Topic: 1978 CB550K Softtail Chopper/Bobber (w/pics reorganized to load quicker)

[daredevilsadvocate]

Almost done...thought I'd post up some pics from the original bike and where we are now...I had a very close friend ( you could say brother from another mother) pass away last year from cancer, so I thought I'd paint the bike in LIVESTRONG colors seeing as it is very loud and will turn heads with no mufflers, why not spread the word as well...and yes the word LIVESTRONG on the fender is an ambigram..reads the same both ways (even when you turn it upside down!)

See below..for quick look...........the full size pics can be viewed by clicking here.

[The_Crippler]

Condolences about your friend.  The bike is a nice tribute.

Looks good...what kind of seat is that?

[daredevilsadvocate]

Thank you sir...that my friend is a custom 1978 CB550K ripped down to the pan, chopped apart, foam shredded, reupholstered (by myself and a friend) seat.... ...that still attaches to the original mounting bracket that the seat attaches too..

~dd

[The_Crippler]

Cool.  I've been debating getting a donor seat and doing something similar myself.  Glad to see someone else had luck with that plan.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

like wise.. i'd like to have a lower seat that mounted to the factory spots on the frame

looks good

[daredevilsadvocate]

The process really wasn't all that hard...the cutting of the seat pan was pretty easy, just marked off my cut with chalk before hand.  The foam was the trickiest...I would definately say use one of those electric knifes (which I didn't have)...I also would recommended getting an additional little square of foam from your fabric store to put over top of your shaved down seat and glue that on with adhesive before upholstering it.  I got some marine grade vinyl from the fabric store that worked like a charm.  The only other tip I would give is once you have it all cut and the foam shaped and you are ready to put on the vinyl, is to have some one help you.  I pulled the vinyl very tight and my friend pushed it down on that tabs that were already there and then crimped them while I was holding it tight.  To do the back (since we cut off the tabs) , we just got some short sheet metals screws that I knew would hold the vinyl on, but barely go into the seat.  Just be careful with how short you make the foam where you are going to be putting the screws...You don't want to jab yourself when you are sitting on the seat with a sheet metal screw....I'll be more than happy to answer any other questions if you have them.  Thanks!!

Cheers,

~dd

[mfhutchins]

i am getting ready to modify my cb500 and i want to make the metal seat pan a little narrower.  what is the best way to cut the metal?

[daredevilsadvocate]

Well, after stripping the seat down to the pan, I just marked it off with chalk and used a metal cutter (angle grinder)....I didn't want to have to figure out a new way to mount, so I used the original mounting hardware..and I think it turned out all right...