Topic: 1975 CB550F Project Penguin. A.K.A. David

[Little_Horse]

looks really good!

[Captainkirk]

Scott;
Stop it. You're killin' me!
You are making me re-think my whole ball game, damn you!
Is that front rotor one of the eBay specials, or did you have it done? (Looks trick!)

[Zaipai]

Scott;
Stop it. You're killin' me!
You are making me re-think my whole ball game, damn you!
Is that front rotor one of the eBay specials, or did you have it done? (Looks trick!)

Thanks Captin, Naw... Don't go by mine its done by a pure amateur..

The rotor was done by Spikeybike as was the tank and the gas cover (has a spade on it) he was kind enough to meet me in Kenosha and help me out since I did not have a good tank.

.: Scott :.

[Captainkirk]

Well, here I was, all psyched up to do this "resto" and I'm looking at your "horse of a different color", going "Man..that looks incredible....and different! I'm thinking to myself..."How much "value" can I really lose on a CB550 by walking down a different path?" To a collector, some, I s'pose. But I'm not likely to ever sell to a collector; probably some local Craigslist buyer. Hmmmmm........

[Spikeybike]

maaaaaaan .... i'm so glad i didn't have to ebay any of that stuff ... i'm just as exited to see it on the road as you my friend ... june is comin

[Zaipai]

Well, here I was, all psyched up to do this "resto" and I'm looking at your "horse of a different color", going "Man..that looks incredible....and different! I'm thinking to myself..."How much "value" can I really lose on a CB550 by walking down a different path?" To a collector, some, I s'pose. But I'm not likely to ever sell to a collector; probably some local Craigslist buyer. Hmmmmm........

Hey captain follow your design mojo.. You wont be sorry. So far, I have to say I have spent just about $1,000 on the bike. I was just going to clean things up and paint a little and get her back on the road. Next thing I know this happened. I figure  I am out the 1k however if I like the way it looks as I go down the road, then its worth it. Personally I cut corners I did not want to because we are moving later this year (fema is buying our home because it floods) so I had to hold the budget. Things like powder coating would have produced a better stronger frame color and I would love to have rechromed the front fender, new gauges etc.. You get the idea. Thing is I will be doing a lot next winter also with the motor, beefer cam valve job etc.. The motor seemed solid (other then a small oil leek around the head gasket) so I figured I would do this first then tackle that.
Thanks for the kind words on my little project...

Spikeybike:
maaaaaaan .... i'm so glad i didn't have to ebay any of that stuff ... i'm just as exited to see it on the road as you my friend ... june is comin

I agree, I think the tank, lid, headlight etc.. All are working with this build, thanks for selling them to me.. I know June is coming, at the current rate I hope to be done about mid May, about 2 weeks sooner then I thought originally. So I should be done by then and have the bugs worked out in time! You should be proud of the handy work you did on the tank, etc.. its perfect!

.: Scott :.

[Badger 5]

That is a very high tech motorcycle lift......I love it.

[Industrial Cafe]

your pics disappeared...

Odd they are showing up for me.. Anyone else having a problem? I will have to look at Photobucket and see..

.: Scott :.

they're back.

I was gonna tell ya- with the 130/70 tire, you should notice less drift in hard corners because of the increased angle of the sidewall.
I'd keep em, and just get a lift link like squirley used to raise the back.

[Zaipai]

your pics disappeared...

Odd they are showing up for me.. Anyone else having a problem? I will have to look at Photobucket and see..

.: Scott :.

they're back.

I was gonna tell ya- with the 130/70 tire, you should notice less drift in hard corners because of the increased angle of the sidewall.
I'd keep em, and just get a lift link like squirley used to raise the back.

Ok done.. I just have to figure out if I want to lift the back more and where to get the lifts if I do.

.: Scott :.

[Zaipai]

That is a very high tech motorcycle lift......I love it.

Yea, I knew I would get some crap for that. But it was junk I had laying around and it works for this part of the build. However this weekend I have to get it off there and on to the floor and see how she sits. I am going to pickup a bike lift from Harbor Freight for $79 and hope it holds for a few seasons..

.: Scott :.

[Zaipai]

Real busy around here lately, however did make some progress.. Below is a video of the bike's first startup after being taken down to the frame, honestly it was a shock to me that she fired right up as if it was nothing. A little gas leaking from one of the tubes from the bowl on #3 but that's an easy fix.

Oh, and some pictures of my new bike (new to me) the guy down the street picked up a nice 82 Yamaha inline 4 verago <sp> and the guy made him take an 81 Suzuki GS1000 with fairing etc.. It did not have a battery and has been in the garage for years under a tarp so he took it. He really did not want it so sold it to me for as close to free as you get. I have the title and a key, however the key does not work. I did manage to get the motor to turn over once using the starter with the battery charger attached and jumping the leads on the starter.. So I know the motor is free and not frozen up. So its the next project after this one...

