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Author Topic: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project  (Read 1957 times)

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Offline Hunter S

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Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« on: July 26, 2015, 09:47:38 PM »
Hello everyone I gave my intro in the new members section not long ago so there is some info about the bike there. Long story short is I bought this bike for cheap when the previous owner removed the handle bars and unhooked the wiring harness then gave up on the bike. I got it home plugged the harness back up and gave the battery a charge and it fired to life! Ok now that I know the bike runs its time to tear it down. Just want to add the bike only has a little over 13,000 miles on it. This is what it looked like when I got it home.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2018, 04:40:36 AM by Glenn Stauffer »
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2005 883 Sportster 1975 CB550 1993 DR 650

Offline Hunter S

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2015, 09:57:19 PM »
I already bought some stuff for the bike as I have an idea of the direction I want to go with it even though I still haven't got every last detail worked out. Thats where you guys come in! This  will be my first build so I will be open to suggestions and constructive criticism. So on to the parts. What you are looking at in the pics is a Hotwings dirt tracker seat and pad and a fork assembly from an '08 gsxr 1000.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2018, 04:41:10 AM by Glenn Stauffer »
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2005 883 Sportster 1975 CB550 1993 DR 650

Offline Hunter S

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2015, 10:02:01 PM »
Got the exhaust pulled off as well as the side stand and center stand and a few other odds and ends. Some stuff will not go back on so I will be grinding some mounts off the frame and smoothing things out when the time comes.
« Last Edit: April 22, 2018, 03:01:43 PM by Glenn Stauffer »
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2005 883 Sportster 1975 CB550 1993 DR 650

Offline Hunter S

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2015, 10:14:41 PM »
Undecided on a paint scheme but I have this one stuck in my head. As a kid I always loved seeing Bubba Shobert, Kenny Roberts and Jay Springsteen in the monthly cycle magazines and I loved those red white and blue Hondas!
« Last Edit: April 22, 2018, 03:00:47 PM by Glenn Stauffer »
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2005 883 Sportster 1975 CB550 1993 DR 650

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2015, 07:57:27 AM »
You will need to tap the upper tree clamp and attach bar mounts. Not a huge thing.

Also, you may need to re spring the forks when you are complete since the bike may weigh less than a GSXR.
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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 Hunter S

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2015, 08:35:43 AM »
Calj737 you are right the bike is in pretty good shape and would be a great candidate for a restoration but I never intended to go that route. The good thing is the spare parts will benefit the members here as I plan to sell all the left overs in the classifieds. I have been looking at the Cognimoto stuff and that front hub is one of my next purchases. I like the idea of using a top clamp so I can use stadard bars. I will look into those more over at cognimotos website. I do want a bike that is comfortable to ride for long periods of time so that may be just the ticket. We shall see. You are right that aftermarket piece dont fit the stock seat hoop that great, an aftermarket hoop may be in order.
 CB750 cafe racer fan you are right. These forks will definately need something. This bike is going to weigh even less than a stock cb550.
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2005 883 Sportster 1975 CB550 1993 DR 650

Offline Hunter S

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2015, 08:45:22 AM »
One thing is for sure those gsxr fork tubes are beefy! Should not have a problem with flex. Neck bearings will come from All Balls.
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2005 883 Sportster 1975 CB550 1993 DR 650

Offline Hunter S

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2015, 09:00:41 AM »
Agreed. I will be doing some research on what areas to do some reinforcing to the frame.
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2005 883 Sportster 1975 CB550 1993 DR 650

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Hunter's 1975 cb550 project
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2015, 10:40:52 AM »
Hunter,

Cal is right about the flex.  The 550 has a stamped frame and the frame welds are not very robust.  It would not be a bad idea to reinforce the welds to the head stock.  If you have access to a welder, you may even gusset the triangle areas of the frame (see the circled areas below).  It is not necessary, but it may help.  Just know that when you strengthen portions of the frame, you will be highlighting the weaker areas.



My comment about checking the weight and re-springing is something to look at upon completion and tuning, since you'll then have an idea as to how the finished 550 compares in weight to the particular GSXR model you took the fork from.  It may end up heavier, lighter or a wash.

As for the bar mounts, Devin at Cognitomoto sells them.  I would not be surprised if you purchased a top clamp and the risers if Devin would not tap the clamp/mount them for you for a little extra. Devin is a great guy to deal with.

http://cognitomoto.com/collections/cockpit/products/rise-clamps-7-8-bar
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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
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