Topic: CB550 Cafe build - 1st bike build, but not 1st build

[Raef]

One thing for sure though, power sliding through the apex, will be on the 'don't go there list'. Wink Smiley

Used to do that on the road when i was younger and braver....
Mick

Love the sensation you get when the balance between throttle and steering matches perfectly, but the track is the only place for it any more.

a few of us went on spirited ride on some very curvy roads, I had a good time on my 550, it was very different from the past. I have rid the stable of the yz250 and both 1000 cc sport bikes all three of which would just as soon put you on the ground as take you home.
The 550 is well mannered and fun to ride, it is just different riding a bike you are more likely to lose the front endwheel than the rear.

[Tintop]

One thing for sure though, power sliding through the apex, will be on the 'don't go there list'. Wink Smiley

Used to do that on the road when i was younger and braver....
Mick

Love the sensation you get when the balance between throttle and steering matches perfectly, but the track is the only place for it any more.

a few of us went on spirited ride on some very curvy roads, I had a good time on my 550, it was very different from the past. I have rid the stable of the yz250 and both 1000 cc sport bikes all three of which would just as soon put you on the ground as take you home.
The 550 is well mannered and fun to ride, it is just different riding a bike you are more likely to lose the front endwheel than the rear.

I'm putting considerable faith in my suspension mod's raef, and fatter, stickier rubber.

Got to the shop and ticked a few things off the 'to do' list.   However the weather report for tomorrow was nasty, so I had to cut short my weekend.

The horn is working again.  Seems the button didn't like it's new role, and the horn was sticking from lack of use.  Re-wired the switch, and got the horn working.  A dozen good blasts seems to have loosened things.   However, there seems to be a bit of a ringing in my ears.   Also tidied up the wiring in the headlight, so its ready for the deep HID bulb.

Fab'd up a link for the shifter from 6mm SS rod.  The rod ends use 1/4" NF, so I had to pickup a die to cut the threads.  A quick adjustment and everything moved perfectly.  I'll remove the shifter shaft arm, and finish the top contour now that everything is fitted.  Not sure how I'll refinish it yet.  The chrome is not great, and the end is now raw metal.  The marks on the pipe are from the alloy mount during the PITA fitting (with tape ).  The ones on the other side came off easily, so I'm not expecting any issues here.  It's on the 'cleanup list', along with re-polishing the covers.

[Zaipai]

Impressive work on that shifter Tintop..

.: Scott :.

[Tintop]

Thanks Zaipai...the only problem is, everytime I take a photo, I see more cleanup work that is needed.  That list just keeps getting longer.

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

I am just glad to see that you got that rusty oily kickstand off the bike!!

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

FYI Dave Swarbrick played violin with a butt in his mouth because it added a "mood" to his music.....he made exhausts too??

[Zaipai]

Thanks Zaipai...the only problem is, everytime I take a photo, I see more cleanup work that is needed.  That list just keeps getting longer.

Yeah, welcome to the club! 

.: Scott :.

[Tintop]

I am just glad to see that you got that rusty oily kickstand off the bike!!

Needed to change the angle when its up.  Some grinding, and a spot of weld, and it now nessles up close to the pipe, and under the peg.  A bead blast, shorten the toe hook, and then paint.  Just another of those final little details to finish up.

[Syscrush]

I'm putting considerable faith in my suspension mod's raef, and fatter, stickier rubber.

I forget, did you do anything to stiffen up the frame?  Are 550's flexy if you do tire & suspension upgrades on a stock frame?

[Raef]

I was look at the early bit of the thread and it seems there are some frame bracing and gussets going on and a pretty trick swing arm mod also.

I have never really noticed much bad about the 550's except the forks, I just don't have a lot of confidence in the front end. with that said, well maintained it is all the performance one would really need on the street ( excluding HP of course)

Mark

[Tintop]

I was look at the early bit of the thread and it seems there are some frame bracing and gussets going on and a pretty trick swing arm mod also.

