Topic: My CB550 Project - Updated. Finally.

[fastbroshi]

Sexcellent

[cb550fcafe]

Subscribed. Nice build!

[traveler]

I agree.....it turned out well.  How does it ride?  Are the rear shocks a good match for the forks?

~Joe

[Staggerlee]

Thanks guys.

It actually rides pretty well; no ill-handling characteristics or anything.  The rear shocks are a little harsh compared to the forks, but considering they're almost 25 years old, I'm not too broken up about it. 

I'm contemplating throwing a set of YSS's or something like that on the rear, but I'm not sure if a little harshness really warrants spending $400+ on another set of shocks.

[Industrial Cafe]

you can soften them up with the 3 position compression adjuster on the spring hat.

[Staggerlee]

Yeah, I've fiddled with the different settings, but they don't seem to have much effect.  They're set to "1" now, which should be softest, yeah?

[Industrial Cafe]

I'm still trying to figure that out myself. I stopped fiddling with it when I put the longer swing arm on and it automatically became softer.

[Staggerlee]

Well #$%* then, maybe that's what I need. 

[Industrial Cafe]

this might help you get an idea of what's going on in there-



there was a guy on the forum that rebuilt his, I swiped a picture of the valving from the PDF
http://www.cb1100f.net/Other/shocks/fvqrebuild.pdf

[Staggerlee]

I’ve decided that not having a front fender sucks balls.  One could argue that it looks kinda cool, but it’s more of a hassle than it’s worth; particularly when one lives in a place where it rains all the goddamn time.

I long ago #$%*-canned the original fender, which is fine, I guess.  I’m not sure I can think of a graceful way to mount it to the USD forks anyhow.  I though about just picking up a factory gixxer fender, but

A: They look kinda dopey
B: It wouldn’t fit either; it was never meant to fit over a 19” tire/wheel

I really like how the fender looks on the Sport 1K’s…
 

…but even a used & banged up one on eBay was selling for more than I thought seemed reasonable.

So, I decided that I would make my own damn fender; screw those guys and their overpriced Italian junk.

Started off with a couple pieces of foam insulation glued together & cut down to a rough size:



Cut out the basic profile on the band saw:


I used a “cheese grater” made for smoothing down bondo and shaped the foam buck into something resembling a fender:



To ‘glass it up, I just use plain ‘ol Bondo cloth like you can find at any Ace/Napa/whatever:


Just need to let it cure for a day or so and we’ll see how she looks:



I have no idea yet how I’m actually going to mount the thing once it’s done, but it’s a start at least…

[Ryan 550k]

I'm just gonna say it.  Your do it yourself attitude is an inspiration!
Hope it works out man.

[Industrial Cafe]

I still can't think of a sexier fender mount for mine, I hope you think of something.

looks shapely so far.

[Staggerlee]

Thanks gents.

I think I'm gonna take a stab at fabbing up a mount similar to what that Duc uses.  Shouldn't be much to sand-mandrel some thin wall DOM into roughly that shape.

[The_Crippler]

Gonna keep an eye on this.  Still not sure if I plan to buy a fender for my project, or glass one up myself.

[Ryan 550k]

You gonna be at the ride on Sat morn?

[Staggerlee]

Yessir.

You?

[Ryan 550k]

Yessir.

You?

You know it.  See ya then

[Staggerlee]

Dinked with it a little more this am.









I'm at the point now where I need to stare at it for a bit and wait for a burst of inspiration.  I think I'm on the right path tho.

[fastbroshi]

  Is it just me or does the fender look too small?  It's almost as if it's being made for an 18" or 17" wheel. 

[Staggerlee]

Hmmm; I dunno.  I was kinda thinking it was still a bit clunky. 

Funny thing tho, it certainly looks a lot smaller in the pic than it does sitting here in the garage.

[Zaipai]

I think it looks good, if it were a little thinner perhaps it would not look chunky or too small..

Nice work, and great job getting those forks on, did you do a build thread on those? I saw IndustrialCafe's thread, however that was a 750 and I don't know if its the same process for a 550..

.: Scott :.

[bmarshall]

While I certainly admire your hahndy work, it looks like a Yarmaluke (sp) on the back of a fat man's head. It's too humped and bulbous, too round on top: and the profile does not match either on top or bottom. I feel it needs to follow the curvature of the tire. But like I said, i admire your abilities as they're better than mine.

[Staggerlee]

Dayumn, Bruce; why don't you tell me what you really think?

Oddly, my wife also mentioned that it looks kinda yamaka-esque.

Neither of you are allowed in my garage anymore.

[toycollector10]

Mind if I hijack:

"Oh Stagerlee, Stagerlee, please don't take my life,
for I got two little babes, and a darling, loving wife,
That bad man,
Oh cruel, Stag-er-lee"

Who sang that song?      Howling Wolf?

[bmarshall]

Dayumn, Bruce; why don't you tell me what you really think?

Oddly, my wife also mentioned that it looks kinda yamaka-esque.

Neither of you are allowed in my garage anymore.

My GF and I are still laughing at your response, can we come over if we bring a 6 pack?