Topic: CB550 "hot street" combo thoughts?

[Scott S]

 What do you think of this combo for a spiced up CB550 for the street? Not looking to win any dyno shoot outs, not looking to move the power band up to stratospheric levels. Just freshening up an unknown 550 engine and hopping it up a bit while I'm there.

 * Cruzin Image 605cc kit. Looked at the Dynoman kits with some compression, but I think I'll spend the ~$400+ I'll save on some professional head work instead.

 * Dynoman/Web  358a cam.  Seems to be the best option and a little hotter than a CB650 cam.
  http://webcamshafts.com/pages/motorcycle/honda/install_data/tc_001724_000131.html

 * Stock carbs, jetted accordingly. Looked at some CR26 carbs, but it's my understanding that the stock carbs flow plenty for the 550 engine. Just couldn't justify the $600-ish.

 * Professional head work. Got a PM in to Mark Reick about what level of porting, etc. But I think for my wants and needs that stock size valves are fine. Been doing my own mild P&P at home, but this is where the power is really made.

 * Lastly, and this is solely to satisfy my fetish, a set of CR style exhaust. Stupid expensive, but OH SO SEXY. And different. These are baffled (102 dBA.... a Harley is 108 dBA homologated in Spain, where these are made). Just have to save up the cash.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,161327.0.html

 How's this sound? I know some compression is always good, but with it often comes a snowball effect. Bigger intake valves, stronger springs, then more cam, etc., etc.
 For a mid-level, hot street engine....whatta ya think?

[bwaller]

102db will encourage some new friends to want to talk (the type with lights on their roofs) Just make some baffles.

Engine, sounds good. New Kibblewhite springs are likely only $70, definitely buy them. 

[Scott S]

 The 102 dB is WITH baffles. Unbaffled is 140.

[GV1390]

$1500 exhaust for a Honda, good god....what is this, an Italian exotic motorcycle? lol.

Why not run a 650 motor?

[Scott S]

$1500 exhaust for a Honda, good god....what is this, an Italian exotic motorcycle? lol.

Why not run a 650 motor?

 I know....it's kinda stupid. But, you only go around once....it's only money. And EVERYbody runs a 4-1!

 I did the 650 swap once before. Very powerful. But...it lost something. It always had hot start issues (common 650 malady). Lost the kicker. And....it was just no longer a 550 then.

 I've built/owned a bunch of 500/550's. I'm planning one that has the best attributes of all of them. One to keep.
 And besides, smart money says to buy a $1500 Ninja from Craigslist and be faster right off the bat, but what fun is that?

[GV1390]

Why not run a Hindle exhaust system? Much better than a 4-1!

In regards to losing the kick start....that just means you need to own multiple bikes....make sure one has kick and one does not, that's all.   

[Scott S]

In regards to losing the kick start....that just means you need to own multiple bikes....make sure one has kick and one does not, that's all.   

 Have you seen my profile signature?! I need less bikes, not more!

[Camrector]

$1500 exhaust for a Honda, good god....what is this, an Italian exotic motorcycle? lol.

Says the guy running CR26s on a stock motor! How are them warmed up starts btw?

Your recipe sounds great man. My 605 with port and a 650 cam screams!! You are going to love the usable street power. Check out the Megacycle 126-00 cam instead of the Web.
That exhaust is pure sex! Do it!!!!

Stock carbs are perfect for what your wanting to do though. With my set up I had to actually jet down slightly. Something else to think about

[calj737]

Scott - what material are those Benelli pipes going to be? Stainless or mild steel? I'd grab a set if I were you. They will be extraordinarily beautiful on your bike.

[bwaller]

No doubt those pipes are very cool. Just me but I think they always look better above the rear axle, plus for ease of wheel removal it only makes sense.

Tintop had a set of Swarbrick and they were so loud he hated riding it as it was so tiring. They may well have been unbaffled however. Some of our tracks are limited to 103db and I can tell you that is still plenty loud. My own modified Kerker race pipe is under 100.

Simply for your own information, don't blast by the popo shop at redline. 

[Scott S]

Scott - what material are those Benelli pipes going to be? Stainless or mild steel? I'd grab a set if I were you. They will be extraordinarily beautiful on your bike.

 Unsure of the material. I know it's sorta ridiculous, but my plan is to get a set. I just love the look.

