Topic: 74 550-Ninja Hybreed-Coming Out Pics

[Laminar]

Dows, forty-six miles north of Ames off 35. Small town where my wife grew up. Her folks have a nice place (farm) where we will eventually build our house. I'm opening a restaurant in Ames in September.

Awesome, I'm in Ames every week or two to see friends or family.

[moham]

Dows, forty-six miles north of Ames off 35. Small town where my wife grew up. Her folks have a nice place (farm) where we will eventually build our house. I'm opening a restaurant in Ames in September.

Awesome, I'm in Ames every week or two to see friends or family.

There's a guy in Ames that runs a small cycle shop. When I was in there he had a few Hondas (twins) and a couple other old Japanese bikes. He's the guy that powdered my frame and swingarm for about $120. Real nice kid and very reasonable prices. I can't wait to ride down and show him the finished product.

[moham]

Been dinkin' around a bit, got the progressive shocks sprung up using a few "industrial-sized" zip ties...piece o' cake. Took me half an hour to find my swingarm bolt. Hope to have the engine in the frame by end of the week. Need to finish the fork rebuild quick and I can have a roller! Still need new rubber and I'm on the fence between straight up performance versus ok performing but very sexy... 

[bwaller]

Looking forward to the unveiling. 

[firefighter_zach]

Hey moham!
I live in huxley just south of Ames 9 miles, what is your restaurant and where will it be? I'd love to be at the opening to support a local guy who loves old hondas as much as the rest of us! Maybe if we ever get our bikes done we could ride. I'd love to see your build up close. Good luck with the move and the new business, but MOST importantly good luck with the bike!!

[Laminar]

Hey moham!
I live in huxley just south of Ames 9 miles, what is your restaurant and where will it be? I'd love to be at the opening to support a local guy who loves old hondas as much as the rest of us! Maybe if we ever get our bikes done we could ride. I'd love to see your build up close. Good luck with the move and the new business, but MOST importantly good luck with the bike!!

Hey, I run through Huxley sometimes when I'm going between Des Moines and Ames on 69 - I live in Johnston just a skip away from Ankeny.

[firefighter_zach]

Ya just throwin this out there but how cool would it be to start a central iowa CB Owner's Club? Nothing major just keep it low key, like checkin out each others projects and when they get done maybe doin a ride every now and then. They have clubs for car owners, why not bikes?

By the way who was the guy in ames that did the powdercaoting? I'm looking to get my wheels done.

[HavocTurbo]

PM me about tires.... I have ideas. 

I'm getting really jittery about your engine. I cannot wait to hear it run.

It's coming along nicely!

[Laminar]

Ya just throwin this out there but how cool would it be to start a central iowa CB Owner's Club? Nothing major just keep it low key, like checkin out each others projects and when they get done maybe doin a ride every now and then. They have clubs for car owners, why not bikes?

By the way who was the guy in ames that did the powdercaoting? I'm looking to get my wheels done.

Count me in. I started a thread in the local section a while back.

Iowa?

[moham]

Got about an hour or so in the shop tonight, spent it greasing my Hondaman swingarm and mounting the shocks. Looks pretty damn good with all that powder black...

[Soos]

Have you turned it over yet?








I'm antsy for pics!(more so for sound bytes!)



Sounds like things are going well, What size rims you running?
I personally am running Michelin Anakee's.
VERY PLEASED.


For the $$, I don't think I could have done better for the money.
But I was stuck with a 17" rear and a 19" front to get a matching pair of good tires on.




l8r

[moham]

Have you turned it over yet?








I'm antsy for pics!(more so for sound bytes!)



Sounds like things are going well, What size rims you running?
I personally am running Michelin Anakee's.
VERY PLEASED.


For the $$, I don't think I could have done better for the money.
But I was stuck with a 17" rear and a 19" front to get a matching pair of good tires on.




l8r

Soos, I've only turned it over by hand. Slowly.

I got the forks, swingarm and shocks on the frame. It looks real nice. I'll probably try to get the engine in the frame tomorrow as I'm still anxiously awaiting the City of Ames to approve our permits for my business build, so Real Life is on hold for a minute. That means more time for motos.

The wheels are stock so I'm guessing 90-19 and 18-110...does that sound right for a 550? I don't know, I'll have to double check the specs. I put Dunlop GT501s on the Ocho and those are fantastic but I'm still such a #$%*ty (read scared) rider that I haven't really put them through anything strenuous.

Pics and sound to come. Still a little more to go on this build yet...

