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Author Topic: CB550 Junker Build  (Read 3469 times)

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Offline steveed

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CB550 Junker Build
« on: January 25, 2015, 01:21:58 PM »
So I already have more projects/bikes than I need but I got a new one now. The bike is a 1974 CB550K sans just about everything. The motor is clea, but everything else is pretty rough.

Plan is tear it down to the frame and do the usual cafe setup. I figure since all I have is the frame, engine and wheels why not.

These pictures are from the day I put it in the garage, a bit has changed since then so I will add pictures with updates.
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Offline steveed

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2015, 01:38:59 PM »
Teardown begins.

Hear is the engine pulled out.

Took forks apart, only part worth a damn are the lowers.

Cleaned up the top triple tree and cleaned it up a bit.

I also got some carbs off ebay, they look pretty nice. PD carbs which I like as there is no CV setup. I guess a lot of people don't like them?

Then I reassembled it so that I could see what I was going to do as far as cleaning up the frame, put on the Carpy exhaust. Not so sure how fond I am of the pipes covering the oil filter, but I think it is easy enough to drop it down when I change the oil filter. Not exactly going to rack up the miles on this bike.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2015, 02:24:49 PM »
good progress, subscribed
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline steveed

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2015, 07:30:59 PM »
Here are a few pictures of the gauge cluster on the clubman bars. I ran the wires in the handlebars.

The indicator lights are LEDs I got from newark.com.
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Offline steveed

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2015, 07:33:13 PM »
And finally here is a youtube video of the engine running, was able to start it yesterday. Fired right up once I got the carb float bowls set. It will need some fine tuning and such, but I am just going to yank it out of the frame once I mock the rest of the bike.

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Offline steveed

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2015, 07:23:45 PM »
Been a while since I posted anything but here are a few photos of the front-end. Dual disc setup from Godffery and Sun rim setup by Buchanan's.

Very excited just waiting no the fiberglass tank/seat/fender to make sure the frame is good before powder coating it. Then it is assembly time!
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Offline Trad

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2015, 11:52:50 AM »
Dayum that front end looks nice. Great job.
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74 CB550 Build: NOS-GUTTED-OEMplus-HOLDTRUE
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,130575.0.html

Offline flatlander

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2015, 12:27:44 PM »
indeed, looks good. will be interested to see how this continues.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2015, 05:40:48 PM »
Does look good.   What kind of rubber you plan?
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline steveed

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2015, 07:57:08 PM »
Honestly not sure about the tires yet. I have been looking at the Outex tubeless kit but I am not sure if will benefit me much, it is lighter and you don't have to deal with tubes?

I was thinking of these Bridgestone tires.
BT45
Front: 100/80H-18 TL
Rear: 130/70H-18 TL

S11
Front: 110/90H-18
Rear: 130/90H-18

The new front rim is 18x2.15 and the rear is 18x2.75.

I also put a race tech setup in the front (springs, emulators). Hondaman has my swingarm (from a CB750) and I have Hagon shocks. Hoping for a very well handling bike. I have an All Balls tapered bearing set and I replaced all the wheel bearings.

But with the tires not so sure as I have always gone with stock tires on stock wheels.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2015, 08:20:10 PM »
I have BT45's on my K4 and like them very much.  But why such a low profile 130/70?
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2015, 10:44:43 PM »
I've used BT45s, Spitfire S11s and Avon Roadriders. The BT45s performed best, the S11s performed worst.
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline flatlander

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2015, 01:09:03 AM »
i can also vouch for BT45. where i live some stickiness in wet conditions is important and they seem to do quite well there.
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Offline steveed

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2015, 08:19:39 AM »
Yeah I have had BT45s on a few bikes and seem to like them, haven't tried the S11s before. Guess I will stick with the BT45s. Not sure about the profile, my Guzzi has 140/70/17 in the rear and 110/70/17 in the front. Seems like the lower profile would make the tire stiffer?
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #14 on: February 26, 2015, 03:35:01 PM »
I've used the S11s.  They feel like hard plastic.  No positive feeling or grip under lean -- although I would take them any day over Hipster Firestones!
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Stev-o

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Re: CB550 Junker Build
« Reply #15 on: February 26, 2015, 06:01:47 PM »
Quote from: steveed on February 26, 2015, 08:19:39 AM
Seems like the lower profile would make the tire stiffer?

Correct, lower profile tire will have a shorter sidewall and less flex. Ride will be harder too.
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........
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