Topic: Flying J CB550 Cafe Racer Magazine.

[Greggo]

I REALLY like my Bridgestones.  In the twisties, the rain, or the city I feel very comfortable.  Nice on the highway too. 

[Ringo]

I just put a pair of Avon Roadriders on my 550, ffj.  They feel very good, similar to the Dunlop GT501's on my last bike that were superb in the twisties.

Oh and beautiful bike by the way!  Love all the alloy!

[Flying J]

Ringo, i saw the avons on your bike. What size did you put on there? Specifically the aspect, are the 90s or 80s?

[Ringo]

They're both 90s.  110/90-18 and 90/90-19.  Kept as close to stock sizes as I could.

[Flying J]

Played with my TIG welder and mill today. Filled in the triple tree. Looks ok. Still need to sand and polish it. Not sure how crazy im going to get on all the pollishing. My brother in law has a friend who owns a polishing business. Maybe i can get a deal.

[Tintop]

nice work ffj.  Are you going to put warning lights into it?

[Flying J]

No i dont think i will. Im going to re make the mount for the tach and if i run warning lights they will sit just below the tach. I am also thinking about running a speedometer, a small one, just above the tach. Not that i care how fast im going I just would like to know how many miles are on my motor.

[maduncle]

Amazing.

I have just read through all of your build threads and I am so inspired.

Maybe I should have joined this forum when I bought my CB750F in the first place, not now when the project is 90% complete.

But - at least I now know where to hang out when I start the next CB project in June!

[Flying J]

Thanks maduncle. Its never to late to post a build thread of your bike. Here on this forum we love pictures. You have to have a before and after shoot.

[Flying J]

Parts are starting to roll in. Got my anti  pod filter from the tin man. I also got my battery from shorai. Pretty small. I should be able to fit it along with my other electrics under the hump just fine.


Still trying to sort out how im going to mount the seat pan to the seat and the seat to the frame. I have a promotional exam coming up that i have to study for, its very competative, as well as another bike that i picked up distracting me away from my build. But the new bike is running now and the exam is almost over so then (fingers crossed) i will be going to town on the 550.

[Sledgehammer]

Whoa that battery is small, a lot more than I imagined looks like it will work out real well though.

[Greggo]

Looks like you went with the Bridgestones?  I love those tires.

[Flying J]

those are my old tires. havent taken them apart to lace to the new rims yet.

[Tintop]

Glad to hear the filter kit arrived.

I'll be interested in seeing how that battery works out.  My next build is going to need something very small.

[sangyo soichiro]

Nice.  I have one of these myself.  Rode it to work today.  Gotta warn you though, it maxes out at about 50 mph - a tad slower than I'd like.  I wish it would do another 10 mph or so.  But it's a blast to ride.   

[Flying J]

Oh trust me i know the top speed. This is my second 125. I ride my other one all the time. This one is going to be for my friends who dont have bikes to ride on. Until i fix it up. 

[ivanhoew]

^^^^^^got 75mph  out of my sisters cg125  in stock form .back in 1982!

[Flying J]

FML i pulled out my new rims and spokes to weigh them compared to the old spokes and rims before i lace them up. They are both 2.15 x 18!!!!. I looked at my paper work and the lady listed both rims at 2.15 FFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!! I didnt catch it because they are listed separately on my paperwork as REWM318. I guess that means WM3 x 18. I am pissed and its pretty much my own fault for not triple checking the paper work. So now i will have to shell out the cash for another F'ing rim. Hopefully they will take pitty on me and help me out.

Anyway the old front rim spokes and nipples was 8lb and 1.6oz, the rear was 8lbs 2.6oz.
The new set is 5lbs 9.4 oz. so thats a little more then 2lbs per rim.

My seat without upholstery weights 2lbs 11oz, The stock seat pan weighs over 5lbs and probably close to 7+ with the foam, so lets say i saved 4 lbs there.

Exhaust is coming in at 3lbs 14oz per pipe so so 15lbs 8oz. Not sure if there is a weight savings there. Anybody know what a stock exhaust weighs?

Stock tank is 8lbs 10oz and mine is 5lbs 6oz so theres 3 lbs.

I think the biggest difference will be the lack of 2lbs rotating mass.

Rotors weigh 5lbs 4.6oz but i am going to drill and surface them

Anybody want to buy a rim?


21300

[hyde7278]

FF

can the rim be used on the front if so id be interested

what stock exhaust was on it I have a few (4-4,4-1) that I can weight for you

Thanks
Sean

[Flying J]

It was a 4-1, not sure if the rim can be used on the front. Ill try and find out.

[hyde7278]

Thanks let me know if it can be used.

Ill try to weigh the exhaust tomarrow It sin two pieces since it rusted trough at the header/muffler connection. That's why I'm so glad I was able to get one of Chris's 4-1 stainless exhausts.

[hapakev]

IMO if you paint those hangers black, they will be almost invisible with all that beautiful polished alloy

[Flying J]

I will probably make a new set of hangers out of some solid stock aluminum. Or something more like this.

[Tintop]

I kind of thought the slotted hangers in Chris's photos looked pretty nice.  Just needed a polish and some clear anodizing.  Did he not supply those to you?

[bwaller]

Aluminum hangers are prone to cracking from vibration & the weight of the exhaust. Keep that in mind during the design phase.