Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 115109 times)

rb550four · « **Reply #50 on:** June 08, 2014, 05:28:47 PM »

Yes, the non pay kind, daughter's house repairs. Nice weather . Scoured that state for honda 4's....didn't find a one.Now if I brought the car instead of the truck, they'd be all over like puppy crap. Came home with an empty truck.
Found an hour to clean and sort the shop of extra parts from this project, sounds like a waste of time, but it's so nice to have a clear work area.

rb550four · « **Reply #51 on:** June 15, 2014, 07:34:18 PM »

Got to play a little, cut some steel mounts for the coils and set them in.
Checked out the tank, it had some imperfections, some lifting of bondo . The sander was handy so I set off to investigate.
Oh my , I had no idea how damaged the tank really was, it looked...not bad, when I bought it , but once that sander hit the bottom of all that bondo there was fiberglass, under that there was deep dent that looked like it was hit by a pick ax.
What a good job they did on that repair, couldn't have guessed it was hurt so bad, if it wasn't left outside for six years it would probably still look great. Removed the crap, and re filled it , it might still be a good looking tank when it's finished.
I do have some POR15 left from a 500 tank I'm playing with, so I think that I'll seal this tank just incase.

rb550four · « **Reply #52 on:** June 18, 2014, 03:43:23 PM »

Got home at a respectable time , picked up a new chain with master link....because I like them. Picked up some new plugs too. And most of all I picked up a new battery, which is really important because the one in my favorite 650 died on it's 3rd year. And that's the one I really want to ride tonight. I've only been out once so far this season for one reason or another, and it just ain't right I tell ya. So I'm going riding a little before it gets dark and get a little seat time in.

rb550four · « **Reply #53 on:** June 19, 2014, 07:01:10 PM »

Ahhh, a ride . A time when you are finally all suited up at the end of a hectic day. I turn the key, push the button and she fires. It's still so exciting , the sound of four pistons , the smell of the exhaust as as you wait almost impatiently to return the choke lever. But it's that CLICK of the shifter when being dropped into 1st gear that really gets me, that sound alone can take a ton of weight of a man's shoulders I'm sure. Gently ease the clutch out and today's troubles turns into a distant memory.
You return home. Carefully positioning your machine facing the door in anticipation of the next ride,a quick double check to be sure that the kickstand is fully extended , and you turn the key to the off position.
You enter the house with this boyish smile. Your wife recognized this pleased look upon your face , then asks"How was your day?" With that smile you answer, "Sh!tty." . But it all seems long ago and far away that the day no longer matters. Ahhh, a ride.

Tews19 · « **Reply #54 on:** June 19, 2014, 07:32:58 PM »

RB I am not sure if this has been covered but why do you like the 550s so much?

rb550four · « **Reply #55 on:** June 19, 2014, 08:03:11 PM »

I started out with the 500 first, then while looking for parts I discovered the 550 and liked them a little better and at that time they were plentiful and cheap, it seemed that more people were sending them off to the scrap yard like they weren't worth rebuilding or even repairing. The whole idea of throwing them out was more than I could stand so I bought and rebuilt only them . So I have a few 550's and a few 500's, some semi chopped, some lightly cafe'd , the rest are mostly stock or close to stock and some have 650 engines in the 550 frame. Once I discovered the 500/550/650 all share the same engine mounting there didn't seem to be a reason to have anything but those. I do have one machine that isn't a 4, a ' 71 450. It's okay but it isn't a 550.
I have run across some 750's, but I never took a shinning to them, so I traded them off to another member who likes them. Though recently I was lucky enough to rehab a 750 flood victim and took a liking to just that particular one...haven't been over a hundred for a while and that machine did it for me . I have respect for the 750 but I'm still just a 550 kind of guy. I guess that's why.

Tews19 · « **Reply #56 on:** June 20, 2014, 10:57:12 AM »

Very cool RB.... Thanks for sharing

rb550four · « **Reply #57 on:** June 22, 2014, 07:51:36 PM »

I stole an hour from watching the TV tonight. I sanded down the 550 tank so it has the shape of a 550 tank. I'll prime it next and lightly sand it to be sure I'm happy with it. Then prime it again with a( new to me) primer from auto zone, which is part of a 3 part lacquer finish, I haven't worked with it yet, so I don't know what to expect. Hopefully it won't wrinkle finish the whole job. Primer, sand, then color a few coats, then wet sand (I think) then clear coat , which should turn out dull (I think) then wet sand and buff and buff some more....sounds like a pain in the a$$ even if it does work. I'll keep you informed whether it be progress or disaster.
I hope the colors are nice, I have the red, black and blue colors. I don't own a blue Honda yet but would like to. I would be okay if the other colors got into the mix , just to change things up a bit. Don't know how that'll work yet.
I did get just a new chain as the sprockets seemed to be perfect, I put that on tonight, but did sit in my chair and stare down the spark plugs for a while, then decided tomorrow would be a good day for that.

