Author Topic: 1975 CB 550 Cafe Project... Pics of my recent STEAL!! (Read 32088 times)

A Grove · « **on:** August 14, 2008, 08:41:13 PM »

So the story be told... I am 17 years old, a senior in highschool, and have always had a passion for motorcycles. (by the way, this is somewhat of an introduction, I don't want to be a stranger 'round these boards). Here is my latest find... I was riding my bike home from work two months ago and off on the side of the road is this gorgeous 1975 honda cb 550... I asked the owner what he wanted, he said $120 and he'd hand me the keys and the title.. DONE!!

Two months later, I've spent near $600 total on the bike with some new parts to slowly make my way into having a cafe racebike!

I am going to post up the before pictures of it and tomorrow I shall take some new pictures of what it looks like today...

....till the next time...

NGL_BrSH · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2008, 08:52:38 PM »

whoa! SCORE!
n1 m8... i'll definitely be watching for updates.

great find! I have the same bike and just finished getting it running/moving. It was in a bit more disrepair than yours so if you have questions about 1975 K1's i'm getting to get good at them.

bunghole · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2008, 10:16:10 PM »

Congrats on the great deal!!!

Can't wait to see the update pics!!!

bzr · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2008, 10:56:42 PM »

Damn, $120? That guy must have really hated the bike.

I like how the fairing matches the tank. I'm 20 myself, so it's good to start young. That's way cooler than what your friends are probably driving, right?

DarkRider · « **Reply #4 on:** August 15, 2008, 03:14:42 AM »

Is it wrong that i actually liked how the bike looked before?

scartail · « **Reply #5 on:** August 15, 2008, 06:43:04 PM »

Way to go with the buy! She looks in good shape too. I got the same ugly seat on my 550.

Spikeybike · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2008, 11:05:08 PM »

Quote from: DarkRider on August 15, 2008, 03:14:42 AM

Is it wrong that i actually liked how the bike looked before?

yes..

A Grove · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2008, 08:49:13 AM »

A day or two late on this one... But here are the goods!!

An old picture of how I had the bike rigged before I bought a new "correct" battery... Bet a few people thought I was crazy when they saw me coming down the street with this on!!

Hush · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2008, 09:42:39 AM »

It's ovious that you did ideed steal this bike and the police will be around shortly!

hey nice find and ambitious project for one so young but you seem to be heading in the right direction......Hush.

SSCR · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2008, 09:59:46 AM »

What kind of clip-ons are those? Lookin good!

A Grove · « **Reply #10 on:** August 17, 2008, 10:37:52 AM »

Quote from: Hush on August 17, 2008, 09:42:39 AM

It's ovious that you did ideed steal this bike and the police will be around shortly!
hey nice find and ambitious project for one so young but you seem to be heading in the right direction......Hush.

Thanks for the kind words!

Quote from: SSCR on August 17, 2008, 09:59:46 AM

What kind of clip-ons are those? Lookin good!

Those clip-on's are "my" clip-on's. Money's tight for a 17 y/o, so some .049 7/8" cromoly with a few other cromo tid-bits for the pinchclamp, etc. A few hours on the lathe/mill/welder and they were done

I think they came out great! they have 10* downsweep, which seemed like a cumfy medium.

fastbroshi · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2008, 11:20:31 AM »

Wow, excellent welding/machine work, regardless of your age. Were you born with a mig in your hand?

A Grove · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2008, 11:39:18 AM »

I suppose I should've clarrified those are not my welds

My pops welded them together for me after I got done machining the rest together.

martino1972 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2008, 01:36:30 PM »

Quote from: Hush on August 17, 2008, 09:42:39 AM

It's ovious that you did ideed steal this bike and the police will be around shortly!
hey nice find and ambitious project for one so young but you seem to be heading in the right direction......Hush.

yeah,and that "police" will be a friendly dude from "down under" on his cb650 police bike,freshly painted...

