Author Topic: CB550 Cafe Interceptor - Gentleman's Roadster (Read 346865 times)

bwaller · « **Reply #375 on:** July 03, 2013, 06:18:59 PM »

I'm glad the changes got your attention Jim.

I'm looking forward to the results of you & Dave putting it through the paces!

sazaver · « **Reply #376 on:** July 03, 2013, 09:41:55 PM »

Looks like they perform awesome and they are very sleek.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #377 on:** July 15, 2013, 10:21:59 AM »

Had a wonderful visit from Mooshie on her latest Moto Adventure.

Check it out here: http://backdoormotoadventures.wordpress.com/

Caught in the act!

iron_worker · « **Reply #378 on:** July 15, 2013, 11:38:10 AM »

Great action shot!

IW

RAFster122s · « **Reply #379 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:03:44 PM »

Gee Jimmy, you hide that supercharger pretty well... MRiech's headwork, cam, and other work has paid off to hear Mooshie tell it. Hope you are enjoying this iteration of the bike. Sounds like you had a good ride and visit with Mooshie and Rocky.

David

FunJimmy · « **Reply #380 on:** July 15, 2013, 01:12:03 PM »

Quote from: RAFster122S on July 15, 2013, 01:03:44 PM

Gee Jimmy, you hide that supercharger pretty well... MRiech's headwork, cam, and other work has paid off to hear Mooshie tell it. Hope you are enjoying this iteration of the bike. Sounds like you had a good ride and visit with Mooshie and Rocky.

David

David,

We had a great time visiting with Lisa & Rocky.
They're wonderful people and a pleasure to have stay with us.
Laura and I planned to ride together on their way back to the US, but that didn't work out, so I had no choice but to take the Interceptor. Starting to get the carbs sorted out since the upgrades and now the bike just flies.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #381 on:** July 17, 2013, 10:12:28 PM »

I've been called a lot of things and right now, "obsessed" seems the most appropriate.

Example: I was poking around on eBay a couple weeks ago and came upon a listing for a pair of R6 forks with WP cartridges.

Excerpt: These are 2003 2004 R6 all R6s forks with WP (White Power) cartridges.
They came from a World Supersport race team. These are the equivalent of Ohlins 25mm cartridges.
There are signs of use on the preload adjusters on the caps. (see photos) Everything else is really nice condition.

So curiosity got the better of me and I bought them.
I had them swapped over within an hour of receiving them and today I took a 300 mile rip up some of the best mountain and canyon roads in the area.
What an amazing difference these WP cartridges make!
It's totally transformed the Interceptor into one of the most confidence inspiring bikes I've ridden.
If not for the 1050 engine, my buddy on his Speed Triple would have been left behind.
As it was, he said my corner speeds are at least 5 mile/hr faster than his.

Lots of adjusters on the top, plus low speed and high speed compression on the bottoms.

Kemp · « **Reply #382 on:** July 18, 2013, 11:32:42 AM »

So let's see, he's got a supercharger and tricked out World Supersport forks. I think I might need to install that 2nd engine in my 550 just to keep up. Seriously though, those WP cartridges sound awesome. How would you describe the difference, is it in front end feel, response over bumps?

RAFster122s · « **Reply #383 on:** July 18, 2013, 11:41:17 AM »

Quote from: Kemp on July 18, 2013, 11:32:42 AM

So let's see, he's got a supercharger and tricked out World Supersport forks. I think I might need to install that 2nd engine in my 550 just to keep up. Seriously though, those WP cartridges sound awesome. How would you describe the difference, is it in front end feel, response over bumps?

I think Mooshie was teasing it runs like it is supercharged when compared to her stock 550. I would imagine the MRiech headwork and good cam and the 592cc pistons would give it that feeling when compared to stock...just gets up and runs and runs...
550s are fun bikes on the twisties, you start pumping out the hp like Fast FunJimmy now has and BWaller has and it increases the grin on your face.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #384 on:** July 18, 2013, 12:00:04 PM »

Quote from: Kemp on July 18, 2013, 11:32:42 AM

How would you describe the difference, is it in front end feel, response over bumps?

Kemp,

In a nutshell “confidence”!

The stock R6 forks felt a bit harsh like they were either over sprung or had too much compression dampening. It’s difficult to put in words but the bike felt like it had a low amplitude hop in the front end. Think wheel out of balance at slow speed but mostly disappeared a higher speeds. Sharp edge expansion joints where really harsh too. Backing off the compression dampening and spring preload helped a lot but the frontend feedback was vague.

By comparison, the WP cartridge forks are spring better for my weight/bike and the dampening is so much broader and effective. It took a while to sort out and I’m sure there are more precise setting to come but gone is the low amplitude hop and feedback from the frontend is so amazing you can go into corners faster than I have courage. Yesterday’s roads had a good variety of smooth pavement with a variety of radius corners and some broken pavement with frost heaves and these forks managed it all effortlessly. The only concern is pushing past the point of adhesion of the Avon AM26 Roadriders. Which, BTW, are fantastic.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #385 on:** July 18, 2013, 12:12:30 PM »

Quote from: RAFster122S on July 18, 2013, 11:41:17 AM

I think Mooshie was teasing it runs like it is supercharged when compared to her stock 550. I would imagine the MRiech headwork and good cam and the 592cc pistons would give it that feeling when compared to stock...just gets up and runs and runs...
550s are fun bikes on the twisties, you start pumping out the hp like Fast FunJimmy now has and BWaller has and it increases the grin on your face.