[poomwah]

sorry if this has been answered, but where did you get your lift?

[moham]

sorry if this has been answered, but where did you get your lift?

Are you talking about that crazy hydraulic cherry picker? That belongs to my father-in-law (El Suegro) and he got it a long time ago when some farm equipment dealer when out of biz. He loves it and so do I, it's pretty handy for all kinds of shyte.

[moham]

These fotos aren't much, but they're all I've got for the time being...

[KB02]

Just a couple of wheel away from a rolling chassis. That's when you REALLY get motovated.

[moham]

Continued with re-assembly last night...


Cherry-Picker Mutha Fuc#*as!!!!

[bikebitzofvt]

It's mighty satisfying when you can roll 'em around again, isn't it?

I've been watching this thread for a month and can't wait to hear how she runs!!! 

How much cylinder sleeve was left after boring for the GPZ pistons?  We had some gpz550 big bore kits at the shop I used to work at, wonder if I could make one fit...

Best of luck on the new business venture!!
Tom

[moham]

It's mighty satisfying when you can roll 'em around again, isn't it?

I've been watching this thread for a month and can't wait to hear how she runs!!! 

How much cylinder sleeve was left after boring for the GPZ pistons?  We had some gpz550 big bore kits at the shop I used to work at, wonder if I could make one fit...

Best of luck on the new business venture!!
Tom

I didn't get a measurement as there was ample room. Having talked to other guys that had done the 61mm overbore, whether the aftermarket kit or the modified 750 pistons, all agreed that even at 61mm there was enough room with stock sleeves. Paulages did a 64mm bore but fitted new sleeves. I think the trouble spot after 61mm is the bottom tapered bit getting thin. What bore is the kit for the GPZs?

[Soos]

Looking good there Moham!

A roller makes you feel good when getting it back together.


Just remember this is probably a once in a bikes lifetime procedure.
If you want to paint, plate, or otherwise change something now is the time.

there are a few things I had taken the time to do when I was building my '79 from the frame up, but it's too hard to justify tearing down that far for such minor things now.






l8r

[moham]

Thanks Soos. Getting a little bit done every couple days. Wired dyna 3 ohm coils and plug wires the other night. Fitted Flanders Daytona bars and Dunlop K81s. Got chain and sprockets to do yet. Always wanted a gold chain so spent a couple extra $ for the lovely Regina.

I also want to get the headlight brackets from ttr400 and the telefix fork brace.

Got to finish some of the connections and try to fire it up. Having a little trouble getting the exhaust sorted but not too worried about that.

And I have to locate the one friggin spark plug nut that came with the dyna wires that was inadvertently dropped and has since decided to play hide and seek.

[moham]

So I'm pretty sure the S&S exhaust I purchased awhile back is F***ED! This thing, no matter how I route, twist, turn, hold, etc does not seem like it fits this bike. I haven't been able to find the 1 page sheet that came with it but I remember reading it closely when I got it and it seemed like everything was correct. This company doesn't even exist anymore (sold to either Jardine or Vance and Hines at some point) so no technical help will be forthcoming. I have been at it three times now and I'm near abandoning it...


only problem with that strategy is that there is precious little out there for this bike. Let's finger the options:

1) Mac-I would rather not as I don't think it suits the look of this project.
2) Motad- See above.
3) Marshall Deeptone- Pretty much same as above.
4) BCR Stainless peashooters- Money aside, I would really like these if the friggin peashooters weren't like 8 ft. long. Otherwise very cool. Maybe they would be able to make a shorter set?

I realize I may be asking a lot for a 35 year old bike, but Jesus Christ, this is the Global Economy, surely there is somebody filling this highly specific demand niche, right??

So, what are you other 550 guys using? Anybody got an old Yosh race pipe lying around? Anybody have any thoughts on this sh**ty turn of events?

[Laminar]

I cut up the exhaust that came with it and made one I liked the looks of.

[KB02]

4) BCR Stainless peashooters- Money aside, I would really like these if the friggin peashooters weren't like 8 ft. long. Otherwise very cool. Maybe they would be able to make a shorter set?

Everything that BCR does is custom made, by hand, at the time you order it. If you want them shorter, they can make them that way.

...Still sucks about the S&S, though...

[moham]

I think I'll probably end up with the MAC and get my wife's cousin to help me fab a suitable, project-appropriate tail pipe with parts from cone engineering. I'll probably get the MAC in my hands, take some measurements and decide what the options are.