Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home

[rb550four]

So I took an hour off from work and shot home to play with the semi chopped 75 550, the gold one,I've been playing with it for 3 hours , switching the extended forks onto the donor. Then doing a seal change , change the forks til the engine comes out and general tear down. The 650 swingarm (replacement) has been stripped and has a protective 1st coat on it.
  I'm hoping to have the engine out and have a nice trip to the carwash so's I can degrease and blow some dust off it tonight. Doesn't look that chopperish anymore.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So just to recap, this will be a 550 frame and forks, and 650 motor and swingarm bike, right?
Or is it a hybrid motor?

[rb550four]

This one is even simpler than that. I built this one a few years back,the rebuilt stock engine is very good. I did some other than black frame paint, extended the swing arm 3 inches and added long forks. The forks will be going back to stock, the frame goes back to black, the swingarm will be a 650's with 650 shocks, engine will get fresh paint , the chopped painted fenders will be back to chrome, a 2 up seat, some fresh paint and a general cleaning up.
   Not an earth shaking project.... but it's on the bucket list, and it's getting done. The next project  after that will be an even more boring freshening up the stock 650, that's on the list too.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

This one is even simpler than that. I built this one a few years back,the rebuilt stock engine is very good. I did some other than black frame paint, extended the swing arm 3 inches and added long forks. The forks will be going back to stock, the frame goes back to black, the swingarm will be a 650's with 650 shocks, engine will get fresh paint , the chopped painted fenders will be back to chrome, a 2 up seat, some fresh paint and a general cleaning up.
   Not an earth shaking project.... but it's on the bucket list, and it's getting done. The next project  after that will be an even more boring freshening up the stock 650, that's on the list too.

Solid. The 650 big bore in a 550 frame is my project after my next project.

[rb550four]

I haven't upped the cc's on a 650 yet, sounds allot like  stuffing a 750 into a 550 without the weight. Cool ! I would like to see you do that, sounds interesting, and fast. Cafe? or sleeper?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I haven't upped the cc's on a 650 yet, sounds allot like  stuffing a 750 into a 550 without the weight. Cool ! I would like to see you do that, sounds interesting, and fast. Cafe? or sleeper?

I'm planning on using the Dynoman 674 kit. You can use stock 650 sleaves with it. Not a huge displacement gain but better compression. That and a ported head. Still trying to figure out the rest of the build. It will have a GSXR front. Maybe a cafe but I like the idea of a street tracker.

[rb550four]

I'm not totally up on the lingo street tracker , so I googled it,  what I got out of the pics  was a street bike ... a cafe strip down....with a  flat track seat , bars, and possibly number plates ? Is that about right? Cool. I think I like it better than a cafe, looks more rider friendly .
   Got to the carwash last night. A light sanding. Hung the fame off a long beam attached to my pick up truck 's rack infront of the garage instead of shooting it in the loaded garage, 3 dripfree coats of gloss black done.      Great day for a ride.     Didn't turn  the ride  facing the door last time,so I had to back it out of the garage.  I was distracted by a ringing phone on the way out.
  Yeah,  backed it right into the hanging frame...messing up the paint and new T shirt...guess I sand the shirt fuzz off the paint and give it another shot tomorrow.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I'm not totally up on the lingo street tracker , so I googled it,  what I got out of the pics  was a street bike ... a cafe strip down....with a  flat track seat , bars, and possibly number plates ? Is that about right? Cool. I think I like it better than a cafe, looks more rider friendly.

My interpretation is a flat tracker for the street. 

[rb550four]

So I was on the right track. Good , I like that much more than a common cafe.

The t shirt lint turned out to be minor, I think that I can compound it out, and if not, well repaint the next time I can get to it. I expected this to be a weekend project.... forgot about a  friend's memorial I had to go to, which turned out to be a less than sober evening ...so although some progress was made, the body paint won't be done this season.
 This is where it's at now.

 I was going to clean up the carbs and set it up for the winter. I have some rebuilts on the shelf that could get me inside my weekend project time deadline, I think I'll use them , and leave a note to myself to sync them in the spring, that way it's ready for winter storage.