rb550four · « **Reply #58 on:** July 12, 2014, 08:16:44 PM »

The prep on both the 550 tank and the 500 tank is done. So I took a couple hours off and shot the 550 tank with a light blue lacquer .... I thought I would like a blue bike for a change...so the freshly painted sidecovers and tank went on the 550 just to see how it looks...I hate it.
Picked up some midnight blue so I can tone down the light blue. The plan is to mimic the 650 paint scheme , with the light blue on the sides and the midnight blue over the majority of the tank, perhaps I'll like that, will know better tomorrow.
I picked up some burnt orange from the same place and shot the 500 tank. Yeah, I hate that too. Looks like the sides will be painted red and the main part of the tank orange, perhaps I'll like that and will know better tomorrow again.
I picked up black just in case I hate everything , I only have one black bike so far, perhaps I'll like that instead the rest.... probably know better tomorrow.

Stev-o · « **Reply #59 on:** July 13, 2014, 04:16:38 PM »

It is hard picking colors, I don't like light blue on anything.

rb550four · « **Reply #60 on:** July 13, 2014, 06:28:03 PM »

My family was surprised that my herd wasn't all blue...I only dress in blue and grey, but mainly blue. I'm not crazy about any of those colors on a bike.
Shot the midnight blue on the metallic light blue , I was disappointed to find the midnight blue wasn't metallic. I left some light blue on the side covers, like on the 650, looked like crap so I wet sanded the paint line back smooth and shot them entirely midnight blue. I' m on the fence about the whole tank so far, maybe some pinstripes will do it.
The 500 tank was Duplicolor metallic orange laquer ( an ugly shade I might add) was upsetting me . So I shot some side panels and a stripe on it in a surprise non metallic red also Duplicolor in a qt. can. still sucked, so I pinstriped it and that helped a little. Hopefully the clear coat application will improve the finish and the colors. Pics when they are cleared will be coming.
Duplicolor lacquer in the quart cans that you can get at Advanced Auto, in my opinion blows. Not easy to work with , the metallic could have be thinned and the non metallic could have been a little less runny. the metallic's coverage was average to good, not so good on the solid color. Same settings on the gun for each, the solid kinda looks orange peely so I changed the settings with little improvement. Both paints have been cut at the factory, so there no extra thinner is available at the car store, I would have liked to thin it a touch more with the factory thinner. Oh well, I won't be using this stuff again, the colors are ugly anyways. I hope the clear is fantastic or this whole thing would be just a horrible exercise. At least it wasn't sprayed on a car... that would be allot of sanding to fix.

rb550four · « **Reply #61 on:** July 14, 2014, 05:07:14 PM »

So I didn't shoot clear yet. It's hard to picture what these tanks look like without pics, so here goes.
Did a 2 tone on the 550 tank, hated it, pinstripe tape, well that makes it tolerable.

The 500 tank... well, I didn't like it either....I can live with it like this ,I guess , after it's glossed.

Too much?

Tews19 · « **Reply #62 on:** July 14, 2014, 05:08:59 PM »

Actually I like both. What is the blue?

rb550four · « **Reply #63 on:** July 14, 2014, 05:33:21 PM »

Tews , That light blue is the metallic blue that duplicolor sells in pre mixed quart cans at Advanced Auto, the dark color is midnight blue, sold the same way at the same place.
Calj that would look classic , perhaps I'll shoot the next project like that.
The orange 500 tank is planned to be swapped out with the next unchopper build. the side covers and fenders will be getting ugly orange too.
I am wanting to get back to the Camo bike project and finish up that sidecar to make some room around here, maybe I'll get to that first, after this 550 of course.

Stev-o · « **Reply #64 on:** July 14, 2014, 06:56:55 PM »

Like the Blue....

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #65 on:** July 14, 2014, 08:33:06 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on July 14, 2014, 06:56:55 PM

Like the Blue....

