bike. When I get them on the bike and the wheels mounted I will take some measurements and I will report back. I am curious myself to see what the numbers end at. All I know is I had it up to 140km/h on several occasions on longer highway rides and it felt stable as a rock. I do plan on putting a steering stabilizer on it this winter but it is only for "in case" type scenarios.

[RustyOlive]

hey!! wheres all the shiny bits? post some pic's man.. LOL

[K_Kalynuik]

Lol. No pics yet. I pressed in my steering stem in the lower GSXR triple and the tapered bearing on. Then I moved onto my wiring harness. Opened it up completely to install my rev limiter and RFID keyless ignition. I think I want to get the Motogadget M unit and button to clean up the wiring a bit. I'm still waiting on the machine shop to finish my engine. They have a huge back log.

[akabek]

Lol. No pics yet. I pressed in my steering stem in the lower GSXR triple and the tapered bearing on. Then I moved onto my wiring harness. Opened it up completely to install my rev limiter and RFID keyless ignition. I think I want to get the Motogadget M unit and button to clean up the wiring a bit. I'm still waiting on the machine shop to finish my engine. They have a huge back log.

Which keyless ignition are you going to use?

[K_Kalynuik]

Digital guard dawg.

http://www.digitalguarddawg.com/

[RustyOlive]

Oh?! Look at you!! All tec-y n shtuff.. lol gotta see this two wheeler soon. lol praying to the sun gods they get rid of this crap wether. Hopefully we can ride together soon enough dude.

[akabek]

Digital guard dawg.

http://www.digitalguarddawg.com/

That would be a slick feature to put on the bike  My build is to keep the vintage look but with modern "hidden" upgrades.  At least the keyless unit can be hidden..I may have to think about this one.  Hopefully I will get my new CR26 carbs soon so I can get my bike back on the road.

[K_Kalynuik]

Oh?! Look at you!! All tec-y n shtuff.. lol gotta see this two wheeler soon. lol praying to the sun gods they get rid of this crap wether. Hopefully we can ride together soon enough dude.

Ya man I can't F'n wait!

It's pretty easy to install if you know wiring diagrams. It fits under my tank no problem.

[SF]

any updates? hows that motor coming along?

[K_Kalynuik]

any updates? hows that motor coming along?

Unfortunately, I still don't have the motor back from the machine shop. Not sure the reasons for taking this long but I only assume he is super busy. But 4 months plus to replace valves, guides, seals, shot peen rods, lighten and balance crank seems a bit long. But what do I know. Other than the motor, I have the rest of the bike ready to go. Installed a new keyless RFID ignition and I cleaned and tightened all connections on my wiring harness.

My tank has a nice scuff in the paint from last season. After paying for gas at a local fuel stop, I fired the bike up (clutch pulled in). I looked at my 'N' indicator light, it told me it was neutral, but when I let out the clutch lever, the bike lurched forward on me and died. Obviously it wasn't in Neutral. Since I barely had my hand on the clutch when I let it out, I didn't have control of the bike with my hands so I had to catch the bike with my leg/inside of my knee. Bruised my knee pretty good but the worst was the scuff on the tank from my jeans. Its right into the paint through the clear coat. So I plan to sand down the clear, touch up the white scuff with more base white and shoot new clear over the whole tank. Should be ready for another season of scratches and dings.

Oh and I also got a new headlight ordered. Mine was in rough shape and didn't fit together well or hold the bulb tight. It was an Ebay Yamaha buy and I think at one point it was run over with a truck, LOL. So I bought a new Dime City headlight bucket that comes with a more modern looking lens in it. heres the link - http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-customer-motorcycle-lighting-parts-7-inch-chrome-british-headlight-bucket-6635-26.html . I had DCC remove the chrome from the bucket and powder coat it gloss black. I will then lightly sand the black down to use it as a primer for my white paint that I have that matches the rest of my bike. Its currently being shipped to me.

