Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[Terry in Australia]

Well I hate to admit it, but for the last two years, I haven't been able to get a hard lever. Maybe it's my age catching up with me, but when I was a young man, I could get a hard lever without even trying, or so it seemed....

Anyway, after mucking about with a new MC rebuild kit, then a new Chinese cheapo GSXR1100 MC copy that leaked while I was still trying to bleed the calipers, I gave up. It really pissed me off though, because my Yamaha FJ1200 is such a wickedly fast ride.

Bugger this, I reverted to finding a good used MC, and found my fave, a "like new" used Suzuki Bandit 1200 item on eBay USA. I bought one years ago for my CB750, and with braided lines, it pulls the old beast up like something with modern brakes, not 44 year old single puck calipers.   

The new MC arrived today, along with a speedo cable for my Honda XR500R, so I bravely braved the cold and dragged my bikes out into the driveway (no room in my "shop" for work) and installed them. It took a little while to bleed the brakes until I thought to try bleeding the MC at the hose, and all of a sudden, I got a rock hard lever! And my brakes worked too! I am a man, after all! Tomorrow, we ride.............. Cheers, Terry.
 

[PeWe]

Terry, the master cylinder for a Suzuki Bandit 1200 will improve the CB750 brake?
My lever is hard, MC from David Silver, but front brake can do the job harder.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah mate, it certainly will. Hook up a modern MC and you won't be disappointed.

[PeWe]

The fitment for banjo bolt is the same as the CB750?
- It is the model on your photo with round reservoir?

[Terry in Australia]

The banjo fitting for a CB750 will work with any modern MC mate. The MC with the round reservoir is the Chinese cheapy, don't bother with them, they're rubbish. Buy a decent Nissin MC, they're probably the best quality brake MC's, and used ones aren't expensive, the one I put on my bike today cost around $75 USD, plus shipping. Cheers, Terry.

[Tetter]

Terry, the master cylinder for a Suzuki Bandit 1200 will improve the CB750 brake?
My lever is hard, MC from David Silver, but front brake can do the job harder.

Hi Pewe,

I have mounted a Nissin master from a CBR1000RR on my CBwith double front brake.
It sure makes a difference the lever is hard, and I have good control and feedback.

Drove 1000Km last weekend to the Belgium Ardennes Spa Francorchamps Circuit, without even touching my rearbrake 

 Click on picture to enlarge

[crantonr]

Finally got to the bottom of a cold header on #4 cyl on my 550. Plug was oiling up and un-burnt fuel coming out of plug hole when plug removed. Spark looked good and it was obviously getting fuel so got the carb balancers out and found #4 running high vacuum. Assumed this was causing too much fuel to be drawn in and flooding cylinder. Adjusted and its now a different bike! Might treat it to some new pipes now that I know I won't have to spend out on an engine strip.

[PeWe]

Terry, the master cylinder for a Suzuki Bandit 1200 will improve the CB750 brake?
My lever is hard, MC from David Silver, but front brake can do the job harder.

Hi Pewe,

I have mounted a Nissin master from a CBR1000RR on my CBwith double front brake.
It sure makes a difference the lever is hard, and I have good control and feedback.

Drove 1000Km last weekend to the Belgium Ardennes Spa Francorchamps Circuit, without even touching my rearbrake 

 Click on picture to enlarge

Yes, dual front brakes will do a difference. I'll might add one...
I guess dual calipers need different MC.
Nice to see a blue CB750..mine is blue too.

[PeWe]

I worked with my carbs today, lifted the needles 1 more step. Now back to as it was when I got them a few months ago.

I got the carbs clogged by another tank (my green set) I had derusted a litttle bit too quick without drying it and blow all dust/powder out of the tank.
Sprayed pilot fuel circuit with carb cleaner (fuel screws removed) and lifted needles and sprayed in here too. It might be some more left in carbs or the carbs are different since they now are strapped to the frame as well. Before hanging in carb boots only. Floats might work better now, leaner on low.

This has reminded me of the need of an Ultra Sonic cleaner to put the entire rack into and clean coming winter.
I hope a 15L cleaner will be big enough for the entire carb rack with float bowls removed (tank inside 330X300X150mm). I do not like to take the carb rack apart with future time consuming recalibrations.
I have other carb racks to clean as well.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, the master cylinder for a Suzuki Bandit 1200 will improve the CB750 brake?
My lever is hard, MC from David Silver, but front brake can do the job harder.

Hi Pewe,

I have mounted a Nissin master from a CBR1000RR on my CBwith double front brake.
It sure makes a difference the lever is hard, and I have good control and feedback.

Drove 1000Km last weekend to the Belgium Ardennes Spa Francorchamps Circuit, without even touching my rearbrake 

 Click on picture to enlarge

That looks great mate, nice bike! I put one of those MC's on my first BMW R100RS, a 1979 model with the crappy ATE (VW) front brake calipers. I installed the later forks with Brembo calipers, braided lines and a GSXR1100 MC, and the first time I grabbed the brakes in anger, I lifted the back wheel! Cheers, Terry.

[PeWe]

So..... better MC  as mentioned above will improve the brakes despite single std rotor?

I'll take the bike for a ride when the sky look strange (blue as my bike) and  a strange hot lamp shining.... +21C now, soon +25C In the shadow....

[Sgt.Pinback]

Mounted new rear shocks

[Stev-o]

Mounted new rear shocks

Looks good, Sgt. Where did you get em?

[Sgt.Pinback]

Z1 parts, USA

[Stev-o]

Z1 parts, USA

Give us a ride report after you put a few miles on em.  Thanks

[Stev-o]

Brought another one home today! 




Never had an early 550 with original pipes, so I thought WTH?!
It's all there but going straight into the Batcave for a bit while I work on other project bikes. Came from IN.

And the price was right....

[OldSchool_IsCool]

A VERY free flowing induction system on that 550, Stev-O!!

[Hasenkopf]

Bike wins first place at car show. (go figure)    I finally got to relax and read a book.      cb500

[Stev-o]

A VERY free flowing induction system on that 550, Stev-O!!

Good eyes there, Dennis!

[arogers88]

Nice hot day for a ride. The bike felt great, the roads were nice. It was good to get some time to myself





And stopped at my favorite taco truck for fish tacos. You so cal guys will probably laugh at me, but these are pretty good for out this way.

[Greggo]

Good find Stev-o!!

[Desert-SOHC]

She fired and ran on four today......not there yet, but closer.

[Stev-o]

Good find Stev-o!!

Thanks.  I think it will be a fun restore. 

[Tews19]

Brought another one home today! 




Never had an early 550 with original pipes, so I thought WTH?!
It's all there but going straight into the Batcave for a bit while I work on other project bikes. Came from IN.

And the price was right....

I like! What kind of tire is the  rear? I like the look of that too!

[Stev-o]

Brought another one home today! 




Never had an early 550 with original pipes, so I thought WTH?!
It's all there but going straight into the Batcave for a bit while I work on other project bikes. Came from IN.

And the price was right....

I like! What kind of tire is the  rear? I like the look of that too!

It's a CCC (cheap chinese crap) but shows no dry rot, so it will work for now. A little wide at 120mm for a 550, but I do like the look of a wide tire.