Author Topic: Project Reaper....Honda CB550....(pics posted 11/10/2007) (Read 13088 times)

DarkRider · « **on:** November 07, 2007, 07:02:27 AM »

Since this was the post i made at the end of my other topic making it a project thread i figured i would repost it here...With that said let me introduce you to Project Reaper pics of the bike in its current disassembled state will come as soon as i pick it up and i can get my camera to upload to the computer.

After some thought and looking through some catalogues at Max motorsports a plan has come about....The search for CB650 pistons and head begins soon...Still in the planning stages at this time but heres a brief summary as to my goals..

Reducing the bikes weight to 350 lbs if possable via the following methods

changing out the wheels for aluminum 18" wheels
eliminating the center stand
eliminating the rear fender (proteal style)
replacing the front fender with either fiberglass or plastic..or leaving just the brace remaining
replacing the stock headlight assembly with a lighter plastic housing and H4 headlight
replacing the handle bars with lightweight aluminum handle bars
replacing the seat with a cafe or tracker style seat
replacing the exhaust with either drag style or 4 into 1
replacing the rear sprocket with an ultra light aluminum one
cutting off the passenger rear pegs and mounts
eliminating the electric starter as soon as the bike runs well enough to start with the kick start only,
replacing the signal lights with light weight LED signals
replacing the tail light with a light weight LED unit
replacing the stock headlight ears with some lighter cafe ones
running a smaller battery due to reduced load with the elimination of the starter and use of LEDs
removing any unneaded tabs on the chassis
replacing the stock air box with pods (i know im in for some tuning headaches but i have a good friend thats an experienced mechanic helping me with this)

now for the engine
upgrade to 650 pistons and head
upgrade to 650 carbs
megacycle cam
as mentioned replacing the stock exhaust with either baffled drag pipes or a 4 into 1

finally onto suspension tuning
replacing the rear shocks with slightly longer ones to give the bike a forward rake for quicker turning
replacing the front springs with progressive springs and filling the forks with 20 wt oil
adding air valves to the fork caps or converting the fork caps to preload style

Overall i see this bike taking me about a year or so to build mostly due to time and money constraints

Here is the link to the related thread that started this one

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27827.0

bill440cars · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2007, 10:12:45 AM »

Sounds like you're getting a decent plan of attack going on it. Only thing I can think of right off, that I didn't see listed, was rider's footrests. You'll want to ditch those stock ones and go for some lightweight rearsets, am I right? Lots of luck on the build there Chris.

Later on, Bill

DarkRider · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2007, 05:59:07 AM »

Not entirely sure what im doing there actually bill...cant really go with rear sets on this thing because it would make for an uncomfortable riding position for me with the use of a normal handle bar...and i refuse to go with clip ons on it as well mostly because i wish to avoid further back problems in the future..i may look into replacing the standard pegs with passenger pegs off of a sport bike though..

bill440cars · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2007, 01:49:33 PM »

Yeah, I hear what you're saying about the rearsets and clip-ons, Chris. I can't deal with the Clip-ons myself. I'm hoping that I can use Drag Bars w/ rearsets and not be bothered w/back discomfort. When I had my CB72 Hawk, I moved the footrests back a bit and used the standard bars with no problems. Not sure about the 550 though. I have a hard time with being bent over too much and I also need a little bit of length in the handlebars (for leverage). If I can't handle the Drag Bars, I'll go to (I think they call them) "Superbike" bars. The ones I'm thinking about, have a slight rise, angle to the rear slightly and have just enough length to be comfortable to me. Even though I brought up "rearsets", I was also thinking about an alternative foot peg that would be lighter, to help loose some more weight.

Later on, Bill

DarkRider · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2007, 04:09:33 PM »

heh..bill you know me...chances are i will come up with something...The main insperations for this build are Pro Teals old CB750 and El Cheepos Home Wrecker...so with a little luck Reaper will stand out just as much as they did...

bill440cars · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2007, 06:56:47 PM »

Quote from: OutlawZ24 on November 08, 2007, 04:09:33 PM

heh..bill you know me...chances are i will come up with something...The main insperations for this build are Pro Teals old CB750 and El Cheepos Home Wrecker...so with a little luck Reaper will stand out just as much as they did...

Probably more!

DarkRider · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2007, 05:20:40 AM »

thanx for the support...i will try to get some pics of Reaper in its current disassembled state either today or tomorrow just to show everyone what im working with..

DarkRider · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2007, 03:53:23 PM »

Alright Chris (the Mechanic over at Max Motorsports whos helping me with this) and i had another bit of a powwow and came up with some more design ideas...and after doing some measuring of the chassis we came to the decision to use this seat...

it also sounds like the bke is going to wind up with a mix of Hyosung and Aprilla controls to modernise and lighten up the bike in that area. The exhaust....heh...i got a secret when it comes to that...

I will have some pics of the basket case that is the starting point of Reaper up tomorrow...

DarkRider · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2007, 06:49:56 AM »

As promised..some pics of the bike in its current state..turns out it has less then 4900 Kms on it due to a poor owner in its past it was neglected sadly...the pipes arent exactly mint like first thought but they are usable just need either the surface rust sanded off or replating..if i was keeping them i would be getting them powdercoated or something along those lines..but with the 650 head...cant keep them so up for sale they go..make me an offer as this project progresses there will be more stock parts up for grabs...

Heres some pics of the pipes that came with the bike along with a close up of the worst of the rust which resulted in the plating peeling from what it looks like..

And some pics of the Helmet im getting that is painted the color that the bike will be painted

bwaller · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2007, 03:01:30 PM »

Chris,

I can sympathise with your back issues, been there, still there! Using handlebars whether they are stock or something sportier, the stock footpeg location as you know is too far forward. Fitting rearsets too far rearward to me isn't the answer either, unless the bike is just used for short outings. Jennings "Gentlemans Express" article explains this well, if you haven't read it do so.

