Topic: 1975 cb550f

[RAFster122s]

Looks like a Firestone tire

[Fezzler]

SHINKO Super Classic 270 front; Classic 240 rear.

[Fezzler]

Center stand installed.  Swing arm installed with new brass bushings and new shock bushings. 

(BTW, I follow SohRon's Assembly Manual posting as closely as possibly.  His approach worked great for my '71 cb500 build.)

[Stev-o]

SHINKO Super Classic 270 front; Classic 240 rear.

Cal will love those!

[Oddjob]

Commonly known in the UK as "Ditch Finders"

[Stev-o]

Commonly known in the UK as "Ditch Finders"

HA!  Thats funny....

[Fezzler]

Commonly known in the UK as "Ditch Finders"

HA!  Thats funny....

 


We had the same commentary earlier in the thread.  That said, I do appreciate the input.

[Fezzler]

SHINKO Super Classic 270 front; Classic 240 rear.

Cal will love those!

Yup. Why put all the time and effort into fixing up a bike, riding it, and not downgrade its handling and braking. Seems rational to me.

Chris, Chris, Chris…

"For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate."

The Stranger - Albert Camus

[Stev-o]

SHINKO Super Classic 270 front; Classic 240 rear.

Cal will love those!

Yup. Why put all the time and effort into fixing up a bike, riding it, and not downgrade its handling and braking. Seems rational to me.

Chris, Chris, Chris…

"For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate."

The Stranger - Albert Camus

"Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along"

The Stranger - Billy Joel!

[Fezzler]

SHINKO Super Classic 270 front; Classic 240 rear.

Cal will love those!

Yup. Why put all the time and effort into fixing up a bike, riding it, and not downgrade its handling and braking. Seems rational to me.

Chris, Chris, Chris…

"For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate."

The Stranger - Albert Camus

"Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along"

The Stranger - Billy Joel!

Ha! Love it!  And Stev-o, you had to rat me out to Cal!  Thanks!  Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.

Fez

[HondaMan]

Can I coax your thoughts toward a bigger taillight?
Last week, in my Explorer, I almost rear-ended a biker here because he had installed an LED rear taillight that was nearly invisible on BRAKE when the sun was behind us both. It was similar to the flat, curved one you show above.

[Fezzler]

Can I coax yours thoughts toward a bigger taillight?
Last week, in my Explorer, I almost rear-ended a biker here because he had installed an LED rear taillight that was nearly invisible on BRAKE when the sun was behind us both. It was similar to the flat, curved one you show above.

Seems like a better remedy is to not drive in front of you.

So sorry to hear about your near miss.  Thanks for the suggestions and counsel.  I greatly appreciate it and will give it just consideration as I proceed.

It's going to have a light the length of the rear fender that is about an inch wide plus two larger-sized bullet style lights in the rear working in concert as well. 

Also, I don't plan to ride this at night, in the rain, or on curves. I will only ride on smooth newly paved roads, never above 35 MPH, or on populated roads, and in full riding gear. 

I will likely sell shortly after completed. 

 

[Fezzler]

Trying to get one or two things done everyday.

- Painted headlamp bucket black and installed new lamp and hardware.
- Cut to size and installed rear fender temporarily. Holes will be filled, will be painted black and light installed under rear fender lip.
- Worked on fitting and eyeballing. 

It's come a long way from the mess I started with.

[Oddjob]

May I suggest mounting the light under the frame bar instead, if it fits of course. Reason being it's better protected and where you plan will get it hit by stones, water and other crap, won't take much to stop it working and you'll have no idea if it happens when you're riding, if that happens you risk a pull by the police or worse being rear ended by an inattentive driver. Both to be avoided at all costs.

[Fezzler]

May I suggest mounting the light under the frame bar instead, if it fits of course. Reason being it's better protected and where you plan will get it hit by stones, water and other crap, won't take much to stop it working and you'll have no idea if it happens when you're riding, if that happens you risk a pull by the police or worse being rear ended by an inattentive driver. Both to be avoided at all costs.

Thanks.  I appreciate the input.  I'll give it some serious consideration.

[Fezzler]

Always so controlling at the local bar.

Isn't it fun getting new control wires through old stock handlebars?

[Oddjob]

No light switch on the us model mate? On the right hand switch gear that is.

I bought one of those as it was advertised dirt cheap for the 550 and it came exactly like yours. No use to me at all as we need a light switch, you could have had it for postage if I’d known.

[Fezzler]

No light switch on the us model mate? On the right hand switch gear that is.

I bought one of those as it was advertised dirt cheap for the 550 and it came exactly like yours. No use to me at all as we need a light switch, you could have had it for postage if I’d known.

My '71 500 controls have a headlamp on/off switch.  My '78 550 does not.  Is it possible sometime between '71 and '75 all US required running headlamps for motorcycles so Honda eliminated the headlamp on/off switch in the USA?

[newday777]

No light switch on the us model mate? On the right hand switch gear that is.

I bought one of those as it was advertised dirt cheap for the 550 and it came exactly like yours. No use to me at all as we need a light switch, you could have had it for postage if I’d known.

My '71 500 controls have a headlamp on/off switch.  My '78 550 does not.  Is it possible sometime between '71 and '75 all US required running headlamps for motorcycles so Honda eliminated the headlamp on/off switch in the USA?

Yes. On 1976 models onward

[Fezzler]

Chain

Seat fastener tabs (now painted black).

[Fezzler]

what prevents the tabs from spinning around the bolt? and what did you tap the bolt into?

Keen eye.

The previous owner had started to build a bobber.  So fortuitous to me, he welded and tapped two substantial mounting points to bolt on a bobber solo seat, which I have since sold.

I simply repurposed the mounting points and used them for the Tuffside seat.  Tuffside seats have studs attached to the bottom of the seat pan and will be secured to the tabs with the provided washers, lock washers and wingnuts.

I don't think the tabs can spin since they are mounted securely at both the frame and the seat pan. The Tuffside seat pan was also molded specifically for the cb500/550 frame so it sits incredibly snug on and over the sides of the frame.

I originally was going to use the rear mounting studs for the Tuffside seat and had them positioned for the first crossbar you see below.  But since I want to mount a rear fender, that made access a little more tight than I cared for.  Easy access in the current position and just as secure.

Here is a picture of one of the mounting points from below the frame and both points on top of the frame.


 

 

[Fezzler]

My bad.  I probably didn't articulate my response well enough or the picture wasn't worth a thousand words.

I've already attached the seat and it is snug and secure.  Probably unclear from the previous photo, there are mounting holes for the seat pan studs in the tabs.

[Fezzler]

The picture makes it look as though they are threaded. That was my point. If they’re not, then “nevermind”.

No worries.  Sage counsel from the elders always welcomed.

To those following along.  The thread has confirmed there are no threads.  We're all living in a simulation.

[HondaMan]

  We're all living in a simulation.

Ah. That would explain a lot.

[Stev-o]

Chain...

...looks a little loose!