Topic: Patina Hyena - 550/650 674cc Hybrid Cafe Build

[DaveBarbier]

I do have the c5 on the shelf for mine. Haven't had the time to get into engine assembly....let alone build the frame it's going in. I'm assembling another 674cc CB650 engine though for a guy overseas, using a JMR stage 2.5 head and ninja 600 carbs.

I dunno when I'll ever get to my own

Ah right, yeah last I remember was that you had it in pieces. Hope we get it all figured out by the time you and Don get them running!

[DaveBarbier]

Little update. So my frame ended up being twisted. Got an earlier frame from a 550 and took some measurements and from using the level this frame is good.


This is like a patient that’s under anesthesia with the new organ waiting for transplant right next to the operating table. Just need some cute nurses to hand me tools and I’m all set. Taking applications now.


With the swing arm bolt level the front rim is now plumb. Not the case with my old frame.


Hoop welded, among other odds and ends to match my old frame. Now ready for paint.

[DaveBarbier]

Another boring update. Frame is painted and just hanging around waiting for forks and triples from Cognito. As an aside, I love rivnuts and rivnut guns. Got a cheap scissor type off eBay and it’s awesome and surprisingly robust.

[DaveBarbier]

Yeah, I wish I had more reasons to use them.

[sinister902]

Untitled by nicholas edsell, on Flickr[/img]

I made this meme like 3yrs ago. I fkin love rivet nuts.

[Marissa]

Dave, any updates on moving everything over to the new frame?

[DaveBarbier]

Hey Marissa, yeah everything is together except for finishing the tail end of the electrical. I just have a newish job in Brooklyn now and I commute so I literally have only 20 minutes to make food and get to sleep when I get home, haha. I need my beauty sleep! Some other random projects have been creeping in to my weekends though. I’m sure part of my delay with the bike is timidness in seeing how all my machining for the front end has gone. Will it wobble? Will it stop well? Will all spokes fly out at 50mph? I need to get on that. This weekend I’ll try and make more headway. Would love to get a ride in this fall.

[DaveBarbier]

Snow is starting to melt and my bike is waiting for me!

Haven’t heard from Cam in a little while, he still around? I want to finally figure out the overheating issue we’ve been having. I do really like Cal’s thoughts for electrical overheating under the ignition cover. I’ll run it open to test but if it fixes the issue I’ll be looking for either a new cover or some nice way to make mine breathe while still protecting from dust. Won’t be able to test until the temps get into the 90’s though.

Got back a little bit ago from a trip to Scotland. Stayed in Edinburgh for a few days (very nice city) then rented a car and went up to the highlands for the rest of the trip. Stayed at an AirBnB in which this couple took an old shooting lodge and converted it to a high end small batch gin distillery. Daffy’s Gin. I don’t know gin that well but this stuff feels like it’s good quality going down.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

My best wishes for a steady and swift thaw, Dave.

Gin is a substance that I cannot imbibe after a bad college experience with it.  Tequila, no problem. 

I'm looking forward to hearing more on the electrical issue.  As I recall, are the 3 of us using the C5 system?

[DaveBarbier]

Ah yes, I had an experience with that kind of thing too but it was eggnog for me...and it happened when I was like 10 during Christmas. Doubt there was any alcohol involved, though.

Yeah, all three of us are using the C5. And you’re in Cali! Hope I figure it out soon because you probably have many more days in the 90’s than I do. I haven’t heard anyone else with this issue, just us 650 guys. Weird.

Member Alekstooge got a new C5 system installed (updated coils compared to ours) on his 550. I forget if he has it running yet. 

[Stev-o]

What are you using this Rivnut gun on that you are drooling about?

For me, the bad liqueur experience was sloe gin, dont even know what it is?! [dont wanna know]

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

What are you using this Rivnut gun on that you are drooling about?

For me, the bad liqueur experience was sloe gin, dont even know what it is?! [dont wanna know]

To be fair, it wasn't really the gin's fault.  I had ingested 25 plus adult beverages (of various liquors) and it was the smell of the last 5 gin and tonics that I remembered.

[dave500]

I got really pissed (drunk) on gin once and vomited just as a cat walked past all over it,i looked down and thought to myself "I don't remember eating that?"