I agree with your logic and spent time myself coming up with what I think turned out to be a very comfortable location just above the swingarm pivot. It seems a natural position to transfer weight easily side to side.

If you have something fiqured out, great, but if you're in the planning stage and would like to see the recipe I used pm me.

Brent

DarkRider · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2007, 05:20:58 PM »

the one factor i gotta keep in mind is the height as well otherwise im gonna wind up able to use my knees as arm rests lol...thats the one issue with having most of my height in my legs lol. Got looking at some GP foot pegs so thats what im using just a matter of finding the sweet spot for their placement because yea..i gotta move them back slightly so im not binding up my feet when i try to shift..Pm headed your way Brent

DarkRider · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2007, 06:48:08 AM »

Alright now that i got ahold of the link for the catalogue im ordering most of the parts from i can show everyone what the parts im getting look like

First up...the Handle bars..

The bars im using are the ones shown in the top left corner of the page..the ones with the 500g weight in their listing..

And of course the Mad Doctor is now in the game...

One of the goals with this project is to slightly modernise the bikes look in the process this tail light/LED signal assembly willl help with that...

The Givi A240 windscreen is one of the windscreens im considering theres also a unit very simular made by Puig called the naked..i will attempt to find a pic of it later

These are some of the elements bringing this bike together in its final form..but i still have plenty of tricks up my sleeve

bill440cars · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2007, 09:36:11 AM »

Hey Chris,

Just how long ARE those sleeves, hat have the 'tricks up them"?

That's some pretty choice looking stuff that you've shown there.

Later on, Bill

DarkRider · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2007, 06:42:19 PM »

put it this way bill...im around 6'1 and my hands reach down to about mid thigh when im standing straight up...so...yea i have some pretty damn long sleeves to tuck tricks into lol

Funny enough...im already starting some of the initial planning on the GS been looking at some fairings for it as well...me thinks a Dunstall may find its way onto that beast..

bill440cars · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2007, 09:03:32 PM »

Quote from: OutlawZ24 on November 11, 2007, 06:42:19 PM

put it this way bill...im around 6'1 and my hands reach down to about mid thigh when im standing straight up...so...yea i have some pretty damn long sleeves to tuck tricks into lol

Funny enough...im already starting some of the initial planning on the GS been looking at some fairings for it as well...me thinks a Dunstall may find its way onto that beast..

Well, I guess that answers my question!

All I can say is, Keep Em' Coming (the ideas, that is)!

Later on, Bill

DarkRider · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2007, 01:59:46 AM »

One thing has been decided and that is the fact that the bike will be getting baffled drag pipes and exit mid bike ala Buell. The original idea was to come up with an exhaust something like what Pro teal used on project Slim but with the bike being a 4 cyl its difficult to pull off...plus the added material to do it would affect the weight loss goals. So Drag pipes it is...I have also been in contact with TTR400 and theres a great chance that a lot of what he offers for parts will find their way onto project Reaper as well. I like the look of his rearsets so theres a good chance im either gonna go with his bolt on ones or the weld on kit which will allow me even further customization to fit the bike to me. i think if i could replicate a riding position simular to that of my VF i would be happy. and if im not mistaken..i would have to place the pegs just behind the swingarm pivot to achieve this.

DarkRider · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2008, 10:09:50 AM »

Update to bring this thread back to life...Have since decided to shift gears on the build...Im keeping the bike the stock displacement but sending the head off to get done to Stage II specs. Megacycle cam, rejetting the carbs for pods and a new exhaust. Gonna search for a kerker but chances are it will be a Mac that finds its way on there for now..

DarkRider · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2008, 10:13:42 AM »

Thank you to steve for moving the thread to the new board.

DarkRider · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2008, 05:42:05 AM »

All projects on hiatus until i can get my cage situation sorted out...truck blew the timing chain sunday morning....

bill440cars · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2008, 07:05:20 AM »

Quote from: OutlawZ24 on February 13, 2008, 05:42:05 AM

All projects on hiatus until i can get my cage situation sorted out...truck blew the timing chain sunday morning....

Hey Chris, Shame about the truck's timing chain. Been quite a while since I've done one of those. Looking forward to the projects you've got going.

Later on, Bill

DarkRider · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:29:52 AM »

Thinking i may go looking for a secondary car to drive and just take my time with the truck..it may wind up with some goodies of its own if i do it this way...(aka a new intake, headers, possably a hotter cam..etc..) Gotta love the small block Chevy...easy as heck to get parts for and easy to do up to up the power..

dusterdude · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:33:57 AM »

chris,suggestion,if your truck still has the nylon cam gear,drop the pan and make sure none of that crap ended up in your oil pump pick up tube or your pump.btdt.

DarkRider · « **Reply #22 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:40:25 AM »

chances are pretty good its probably got its original timing chain and gears..it was a fleet truck at one point in its life..not sure how long ago it was retired from service and sold. Thanx for the tip! Question though...can the pan be dropped with the engine still in the truck?

chrislib · « **Reply #23 on:** February 13, 2008, 01:38:30 PM »

More than likely yes, you`ll probably have to unbolt the mounts and jack the engine up a bit but it`s all good because it makes removing/installing the chain cover alot easier.

Shooter · « **Reply #24 on:** February 13, 2008, 04:03:25 PM »

Bars

Why not consider "Clubman" style bars?

I am finding mine very comfortable. (sorry best pic I had of them)

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Author Topic: Project Reaper....Honda CB550....(pics posted 11/10/2007) (Read 13088 times)

Shooter