[rb550four]

The weekend project took all weekend, and I still need to make rear axle spacers but , it's done. Although I didn't put the chrome fenders back on, I'm still reasonably satisfied with the way it looks. I think.

[Tews19]

Looks good RB! Reminds me of a dirt bike for some reason..

[rb550four]

It must be that stinkin' Saddleman seat cover. I heard they were the best seatcover to get other than stock....so I got one and put it on. I hate 'em, makes any bike look like a dirt bike! 
looks like I need more 2 stroke oil, no wheelies, doesn't jump for $hit....gotta get rid of that Saddleman.

[Stev-o]

Looks good rb. What's the plan with this one, a keeper?

[Tews19]

Hey RB quick question. If you had to tear apart a 550 engine.  Can you clean it and get all fresh gaskets in and running in the same day? Also how many of these have you built?

[rb550four]

Stev-o , This was the semi chopper I built a few years ago that I grew out of, it needed to get back closer to stock. She's a good ride. Keeper? I have never sold a (SOHC) bike , aren't they all keepers?

Tews, 1st question, not so quick answer. It depends what is wrong with the engine. It takes me 2 days after I cleaned the outside of it, if I have all the parts, and the valves (takes me 5 hrs to do the head) , bearings, and pistons are perfect.... maybe 16 + hrs (or a whole Saturday) if I don't rebuild carbs , a few hrs more if I have to paint it.
 Have done a motor over a weekend before but haven't had it running in 2 days because I usually paint the frame since the engine is out of the cradle. I don't buy pretty bikes and they are rebuilt painted, polished ,ready to ride in 2 or 3 weeks depending how late I stay up.
 I find that I am always rushed for time, lately it is just easier to rebuild a 500 or 550 when I have the time and leave it on a shelf for the next project.
To clarify , Top end only ....for sure. Split the cases and paint...20 hrs. It would be in the realm of possibilities if the rest of the machine was good.It would be a long day.
   2nd question answer: Between the 500's and 550's .......24, I had to do 5 of them a second time after Hurricane Irene.

[rb550four]

Reread the last post.... sounds showy, needs explanation:
   When I have a project I don' eat, I don't take breaks, I don't talk to people and sometimes put in 20 hrs in a day,can't sleep. I am focused only on the project, I have to get it done... that's how I'm wired, can't help it. Otherwise I am perfectly normal.
    Point 2 : I have been doing 500/550 for a few years, so they are very familiar to me.
    When I collected Ford 1 tons...I had a driveway full of them, rebuilt them all, couldn't get enough of them either. So I have a habit of over collecting the same item. Again, that's how I'm wired.
  The last post was not intended to sound showy , I'm not that way, so please don't see it that way. It was just honest answers from my time in the garage.         Thank you
   

[Stev-o]

Ain't braggin if it's true!  So you rebuilt 24 500/550's and you never sold one??


I sell my bikes after rebuilding if I need funds for other parts or bikes.

[rb550four]

Haven't sold a one, just can't bring myself to  do it.

                              Maybe I am a hoarder?

[Stev-o]

Haven't sold a one, just can't bring myself to  do it.

                              Maybe I am a hoarder?

So you still have all 24?!   Yes, hoarder!

[rb550four]

Hoarder. It just sounds so dirty.
 Perhaps," collector "would be softer word for this behavior. I know there may be other collectors here.
That sounds better already.

[calj737]

A co-lekt-whore. Interesting choice of descriptors, RB. 

[Stev-o]

A co-lekt-whore. Interesting choice of descriptors, RB. 

Watch it Cal....I resemble that remark!

[calj737]

You are among very good company, Stev-o. We all collect something. RB just has a penchant for SOHCs it seems.

[seanbarney41]

between rb and Ekpent must be like half the sohc4's left in the U.S.      ...this thread rocks by the way

[Stev-o]

between rb and Ekpent must be like half the sohc4's left in the U.S.      ...this thread rocks by the way

Add Ricky Racer to the list.....check out his Mother Lode thread.