Topic: CB550 Cafe Project

[Koshin]

I have ridden bikes for a long time.   I tend to think of myself as a Honda guy.  I race a Honda CBR1000RR, and do not ride on the street at all.  I have just recently wanted to get a simple old school cafe bike.  I picked this thing up dirt cheap.  Its got 20K miles on it.  Seems to run well.  I have never owned on of these older CB's.  Is there anything I should look for problem wise?  It seems to leak a little gas when its over on its side stand.  I started shutting the fuel off to see if that helps.  Im going to do a lot of powedercoating on it, I think for very little money itll be really cool.  Im new here, just looking at what others are doing. 

[rickmoore24]

Welocme Koshin! If the gas is leaking only when the bike is on the side stand then it might be the float bowl seals. Do you know when the PO last messed with the carbs? That's a really cool little bike, have fun with it. It's a far cry from your litre race bike but it's still a blast to ride. Keep us posted, there are some really knowledgeable guys on here. They certainly helped with my rebuild.

[Koshin]

It does seem to only leak when on the side stand.  I think that it may very well be the float seals.  It is actually a lot of fun to ride and looks rad.  I want to put a different throttle on it, maybe a quarter turn or something.  Your have to turn it 360 degrees to get it wide open, kinda odd feeling.  Im tightening the chain and lubing the cables today and we'll see how she fairs afterward.  I like it a lot.  Not bad for 950 bucks.

Ive been reading around this site and there seems to be some knowledge here.  Ill stick around for a while.  Thanks

[Koshin]

SOME ONE GIVE ME TIPS TO REMOVE THIS BAFFLE FROM THIS KERKER.  Ill paypal you $5.00 if it works , and I really will Ive done it a number of times.

Rich

[rickmoore24]

It might be riveted or held in place with a screw? You need to drill it out if so (the rivet) and I think it'll slide out. I'm running no baffles on my 4 into 4's and I love it!

[Koshin]

Im tearing this thing down to the frame for the restoration in a week or so.  Doing some carb work to the motor, prolly do some jetting and stacks on the carbs and definitely pulling the baffle on the Kerker.  Im doing all the powdercoating and paint as well while its down.  It should be done within the month.  Ill be replacing all the bushings with new OEM stuff from Honda.  Is there anything that I should be replacing while its all torn down?  any little secrets from you guys on here that have done this before?  I just want to do this right the first time. 

Thanks

Rich

[Koshin]

aggressive rear sets....I need/want some

any input?  Ive seen a lot of them on this site.  I didnt know if you guys were making them somehow or if there was a company that makes them.  I may just make my own but I like to know my options.  Thanks

Rich

[Laminar]

You might also add in another caliper so that your bike actual has dual discs instead of just dual rotors...

[Koshin]

You might also add in another caliper so that your bike actual has dual discs instead of just dual rotors...

Im wanting to add another caliper and do stainless lines up front for sure.  What calipers fit?  Like I said above, Im  a first timer with these old CB's.  Im sure some of you guys are gurus and have done this time and time again.  I had another question.  In theory, you should be able to kick start this bike with no battery, correct?  I want to convert this thing to kick only and have custom controls made for it.  But it wont seem to kick start without the battery.  Im gonna ask a lot of stupid questions but itll be worth it I assure you gents.

Thanks for the help

Rich

[Koshin]

It's Votin' Time!

Freezingprocess

what rear sets are these?  Do want for my build.  This is similar to what my bike will look like in a month

[Mayor08]

check out fastfromthepast.com for rear sets

[Koshin]

rearsets are on the way as well as Vortex clip ons becasue we are a dealer for them.  I ordered some new rear shocks as well.  Im looking for info on the dual caliper setup like someone mentioned above.  Any info on that would be awesome.  Im looking into stainless lines as well, but need to figure out what Im doing with the front brakes first.  Are any of you guys running "real" tires on any of these things?  Im trying to figure out how to mount some Pilot Powers on this thing but no one Ive spoken to about this has actually done it.  The super motard machines sold new use wire wheels with real tires from the factory.  How i this different than just mounting them to these with a tube still?  Some one shed some light on this for me.

I figure Ill ask all of these stupid questions in my own thread instead of mucking up everyone elses.

Thanks
Rich

[Laminar]

rearsets are on the way as well as Vortex clip ons becasue we are a dealer for them.  I ordered some new rear shocks as well.  Im looking for info on the dual caliper setup like someone mentioned above.  Any info on that would be awesome.

Plenty of info on dual discs out there, do a quick search.

Im looking into stainless lines as well, but need to figure out what Im doing with the front brakes first.

Check this thread.

Are any of you guys running "real" tires on any of these things?  Im trying to figure out how to mount some Pilot Powers on this thing but no one Ive spoken to about this has actually done it.

What's a "real" tire? Tubeless?

The super motard machines sold new use wire wheels with real tires from the factory.  How i this different than just mounting them to these with a tube still?  Some one shed some light on this for me.

Generally, if rims were designed to be used with tubes, stick with tubes. It IS possible to seal the rim (I think I've heard of someone using silicon caulk on every spoke nipple. While possible, it's not recommended. You use most any correctly-sized tires on these rims as long as you use tubes.

[Koshin]

Yes, I meant tubeless tires.  Im going to dismount one off of one of the new DRZ400SM which runs wire wheels with tubrless sport tires.  Just to see what they do from the factory. 

I will search for dual caliper info.

thanks for the help buddy

[Koshin]

Okay.  I put the rear sets on hold before this question is answered.  The yellow bike above has the sets mounted way farther and higher on the frame.  Is this a custom mounting bracket?  What set is that?  I like the stance except for the foot postition on my bike.  I require those sets or something similar to get this thing done the way I want.  I want nice sets but I cant stand stand the stock position.  Do the tarozzi's mount where the ones on the yelloe bike do or what?  Or do I have to have a bracket made?  and a linkage?  Thanks again dudes for helping me along the way with this thing.  I called on guy today and have yet to recieve a call back.

Rich