Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[Flying J]

Yeah joe but talk is cheap. Wayyyy cheaper then a nice bike like that. man that bike was nice..... i should have bought it! 

[HalfFastMoto]

My pisses me off, is that when the bike was for sale on here and eBay no one on here showed any interest.....now after it's sold, guys started talking about "maybe I should have bought it."

you want to buy something...BUY IT....don't talk interested, when you had the chance and didn't budge.

~Joe

For the record I didn't know the bike was for sale by you Joe until you had already sold it.  Check my join date - I'm new on the forum.

I did bid on the bike in the most recent auction but was not willing to pay the asking price.  Not sure why my actions upset you but there was no offense intended.

 

[Skipper]

Great thread and makes me glad i chose a 550 now
How much are a set of thise CR carbs I dint see prices on their website ?

[Flying J]

probably more then you paid for your bike.
around $700

[Syscrush]

I e-mailed the seller....never got a response.  My guess is, he shill bidded it, and it backfired on him.

That sounds right.

you want to buy something...BUY IT....don't talk interested, when you had the chance and didn't budge.

Relax Joe.  You've never window-shopped or wished out loud that you could have something nice?

You built a beautiful bike that got a lot of love on here.  Be proud.

[FunJimmy]

When adding throttle, you have to "roll" on the throttle....you can't just wack it back until the rev's are over 6,000 or so...as the carbs are just too much until the motor is spinning.  Even then, the acceleration is VERY strong, and with the open 4-1 it sounds like an old grand prix bike.   Granted, the carbs could use a vac sync, and I still have some slack in the throttle I have to take out, but the bike flat SCREAMS.  (it should be reiterated that I have a 2 tooth smaller front sprocket on the front, which makes acceleration stronger).

Joe

Would the CR26 carbs have been a better match for the street?

FJ

[Retro Rocket]

26's may have been better on Joe's bike because it was stock, 29'smay suit yours better although they go well on hot 750's as well. Just remember they are primarily a race carb.

Mick

[FunJimmy]

26's may have been better on Joe's bike because it was stock, 29'smay suit yours better although they go well on hot 750's as well. Just remember they are primarily a race carb.

Mick

Thanks Mick

It's the "primarily a race carb" pert that has me a bit apprehensive. I’m drawn to the rip that these guys report and believe that a modern carb will be a huge benefit, but I don’t want to be compelled to ride WOT all the time. After all the Interceptor is predominately a street bike.

FJ

[Zaipai]

Just remember they are primarily a race carb.

Mick

What does that mean to a daily rider? Would the carbs get messed up? Would the bike have issues in stop and go traffic? If ever I have the funds I sure would love a pair, however its a problem then I would pass..

.: Scott :.

[bwaller]

What I really want on the street is good linear power band, lots of torque in the mid range but still delivers when the revs climb. Over carburate and you lose that in favour of all top end. It makes the bike harder to ride having to keep the revs up to be "in the power" and won't pull the skin off a banana under 6g's. (ok that's a little exageration ) plus having to roll the throttle on as a result.

These 500/550's came with 22mm carbs. Guys that race these bikes with heavily "breathed on" engines run 29's. Ask any of them what they think of a street bike with a set and I'm fairly certain the answer will be clear.

But heh, I'm not an old prude. 

[Retro Rocket]

What i mean is that race carbs are more top end orientated and usually offer poor results for round town riding, you have to "feed" the throttle on when low in the rev range so as not to flood the bike and make it bog down. Terry has fitted a set of 34mm CV's off a 1980's CBX 750 Honda on his 836 and he says that it is the best conversion he has ever had, i am thinking of getting a set for my 1000cc build to run it in with then put them on my other bike for good....The 1000 gets fuel injection.....   There are lots of other carbs out there that would do a better job on the street than the CR's and probably a lot cheaper....


Mick

[Zaipai]

Good info Mick, I will stay away from those then since I don't do any hard riding. I will look around tho, there has to be some better carbs for my little CB550 out there some place!  ..

.: Scott :.

[Tintop]

Good info Mick, I will stay away from those then since I don't do any hard riding. I will look around tho, there has to be some better carbs for my little CB550 out there some place!  ..

.: Scott :.