Me too!

rb550four · « **Reply #66 on:** July 15, 2014, 04:57:03 PM »

I used the duplicolor clear on the orange tank and it was a color changing failure. turned out a pukey flat terracotta color instead of orange... Lucky that I tried it on an ugly tank that I suspected was hideous before I hit the 550 tank that I was only on the fence about. Sand off for the orange tank begins tomorrow. Lesson learned about that paint. Don't like it and probably won't use it again. The light metallic blue does look allot like the Honda blue though.
Got the 550 tank and shot that with the MC270 that I usually use. So far so good, now I'm like it.

Tews19 · « **Reply #67 on:** July 17, 2014, 04:28:56 PM »

RB would you be Interested painting my benelli tank and seat that blue? I would pay you.

rb550four · « **Reply #68 on:** July 17, 2014, 06:00:35 PM »

Tews , thanks , but I'm just a backyard kinda body man. There are guys way better than I am at this stuff, Calj sounds like he knows allot about this stuff and I know that he has helped out other members perhaps...

rb550four · « **Reply #69 on:** July 19, 2014, 11:20:55 AM »

Ah, another Johnny Dangerously fan, excellent.
On the job outright cursing is a no no usually , but it is acceptable to slaughter the English language like that , get the point across, and lighten up the mood a little....How bad can that be right?

RAFster122s · « **Reply #70 on:** July 21, 2014, 06:21:21 PM »

Rb, what color was the base before the orange went on? Wondering if a silver or a white base could change the outcome to make the orange pop more to a likeable color. If you have any left it would be worth a test on something to see.
The blue looks good.

Calj does nice work, don't think that would be throwing you under the bus, just throwing un-welcome work your way...you always can say no...decline.

David

rb550four · « **Reply #71 on:** July 21, 2014, 08:43:28 PM »

RAF, I shot the metal flake orange lacquer on light grey primer, didn't have a solid color ( like white) in lacquer to shoot first. With some other non lacquer paints ( also in the orange family) that I've used I've shot a bright yellow coat first, that makes the top color coat pop.
I always wanted to try a 60's old school large metalflake paint job like on the old funny cars and dragsters but on a motorcycle I feel that there just isn't enough body surface to balance the size of the flake tastefully. but I still like that style even so.
Sorry Tews, sorry calj, seemed like a good fit to me , thought it could benefit both of you, it was an idea that just didn't take considerations for anyone's schedules.

rb550four · « **Reply #72 on:** July 23, 2014, 05:01:22 PM »

I was sidetracked by daughter #1 last week. She got a hold of a Honda Twinstar in very poor condition that she wants to be her first bike, she's tired of riding the b1tch seat on her boyfriend's Harley and wants to drive.
As luck would have it, I was strolling down a flea market lane , just minding my own business, when this absolutely filthy, and maybe a little rusted 1700 miler blue Twinstar called me from the corner of a tent. Well , what else could I do, so I asked the man what he wanted for it, he said $350 stearnly, I said I'll give you a hundred, he said it cost him 150, I said I'll take it for 160, he said yes. On the trailer it went.
took it home , washed it and removed minor surface rust, cleaned the carb , the petcock, and removed mouse nest in the air box. Changed the oil. 6v battery on order today. in search of missing rectifier, both side covers , and ignition but when the battery arrives I'll hot wire it and see what it does. This darn thing looks like it's brand new with just a washing. I was amazed.
Once it fires up and I can play with it , just to test it out ya know, then I'll be back on the 550/650.

rb550four · « **Reply #73 on:** July 29, 2014, 06:37:50 PM »

And so, I was redirected once more to another project that was hiding out in the corner that I've been threatening to finish for a while. The Sidecar.
For those who kinda remember the Camo Bike , a sweep the floor type of rebuilt engine project that was to be a sidecar project too but I never got around to it. Well the time has come and I am. This is the paint job this afternoon on the Velorex Sidecar that will be attached to the 550 Camo Bike.

All sanded, painted with a spray can for a change (it's kind of fun...no clean up) Army green , drk forest green , khaki, and brown. All in flat . Then topped off with a duplicolor clear with a multicolor metal flake that makes it look like a rainbow over the paint in the sun. I like it.

I've been putting some of the trim parts back on it.

so it looked like this before dinner.
After dinner I installed a windshield and camo'd a Shoei hard box for rear storage on the grill. It's been a fun day.
For those who don't know the project,

This is where I left it.
The 550/650 is getting done inbetween other things at this point, but it will be finished soon.

riverfever · « **Reply #74 on:** July 29, 2014, 07:34:09 PM »

The sidecar project looks awesome RB. What's the plan with that? Are you gonna keep it? How different is that to ride/maneuver?

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Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 115109 times)