Topic: Reducing electrical for kick start only on a 77 cb 550

[Boost_Junkiee]

So how can I just have kick start and what will I be able to eliminate? Will I have to keep a battery? bad idea? I am trying to keep it real basic and I have seen some vespas with kick start only and no battery and wondering if its possible on my bike or has someone done it?

[Shenanigans]

You will need a battery. It is an important part of how these bikes electrical systems work.

[destroyer]

Please elaborate, I too would like to do away with as much electrical as possible and would like to ditch the battery if I can.

[kghost]

Get a magneto...then ya can ditch it. 

[Joel]

What's the minimum size battery needed?

[alltherightpills]

There was a recent discussion on whether these bikes will run on a dead battery.  Some useful info in there.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=33354.0

Zach

[Gordon]

Here you go:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=4412.0

This one goes back about three years, but there's five pages worth of discussion on this one topic.  Even goes into the possibility of using capacitors instead of a battery.  Ultimately, IMO, you're better off just getting a smaller gel or agm battery and ditching the starter motor unless you're dead set on completely customizing the entire electrical/charging system.

[kghost]

I did a stripped down diagram for my 750 Cafe...

The wiring basics are the same,

PM me if ya want a copy

[Boost_Junkiee]

Thanks for the info! I am going to tackle electrical this weekend and see how it turns out. I want to find out the smallest battery I can run. I will let yall now what I come up with.

kghost I sent you a PM

[Mr Johann Vegas]

My Cub runs a 4L-BS, which is a really little one.  It's only a 4AH battery, but likely enough for your needs (and what I intend to use when I start the wiring on my 550, also KSO).