Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[traveler]

Dang Joe, Its looking very nice. I can't believe how much you get done in this cold weather. Those bolts will be in the mail Monday.. I missed the Postoffice Saturday turns out it closes at 11a and I did not even get up till 10am.  

Nice work man..

.: Scott :.

Thanks, Scott.

Like I said before....just trying to take advantage of having the time off.  There is nothing else to do.  And....I want to do this!

I bundle up and do as much as I can stand.  Seems to be 3-4 hours.

~Joe

[Ryan 550k]

If your willing to take ANOTHER picture, I'd love to see the back side of that license plate/brake light set up.  I think I have the same Lucas style brake light set up and have thought about setting it up to the side as well.  I'd like to see how you set it up for reference.

Oh also, where did you pick up your mirrors?  Pretty nice dude.


 

You can see in this picture, that the bracket makes a 90 degree bend off the back of the light.  I simply bolted it on to the point where my muffler is supported.

I got the mirrors on eBay.  They are made by EMGO.

OH, ok.  Lots simpler than I had imagined.  Thanks man!

[traveler]

No sweat.

Part # 8-62 at www.jirehcycles.com

~Joe

[traveler]

Joe, All looks like it's coming along well!

Just curious to know if you have taken a look at your front tire make and model yet?
                                                      Thanks,   Jim

The tire says:

"DURO" by HFR ; size is 3.25 x 19

Hope that helps.

~Joe

[traveler]

Today, I worked on the bracket and mounting of my electric panel.  I started by cutting some angle iron down to size and drilled two holes to mount it.



I then cut a piece of 16ga. steel and drilled some holes to mount the panel to the "L" bracket.  To space it off where it needs to be, requried using some 1/4"dia. 3" long bolts, nuts, and washers.

Granted, this is the mock up stage, so the cuts are a little rough, and some cleanup will be necessary, along with painting.

Anyhow, here are a few pics.







And...when I came inside, I found that my New Clutch and Throttle cable from Motion Pro arrived.



~Joe

[Zaipai]

Do you know if that is too tall or not? I mean did you have dimensions from the seat you will use? Also let me know if the cables work. I ordered some from Denis Kirk and they are both (gas, clutch) cables are too long.. If yours fit with out the adjusters being all the way out then I will order some from them.

Also if you need/want any more screws/bolts/nuts etc.. Our hardware store in town has a whole isle just for that.. They also have some cool chrome nut covers, never even knew such a thing existed but going to try and find a use for them cause they look cool. Also I plan to replace the philip screws on the engine with some chrome hex screws, it might be more expensive then the kits I have seen online but I can do it a little at a time and the chrome is real good.. Anyway.. if so let me know I can get prices and if you want any thing I can send it out to you.

[traveler]

Thanks, but I'm doing okay so far.

I'm gonna take some pics and measurements, and send them to Sean, and see what he thinks.

~Joe

[Flying J]

I had the same problem with my cables. Im going to take them to my local cable shop and have them shortened. Its not dennis kirks fault. I ordered mine straight from motion pro and the are wrong. Throttle and clutch. In fact im going to strat a thread and find out how common this is and then make a call to motion pro.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=63683.0

[traveler]

It seems no two setups are the same.  I was SURE that I would need custom shortened cables...until I routed the stocker the way I wanted it....and it was perfect!   BUT....my tach cable....well, I'll be getting one 2.5 inches shorter from Motion Pro!

Guess it just depends on how you choose to route/layout your cabling.

~Joe

[traveler]

Today, I decided to clean up and get the electric panel the way I wanted it.  ALOT more work than you would think....took some time with a die grinder, file and saw, but I got her done.  The nuts I am using for spacing are currently threaded down with red locktite to make them permanent.  Tomorrow, I'll go ahead, take it apart and paint.  Anyhow here are (probably too many) pics of the end result.











The bike is starting to look like a racer....





~Joe

[bwaller]

Not to be a killjoy, but are you sure with the bike off the stand and under a riders weight there is still room enough for wheel travel?

[Zaipai]

Not to be a killjoy, but are you sure with the bike off the stand and under a riders weight there is still room enough for wheel travel?

Yes that is a good point. Just double check it.. Also you can never have too many pictures of a build! 

Nice work all so clean.. man I would not want to break it down later to powder coat it.. Nice work Joe..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Yeah, I realized that...and to get it to work, I had to take the rectifier off the bottom...and will mount it somewhere else.  I will now have about 2 inches of travel.  Should be okay.  When I customized my Harley, I left 1 5/8 travel...which is at 7/8 travel when sitting on it.....and never bottomed out.

Then again, I dodge potholes.  If I hit a pothole that big, bottoming out won't the the first concern...flying off the bike will be!

If you look at the pics, the bottom of the panel is basically at the same level as the ends of the frame that used to hold on that terrible looking thing, called a fender!

Thanks for saying something though.  Since I am going to change the springs, maybe I'll get a longer set???

P.S.  Anyone have any LESTER mags for a 550 that they would be willing to sell??

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Upon looking closer at the pictures, I have to say, you probably have way more room then you need as long as you don't go with shorty shocks even then it should be ok..

Good job.. keep it coming man!

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Thanks, Scott.

~Joe

[SHELLFISH]

[[/quote]

The tire says:

"DURO" by HFR ; size is 3.25 x 19

Hope that helps.

~Joe

[/quote]

Thank you!   Jim

[traveler]

No problem.

I hope it helps you find what you want.   

~Joe

[traveler]

Sean, the owner of Roc Citry Cafe is building my tank and seat, as I have mentioned earlier.

He sent this progress update.  I like where it is heading.

Sean really does outstanding work.  I highly recommend him!




~Joe

[Zaipai]

Joe,
Oh man that is going to look super sweet on your bike man.. Did you see the post I posted about the lesters? $899.00 / pair.. man that is insane!

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

LESTERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   WHERE?

~Joe

[traveler]

oh....for a 750, not 550.
 
~Joe

[Zaipai]

oh....for a 750, not 550.
 
~Joe

True, however I am not sure that there are any for a 550, I know the 750's fit I think there is some small mods but should work. Still I can only image what they would cost.. Best hope is some one here has them and will let them go cheap to some one here on the boards.

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

I asked once before if 750 wheels, would work, and I was told no...

Actually, I could easily fab on some Lester style rims from a Kawasaki.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

I asked once before if 750 wheels, would work, and I was told no...

Actually, I could easily fab on some Lester style rims from a Kawasaki.

~Joe

I could be miss informed so don't go by me..  While that tank and seat/tail are going to look good with any style rim, I think they scream lester type rims to me.. but then who knows..

TTYS.
.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Funny....I was thinking the same thing.....

~Joe