A Grove · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2008, 02:04:42 PM »

I've seen that bike 'round here... it is gorgeous!

JimJ · « **Reply #15 on:** August 17, 2008, 03:14:45 PM »

Cool

I'm 22 myself, for some reason the vintage bikes are just much more interesting than most of the new stuff

A Grove · « **Reply #16 on:** August 17, 2008, 04:09:47 PM »

As much as I'd love to ride a new, '08 cbr 1100, etc, etc... I know I'd end up in the hospital for one thing... and I'm poor!!

I'll post a few updates later on in the week. It ought to be rolling and running with the exception of the seat/turn signals, etc.

Artfrombama · « **Reply #17 on:** August 17, 2008, 06:16:34 PM »

A Grove, I have relatives named Grove. What is your loc?

A Grove · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2008, 07:05:42 PM »

Quote from: Artfrombama on August 17, 2008, 06:16:34 PM

A Grove, I have relatives named Grove. What is your loc?

Lot's of "Grove"s in this world... Located in State College, PA. Dad is Bill Grove, mom is Mary Grove... got some others, obviously. But those are the basics

Artfrombama · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2008, 07:09:42 PM »

Quote from: A Grove on August 17, 2008, 07:05:42 PM

Quote from: Artfrombama on August 17, 2008, 06:16:34 PM
A Grove, I have relatives named Grove. What is your loc?

Lot's of "Grove"s in this world... Located in State College, PA. Dad is Bill Grove, mom is Mary Grove... got some others, obviously. But those are the basics

Well, we're all cousins if ya wanna go far enough back.

My group is in Oklahoma.

Hush · « **Reply #20 on:** August 17, 2008, 07:53:57 PM »

Oh yeah right claim the poor young fellah as family just cos you want some drop bars made up!

A Grove · « **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2008, 06:39:40 AM »

Can't blame him, really. I LOVE how the bars came out. A user here already PM'd me asking about getting a set for his 350.

A Grove · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2008, 08:53:46 PM »

GREAT NEWS!! I got a call from my dad today while I was at work (I am a mechanic at my local bike shop) and he said he found a lady at work who was selling a 1977 CB 550 for $50. It has a new battery, two non-matching sidecovers, but original non-the less, and supposedly she just bought a new 4-1 exaust (mac? kerker?) and she's throwing in TWO repair manuals along with it!!

I told him to SNATCH that thing up!!! She isn't 100% sure she is going to sell it yet, but we'll know tomorrow hopefully.

I have HUGE plans for these two motorcycles, that is for sure

Joel · « **Reply #23 on:** August 19, 2008, 08:58:55 PM »

Quote from: A Grove on August 19, 2008, 08:53:46 PM

GREAT NEWS!! I got a call from my dad today while I was at work (I am a mechanic at my local bike shop) and he said he found a lady at work who was selling a 1977 CB 550 for $50. It has a new battery, two non-matching sidecovers, but original non-the less, and supposedly she just bought a new 4-1 exaust (mac? kerker?) and she's throwing in TWO repair manuals along with it!!

I told him to SNATCH that thing up!!! She isn't 100% sure she is going to sell it yet, but we'll know tomorrow hopefully.

I have HUGE plans for these two motorcycles, that is for sure

Some guys have all the luck.

And again, great work on the clip-ons.

A Grove · « **Reply #24 on:** August 19, 2008, 09:04:45 PM »

I am going to rip the engine out of this aquired 550 to use as a spare engine to possibly bore out and rebuild over the next few years and make my 550 into a track bike later down the road.

NOW, with the titled frame that I have left, I want to use my old 1989 Kawi 250r race engine and make a hardtail, striped cafe'.

I am starting to search for wheels, etc to get for the 250r - I feel like this will be a fun project.

News:

Author Topic: 1975 CB 550 Cafe Project... Pics of my recent STEAL!! (Read 32088 times)

SSCR

martino1972

JimJ