Topic: Think this will fit a '75 550?

[JZEROE]

Shop is across town, and won't get there to measure before the auction ends. Anyone with a caliper and a bike handy? Or anyone know CB550 fork dimensions off the top of their head?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CB450-CL450-CB-450-CL-450-Fork-Brace-Tweek-Bar_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35592QQihZ009QQitemZ190201180189QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Geeto67]

probably not. Why do you want a tweak bar anyway? you want a longer chopper style front end?

[JZEROE]

Nah, I just want more front end stability. I'm fenderless, using the internal brace to keep my forks from twisting. But I still feel a little flex on hard corners.

[754]

It aint gonna help on a short fork, may end up shortening your travel.

They may help a little on long forks, but if you do run one on that setup.. get a 1 piece better clamping power..

[Swede]

If you want to get a fork brace for your bike you will have to either machine something or swap your forks out for a set of 77 or 78 550 forks, that is what I did.  The earlier model lowers are shorter and the fork braces that you can find usually wont work.  I know that you can get a brace for the 77 - 78 550's from here.  http://www.loudfastugly.com/

[hymodyne]

a tweek bar like this will shorten your fork travel. it's also 33mm, while the 550 forks are 35mm.

hym

[754]

I offered to show you guys how to build a brace that works well , that you can make yourself.. but seemed to be no interest.

It could work with a bit of time with stock front fenders.

Could make it at home a bit easier though if you could get 20 minutes lathe work done but you can get around that if you are motivated.. I cant post pics but can describe well enough..

[Roach Carver]

I offered to show you guys how to build a brace that works well , that you can make yourself.. but seemed to be no interest.

It could work with a bit of time with stock front fenders.

Could make it at home a bit easier though if you could get 20 minutes lathe work done but you can get around that if you are motivated.. I cant post pics but can describe well enough..

let 'er rip

[754]

Look at Bonneville 07 thread, brought it back up....2nd pic is what I am talking about.. easy to make.. there is extra fender bracket on there facing away from the round bars that could be eliminated..

[754]

See what i mean..3000 people signed up on here, a thread every month on will this brace for (insert other bike) fit on mine.

Then I post I will show how  to make one yourself (posted 2wice now) and I get 1 person wants to do it... no wonder you guys cant get what you need.......

[dustyc]

Please post a how to 754.  It'll be good forever.  Then when this comes up, we can point them to your tutorial.  If you need to post pics, I'll post them for you if you email them to me. 

[crazypj]

754, put a link in.
 I don't read everypost (in fact I may go several weeks without reading any posts)
 Its easy to miss stuff.
 Also, there are a lot of new riders out there who were not around in the 70's (at least not on bikes) so don't know the difference between a tweak bar and a fork brace.
A fork brace ties the lower legs ( sliders) together to stop them twisting
 A tweak bar does something similar to extended forks but is fitted to the fork tubes so it doesn't move with the suspension.
 It prevents tubes moving apart from each other and causing them to stick in sliders. Usually fitted to a position similar to sock fork/lower triple tree length.
PJ

[JZEROE]

Thanks for explaining the diff, Crazy. Yes, I'm young and can't tell a tweak bar from a phonograph. But I know how to use a Mill, so I'm making something based on the piece that came off my fender--just a little beefier. I'll let you guys know how it comes out, and if it works, I will make em for people in exchange for parts.

754, any guidance before I start wailing away at the metal would be much appreciated.

[754]

Ok, I will start a thread, but cant post pics.

There is a pic of it on my green bike on the Bonneville 07 thread.

This brace is styled after the drag race stuff, but I have seen similar on an Egli i think it was.

So w/o pics I will have to describe it carefully or make a drawing and fax to someone. I think though if I provide basic measurements someone can CAD draw it and post for all..it is pretty basic..

[crazypj]

Thanks for explaining the diff, Crazy. Yes, I'm young and can't tell a tweak bar from a phonograph. But I know how to use a Mill, so I'm making something based on the piece that came off my fender--just a little beefier. I'll let you guys know how it comes out, and if it works, I will make em for people in exchange for parts.

754, any guidance before I start wailing away at the metal would be much appreciated.

 Great, if you can use a mill you can make something cool.
 Don't try and make a one piece unit.
 It need to be adjustable.
 If the measurements are off  more than a couple of thou it will probably cause forks to bind.
PJ