Topic: First motorcycle/cafe project (UPDATED 5/6/09 with a question...)

[dminner]

I started my 74' CB550 cafe racer build this last weekend and made quite a bit I progress I think.  This is my first motorcycle and I dont really know what I am doing, but im having fun.  This forum has already been a lot of help, I used the online shop manual to tear the engine out, clean it and paint it this weekend. 

I also, started on my cafe seat,  Thanks bill440cars for giving me the idea of using a gas tank for the cowl

Here are some pics:

Engine before:


Engine now, I painted it flat black and polished some of the fins:


Here is the cafe seat i started

old harley amf gas tank:

I had never used a grinder or worked with metal before, it was a lot of fun.

Here is the seat pan I made:


And here is is with the gas tank cowl:


But, for those with more experience I need to opinions on the cowl.  In the picture above, should I move it furter up to mount it?  I kinda like how it fits against the grab bar, but is there to much space between the cowl and the gas tank?

Also, if you look at the engine pics, you will see that the engine came w/ these spikey valve caver, this made it really hard to get it out of the frame, and I dont think I can get it back in without taking them off (at least not with out scratch the paint).  But, like I said I have no reall expeirecne w/ motorcycles and dont really no what is under them.  Can I just simply unscrew them and screw them back in?

Thanks for all the help so far guys

[doug_id]

That's looking pretty cool!   

I like the black engine.   Yes, you can remove the tappet covers (spikey things).  Just be careful not to drop anything in the holes.....maybe stuff some plastic wrap in them or something.   Maybe try a gradual slope down from the cowl to the seat pan.

Have fun,
Doug

[kettlesd]

I think the cowl is in a good position. A lot of guys use "stretched' tanks to move the rear edge closer to the cowl, making for a more solo-style seat and putting the rider into more of a racing "tuck".

[jrrobertsjr]

Fantastic job.

I like the look of the grab bar behind the cowl.

It appears to me that someone with your skill could reshape that grab bar to follow the contours of the cowl.

Minor stuff though. The engine looks great. What did you paint it with?

[dminner]

Fantastic job.

I like the look of the grab bar behind the cowl.

It appears to me that someone with your skill could reshape that grab bar to follow the contours of the cowl.

Minor stuff though. The engine looks great. What did you paint it with?

Thanks for the kind words guys, but I dont really have much "skill"  , this was the first time I have ever even worked w/ metal, I an kinda flying by the seat of my pants.  I do like the idea of bending the grab bar to better match the cowl though.  My brother is a commerical electrician and has some pretty big conduit (not sure if thats how you spell it) benders that may do the job.  My problem right no is trying to figer out how to mount it, I am having some trouble coming up with ideas.

The engine was painted w/ duplicolor 1200 degree paint or something like that.  I came out great, it went on really smooth.

[xtalon]

I think you are doing a great job!  Engine looks fantastic.  If it were me, I would use lose the grab bar.  Do you have a need for it?

--xTalon

[dminner]

No real need, I was just going for a look similiar to this:



I was going to get the frame and the grab car powder coated to match

[bill440cars]

      dminner,
             Glad I could be of assistance with the seat cowl idea. As far as attaching the cowl to the seat pan, my first though would be to make some spot welded onto the cowl and then either bolted or welded onto the pan (although welded to the pan might not be a good idea) I would make a piece to go on the front of the cowl also (just my thoughts). Those ideas concerning the handrail sound cool too. I like the way you painted your motor and polished the edges of some of the fins too. I figure on doing the same thing except I plan on polishing all of the fins on mine (at least that's the plan for now). Absolutely nothing wrong with your idea though. Personal touches like that, are what makes a bike stand out, you know? Hope I might have given you some ideas on the cowl mounting. Take care and keep upi the good work there.
           Cool Norton BTW, Your bike should look fantastic.
 
                                                           Later on, Bill

[cleveland]

LOL!!!  Turning a Harley Davidson tank into a Jap seat, BRILLIANT!  I think it looks great, but why keep the grab bar for a single seat bike?  Just want more chrome?

[andy750]

Personally i like your idea of keeping the grab bar and matching that Norton pic  -gives it a different look. I like it.