Last thing im trying to find is a  correct brown grip to match the brown of my leather seat, but I think im being too pickey about having it match perfectly. All the grips out there are too light or too dark. Oury grips are close to the brown but Im not a big fan of the design. I may just go with the POSH barrel grip. - http://www.ellaspede.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/EP014-Quater1.jpg   

[iron_worker]

4 months for that machine work is way too long ... but I unfortunately have a very similar experience when I tried to get my tank and covers painted. Arg. The small jobs just don't take priority I guess.

I do love your build though. The bike looks great.

IW

[RustyOlive]

What? Glen can't help ya find the brown you're looking for? Lol

[SF]

Sucks the motor isn't ready,


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[K_Kalynuik]

4 months for that machine work is way too long ... but I unfortunately have a very similar experience when I tried to get my tank and covers painted. Arg. The small jobs just don't take priority I guess.

I do love your build though. The bike looks great.

IW

  Thanks man! Ill post up some better photos once all the new work is done. And yah I agree 4 months is waaaay too long. Ah well, next time ill find a new guy that I can count on.

What? Glen can't help ya find the brown you're looking for? Lol

Glen and I have been back and forth for the past couple days trying to find a pair that matches. He's been super helpful in looking for companies that he don't even use. I cant say enough good things about Glen.

Sucks the motor isn't ready,


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Your telling me

[RustyOlive]

AHMEN! Glen is the man! =)
which reminds me.. I still need to go pick up the XT500 .. HAHAHA

[K_Kalynuik]

 Hey All,

  Well, the bike is almost back together after last fall's valve failure (no pics of it yet). I just wanted to give a quick update on where the bike is at now.

Brand new valves and valve guides have been installed in the head. Along with brand new seals even tho the other seals only had 1000kms on them. I just wanted it all to be new. Also, I had the crank shaft Lightened, knifedged and re balanced. Pics below.

I also had the connecting rods re balanced and shot peened for strength. Then I shipped them off to Mike Rieck and he installed a set of the stonger connecting rod bolts and nuts.

[K_Kalynuik]

heres a few pics of engine assembly. I installed the pistons into the cylinders first. then flipped the whole thing all at once.

[K_Kalynuik]

here is where the bike is at so far. Another weekend or two ( I only get to work on it on weekends). I had a bunch of parts (new and old) re powder coated as I was not happy with the last coater. Got a new DCC headlight and a few other bits. RFID ignition cleans up the bars nicely. I also repainted the engine. Gloss black and silver.

[K_Kalynuik]

Oh and also for the engine rebuild I sourced every Oring and Seal. Brand new Honda items. I had some vesrah orings fail so this time around I wanted all Honda OE seals and O rings. I also got all brand new bottom end bearings. (via CMSNL). check out my parts table. I have every seal. Doubles of alot of them. Ready to go in the motor. I also got brand new base and head gaskets from Cometic via Dynoman.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Can you provide some details on your headlight bracket?

[K_Kalynuik]

They are custom. Cnc machined. My inspiration was the LSL headlight brackets from speigler https://www.spieglerusa.com/lsl-headlight-brackets-3284.htm , but I didn't want them sticking out as far so I made the arms shorter and slightly different.

That Hunter S Thompson quote you have in your sig is funny. I've seen that before and just recently picked up a 1996 Ducati 900ss. That very same bike hunter was talking about. Can't wait to ride it.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

They are custom. Cnc machined. My inspiration was the LSL headlight brackets from speigler https://www.spieglerusa.com/lsl-headlight-brackets-3284.htm , but I didn't want them sticking out as far so I made the arms shorter and slightly different.

That Hunter S Thompson quote you have in your sig is funny. I've seen that before and just recently picked up a 1996 Ducati 900ss. That very same bike hunter was talking about. Can't wait to ride it.

Thanks.  I thought they looked a lot like the LSL brackets.

That article always cracks me up when I read it.  Hunter had a unique way of writing.  The article captures something primal about why we are drawn to speed/danger.  The Duc 900ss is a beautiful ride.  May you never come face to face with the sausage creature:  "I was hunched over the tank like a person diving into a pool that got emptied yesterday. Whacko! Bashed on the concrete bottom, flesh ripped off, a Sausage Creature with no teeth, f'ed-up for the rest of its life."