It was mentioned in a thread a while ago about getting 550 carbs bored out.  Can't find it at the moment.  The other option is do what the vintage production guys do, use 750 carbs.  Might have the same 'over carb'd' problem with those, on a stock engine.  Another option is the Mikuni VM26.  They are relativetly easy to find & inexpensive.  They do require some work to fit though.

[Zaipai]

Thanks Tin, I will look for that thread. I am really not looking for more power as much as newer carbs that are more efficient, could be the original carbs are the most efficient. When I heard about Joe's experience with these CR carbs it sounded great, but then he was using it out in the open and could lay on the throttle more then I would..  For more power I am probably at some point going with that progressive cam that Spikeybike is using.. He seamed to love it and said it smoothed out the flat spots.. Off to look for that thread.

TTYS,
.: Scott :.

[FunJimmy]

What I really want on the street is good linear power band, lots of torque in the mid range but still delivers when the revs climb. Over carburate and you lose that in favour of all top end. It makes the bike harder to ride having to keep the revs up to be "in the power" and won't pull the skin off a banana under 6g's. (ok that's a little exageration ) plus having to roll the throttle on as a result.

These 500/550's came with 22mm carbs. Guys that race these bikes with heavily "breathed on" engines run 29's. Ask any of them what they think of a street bike with a set and I'm fairly certain the answer will be clear.

But heh, I'm not an old prude.  

I have to agree. Smaller (26mmm) CR carbs would be better on anything short of a race 550.

Oh that and you're NOT a prude.  

FJ

[Zaipai]

Maybe this is not the best post to be talking carbs, however I have learned a lot. I will be doing some research on this as it will be later in the spring before I buy a set of carbs, if any at all. This wont be the Winter I rebuild the motor either. I am going to try winter 2011/2012 for all that.

Thanks guys! Very helpful as allways..

I agree, bwaller your not a prude! Tintop and Mick excellent advice, thanks!

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

The carbs worked great!

~Joe

[Zaipai]

The carbs worked great!

~Joe

Thanks Joe, did you get much chance to drive it around town stop and go type traffic? If so did they seem ok then too?

.: Scott :.

[Retro Rocket]

I want everyone here to remember that Joe lowered his final gearing making his bike more responsive in the lower rev ranges, this would help out the way the CR's perform which is ok round town but useless on the highways.....You still can't bang them open and expect them to pick up straight away, it just won't happen...

Mick

[Zaipai]

I want everyone here to remember that Joe lowered his final gearing making his bike more responsive in the lower rev ranges, this would help out the way the CR's perform which is ok round town but useless on the highways.....You still can't bang them open and expect them to pick up straight away, it just won't happen...

Mick

Very good point Mick, I completely forgot about that..

Thanks..

.: Scott :.

[Retro Rocket]

 I am not trying to talk anyone out of using them at all, just trying to help people understand that they are designed to do a job and they do it well, but that doesn't necessarily translate to the street....Flat out is where they work best...

Mick

[Zaipai]

I am not trying to talk anyone out of using them at all, just trying to help people understand that they are designed to do a job and they do it well, but that doesn't necessarily translate to the street....Flat out is where they work best...

Mick

And thank you for that, I don't have a lot of cash laying around so if I were to buy these and could not use them I would be in the dog house for sure. As I stated before I would just like an updated version of what I have. Some thing that holds the idle when cold or warm and smooths out any rough spots.

Thanks,
.: Scott :.

[Retro Rocket]

Its a shame that someone on here doesn't do later model carb conversions for our bikes, there are heaps of bikes that have carbs that would be better for our bikes than the old Kehins...

Mick

[HalfFastMoto]

We should probably start a new thread but since this one is already hijacked and was essentially dead I'll pile on   

Noob question - has anyone looked into adapting the Mikuni CV carbs - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/82-1982-Suzuki-GS650-GS-650-G-Mikuni-Carbs-Carburetors-/350414843555?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51965a2ea3

[Zaipai]

I would like to know that also. Tho I have to say I have the same carbs on my Suzuki GS and so far I am not impressed.

Yea, there should be a new thread, however this one was hijacked so.... As long as Joe does not complain we can keep it here.

.: Scott :.