Topic: CB550 Super-Duper Sport

[Gerry Hull]

Platform: 1976 550, fabulous shape, 6000 miles. Now torn down to atoms and placed inside magic cocoon, where it will emerge as:

[Gerry Hull]

Purpose/Intended use of build:


commuting, 300 mile club trips without undue fatigue, occasionally aggressive street riding, would like to take a novice racing class at Sebring Raceway, without being embarrasingly slow or poor-handling.


Specs:
Dry weight: 360lbs (goal)
Fuel capacity: 5 gallons using 750 tank
Wheels: 18 inch excel, stainless spokes ,WM4 rear/WM3 front
Tires: 110/90  rear, 100/90 front, Conti Road Attack with lightweight tubes, sealed rim.
Gearing: 18/34
Engine: 550, standard bore; mild porting, 10:1 pistons, mac 4:1 header with downturned drag pipe. rear portion of airbox replaced with auto filter. Amsoil 5w-30, wet clutch approved.
Brakes: stock front and rear, except for stainless drilled disc and stainless lines in front, DOT 5 100% silicone fluid
Suspension: F-progressive springs of recommended rate in stock forks. R- 11.4 inch "shorty" shocks to maintain proper rake. Still need: 75/120 springs on a quality damper of that length.
Lighting: Rear: Led on OEM 1971 bracket and casing/lens. Front: Single beam LED.
Blinkers: god gave me neck that permits head to swivel on spine.
Ergonomics: cogito moto rearset. Variable rate MX throttle. Stock seat pan with modified tapered profile, stiffening of foam with silicone. Tarozi clip-ons.
Gauges: none, except for a Koso shift light driven by an underseat mini-tach.
Frame: rear peg triangles and center stand removed. Since its still a bi-posto seat, I suppose I will put some small pegs onto the rear shock mounts. Riding women around never goes well in the end. If it can't be avoided, I want to ensure they are uncomfortable as possible.




125mph top speed is goal.


Most parts have been obtained, head and wheels have been shipped out, tank, frame and sidecovers out for repainting.


That is the proper starting point for the adventure. Every last thing is going to need hand-fitting to get it like I want it.


oh- and what will it look like? a somewhat leaned down but mostly stock cb 550 with the only big visual changes being the 750 tank, clip-ons. Nothing that screams "CUSTOM BIKE!!!"

[Gerry Hull]

Lastly:


1) !I hated my aka username (sssg) - experience has taught me I'm better off using my real one. It works ok here- since I needed to restart the project (and the thread) with the correct attitude.


2) In the interest of time efficiency, many of my posts will be in mp3. I will do my best to keep them short and un-tedious.


ok we are go.

[calj737]

Purpose/Intended use of build:
commuting, 300 mile club trips without undue fatigue, occasionally aggressive street riding, would like to take a novice racing class at Sebring Raceway, without being embarrasingly slow or poor-handling. The handling of the bike you describe will absolutely suck with "shorty" shocks.


Specs:
Dry weight: 360lbs (goal) Not likely to achieve this with the build specs described.
Fuel capacity: 5 gallons using 750 tank
Wheels: 18 inch excel, stainless spokes ,WM4 rear/WM3 front
Tires: 110/90  rear, 100/90 front, Conti Road Attack with lightweight tubes, sealed rim.
Gearing: 18/34
Engine: 550, standard bore; mild porting, 10:1 pistons, mac 4:1 header with downturned drag pipe.(will actually derive you of HP, not add) rear portion of airbox replaced with auto filter. Amsoil 5w-30, wet clutch approved.
Suspension: F-progressive springs of recommended rate in stock forks. R- 11.4 inch "shorty" shocks to maintain proper rake. Still need: 75/120 springs on a quality damper of that length.
Lighting: Rear: Led on OEM 1971 bracket and casing/lens. Front: Single beam LED.
Blinkers: god gave me neck that permits head to swivel on spine. Indicators are more for others to see you, not improve your ability to see.
Ergonomics: cogito moto rearset. Variable rate MX throttle. Kind of pointless with mechanical, gravity fed carbsStock seat pan with modified tapered profile, stiffening of foam with silicone. Tarozi clip-ons.
Gauges: none, except for a Koso shift light driven by an underseat mini-tach. A shift only light? Nothing for oil pressure? Nothing for speed and RPM? Seems pointless.
Frame: rear peg triangles and center stand removed. Since its still a bi-posto seat, I suppose I will put some small pegs onto the rear shock mounts. Riding women around never goes well in the end. If it can't be avoided, I want to ensure they are uncomfortable as possible.

125mph top speed is goal. A fantasy for sure.


Most parts have been obtained, head and wheels have been shipped out, tank, frame and sidecovers out for repainting.


That is the proper starting point for the adventure. Every last thing is going to need hand-fitting to get it like I want it.


oh- and what will it look like? a somewhat leaned down but mostly stock cb 550 with the only big visual changes being the 750 tank, clip-ons. Nothing that screams "CUSTOM BIKE!!!"

Best of luck in your endeavor.

[Gerry Hull]

Day 1

A) "Unsolved Puzzles"
-A supplier for 12 inch Hagons with appropriate spring rate, which would be 75/120. Am obsessing about a lethal change in geometry/rake by dropping the front end with 18" rims. I figure dropping the back about 1/2 inch and putting some proper springs will be the best fix.

B) "Would it work?"
-substituting polymer coated bicycle brake cable/housing for clutch cable, derailleur cable for throttle. They would dramatically reduce resistance.
-a Universal quick action street throttle, hopefully able to modify the cam to make it variable. I got an inexpensive one so it wont be big deal if it doesn't work.
-a 19 tooth drive sprocket. Necessary if I want to hit my mark, but I anticipate clearance issues.

C) Complete and Done:

Stock plenum with a non-K&N filter. It's big enough for a v8 engine, I don't have to oil it, it's a lot lighter than the K&N so I don't worry about stressing out the plenum tab mount.And they're chrome!





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[rb550four]

 Gerry I thought I was the only guy that had a problem with women  on the back. Gosh , I have to crawl through the stoplights or there will be some new unknown lady slipping her leg over my seat, never know what they might leave on the seat cover, It's even  worse when they jump over the tail light while the bike is moving.... I'm with you, make them as uncomfortable as possible because nothing good can come of it.     NOT
A stock 550 won't do 100mph, don't think 2 teeth on the drive sprocket  is gonna get you there, especially with the weight of a 5 gallon 750 tank.Think that you'll need a bit more machine work and a better cam for that. Changing the ratio to get a higher top speed usually means that starting from a dead stop in a reasonable manner may suffer I like the breather set up.Is there enough room for that with the stock battery and rear inner fender? I would do that for sure if it works. I'll be happy to watch you do this and be successful, yeah , I'm gonna keep up with this build.

[Register]

I like the cycle cable idea.

I'm working with clip-ons and need to shorten the cables, so could be the way to go.

Lots of you tube about how to, anyone tried it with success?

Sorry, does that constitute hijacking your thread?