Topic: 1977 CB550K Cafe Racer project "Shinobi"

[jdizon]

Great look front to back, nice lines and nice products you picked out. I have the M-lock for my 550 project and it makes for a clean look.


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Plan is to get the bike running and ride it a few months with some basic tune up carb refreshing before a full winter rebuild. Thinking 600 bigbore but I'm still going through other build threads to see what upgrades are worthwhile. Suggestions always welcome.


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[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

When it comes to engine upgrades, you will need to have 2 things in mind: 1) budget and 2) the extent of performance gain you want to gain. Then balance those two.

It appears that you are not adverse to spending some money so it will come down to how much "go" you want to buy.

Best big bore performance: Wiseco or Dynoman high compression kit; Mike Rieck stage 3 or 4 pit job with Kibblewhite oversize valves; 650 cam or Megacycle 126-20 cam; back-cut transmission; heavy duty cylinder studs; new primary and cam chains, cam chain guide and tensioner; CR26 carburetors; MotoGP 4-1 stainless exhaust.

[jdizon]

She's a keeper and I've gone this far.. No point in half steppin... So I'll pay to play

My main goal engine wise is 1) reliable 2) streetable 3) city riding capable and just a blast to rip around town in.

When it comes to engine upgrades, you will need to have 2 things in mind: 1) budget and 2) the extent of performance gain you want to gain. Then balance those two.

It appears that you are not adverse to spending some money so it will come down to how much "go" you want to buy.

Best big bore performance: Wiseco or Dynoman high compression kit; Mike Rieck stage 3 or 4 pit job with Kibblewhite oversize valves; 650 cam or Megacycle 126-20 cam; back-cut transmission; heavy duty cylinder studs; new primary and cam chains, cam chain guide and tensioner; CR26 carburetors; MotoGP 4-1 stainless exhaust.

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[calj737]

For a great performing motor that is super street able, I'd check out Flatlander's 550 thread. My 500 motor is a bit more over the top, and not yet running, but I'm suspecting it's less "daily rider" and more "weekend adventurer".

As for the MotoScope, I was referring to "ditching" the stock wired plugs and connectors and reassembling them into smaller Molex connectors for the configuration of wires you actually use, not restrict yourself to how MotoG has them sorted.

My son wants the same gauge for his 500, but I'm not sold on it yet. The shape is spectacular, but it's an awfully lot of red LEDs on the face 

Using MotoG switches and components with clip ons, I've wired and routed things in this way:

[Restoration Fan]

cal,
What type of mirrors will you use in conjunction with those bar end m-blaze discs?  Is it possible to also use bar-end mirrors with them somehow or do you have to have mirrors that come up from the handle bars?

[calj737]

You can use a bar end, but instead of clamping to the insert lug, clamp it over the bar itself. On my bikes, I'm planning on using perch mounted Rizoma mirrors because the 500 and my BMW are both using bars instead of clip ons.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That MotoScope might be a little difficult to read in bright sunlight, but it does look nifty. I opted for the Chronoclassic Dark. Screw it and get a Motec!

[jdizon]

Cal,

Thanks for clarifying. I really like what you did with the wiring and will be referring to this when I get started. In terms of the motoscope dash I'm still thinking about it and seeing how I can incorporate it into the frontend without breaking the lines. Also thanks for the references, The bike will definitely be used more as a "weekend adventurer" but I live in Sunny California so weather is pretty good year round and would like to be able to put it to use daily if I could. In the meantime, I'll go checkout those build threads for ideas.

For a great performing motor that is super street able, I'd check out Flatlander's 550 thread. My 500 motor is a bit more over the top, and not yet running, but I'm suspecting it's less "daily rider" and more "weekend adventurer".

As for the MotoScope, I was referring to "ditching" the stock wired plugs and connectors and reassembling them into smaller Molex connectors for the configuration of wires you actually use, not restrict yourself to how MotoG has them sorted.

My son wants the same gauge for his 500, but I'm not sold on it yet. The shape is spectacular, but it's an awfully lot of red LEDs on the face 

Using MotoG switches and components with clip ons, I've wired and routed things in this way:

[jdizon]

I'm not a 100% on the motoscope dash so I'm still window shopping and researching what else is available. I'll  go check out the ones you mentioned. Thanks!

That MotoScope might be a little difficult to read in bright sunlight, but it does look nifty. I opted for the Chronoclassic Dark. Screw it and get a Motec!

[calj737]

We tinkered with a few ideas on how to integrate the MotoScope into the top clamp. Used a scaled version 3D printed for ideas..

I would not be concerned about daylight visibility of the unit, I'm sure the good folks at MotoG thought about that 

[jdizon]

Drool.....That's damn amazing! That is exactly what I was going for. Are you planning on producing this?