Here is the video.. As always a crappy cell phone video, I am working on a better camera.

81 GS1000G - Leftside


81 GS1000G - rightside


Windjammer with stereo that came with it.


That's it for tonight.. More tomorrow and a lot this weekend.. Of course the big question, what am I going to do with the GS1000? Cafe? Bobber? Restore?

.: Scott :.

[Captainkirk]

Nice GS!!!
Restore, of course! It would be a cardinal sin to cut that up in my book! Oh, and ditch the Windjammer on eBay or sumpin'. A GS was never made to be trussed up in petticoats.

[Zaipai]

Nice GS!!!
Restore, of course! It would be a cardinal sin to cut that up in my book! Oh, and ditch the Windjammer on eBay or sumpin'. A GS was never made to be trussed up in petticoats.

lol I suspect you are correct. I am looking at some pictures of the GS when she was new, not a bad looking bike, I may just do that...

I like this color scheme..


.: Scott :.

[Spikeybike]

man that 550 sounds MEAN with that just a Mac and pods.. 

as far as the GS goes ,my older brother has the same bike .. he loves it  

here's one of there forums http://www.thegsresources.com/  

[RAFster122s]

I didn't see any exhaust on the startup...that's with open exhaust...yeah it sounds mean without them...

Congrats on the test fire-up!

The gold is really eye popping.  Look forward  to final pictures with it fully assembled and outside in good light.

David

[Zaipai]

I didn't see any exhaust on the startup...that's with open exhaust...yeah it sounds mean without them...

Congrats on the test fire-up!

The gold is really eye popping.  Look forward  to final pictures with it fully assembled and outside in good light.

David

Thanks, It will be soon. Right now the big hold up is the seat, It's coming from over seas and will be held in customs until about the 20th or so. After that I should have final pictures and perhaps a video or two..
Yea, no muffler, I left it off so I can finish putting on some other stuff and the muffler would be in the way. Right now its Mac headers and well thats it.. I am sure the neighbors loved it at 9:30 last night.. lol


.: Scott :.

[Zaipai]

man that 550 sounds MEAN with that just a Mac and pods.. 

as far as the GS goes ,my older brother has the same bike .. he loves it  

here's one of there forums http://www.thegsresources.com/  

Thanks.. yea I like the sound, but it may get me pulled over so as soon as I finish a few things the muffler goes back on..

I will check that out, I need a lot of help with the GS, I have not had a Suzuki of any kind so all new area for me. My wife wants me to keep it so I have to figure out what I want to do with it. I think she wants to ride on it since its bigger and heaver then the 550 however I think she will change her opinion of the 550 once she rids on it once or twice..

.: Scott :.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

im lovin that gold, Scott...

[Industrial Cafe]

it's aliiive!

[Zaipai]

Yeah, baby.. I now have Headlight (High and low beam), turn signals (front and back), tail light, stop light, oil light, etc.. The starter is not working and from what I can tell its the button as when I press the button it fails the test. However I am still searching for chrome controls, so these are only temporary any way besides, she fires up in one kick so..

On a side note, the GS1000 has some hella compression. I had the plugs out so I could put some oil in the cylinders because it has been sitting so long. So since they were aim'ed right at my freshly painted 550 I placed some shop rag's on top of the heads and cranked it over, it blew the shop rag's off the heads and on to the floor.. It was more then I had expected. I put the plugs back in and she tired to start, however the wiring is messed up so I will have to tackle that later....

.: Scott :.

[Captainkirk]

Hooooooooowee! I hope mine sounds that wicked!
Really nice work, Scott. Now you make me wanna fire mine up.

[traveler]

Damn Scott....she fired right up!  Sounds strong too!

~Joe

[75cb550 (kyle)]

hell yeah. starts like a honda!

[Zaipai]

Thanks guys!

I will be really close to done with her this weekend. After I get her running I will be doing little things over the summer, stainless brake lines, possible reworking the front brakes I have some ideas for dual front brakes that a bit different. I have an idea for the exhaust that might be more inline with the style (if I can call it that) of the bike and so on.. So it really going to be a work in progress.. So please don't judge to harsh the bike when I have it out riding around, it will take some time to finish it.

The motor pulls like a freight train, I want to take it apart over the winter and drop in a cam and fix the small leak around the heads however I fear mucking it up, however it has to be done so. I may have to replace the clutch plates sooner then I wanted to so we will see.

I will have to use the old seat for the next few weeks, as my new seat is stuck in customs until around may 20th...So that's my saga..

.: Scott :.

P.S.
Go for it Captin, fire that puppy up!!!

[RAFster122s]

Did you do motor work or is it stock?  Or has someone previously done work on the motor?  What's the story on the motor? Do you know it's history?

Yeah, I am full of questions this morning.

Look forward to some progress shots once it's outside even if it does have the old seat...

David