Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[traveler]

Thanks.

Actually no.....I have built a bike before, and from my experience, you want to get all the "kinks" worked out before you start powercoating the frame, etc.

The bike is currently in Phase I of the build....that being getting it all done and ridable...then ride it around for a while, and get it set up correctly.  Phase II is disassembly, and frame powdercoat, and other items not already completed during Phase I.  When Phase II starts, the only thing left to do besides the frame, will more than likely be the neck bearing upgrade.

If I were to do it the other way, I would inadvertently forget some step, and it would cause problems, because the frame would already be done (example...you powder the frame, and then later notice you forgot to weld on a bung for the fork stabalizer....only thing you can do then, is re-do the frame or bolt on a bracket, which makes it obvious you forgot to add the bung.)

~Joe

[kennydean2000]

Makes sense - I'll probably take the same course. 

Keep up the great work - I'll borrow as many good ideas as I can

[Zaipai]

Yea I kinda did the same thing. I bought the bike got it ridable rode it around a season (yea with no plates) and now I have broke it down and painting / polishing and upgrading where I can afford to.  Seems to be working out pretty good so far...

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Well, my battery came in today.  Here it is in comparison to an average size battery:



Where am I gonna hide this???

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Well, my battery came in today.  Here it is in comparison to an average size battery:



Where am I gonna hide this???

~Joe

Hum.. Looks tiny.. Some one here used a rechargeable drill battery and mounted it under the rear fender and covered it and you never even see it. However the one you have maybe a bit bigger.. Think out side the box my friend!

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Scott, and others.....Here is the source I used for this battery:

http://www.orientexpress.com/Universal+Parts+%252526+Accessories/Battery/SpeedCell+-+Supersport+2.3+-+120+Amp+Battery%25252FSuper+Lightweight%25252FExtremely+Compact%25252FStandard+Terminals%25252FSee+Details+Inside.html?osCsid=3febfdc1e1903f2b2a63c304cc093810

The cordless drill battery is based on the same concept.  These are called A123 batteries.  It works with the stock charging system.  This is the wave of the future....the old, huge "brick" of a battery is basically over.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Yea that is true, I know a guy that uses a jell pack battery and its very small.. I am not at the point where I want to go small, in fact I like the side covers and plan to keep them so a brick battery is no big deal for me, how ever should I ever do a cafe (and I would like to) then I would for sure go that route and remove the side covers and make it nice and clean...

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Well, I didn't mean it as any type of slight or insult.....I am going for the "VERY minimal look" and therefore, this gets me there.

You can EASILY have a "cafe style" bike with the sidecovers and all that...actually that was my plan in the beginning.....I just changed my mind once I started on the bike.

I think, if an old CB is done nicely, that that's what is best....it dosen't HAVE to be Cafe....heck, I ride a Harley with Ape Hanger Bars!  (and that is it's "brick" battery I used for comparison!!)  I just wanted to do my 550 as a Cafe.

Your bike is well on it's way to being twice the bike i have here, IMHO.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Well, I didn't mean it as any type of slight or insult.....I am going for the "VERY minimal look" and therefore, this gets me there.

You can EASILY have a "cafe style" bike with the sidecovers and all that...actually that was my plan in the beginning.....I just changed my mind once I started on the bike.

I think, if an old CB is done nicely, that that's what is best....it dosen't HAVE to be Cafe....heck, I ride a Harley with Ape Hanger Bars!  (and that is it's "brick" battery I used for comparison!!)  I just wanted to do my 550 as a Cafe.

Your bike is well on it's way to being twice the bike i have here, IMHO.

~Joe

Oh.. no insult taken.. I know what you mean. I just mean for me on this bike I plan to stick to the battery I have.. heck my wife is already complaining about the money I put into it and heck I am far from done..lol...

Your bike is well on it's way to being twice the bike i have here, IMHO.

Oh I doubt that.. Plus yours will be way more interesting then mine I believe.. but I am saving that stuff for my next build.. (shhh don't tell my wife.. she will have a melt down.. )

[traveler]

She'll get over it (in time)...really sex isn't all that important anyways, Scott. 