We tinkered with a few ideas on how to integrate the MotoScope into the top clamp. Used a scaled version 3D printed for ideas..

I would not be concerned about daylight visibility of the unit, I'm sure the good folks at MotoG thought about that 

[calj737]

I don't think we are pursuing this route. It would be fairly difficult to mill and account for the underside fastener passing through the clamp, then screwing into the backside of the gauge, all with M3 screws. And, a slanted pocket, and, and, and... Cool idea, but I don't think it would execute well-

[jdizon]

Darn... Very cool idea and if it ever does make it into production please keep me in mind!

I don't think we are pursuing this route. It would be fairly difficult to mill and account for the underside fastener passing through the clamp, then screwing into the backside of the gauge, all with M3 screws. And, a slanted pocket, and, and, and... Cool idea, but I don't think it would execute well-

[jdizon]

Started to think about color schemes for the bike and I did a quick rendering of what I'm going for. I really like the stealth look and I think it suits the name of the bike. I've also cleaned up the Lester mags and  thinking about lightening them a little and doing something similar to this. I'm also contemplating whether to keep them raw with polished edges or black? If I do decide to go with black, I'll need to decide whether to PC or paint them.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Started to think about color schemes for the bike and I did a quick rendering of what I'm going for. I really like the stealth look and I think it suits the name of the bike. I've also cleaned up the Lester mags and  thinking about lightening them a little and doing something similar to this. I'm also contemplating whether to keep them raw with polished edges or black? If I do decide to go with black, I'll need to decide whether to PC or paint them.

jdizon,

I admit I like the look of your hollowed out Lesters, I do not put enough faith in 70s (40 year old) casting technology -- that the wheels will retain enough structural integrity for road use with the strongest part of the spoke removed.  Have you x-ray'd the wheels to rule out cracks and inclusions??  I think it would be fine if this is just a show piece, but speaking for myself I wouldn't want to ride it hard.

[jdizon]

If I did decide to modify the wheels I'd probably leave a little more meat from the center and not the entire center of the spoke tip/tip. At this point I'm still contemplating. If I don't do this mod, I'll end up painting the entire RIM satin black.

Started to think about color schemes for the bike and I did a quick rendering of what I'm going for. I really like the stealth look and I think it suits the name of the bike. I've also cleaned up the Lester mags and  thinking about lightening them a little and doing something similar to this. I'm also contemplating whether to keep them raw with polished edges or black? If I do decide to go with black, I'll need to decide whether to PC or paint them.

jdizon,

I admit I like the look of your hollowed out Lesters, I do not put enough faith in 70s (40 year old) casting technology -- that the wheels will retain enough structural integrity for road use with the strongest part of the spoke removed.  Have you x-ray'd the wheels to rule out cracks and inclusions??  I think it would be fine if this is just a show piece, but speaking for myself I wouldn't want to ride it hard.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Johann,

I like the look of this bike.  I am very curious how that it is going to handle with the custom frame/swingarm/monoshock.  Good stuff!

If you decide not to hollow out the wheels, you might want to look at aftermarket wheels, such as Roland Sands.  They are not cheap, but might give you the look you want.  http://www.rolandsands.com/category/18/wheels

As to the front, I know you are planning to use the Ceriani triple.  Are you using the stock 1977 fork legs?  If so, if the spacing between the forks is the same as the Honda triples, maybe you should consider a fork brace instead of a cut out portion of the fender.  A Tarozzi brace will provide better stability than the portion of the fender that bridges between the fork legs. 
http://www.fastfromthepast.com/22-0014

[jdizon]

I'm also very curious to see how it handles but I'm hopeful that it is better than what I'm used to. Most of my other bikes I own have hardtails. In terms of the wheels, As much as I'd like to run one of those cool roland sands customs which I dig, My plan is to stick with a CB550 specific Drum in the rear as I like the clean look out back plus I won't have to make any changes to my rearset.  For the front end, I will use the stock forks with the ceriani triple tree. I'll have to check on the spacing but I do like the idea of those beefier braces. Thanks!

[joeyvans]

Hey Johann... are you still progressing on this project?  If so, it would be great to see an update, as this project is bold and beautiful!

Thanks

[Bankerdanny]

Engrave the VIN on the new frame and/or transfer the VIN plate, boom, registration matches bike.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Engrave the VIN on the new frame and/or transfer the VIN plate, boom, registration matches bike.

I think you can register it as a specially-constructed vehicle.  If in California, the requirements are a little rigorous.  https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/spcnsreg

[ksmith0034]

Love this bike!  Any progress?

[SF]

Bump