[Scott S]

Your recipe sounds great man. My 605 with port and a 650 cam screams!! You are going to love the usable street power. Check out the Megacycle 126-00 cam instead of the Web.
That exhaust is pure sex! Do it!!!!

Stock carbs are perfect for what your wanting to do though. With my set up I had to actually jet down slightly. Something else to think about

 The 126-00 has been brought to my attention. It also sounds like a good candidate for my needs.

[Scott S]

No doubt those pipes are very cool. Just me but I think they always look better above the rear axle, plus for ease of wheel removal it only makes sense.

Tintop had a set of Swarbrick and they were so loud he hated riding it as it was so tiring. They may well have been unbaffled however.

 His Benelli pipes are usually above the rear axle. He says the 550 sets are the same.
 There was a race SOHC4 at Barber running the Swarbrick mufflers on stock pipes. The lines aren't as sexy and the sound was OK, I guess. It didn't give me goose bumps or anything.

[Scott S]

 You know, I had an epiphany today..... 

 Out for a ride on the STF2 bike and while it runs great, I built a bike that's a touch too small for me, with the custom seat, clip on's and rear sets.
 But the engine runs damn good. And it's already got Yoshimura 10.5:1 pistons in it.

 If I'm considering getting rid of that bike, I should totally stab in one of the spare 500/550 engines I have and keep that powertrain.
 With a good head instead of the home ported one on there now, the Megacycle cam instead of  the 650 cam, and tighten up the deck height to get proper squish.....heck, I'm already more than halfway there!
 The engine now has ~500 miles on it and runs great. The carbs were rebuilt with $200 worth of genuine Keihin brass. Whoever would buy the bike could probably care less about the Kerker....I'll throw on the old MAC I have and put in the performance baffle I bought and never used.

 What about THAT combo? I know the gears are all there and the bottom end is good. Already have the upgraded rocker cover.

 * Yoshimura 10.5:1 pistons
 * MReick stage 2 or 3 heads, oversize intake valve
 * Megacycle 126-00 cam
 * Proper deck height/squish
 * Benelli pipes

 

[calj737]

Seems a good recipe.

[Scott S]

And everything would take place from the head on up.....
 This way, I could replicate Flatlander's build but use 59.5 instead of 59mm pistons and get 10.5:1 instead of 10:1.
 The cylinders are already bored, rings already seated, etc.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Scott,

I like your recipe of selectively appropriating the good bits off the STF2 engine (higher compression pistons) and combining it with a MR head and Megacycle cam.  A buyer will not likely pay you the value of those improvements so you are better off enjoying them.

[flatlander]

yeah that sounds very similar to what i did - with a bit more bite, i expect. i think you'll be happier with that then a lower compression 605 kit. plus as you say, half the work is done already so what are you still thinking about??

by the way, i have a webcam 358a on the shelf that i want to test against the mega 126-00 that i have in there now. not sure if i'll get this done in time for you though, it will probably not be before january.

[Scott S]

  A buyer will not likely pay you the value of those improvements so you are better off enjoying them.

 That's kind of the way I feel about the whole bike. While *I* don't have much money in it, by using swap meet parts, great deals from eBay and Craigslist, my parts pile, etc., there are STILL a lot of nice parts on the bike.
 I'm sure most people outside the SOHC4 Forums don't care about powder coated Henry Abe wheels with All Balls bearings and a drilled rotor. OK...fine...I'll slap on a set of wire wheel rollers.
 Same with the rear sets and clip on's. Most people are happy with eBay stuff from China or DCC. I have Tarozzi stuff.
 Most people don't care about a vintage Kerker that's NLA and sounds like a MotoGP bike. Fine....I'll slap on the MAC so you can remove the muffler and run an open pipe. I even have a set of pods I'll throw in!

 The point is, it's a $5,000 bike that has no buyers with all the vintage, rare and Hi-Po parts on it, so I may as well pull those off and STILL get ~$2800-3000 for it.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Scott,

That's a sound plan.  A complete bike buyer will never appreciate nor pay for the individual upgraded parts value.  Better to sell them a complete stockish bike than one with valuable parts which you can either sell individually or use for a rainy day (like this one).

[WaxhawFive]

Yep, seems like a good plan, and you're already over halfway there.   

[GV1390]

A buyer will not likely pay you the value of those improvements so you are better off enjoying them.

Isn't that the truth, Don! That's why I'll always have my 550 around....worst case Scott can take some parts off to toss on one of his many other machines.