~Joe

[Zaipai]

She'll get over it (in time)...really sex isn't all that important anyways, Scott. 

~Joe

Lol.. Sure makes cold nights more interesting..

[traveler]

Interesting story for ya.

When Arlen Ness was getting his start, he was initially known as a custom painter, and the bikes he built were customized Harley Sportsters.  Because he didn't have any money, every year, his "new bike" to show was actually the same bike....he rebuilt the same bike and changed it from year to year.

Moral of the story.....you don't HAVE to get more than one bike.....you can always rebuilt and change the bike you already have.

Of all the custom builders, Arlen is truly the REAL bada$$, IMHO.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Interesting story for ya.

When Arlen Ness was getting his start, he was initially known as a custom painter, and the bikes he built were customized Harley Sportsters.  Because he didn't have any money, every year, his "new bike" to show was actually the same bike....he rebuilt the same bike and changed it from year to year.

Moral of the story.....you don't HAVE to get more than one bike.....you can always rebuilt and change the bike you already have.

Of all the custom builders, Arlen is truly the REAL bada$$, IMHO.

~Joe

I agree..

[traveler]

With the parts I have ordered and am waiting to come in, namely, my sealed "All-Balls" wheel bearings, front and rear...the only parts I haven't accounted for yet are shocks, steering damper, and tapered neck tube bearings.  I am more than likely going to go with 14.5 inch shocks in the rear, which will give me more room for my electrics in the rear, but make the steering more touchy....so, will have to go with a steering damper.  Other than that, she should be about done as far as major purchases...then just have to finish up the cleaning and polishing....and then when the time is right, disassembly, powdercoat the frame and re-install all compnents with new head tube bearings.

Here's to hoping the 550 power will be sufficient with rear sprocket/gearing changes made as necessary to get it to "move out" like I wish

~Joe

[Shenanigans]

Stock GSXR steering dampers go for around 30 bucks on Ebay. They are none adjustable but are on the softer side of adjustment so you might want to check those out. Not a big risk at that price and they look pretty good to.

[traveler]

thanks!

How do they mount up?  Do you have a pic?

~joe

[Shenanigans]

I welded a bracket to the frame, You dont have to mount it in that exact spot but I had to put it there to clear my oil cooler and gas tank.

[traveler]

Thanks.

I went ahead and ordered some more parts.  I have just about all I need to finish the build up.  I ordered a fork clamp with the bracket for a steering dampner.  It's made for an XS 650 Yami, but will work as it is for a 35mm fork tube.  I also ordered a silver universal steering damper, and now just have to come up with a weld on bung with 8mm threads.  I also went ahead and bought some 14.5 inch rear shocks from Jerry's that are black and chrome.

I can tell you I am getting darn tired of spending money.   The rest should just be install, and "spit and polish".

I'll post pics as things come in.

~Joe

[traveler]

Today, My RAASK rearsets arrived.

Apparently, word of their "lack of quality" must have reached them, as you can see.....they look quite a bit better than the older versions.

Anyway, here are some pics



















And yes....they are damned expensive!!!

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Sounding very good Joe, the gearing change you made should give you some really nice power at the rear, but proof will be when is on and running... Oh, and be working on a video camera when she is done, I will want to see and hear it run!

.: Scott :.

[Zaipai]

Cool rearsets, I bet they work as good as they look.. They do have a sturdier look about them then the old models..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Thanks again, Scott.

Yeah....I was quite pleased to see that they had actually improved upon them.  The "arms" look like the Tarozzi arms.  My guess, is that they got word that people wanted the RAASK brackets, with Tarozzi arms.

Ya know....i just hope the bike looks okay when I get her done, that's all.

All I want is a super light cafe racer bike with the classic SOHC Honda 4 cylinder engine.  I think I'm almost there.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

You are so there it hurts.. Makes me wish I was further along with mine, but then with the snow and all I would not be out riding it so at least this way I get to do some thing other then sit on it...

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

sure hope you're right.

[Elniniomuchachos]

Well, my battery came in today.  Here it is in comparison to an average size battery:



Where am I gonna hide this???

~Joe

What Brand battery is that? Details about it?