Keep us posted - looking sharp.
cheers
Andy

[greenjeans]

Man..... I have my project going for about six weeks now & you look further ahead than me.
Looks great.  I also love that grab bar - never would have thought about it, but I think it will look great.
Between your buddy and yourself, you think you could cut the frame just behind where the shocks  mount and weld on a shaped grab bar (ala that killer Norton)  It might take some grinding and some filling, but it would look more purposeful....is that even a word?  Anyway, great work...looks good, keep the photos coming.


Ehh..... the more I look at it, the more natural the original grab bar seems to be.....  I also like the position of
the harley piece...good proportions

[doug_id]

+1 on the rail.....think it looks pretty nice and a different look.   That norton is sweet! 

[hopterfixer]

I agree with keeping the grab rail, I am keeping mine when my seat goes that way. 

[KB02]

Man..... I have my project going for about six weeks now & you look further ahead than me.

Shoot, I a couple years[/i] into my bike and he's almost caught up! 

Bike's looking great so far. I like the seat, too. And another thumbs up for that grab rail. Make it origanal - Make it yours!

[dminner]

Man..... I have my project going for about six weeks now & you look further ahead than me.

Shoot, I a couple years[/i] into my bike and he's almost caught up! 

Bike's looking great so far. I like the seat, too. And another thumbs up for that grab rail. Make it origanal - Make it yours!

Thanks guys, I did have very productive 2 days.  But really, it was just one of the few times were everything seemed to go right and smoothly.

[kettlesd]

I started my 74' CB550 cafe racer build this last weekend and made quite a bit I progress I think.  This is my first motorcycle and I dont really know what I am doing, but im having fun.  This forum has already been a lot of help, I used the online shop manual to tear the engine out, clean it and paint it this weekend. 

I also, started on my cafe seat,  Thanks bill440cars for giving me the idea of using a gas tank for the cowl

Here are some pics:

Engine before:


Engine now, I painted it flat black and polished some of the fins:


Here is the cafe seat i started

old harley amf gas tank:

I had never used a grinder or worked with metal before, it was a lot of fun.

Here is the seat pan I made:


And here is is with the gas tank cowl:


But, for those with more experience I need to opinions on the cowl.  In the picture above, should I move it furter up to mount it?  I kinda like how it fits against the grab bar, but is there to much space between the cowl and the gas tank?

Also, if you look at the engine pics, you will see that the engine came w/ these spikey valve caver, this made it really hard to get it out of the frame, and I dont think I can get it back in without taking them off (at least not with out scratch the paint).  But, like I said I have no reall expeirecne w/ motorcycles and dont really no what is under them.  Can I just simply unscrew them and screw them back in?

Thanks for all the help so far guys

Oh yeah - whats with the flat metal bar attached to your right shock mount?? Looks like it would keep the shock from doing its job to me.

[dminner]

Thats just the exhaust hanger, didnt bother taking it off yet.  It is just lose at the bottom.

[Tim.]

You might consider finding a CB750F tank to use - stretched bread-box style would suit the bike well and is an easy fit onto the 550.  Just need to cut the little posts on the frame for the front tank rubber mounts down about 1/4" each and cut the rubber bumpers down as well.  Rear of the tank lines up well with a bridge on the frame to use a strap or something to hold it in place.

[dminner]

You might consider finding a CB750F tank to use - stretched bread-box style would suit the bike well and is an easy fit onto the 550.  Just need to cut the little posts on the frame for the front tank rubber mounts down about 1/4" each and cut the rubber bumpers down as well.  Rear of the tank lines up well with a bridge on the frame to use a strap or something to hold it in place.

Tintin, I found one of these tanks on ebay earlier today, but got out bid  .  But, yeah, I REALLY want one of the supersport tanks.  If you get any leads on one please help a newbie out and let me now.  Mabye I should put a add in the wanted section too.

[dminner]

A couple progress pics:

Spent this past week striping, sanding, priming, more sanding, and preping the frame.  Its all smooth and pretty.  Took forever! kinda wish I would have just went w/ powdercoat but I just couldnt find the color I wanted.  Oh well, it will be worth it in the end, I would rather have what I want than be disappointed w/ myself later.





I will lay the paint down this weekend hopefully.

[dminner]

updated pics:

[cleveland]

NICE!!!!

[WJL75]

That is going to be a sweet ride.  You do very good work.

[Chris Liston]

Progress looks great.  Now get ride of those ape-hangers.. Keep up the great work.

[dminner]

haha, yeah I know.  You should have seen the king and queen seat I took off.  I have some black clubmans and bar-end mirrors on the way.  Thanks for the nice comments guys.