Topic: My 74' CB550 K0 #449

[Kelly E]

I have started final assembly of my 74' CB550 K0 #449. I've had it for 3 years and working on it for 2.

[Kelly E]

We got the motor into the frame today. Also replaced the wheel bearings and spent some time finding parts since it's been a year or more that I worked on it. Been working on other bikes that were easier to get on the road. I also got the rearset pegs I made from the stock mounts and a set of 82' V45 Sabre peg mounts with the remote shifter.

[JWB]

Looking great.  I like the the alternating black and polished aluminum on the engine, nice touch.

[Kelly E]

Looking great.  I like the the alternating black and polished aluminum on the engine, nice touch.

Thanks, if it's not black it's silver or shiny. It seems like I have been cleaning and painting parts forever. 

[seanbarney41]

Nice job on the foot controls!...would love it if you filled us in on some more details on that

[Automark]

X2 on the black offsetting the polished aluminum!
Nice work, and thanks for sharing it with us.
Best,
MSH

[Kelly E]

Nice job on the foot controls!...would love it if you filled us in on some more details on that

I flipped the stock mounts over after I cut off the peg mount part. I I then cut the bottom half of the mounting eye off the 82' V45 Sabre peg mounts and welded them to the 550 mounts. The left Sabre peg has the remote shifter built into it. It looked like it was the right length and it was. I knew it would work when I tried the shifter arm on the gear selector shaft splines. I finished it up by grinding some off the stock 550 pegs so they fit the Sabre footpeg mounts. For the rear brake pedal I shortened and bent it to fit. This job involved the only frame alteration I have done to this bike. I welded two pieces of round rod on for the footpeg mounts to rest on below the two stock peg mount stops. All of the rear sets I saw for sale went too far back so I made my own and I have a bunch of V45 Sabre parts. I am also using an 86' CB700SC Nighthawk side stand because it works with the rearset pegs and the ball on the end of the stock one hit the peg.

[seanbarney41]

Nice job on the foot controls!...would love it if you filled us in on some more details on that

I flipped the stock mounts over after I cut off the peg mount part. I I then cut the bottom half of the mounting eye off the 82' V45 Sabre peg mounts and welded them to the 550 mounts. The left Sabre peg has the remote shifter built into it. It looked like it was the right length and it was. I knew it would work when I tried the shifter arm on the gear selector shaft splines. I finished it up by grinding some off the stock 550 pegs so they fit the Sabre footpeg mounts. For the rear brake pedal I shortened and bent it to fit. This job involved the only frame alteration I have done to this bike. I welded two pieces of round rod on for the footpeg mounts to rest on below the two stock peg mount stops. All of the rear sets I saw for sale went too far back so I made my own and I have a bunch of V45 Sabre parts. I am also using an 86' CB700SC Nighthawk side stand because it works with the rearset pegs and the ball on the end of the stock one hit the peg.

thanks...nice work...looks like it makes for a comfortable sporty riding position

[RAFster122s]

Any risk of the shifter or brake pedal interference with exhaust?

[Kelly E]

Any risk of the shifter or brake pedal interference with exhaust?

The bike came with a new Mac 4 into 1 canister exhaust still in the box. I think the shjfter would clear stock exhaust, probably not the brake pedal. The rearset pegs also makes it electric start only, but I am a rebel anyway and everybody else does kickstart only. The guy I got the bike from was going to chop it up into a cafe style bike. I am making a cafe style bike that looks like it was built a few of decades ago without chopping the frame. I made the seat so it still works on the stock hinges. I ain't riding on no damn ironing board.

[Kelly E]

Got some more assembly done today. Still have a bit of fabrication work to do on the front fender and a couple other small things.

[Kelly E]

Today I got the taillight/plate mount finalized along with some fitting on the rear turn signals. I also got the 86' CB700SC Nighthawk sidestand fitted with a little grinding of the stop so it folds up far enough.

[Scott S]

 Looking good. I like the way you integrated the grab rail. Some smaller turn signals would really clean up the lines, too.

[Kelly E]

Looking good. I like the way you integrated the grab rail. Some smaller turn signals would really clean up the lines, too.

Thanks   Smaller signals would look too modern, I am trying to make it look like it was built in the 70's. I did use shorter turn signal stalks.

[seanbarney41]

Looking good. I like the way you integrated the grab rail. Some smaller turn signals would really clean up the lines, too.

Thanks   Smaller signals would look too modern, I am trying to make it look like it was built in the 70's. I did use shorter turn signal stalks.

It is sooo hard to do better than the oem turn signals, imo.  Everything is too modern looking, total crap plastic quality, or outrageously expensive. 

[Kelly E]

Looking good. I like the way you integrated the grab rail. Some smaller turn signals would really clean up the lines, too.

Thanks   Smaller signals would look too modern, I am trying to make it look like it was built in the 70's. I did use shorter turn signal stalks.

It is sooo hard to do better than the oem turn signals, imo.  Everything is too modern looking, total crap plastic quality, or outrageously expensive.

Compared to the 80's bikes these are small turn signals.

[Kelly E]

Today we got the back of the bike pretty much done. Still waiting on some parts but there also a couple more things to do.

[Kelly E]

We got some more assembly done today like the new wiring harness and forks installed. Still waiting on some fork boots and hardware.

[Kelly E]

Today we got the carbs installed along with getting everything plugged in except the headlight bucket. Also had the solder a wire back on to one of the new coils.

[Scott S]

 That bike has really nice lines. Plans for a front fender/brace?

[BenelliSEI]

Kelly..... nice looking build! Every detail is just right. You’ve reminded me of a seat I want to build. I’ve got a leaky K4 fuel tank. The plan is to cut the back 1/3 off and use it for a seat”hump”. I want to take a used seat base and see if I can line it all up...... thanks for the inspiration!

[Kelly E]

That bike has really nice lines. Plans for a front fender/brace?

I cut 9" out of the middle of the front fender. I'm trying to attach it to the bottom of the Tarozzi fork brace and run a set of boots.

[Kelly E]

Kelly..... nice looking build! Every detail is just right. You’ve reminded me of a seat I want to build. I’ve got a leaky K4 fuel tank. The plan is to cut the back 1/3 off and use it for a seat”hump”. I want to take a used seat base and see if I can line it all up...... thanks for the inspiration!
[/quote

My inspiration for the seat was I wanted to have the stock hinges still work and the $18 plastic tail cone that came unscathed from China wrapped up in a piece of paper held closed with the shipping label. I ain't sitting on no ironing board. I did all of the seat fabrication on the stock seat pan and designed the cover. An upholstery shop did the foam and made the cover.

[Scott S]

That bike has really nice lines. Plans for a front fender/brace?

I cut 9" out of the middle of the front fender. I'm trying to attach it to the bottom of the Tarozzi fork brace and run a set of boots.

 Read through this thread:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179015.0.html


 I used the stock brace and a shorty fender for a Triumph.

[Kelly E]

Well it took four hands and several tries but we finally got the fender attached to the
fork brace mounts.