Topic: Noob buys first bike... wants to build cafe racer

[xanaphyst]

The Clubman style handlebars

AAhhhhh ....Clubman style handlebars.  That looks like the ticket.

[xanaphyst]

Do who have any past riding experience at all like maybe mini-bikes or small dirt bikes etc. when you were younger ? I bike in a little more stock configuration might be better to get your feet wet and learn the basic skills and if you happen to dump it then your on your way to a custom build 

I have a DT80 when young and then raced the 125 class as well

[Kelly E]

I built my 74' CB550 from a roller with the motor on the floor and the top end off. All of the mods are reversable and I didn't cut anything off the frame. I even used the stock seat pan which I did alter.

[xanaphyst]

I built my 74' CB550 from a roller with the motor on the floor and the top end off. All of the mods are reversable and I didn't cut anything off the frame. I even used the stock seat pan which I did alter.

Wow ..... your bike looks AMAZING !

[dave500]

ratty bikes are easy to build(put together)from a rough start,heres one i did earlier,alloy rims,4-1 pipe made from the rusty chrome one,narrower bars decent rear shocks,not far off stock,had it some time now,ive rebuilt a few of these,always gets looked at wherever it goes,worth more like this than with mini led indicators and ironing board seat,dont forget to hang the license plate way out sideways?

[Greyhound]

Ah you must be lucky enough to be in a state that’s not California… Which now mandates motorcycle license plates to be mounted horizontally (so that the automatic plate readers can read them properly).

[robvangulik]

Vertically? I know I shouldn't assume, but a flat lying plate?

[Kelly E]

I built my 74' CB550 from a roller with the motor on the floor and the top end off. All of the mods are reversable and I didn't cut anything off the frame. I even used the stock seat pan which I did alter.

Wow ..... your bike looks AMAZING !

Thanks, the 550 already has great lines. It's a mistake to stray to far from them.
Another handlebar to check out are M bars.

[Stev-o]

I built my 74' CB550 from a roller with the motor on the floor and the top end off. All of the mods are reversable and I didn't cut anything off the frame. I even used the stock seat pan which I did alter.

Wow ..... your bike looks AMAZING !

Thanks, the 550 already has great lines. It's a mistake to stray to far from them.
Another handlebar to check out are M bars.

+1...I have and like the M bars on my 550F

[KennyRedman]

+1...I have and like the M bars on my 550F

Love it.

[flatlander]

bars from a 400F could also work well. i have them on my 550 and their height and width suit it pretty well. they're a good compromise between leaning forward and being compact, and comfort and control.
for a 4-1 exhaust, look at delkevic. i don't have one but from what i've seen their good quality and the price is really decent.

the bars i'd definitely change coz those high'n'wide ones in the picture will be a pain. exhaust is optional if you really want the look. for the rest, as pretty much everyone else has said, i'd leave the bike as is, just make sure it runs well and safely. then take a bit of time to get used to it, ride it as much as you can and decide what you want to do further.

[RAFster122s]

Norman Hyde M Bars for your search...

Hindle from Ripple Rock Racers in Canada makes another nice exhaust system too.
The stock exhaust if free from rot is worth hanging onto as a stock bike with good stock pipes will command more money...

Might take a while to find your project bike,so be patient and amass the funds for it while waiting and watching and searching for it.
If you are new to bikes you might find you like long rides and a thin seat may not be ideal for keeping your backside from hurting after 1/2 day or a day on the bike.
Custom seats like the Corbin Gunfighter for the CB750 might be what you want to build or pay Corbin to build you a 550 version of the design.
Stock bikes that are well done will command good money. They are only original once and this is why we are urging you to not hack up a nice example that might be worth far more with some cosmetics restoring (not repainting). The 750 goes for more money usually but a really nice 550 can command very good money.

Learn the bike and maintaining it and you will be far happier developing those skills that can transfer to other vintage bikes.

BTW, lots of guys end up making a mistake of not having a raised section to the seat making it a flat line and theyeat an inch or more of rear tire travel but don't limit that travel in suspension which results in a crash often when they bottom the suspension and the rear tire scrubs hard on the seat bottom or hoop.

So, if you pick up what looks like a nice 550 keep it stock and enjoy it in stock form a while. You might find the stock form is really far cooler because it performs as designed rather than compromising some of the good engineering these bikes had to begin with....  The 550 has some of the best handling of the SOHC4 CB bikes. Once sorted they can be reliable and dependable and fun rides.

Welcome from Southern Arizona...

[dave500]

this type of thread has been done before,there aint nothing you can change/modify/improve or alter that aint been done already,nothing is "different"its all been covered,good luck with your adventure.

[PeWe]

Be careful with the rebuild if doing it, not downgrading the bike.  Remove parts from a bike will not raise the value.

Like rebuild an old good Ferrari to a Trabant (former DDR car) with help of a chainsaw and papier-maché

[flatlander]

old wisdom says: learn first - chop later 

[xanaphyst]

So I decided not to chop up the orange bike and found myself a junker and tore it apart. It was costly but a 2006 GSXR 750 front end with some cognito moto wheels really did the trick. Engine came back from Hondaman looking
beautiful.  I'm glad to finally be getting it together after a detour on a boat project. I rode the orange bike for a while then sold it after finding this bike which was a total POS.

[xanaphyst]

Looks a lot better with the engine in. It was a pain handling it by myself.

[Stev-o]

So I decided not to chop up the orange bike and found myself a junker and tore it apart.
I'm glad to finally be getting it together after a detour on a boat project.

Good decision not to chop it. What boat?!

[PeWe]

Always possible to modify a good bike without shopping it (cut frame).
Replace parts to change the look and handling.

Possible to return back to stock wich will bring money back if selling it.

Another thing if finding stray parts on a scrap yard and build a bike of it. Give dead parts a life

[Ellz10]

I built my 74' CB550 from a roller with the motor on the floor and the top end off. All of the mods are reversable and I didn't cut anything off the frame. I even used the stock seat pan which I did alter.

Ooo I love that! A very retro, classic look!

[xanaphyst]

So I decided not to chop up the orange bike and found myself a junker and tore it apart.
I'm glad to finally be getting it together after a detour on a boat project.

Good decision not to chop it. What boat?!

Regal 2650. Great boat but needed a lot of maintenance. All done and good to go now !!

[xanaphyst]

Getting there,, still some work to do, needs frame hoop and lights

[Ellz10]

Getting there,, still some work to do, needs frame hoop and lights

That rear brake pull isn't installed correctly. Not sure if you realized or not.

[Stev-o]

So I decided not to chop up the orange bike and found myself a junker and tore it apart.
I'm glad to finally be getting it together after a detour on a boat project.

Good decision not to chop it. What boat?!

Regal 2650. Great boat but needed a lot of maintenance. All done and good to go now !!

Nice!  I have a Monterey 268SS, almost boating season here...

[xanaphyst]

Getting there,, still some work to do, needs frame hoop and lights

That rear brake pull isn't installed correctly. Not sure if you realized or not.

Thank you for the heads up !!!  I don't see what is wrong. Can I have a hint