Topic: Lowering the front forks

[bill440cars]

I think I saw a post on this topic somewhere in here but, I can't seem to find it. What I'm looking to do is lower my 77CB550K. I saw a post that talked about several ways and included cutting the springs instead of sliding the tubes up in the trees. I'd like to know more specifics about this. Also, pros & cons on using lowering blocks versus shorter rear shocks. I've seen several 500s, 550s &750s with features that I'm thinking of trying to use on mine. Hopefully, by the time I get far enough along to share my project with you guys, I'll be able to post some pictures. Catch you later, Bill 

[ohiocaferacer]

Bill,

I have lowered my 71 CB500/4 about 3 inches front and rear. Lowered the front by threading the damper rod down another 3 inches then compressed the spring on that rod and cut the excess off to screw on the fork cap. One the rear, I have used 11 inch short shocks with lowering blocks. Overall, the bike sits very nice. I havent had the time to finish it and get it out on the road, but I dont see anything that will create an issue.....should be a fun ride. Heres a pic of the bike, as it sits now:



Let me know if there is anything I can help with,
Greg
www.OHIOCAFERACERS.com

[ProTeal55]

OHIO------->

Aren't you worried about bottoming out with the short shocks & lowering blocks ? I was thinking about adding
1'' blocks to my allready short shocks , but in the past season I allready bottomed the rear wheel out more than
once...

[ohiocaferacer]

No......not worried.

I will probadly get a churp out of the rear wheel every now and then.....but the bike will be used as a bar hopper.....no long runs.

Those smaller shocks are a little stiffer than normal....not much. But I tend to ride with eyes wide open....avoiding any pavement trouble spots. Throw those road racing skills to use, out on the street. Actually, took my CR350 out for a ride last Sat(Christmas Eve...50 degrees out).......got off an exit ramp....took a turn about 20mph........got into a 2 wheel slide, while over in a nice lean. Rode it out....was drag'n a few parts on the pavement(wish I had a vid of it)......all thanks to that nice layer of fine salt dust on the road.

Later,
Greg
www.OHIOCAFERACERS.com

 

[bill440cars]

Greg,

       I knew I had seen a post on this and it was yours. When I get the chance, I think I'm going to give it a shot. By the way, I have seen your website and I definately like your work. I have some thoughts on building a custom CB450 also. My 3 main problems are  MONEY, TIME & SPACE in that order.  I was in Japan, when I was in the Air Force in 67'-69' and had a 66'CB72 that I kind of built up.   When the CB350 came out, I went to  a local Honda dealer in Misawa Japan and  bought the gauges(mph, not kilo.), headlight assembly and installed them for the look. You couldn't buy hop-up parts over there so, I bought and installed a CP(police model)77 head w/cam and carbs. A buddy ported and polished the head and told me how to set up the cam. I reassembled the 250 engine with the 305 parts, replaced the heavy mufflers with  megaphones, had the air cleaner covers chromed, painted it a nice metallic blue, and later added a custom seat (It was designed to come off of the gastank and turn up at the back like a racing seat. It was flat on the back, it didn't have a cone on the back. I saw one just like it on ebay a while back.) It was a pretty good runner. I could outrun a 305 Super Hawk with my modified Hawk but, not a buddy's 450 Black Bomber. We had a race track over there and used the main straight stretch for a drag strip and I usually managed about 17's at about 77mph or so. If only I had taken some pictures, I was too busy modifying and riding, when I wasn't working. I do have a couple of black & white pictures but, I'm not sure how to post them. Well, I've bent your ear long enough, I'm outa here. Thanks for the info, see ya     Bill       

[ohiocaferacer]

Bill,

Feel free to drop me a note thru my website, when you get into tearing into your bike. I'll try and help, as best I can.

Also......gotta love those old CB72 and CB77s!! And, that seat your talking about.......those are nice. I've seen a few up at Mid-Ohio at Vintage Motorcycle Days on some of the old Honda racers....they just look kick a$$. If I ever get my hands on one of the old Superhawks....thats the seat i'm gonna go with...if I can find one.

Did your bike look similar to this???



Later,
Greg
www.OHIOCAFERACERS.com

[Objectionableone]

Greg, the parts on your website look very cool.

[bill440cars]

Greg,
      That is the seat! My hawklooked like this one except my fenders were painted silver. Then, I started changing it up. I forgot to add that I moved the footpegs to the passenger position, took a shift lever with the heel & toe feature,  cut the front part off, if I remember right and that left the lever pointed to the rear. This reversed the shift pattern and thus I created my own rearsets. I didn't think about trying to lengthen the linkage and keep the original shift pattern. When I drag raced it, I removed the lights, opened the megaphones and replaced the gas tank w/ a sears moped tank (have you seen one of those? They mount with a single bolt up through the middle of the tank (a simple installation). I will let you know how my project is going (When I get the opportunity to get started)  Keep up the good work.  Bill   

[ohiocaferacer]

Greg, the parts on your website look very cool.

Thanks man.....I should have 5 sets of the preload adjusters coming soon(silver w/gold tops)....and will probadly get a small stock pile of the other parts. The guy who is making them for me.....is a real artist with that billet.

[Sam Green Racing]

Bill, what's the reason for lowering your 550, are you going to drag it ?

Sam.

[bill440cars]

Well Sam,
             You see, my 550s (Ihave 2 of them, a 77' & a 78') are both project bikes and by that I mean they aren't complete, they need a good amount of work and engine is stuck on one. My objective is to build a couple of custom built bikes. Ech one will be different from the other. I want to build one with the "cafe' racer" idea in mind and the other , I'm not sure yet. Maybe it will be a "bobber". I sure like what I've seen what Greg is doing on ohiocaferacer.com. I've seen others that I liked some of the features of. My goal is to built them different from others but, not too far out looking. Do you get my  drift? I don't think I have the money or know-how to build a bike that could do any good at drag racing. I'd just like them to look good and perform nicely. So, I'm doing it for the look but, trying to  retain a safe ride. Catch you later,  Bill     

[bill440cars]

  I thought I was getting ready to be the owner of some heavy duty built lowering blocks, when I spotted some on ebay a few days ago. All of the ones I had seen, up to this set, were made from strips of metal that were bent into shape and welded together. These were made from solid square stock and welded together. I went up to $31, which was more than I really wanted to give, and right before they close out, they jumped up to $58!! That's without S&H!! Too much for me! Well, anyway, the search goes on. (and probably on & on---) Gotta go for now, I'm outta here.   Bill

[KCs76Cafe]

BILL........My buddy at work made the lowering blocks for his 74 750.....out of solid stock. Will be making another set for my 76. Want me to have him make 2 sets? Would they be the same for a 550 and a 750?

[77cb750]

Hi, I am working on a '77 cb750 and am wanting to lower it some. I'd be interested in a set of those lowering blocks! let me know please. thanks

[KCs76Cafe]

Will do.

[bill440cars]

KCs76Cafe,

              If I remember right, the rear shocks should interchange from the CB500- the 78' CB750.
        If anybody out there can verify this or knows different, Let us here from you. In the meantime,
        I'll see what I can find out. At any rate, I'll get back to you later today because I'd like to have 
        some. How much do you think he'd charge? Let me know.   Oh, and I appreciate the response 
        there.   Thanks guy,    Bill