[DaveBarbier]

What are you using this Rivnut gun on that you are drooling about?

For me, the bad liqueur experience was sloe gin, dont even know what it is?! [dont wanna know]

All sorts of stuff. On the bike it was coil mounts and an additional ground location. On my truck it was to hold the front skid plate on because the existing threaded holes were all rusted up. It’s a great tool.

My worst alcohol experience was after a handful of dirty martinis. Threw up in my buddy’s sink and rinsed my mouth and throat out with a couple shots of vodka. I was young and all I needed for recovery was a nap on the cushioned toilet seat apparently. Wasn’t all that bad of time. 4 stars. Would do again.

[dave500]

no #$%* I drank listerene 50/50 with cheap champagne once,#$%* was I sick man!long time ago,i think ive still got the same headache,man I poisoned myself,tasted good though!and ive had real fresh breath ever since,highly recommended!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I like the direction of this thread!

[DaveBarbier]

First ride of the season and first ride with the new front end. Brakes are insanely better and I feel like if I want to I could easily flip over the bars. I’ll avoid that...for now. The bike over all feels a little more responsive and, I don’t know, lighter almost. I assume that’s because I was riding previously on a bike with a bent steering neck and misaligned tires. Or maybe that’s just what a winter does to a man...makes him forget the joy of a vintage bike.

Unsure if I said this before, but for my front end, I ended up going with a Cognito hub instead of using my own machined one. I was getting excessive runout on my rotors and since I haven’t ridden in a year, I didn’t want anything to stand in my way when Spring came. A new hub, new spokes and new GSXR 600 rotors and I’m in business.

Also made a little compartment under the seat out of an oil tank for some tools and bits and bobs.



Lastly and unfortunately, my Motogadget Chronoclassic is, again, fogging up on the inside. Even after I sent it to Germany for repair. Going to email them and see what they can do.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Looks great Dave.  New front wheel, too!

I did some mock up work on mine today.

[DaveBarbier]

Thanks guys! Yeah Don, get on that thing. It’s a blast. Forgot how fast it actually is, haha.

And Cal, I know of the upgrade and was looking on Devin’s site. I don’t think I’ll do it though. The rear brake offers good stopping as it is. I can lock it if I want. Who knows what I’ll do this next winter though, I’m always looking for a project.

[DaveBarbier]

I am not a fan of a rear brake that fully locks up the rear wheel, personally. That is one reason I like a disc, you have a bit more adjustment with the hydraulic MC.

Oh well it’s not sudden or not predictable but I see your point. Still, not even on the radar at the moment. I feel with the front end the rear is a nice accompaniment. All of this I figured out in the only ride I did with this front end so grain of salt. I don’t feel like giving Devin any more money at the moment, he make it so easy so I have to exercise some restraint.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Hey Dave,

Get a gander at this.  Stefan Diley in East Halton, UK has a 674cc (Dynoman kit) making 80 hp at the wheel, using CR29's. I'm not sure how his bike makes that much power, but WOW!

Of course, he says he needs to replace the head gasket every three rounds of racing!

[DaveBarbier]

Wow, that’s awesome. I’ll look into that more.

I can imagine with a lightened/knife edged crank, hotter cam, balanced and lightened rods and a meticulous dyno tune he’d get 80hp. But that is a lot and maybe I want to spend more time at the dyno, haha. Thanks for sharing!

P.S. I was hoping you were going to say he had ignition overheating issues and he solved it! Haha!

[dave500]

a pound of horsepower is worth an ounce of handling!id like more power but I can see how in the real world you can in fact overpower these frames.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I don’t know what he’s done to get to 80 hp, but he’s burning through clutches and needing to replace head gaskets after 3 rounds of weekend racing. I’d rather have a longer service life but I suppose that’s racing.

[slikwilli420]

I don’t know what he’s done to get to 80 hp, but he’s burning through clutches and needing to replace head gaskets after 3 rounds of weekend racing. I’d rather have a longer service life but I suppose that’s racing.

If the classes are set up right you should be able to get relative longevity out of a Honda four. Burning up that much stuff means you are either pushing too hard on all-out power or its time to start developing some different parts to combat those issues. Racing is hard on bikes, but you should be able to make competitive power and not have to tear your motor down after every or every other weekend.