Ya, no supercharger yet!

I didn't get to the 592cc piston kit either.
Gotta leave something for the next tear down.

Still working on jetting too. As it stands, I've got a rather abrupt flat spot between 6K-7K so the bike is a bit peaky. Under 6K and it pulls really well then goes flat till 7K and once past its crazy fast all the way up to 10K. So, if you’re trying to get away from your buddy on his Speed Triple you better be comfortable running between 7K-10K. That gets you entering corners in a very assertive fashion.

Kemp · « **Reply #386 on:** July 19, 2013, 04:03:05 AM »

Jimmy, that's really interesting. I'm always amazed at the confidence and response of modern bike forks. I rode a street triple a while ago that was stock and later we tricked it out with the Street Triple Euro race suspension which dramatically improved an already decent feel front end to one that was awesome. Pretty much as you describe, the difference is confidence in the feel of the front end where everything seems to be in harmony and perfectly balanced up and down bumps and with no hesitation transitions and turn in. I wonder if your original front springs might have been a bit too stiff even though the 550 is probably heavier than the R6?

Syscrush · « **Reply #387 on:** July 19, 2013, 04:43:02 AM »

Ha ha, we're on parallel paths here. I went from an SV with an R6 front end to a Duke 690 with WP suspension front and rear.

As you might imagine, I'm having a tough time living with the garbage suspension on my CBX.

Nice score on the new front. Remind me what shocks you're running?

brandEn · « **Reply #388 on:** July 19, 2013, 02:40:03 PM »

Amazing difference in handling just with new parts huh? That's great. I can remember trying to keep up with you guys last year on the twisty backroads of BC and my suspension was the limiting factor. Feels very "flexy" for lack of a better word. I bet I couldn't keep you in sight anymore with the new cartridges installed! After hearing your report my next big bike project after the K4 build may be a modern fork upgrade for TAO. Definitely something to consider.

Isn't your Oregon trip coming up?

FunJimmy · « **Reply #389 on:** October 06, 2013, 09:41:11 PM »

Out for the season finale with Wookie.

brandEn · « **Reply #390 on:** October 06, 2013, 10:13:56 PM »

You should submit that to the SOHC calender thread. Great pic!

zenocchio · « **Reply #391 on:** January 22, 2014, 02:57:13 PM »

Nice Bike and great job, from another fellow vancouverite.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #392 on:** January 27, 2014, 04:01:39 PM »

Quote from: zenocchio on January 22, 2014, 02:57:13 PM

Nice Bike and great job, from another fellow vancouverite.

Thanks Zenocchio and welcome to the group.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #393 on:** January 27, 2014, 04:16:03 PM »

I've always liked the nostalgic period correct look of a Kerker exhaust, but it lacks the rough-and-tumble character of a true Cafe Racer.
I even tried a Yoshimura replica (without much success) a while back and thought it looked incomplete, so when I saw the Cone Engineering megaphone Tige put on his 750, I knew I had to order one.

tweakin · « **Reply #394 on:** January 27, 2014, 06:16:48 PM »

Bravo Jim, looks amazing! How do you like the sound?

akabek · « **Reply #395 on:** January 27, 2014, 06:29:32 PM »

You have now entered the dark side. I have the same muffler on my CB550...simply fantastic.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #396 on:** January 27, 2014, 07:58:22 PM »

I'm sure it is somewhere in the 33 pages of this string, but is your swingarm a genuine Dresda or a Carpy replica?

FunJimmy · « **Reply #397 on:** January 27, 2014, 09:55:16 PM »

Quote from: tweakin on January 27, 2014, 06:16:48 PM

Bravo Jim, looks amazing! How do you like the sound?

Thanks Tige. Haven't fired it up yet to know but it won't be long.

Quote from: akabek on January 27, 2014, 06:29:32 PM

You have not entered the dark side. I have the same muffler on my CB550...simply fantastic.

Rick,

I've always liked the Cone Meg on your bike.
Good to hear you're a fan.

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on January 27, 2014, 07:58:22 PM

I'm sure it is somewhere in the 33 pages of this string, but is your swingarm a genuine Dresda or a Carpy replica?

Lucked out on an original Dresda.

brandEn · « **Reply #398 on:** January 27, 2014, 10:02:49 PM »

Looks great Jim. My favorite looking one of all the different choices you have tried.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #399 on:** January 28, 2014, 01:09:26 AM »

So I was tinkered around in the Lab tonight and innocently pushed the button.
My first thought was....."Holy Crap! Do these guy's really ride bikes this LOUD?"
Then I started to get it.

News:

Author Topic: CB550 Cafe Interceptor - Gentleman's Roadster (Read 346865 times)