Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[traveler]

Here are a few pics of the work I completed this last weekend, and wrote about earlier.

My rear hub....all done, and the chain all installed.









My exhaust.  Notice the case around the points area....that is the final finish for the motor....started finishing that.







Clutch cable installed





Throttle cable installed





Cam cover almost done



~Joe

[Zaipai]

Very nice stuff going on there.. Very inspirational Joe.. Keep moving I can just see it on the road now..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Thanks....sooner or later, it will be out there!

~Joe

[Joel]

Here are a few pics of the work I completed this last weekend, and wrote about earlier.

My rear hub....all done, and the chain all installed.

Did you add those holes?

It looks great.

[traveler]

thanks.

Yes, I drilled the holes, and chamfered the edges in.

~Joe

[fasturd]

Super cool details. Going to be a great looking street racer!

[traveler]

I sure hope so......It's been alot of work getting 33 years of neglect off of it!

Thanks, BTW

~Joe

[cdoggy81]

Great build so far!
Do you think the hub holes will cause problems & allow crud & water to get in & build up? I want to drill mine one day but have been hesitant...

[traveler]

Most have said it's not a problem.  I guess it kind of depends on how many holes you drill, and what kind of weather you will ride in.  I went real conservative....not too many holes, and I only ride in nice weather, so no problem for me.

Thanks.

~Joe

[fastbroshi]

I just noticed your clutch cable's routed wrong. I believe it should be routed on the outside.  Have you been having trouble adjusting it?

[Industrial Cafe]

I haven't looked at this thread since you made the air filter adapter.
   man that thing is really coming together. It looks great!
 I should have posted back then so I could follow the build.

I like the lack of 26 million holes too, less is more.

HA! I just saw this.
I got tired of that one and made a new one.  It was too much.

[traveler]

That wasn't a jab at you...rather just me stating that I have a different vision.

~Joe

[Industrial Cafe]

I know dude, don't worry about it.

[cracker]

Joe,

I just finished reading all 18 pages of this thread! I've been bumping around this site for the last few weeks (since I picked up a '78 550K) looking for ideas and have enjoyed reading (and envying) your posts.

I wanted to thank you for chronicaling this build as it's been both insightful and inspirational. I have picked up quite a few tips from this post and others and am quite impressed with the amount and breadth of knowledge that can be found among the collective world of SOHC4.net members.

Keep up the great work and THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE! I'm a Gulf War Vet and compared to what's going on over there now, we had a walk in the park back in '90-'91. In times of peace, service alone is difficult enough. I can't imagine the sacrificing you must do tour after tour.

Best Wishes!

[traveler]

I appreaciate the kind words.

Only advice.....build the bike the way YOU wnat it...don't follow a trend or fad.  If you like the bike as-is, then leave it be.

wax the frame out, polish the chrome, repaint the tins if necessary, change the tailight and maybe throw a 4-1 mac exhaust on it and ride!

~Joe

[fasturd]

Hey Joe,

I noticed you were talking about lesters in the other 550 thread. Do 550 and 750 wheels interchange? Lesters for 750s seem to be easy to get. IS the rear hub too big? or wrong offset?

Let me know what you know. Might make the search easier.

Bill

[traveler]

Not really sure.....but I believe the 750 has a larger drum in the rear.  Cycle X has a set for $850, which is ridiculous!

I'd just like to have a set on this bike......I'm about to give up.....if anyone has a set they would like to see go to a good home, this is it.

~Joe

[fasturd]

So is the 750 drum wider and it does not fit the 550? We need to look into this...

[traveler]

just from pics....it looks like it has a larger diameter....not sure on width.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

From what I can tell, the hub on my bike (the one in my avatar) is a CB750 hub.. Not sure if the lesters would be as accommodating or not.. Ask the seller for some measurements first before you buy. Rim with, axle size etc... If it has the drum cover then you should be ok if all the others fit.

I could be wrong tho..

.: Scott :.

[fasturd]

Well I should just shut up and go measure... I have a set of CB750 lesters waiting to be returned to the road. What measurements would be most helpful. If we can at least document wether or not they fit it may be easier to find as there were PLENTY of CB750 lesters sold in the day. By the way did you know lesters retailed for about $750+ for a set when they were new? CRAZY money!

Can you imagine paying $1700 for your CB750K and then plunking down $750 more for a set of lesters??? I had an original boxed set for a GL1000 I sold a few years ago and the original retail was over $800!

Maybe its not so crazy when you see what forged wheels go for today (as a percentage of bike cost) But today you get a wheel that is LIGHTER than stock...lol.

[traveler]

I just noticed your clutch cable's routed wrong. I believe it should be routed on the outside.  Have you been having trouble adjusting it?

Not yet.  My new clutch cable is LONG, and therefore had to get inventive with getting it on.  The clutch pull may be heavier if you are used to hydralic easy clutch pulls....but I am used to terribly strong harley clutch pulls, so this is EASY.

~Joe

[traveler]

Well I should just shut up and go measure... I have a set of CB750 lesters waiting to be returned to the road. What measurements would be most helpful. If we can at least document wether or not they fit it may be easier to find as there were PLENTY of CB750 lesters sold in the day. By the way did you know lesters retailed for about $750+ for a set when they were new? CRAZY money!

Can you imagine paying $1700 for your CB750K and then plunking down $750 more for a set of lesters??? I had an original boxed set for a GL1000 I sold a few years ago and the original retail was over $800!

Maybe its not so crazy when you see what forged wheels go for today (as a percentage of bike cost) But today you get a wheel that is LIGHTER than stock...lol.

I had no idea they were that expensive new!  I still think you are lucky to have a set.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Well I should just shut up and go measure... I have a set of CB750 lesters waiting to be returned to the road. What measurements would be most helpful. If we can at least document wether or not they fit it may be easier to find as there were PLENTY of CB750 lesters sold in the day. By the way did you know lesters retailed for about $750+ for a set when they were new? CRAZY money!

Can you imagine paying $1700 for your CB750K and then plunking down $750 more for a set of lesters??? I had an original boxed set for a GL1000 I sold a few years ago and the original retail was over $800!

Maybe its not so crazy when you see what forged wheels go for today (as a percentage of bike cost) But today you get a wheel that is LIGHTER than stock...lol.

I had no idea they were that expensive new!  I still think you are lucky to have a set.

~Joe

Well I have not been actively looking for Lesters, however I have seen them on more then one site for $400 ~ over $800 used each rim. However again I have not looked on say e-bay or CL so it could be just those few sites I was at.

I do get the impression they are extremely expensive however.. I have a set of Aluminum rims from an 82 VT750 laying around however it was from a shaft drive VT so unless some one can make an adapter to put on a sprocket it would not be much help tho the front one is cool and has nice thin dual pad disc brakes on it. If ever I find a matching rear rim that is not shaft drive, I will use that on my 550.. it would look cool I think.

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

even comstars can be made to look good.....masking tape and use of silver, black, and some polishing......I have seen a CBX online that looked great with comstars!

~Joe