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Author Topic: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project  (Read 15037 times)

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #50 on: September 04, 2019, 11:14:28 AM »
Getting there and looking good!!
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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 Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #51 on: September 04, 2019, 11:40:01 AM »
Quote from: SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan on September 04, 2019, 11:14:28 AM
Getting there and looking good!!

Thank you!


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Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #52 on: September 08, 2019, 08:06:36 PM »
Today I wrapped my exhaust with header wrap then put it on my bike! Wrapping was a pain but I love the way it turned out.




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Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #53 on: September 09, 2019, 06:40:27 PM »
Installed my led turn signal/brake light bar




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Offline Jcop.550

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‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #54 on: September 09, 2019, 06:46:17 PM »
Electronics tray painted to match and installed. Carbs polished and cleaned. Almost a complete bike!


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« Last Edit: September 09, 2019, 06:48:22 PM by Jcop.550 »
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Offline WhyNot2

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #55 on: September 11, 2019, 06:02:59 AM »
This bike looks damn good.

Way to go.
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Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #56 on: September 11, 2019, 07:13:43 AM »
Quote from: WhyNot2 on September 11, 2019, 06:02:59 AM
This bike looks damn good.

Way to go.
Thanks a lot man!


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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #57 on: September 11, 2019, 09:27:55 AM »
Might want to adjust the chain...looks a little slack.  ;). ;). :)
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David- back in the desert SW!

Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #58 on: September 11, 2019, 03:06:16 PM »
Quote from: RAF122S on September 11, 2019, 09:27:55 AM
Might want to adjust the chain...looks a little slack.  ;). ;). :)

Lol! I don’t see a problem, looks good to me ;)


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Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #59 on: September 11, 2019, 07:36:06 PM »
Final before and after of the engine. Very happy with how it turned out!
 
BEFORE:

AFTER:



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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #60 on: September 11, 2019, 08:07:40 PM »
That did turn out nice!  Imagine having Nils vapor blast the carb bodies would not be inexpensive... That could make them look very nice as well.
David
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David- back in the desert SW!

Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #61 on: September 11, 2019, 08:22:33 PM »
Quote from: RAF122S on September 11, 2019, 08:07:40 PM
That did turn out nice!  Imagine having Nils vapor blast the carb bodies would not be inexpensive... That could make them look very nice as well.
David
Yeah I do need to get the carb bodies a little cleaner. Haven’t really touched them yet. I’m gonna see what I can do with them myself first and then maybe I’ll get them blasted... we’ll see. Thanks for the tip!


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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #62 on: September 12, 2019, 01:05:57 AM »
I know it will make many cringe but I had a set of VB carbs for my CX500 glass bead blasted by a guy who knows how to rebuild them and to keep the blast media out of the carb internals.  They came out looking very nice as well.  Vapor blasting by people like Nils at Restocycle can refinish the carbs and they look better than new and Nils knows how to keep the media out of engine internals and carbs and other sensitive areas on the parts he handles.  You cannot trust just anyone to do it right as many will assure you they can do it but reality has proven otherwise. Blast media will get into just about anywhere and everywhere, so you have to be deliberate in efforts to block it from those sensitive areas. Nils takes the time and expends the effort to control that very thing...

David
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David- back in the desert SW!

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #63 on: September 12, 2019, 11:03:42 PM »
Great looking motor.

My carbs were vapor blasted and then cerakoted. They look amazing. 
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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 Jcop.550

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‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #64 on: October 12, 2020, 06:17:05 PM »
Wow... it’s been a long time since I posted on here and a long time since I worked on my project. I was away from home for a few months but I’m back to it. Me and my brother worked on rewiring the whole bike this weekend with a couple more odds and ends to finish that. Installed an electronic ignition, new regulator/rectifier, and a new speedometer. I see the light at the end of the tunnel for this build and I am stoked!


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« Last Edit: October 12, 2020, 06:31:25 PM by Jcop.550 »
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Offline Gurp

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #65 on: November 29, 2020, 03:16:44 PM »
Any new updates? was loving where this build was going.
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slow Progress 74 cb550.

Poor boy chop 73 CB500 chop

Future project 77 Cb750 Amen Savior

Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #66 on: January 25, 2021, 06:56:54 PM »
Quote from: Gurp on November 29, 2020, 03:16:44 PM
Any new updates? was loving where this build was going.
Yes! Late reply, haven’t been able to get into my account. Pretty much finished up. I’m just waiting for winter to pass to get it out of my basement and start it up.


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Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #67 on: January 25, 2021, 07:00:34 PM »



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Offline kcmark

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #68 on: January 27, 2021, 06:06:37 PM »
Looks great!  Nice work!
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Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #69 on: January 28, 2021, 08:39:24 AM »
Quote from: kcmark on January 27, 2021, 06:06:37 PM
Looks great!  Nice work!
Thanks!


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Offline Shtonecb500

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #70 on: January 28, 2021, 10:57:22 AM »
nice work, thanks for the update. Keep cranking
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73/74'' CB500/550 resto-mod - sold
75' 750f 91' cbr f2 swap cafe - mock up
74' 750 chopper hardtail - complete - sold
74' CB750/836kit - Black mix & match - daily rider - always tweaking
71' cb500 K0 survivor - complete
71' K1 - CANDY GOLD/BROWN Winton kit - in process

Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #71 on: December 20, 2021, 04:49:03 PM »
Haven’t updated in a while. Life, laziness, and moving homes got in the way.

Backtracked on the bike and ended up pulling the engine to fix loose cylinder head studs. Since the engine had to be disassembled for that, I ended up doing my first top end rebuild as well. Learning a lot as I go thanks to YouTube, the forum, and my brother.

Still waiting on a couple parts to come in the mail to finish it up and put it all back together.





I also got my hands on a set of ‘76 carbs. Wish I had a better before pic but they were pretty rough. With some time and lots of elbow grease, I was able to make them pretty again.





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Offline Gurp

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #72 on: December 22, 2021, 07:31:38 AM »
Carbs lookin really good man.
I'm spying some Harbor freight In the background. after the holidays i need to make a trip to my local HF.
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slow Progress 74 cb550.

Poor boy chop 73 CB500 chop

Future project 77 Cb750 Amen Savior

Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #73 on: December 22, 2021, 10:16:24 AM »
Quote from: Gurp on December 22, 2021, 07:31:38 AM
Carbs lookin really good man.
I'm spying some Harbor freight In the background. after the holidays i need to make a trip to my local HF.
Thanks! And yes, Harbor Freight is one of my go-to spots


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Offline Jcop.550

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Re: ‘78 CB550 Cafe Racer Project
« Reply #74 on: January 02, 2022, 05:46:21 PM »
My first engine rebuild was a success! She fired right up and sounds great!

Just have to go over it and make sure everything is tight before I take it out for a ride. I will update with better pictures once I get a nice day to go for a ride.





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