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Author Topic: 1974 CB550. Racetech Monoshock. JMR Head. Built Engine. "BLAC"  (Read 183423 times)

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Offline Gene

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #100 on: February 15, 2016, 06:45:07 PM »
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on February 12, 2016, 10:56:32 PM
Quote from: calj737 on February 12, 2016, 04:51:01 PM
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on February 12, 2016, 03:33:06 PM
$500 for a custom tank is cheap. I suspect he'll pick up some new customers from the forum.
That was written as $500 as a starting price, going up from there....  ;) When I discussed a tank with him, it was nearer $700 based upon initial conversation. Seemed a reasonable price for a quality product.

That's still very reasonable.

For someone who knows their craft. 
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*1973 CB750K3 (Bow)

Offline GV1390

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #101 on: February 16, 2016, 05:22:14 AM »
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on February 12, 2016, 10:56:32 PM
That's still very reasonable.

I agree, especially after calculating how much I have into mine.
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93' GSX-R1100, 78' CB550, 71' CL350, 71’ CB500 & 02' ZRX1200R.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #102 on: February 16, 2016, 08:58:02 AM »
Custom steel or (especially) aluminum tanks usually are more.
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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 BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #103 on: February 16, 2016, 04:04:54 PM »
My girlfriend is also a photographer and asked to take a picture "while I was working on my motorcycle thing"  ::) ;D

Cheers from SlowProgressville!  I almost look like I know what I'm doing! 8)

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline irish44395

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #104 on: February 16, 2016, 04:55:39 PM »
Great pic
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Offline BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #105 on: February 22, 2016, 04:49:04 PM »
Having grown tired of waiting to hear back from shops, I decided to take my 0.00 experience and put it to the test and rebuild these myself.  I ordered some K&L rebuild kits and went to town (taking lots of pictures along the way.) 

I soaked, scrubbed, 'carb cleaned' and air nozzle'd everything and decided to reuse the stock jets instead of using the kits bits.

So many parts!


Are all of these really necessary?! (just kidding)


Hehe




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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #106 on: February 22, 2016, 04:53:41 PM »
Tragedy has struck... well that's a bit of an exaggeration.

On the LAST carb I was rebuilding (finally feeling really confident about knowing how they work and go together) I noticed that the previous owner must have dropped one of the carbs without the bowl on it because one of the posts that holds the float has been broken off and glued/JBwelded back together  >:(

Does anyone have a carb casting (cylinder 1) for a 74 550k for sale?  I would like to replace this with a casting that isn't held together with putty  :'(
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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline calj737

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #107 on: February 23, 2016, 03:50:31 AM »
You can send that carb to member Jim French. He does micro welding and can repair that carb to better than new. Else, send a PM to member Harisuluv (James Hale) and he is apt to have a spare body. Broken float posts are not uncommon either due to corrosion, or too much force when extracting the float pins.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #108 on: February 23, 2016, 08:34:00 AM »
Great info, thanks!

You guys are going to both save me money by giving me info like this as well as make me spend all my money by showing me all the cool parts I can buy ;)

Speaking of spending money... I have a couple big boxes from Cognito on the way... My baby is going to be pretty :)
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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #109 on: February 28, 2016, 08:26:37 PM »
I just ordered tarozzi clip on's and new grips, Im wondering who makes a 1/4 turn or some sort of quick turn throttle?  it feels like I have to get the stock one wrapped around a couple times to get to full throttle ;)

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #110 on: February 28, 2016, 08:32:20 PM »
Motion Pro.
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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 BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #111 on: February 28, 2016, 09:30:35 PM »
I have looked through their site a few times, they just dont really list what is compatible for specific bikes.  I think I'm just going to have to wait until mine is town apart so I can see and measure everything I will need.


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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #112 on: February 28, 2016, 11:25:25 PM »
I got mine from Jay at Lossa. It's about a $15 part.
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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 calj737

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #113 on: February 29, 2016, 01:59:03 AM »
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on February 28, 2016, 08:32:20 PM
Motion Pro.
Or Domino, but they're more expensive. And none are listed as "compatible" other than to say that they're push/pull throttles.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline apehanger550

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #114 on: March 05, 2016, 10:31:27 AM »
Quote from: ser1992 on February 22, 2016, 04:53:41 PM
Tragedy has struck... well that's a bit of an exaggeration.

