Topic: Engine protection guards or CB500/550 machines.

[caluser2000]

While getting Darky, my '76 CB550F on the road again about a year and a half ago I decided to fit a pair of engine protectors for her. In stead of taking the more convnetional approach and trying to source aftermarket ones I did something a bit different the will fit with the OEM 4 into one exhuast system headers on Darky.

Knowing that the engine mounting bolts on CB500/550/650 and DOHC CB760 engine mount bolts where the the some distance apart I source a pair of CB750/900 Hondaline bars that where a bit dented and scraped up on one side at a reasonable price. I knew the seller who was just a block or so away and went around to pick them up.

To cut a long story short I hacksawed and ground unneeded bits off the Hondaline bars. Once fibished turned them upside down and they mounted right up to the engine mounts.

Because one side was scuffed up a bit I covered both sides in dense foam tubing from Para Rubber.

Secure and will work a treat

[bryanj]

Like it

[caluser2000]

Thanks bryanj. In the time I've owned Darky in 1986 I have never come across a set of engine protection bars at all around this neck of the woods. It's some I have wanted to do sin ce I got the bike but the usual suspect just would clear the headers on the the left side.

My bike will never be stock withevery bolt, connector, fittings, etc as it left the showroom floor.  In fact I find that an anal thing to do. Our machines should be an extension of ourselves when riding them on the road. With the changes-removels and additions I've made to Darky she is 18kg lighter wet than the stock 206kgs. Now that is lot of weight saving. It'll go back up a bit when I do the front twin disk installation but I'm winning side wrt weight reduction.

I'll never cut or remove any mudguards because to me that is totally stupid thing to do on a regular use machine riding in all weather and road surface conditions

I've got a few more wee improvements planned that will most likely balance that out though. And be more advantages to the electrical system.

I's be a fun last year and a half I must say.

As they say-There will be more to come so stay tuned.......

[Kevnz]

I've got one of these, looks like a factory option as shown in the parts manual. Surplus to requirements. I'm doing my bike up stock, down to using correct fasteners. Yes, it's a bit anal perhaps, but I like my bikes stock. People are free to do as they choose and these things are all a matter of personal taste. Obviously your bike suits your purposes, and we all know weight saving is a good thing so go for it. It's not like these things are ultra rare.

[bryanj]

Case guards were never an option from Honda only the big loop guards

[Deltarider]

Kevnz, it's difficult for me to see what size yours are, but mine are similar. When I bought my bike, it came with those. In Italy a driver took off from a gas station like a Formula 1 racer from a pit stop and knocked me over. The crash bar (I have no pic of that former one) did what it was supposed to do, but did cause damage to a few cooling fins. After our vacation, a Dutch dealer advised me to have them the smallest size possible and he was proved right.
Realise that a good crash bar only has to absorb the impact. If it is too strong, it will damage your frame tube and - as a matter of fact - that is quite easily done... The Dutch manufacturer of mine has made them thus, that the mounting lips bend before the impact can damage the frame tube. Compare it to a crumple zone in cars, (if that is the correct word).