On the LAST carb I was rebuilding (finally feeling really confident about knowing how they work and go together) I noticed that the previous owner must have dropped one of the carbs without the bowl on it because one of the posts that holds the float has been broken off and glued/JBwelded back together  >:(

Does anyone have a carb casting (cylinder 1) for a 74 550k for sale?  I would like to replace this with a casting that isn't held together with putty  :'(
  I have a set of carbs bought for parts for a CB550 1977 and I do not know which one of mine has a broken post. [either#1 or #4] If you would like a body for 30.00 and you think mine might fit, that is something to consider.
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Offline BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #115 on: March 07, 2016, 11:32:25 PM »
Thanks, but those are a different style carb.  I went ahead and am sending it out to be re-welded back on.  that way they are all a matching set, look the same and I can rest easy ;)


Does anyone has a source for where I can buy an OEM rebuild kit for my 74 cb550 petcock?  The model for the whole assembly is    
16950-300-020, and I can buy a new OEM one for $45 shipped... I'm thinking it might be worth just doing that vs trying to find a kit and rebuilding it...?
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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #116 on: March 10, 2016, 08:19:54 PM »
more parts being dropped off almost daily.  It's going to be a fun month =)

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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline GV1390

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #117 on: March 11, 2016, 06:42:07 AM »
Thumbs up, homie!  8)
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93' GSX-R1100, 78' CB550, 71' CL350, 71’ CB500 & 02' ZRX1200R.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #118 on: March 11, 2016, 09:14:16 AM »
Always a positive bump to get new parts in the mail.
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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 BLAC

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #119 on: March 26, 2016, 03:33:59 PM »
New petcock came in the mail, and my broken carb body is almost back from Jim French.  Thanks again for that suggestion, he did a great job on it from the pics he has sent and the price was great!

I should have the bike running in the next couple days and then the big teardown begins.

I think I will end up replacing the stock wheels with alloys, either Sun or Excel.  I want 18's front and rear, what are good widths to go with front and rear?  I dont want overkill on either, just a little wider.  Anyone liking their setups a lot?
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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's an electrical problem... If it's an electrical problem, it's Cal's problem.

*2005 Yamaha R6 (sold)
*2014 Ducati Streetfighter 848 (sold)
*2014 BMW S1000RR (sold)
*2010 Ducati Streetfighter S
*1978 CB550 Restomod Build
*1974 CB550 Monoshock build
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,154614.0.html

Offline calj737

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #120 on: March 27, 2016, 05:08:05 AM »
18x2.15 front, 18x2.50 rear. Pretty common widths to allow 110 front tire and 120 rear. Appears pretty close to stock. You can go 2.5 front and 3.50 rear and use 120/140 front and rear if you want a more modern tire.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #121 on: March 27, 2016, 05:33:02 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on March 27, 2016, 05:08:05 AM
18x2.15 front, 18x2.50 rear. Pretty common widths to allow 110 front tire and 120 rear. Appears pretty close to stock. You can go 2.5 front and 3.50 rear and use 120/140 front and rear if you want a more modern tire.

I'd still go 110 on a 2.5 inch x18, My gixxer1100 had 18 x 2.75 front with a 110, stock sizes,  A 120 front needs at least a 3 inch front,  ideally 3.5. I know we are talking 18's here but,  almost all sport bikes run a 17 x 3.5 front with a 120 tire, smaller diameter rims can accommodate slightly wider tires , but in saying that, my old GPX750R Kawasaki had a 16 x 2.5 inch front and also ran a 110 tire... ;)
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Offline Lostboy Steve

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #122 on: March 27, 2016, 05:49:28 AM »
I run close to factory sizes on my 77.  I had previously run a 110 on the front and a 110 on the rear and it handled pretty good. On the 75 I run a pretty fat and tall 16" on a comstar.


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1977 Honda CB550K
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Offline Camrector

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #123 on: March 27, 2016, 09:14:19 AM »
Guess it depends on the look your going for.
I'm running 17x3.5 fronts and 17x4.25 rear on this one build. This allows a 120 front and 150 rear.
Another 550 build I'm doing has the more stock 18x2.15 and 18x2.75 rear.

17s on your bike would looks sweet!
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Offline GV1390

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Re: 1974 Honda CB550 Build. It's cash fire time.
« Reply #124 on: March 28, 2016, 04:24:39 AM »
Quote from: ser1992 on March 26, 2016, 03:33:59 PM
I think I will end up replacing the stock wheels with alloys, either Sun or Excel.  I want 18's front and rear, what are good widths to go with front and rear?  I dont want overkill on either, just a little wider.  Anyone liking their setups a lot?

I'm running 18 x 2.5 F&R.

:)
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93' GSX-R1100, 78' CB550, 71' CL350, 71’ CB500 & 02' ZRX1200R.
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