I have never really noticed much bad about the 550's except the forks, I just don't have a lot of confidence in the front end. with that said, well maintained it is all the performance one would really need on the street ( excluding HP of course)

Mark

As raef pointed out Syscrush, I added some gussets to the upper triangle area.  In addition, the shock mount area is considerably stiffer.  The electrical tray is kind of like a mini version of a semi-monoque chassis, upside down.  The bolted in battery tray is also designed to add torsional stiffness to the swing arm area.  The one thing I should have also done, was seam weld the sheet metal neck at the back.  Missed that with all the other changes.  That is until it came back from powder coat.

There is also not much stock about the front end.  All Balls bearings, Gold Valves, matched springs, 18" / wider / lighter rim, bigger tire.  From what I have been told, Production 500/550 race bikes seem to handle well.  The worst bike I ever rode was my brother's H1, the 'flexi flyer'.   The engine deserves its mythical status, but the frame was crap.  I swear it flexed going in a straight line, forget the corners.

[Raef]

Kawasaki triples = unicycle, the front wheel done nothing under power.

maybe just my lack of throttle control but when the motor came in it was like the front wheel had helium in it.

Mark

[Syscrush]

As raef pointed out Syscrush, I added some gussets to the upper triangle area.  In addition, the shock mount area is considerably stiffer.  The electrical tray is kind of like a mini version of a semi-monoque chassis, upside down.  The bolted in battery tray is also designed to add torsional stiffness to the swing arm area.

Cool.  I thought so, but I was too drunk to go back and read through.

The worst bike I ever rode was my brother's H1, the 'flexi flyer'.   The engine deserves its mythical status, but the frame was crap.  I swear it flexed going in a straight line, forget the corners.

I think that the mythology about those bikes is about the #$%* frames as much as it's about the great motor.

[Tintop]

+1 Syscrush on the H1.

It was easy to get the front wheel a couple of inches off the ground from a light.  That scary part was when it touched back down.  You never knew what it was going to do.   Riding that bike made me a somewhat more religious person.

[bwaller]

Yea they sure were fun, made men out of boys, and all those other good things. 

[Tintop]

Quick update on the build.

I've decided that the engine is going to need a bit more pop.   With HedNut's 750 having all those secret llama tricks, on our ride(s) next year, figured I'd need something more to keep up.

So I have acquired a 550 cam & cam sprocket from r6100mph (many thanks).  The cam is going to Megacycle Cams to be reground / hardened to their 126-00 profile.  The sprocket is on its way to MRieck to be slotted.

Plan is to setup / tune the engine as it is now.  I'll install the cam & sprocket later, before the spring riding season starts.

[Syscrush]

Any luck on getting into the Toronto winter show?  It's the one out by the airport in Jan, right?

[P_Camps]

Quick update on the build.

I've decided that the engine is going to need a bit more pop.   With HedNut's 750 having all those secret llama tricks, on our ride(s) next year, figured I'd need something more to keep up.

So I have acquired a 550 cam & cam sprocket from r6100mph (many thanks).  The cam is going to Megacycle Cams to be reground / hardened to their 126-00 profile.  The sprocket is on its way to MRieck to be slotted.

Plan is to setup / tune the engine as it is now.  I'll install the cam & sprocket later, before the spring riding season starts.

damnnn.... now I gotta do something to keep up 

[Tintop]

Any luck on getting into the Toronto winter show?  It's the one out by the airport in Jan, right?

It's a possibility, but they just did the 2nd operation on my injured finger.  With the holidays coming time is getting short.  That said it doesn't need to be a licenced runner for that show, so we'll see.

[Tintop]

Quick update on the build.

I've decided that the engine is going to need a bit more pop.   With HedNut's 750 having all those secret llama tricks, on our ride(s) next year, figured I'd need something more to keep up.

So I have acquired a 550 cam & cam sprocket from r6100mph (many thanks).  The cam is going to Megacycle Cams to be reground / hardened to their 126-00 profile.  The sprocket is on its way to MRieck to be slotted.

Plan is to setup / tune the engine as it is now.  I'll install the cam & sprocket later, before the spring riding season starts.

damnnn.... now I gotta do something to keep up 

    There's always drafting.  Figure the hole in the air that 750 makes, should be worth something.  Worst case I'll save gas.

[HedNut]

Ahaha... I don't think your beast will have any trouble keeping up with my "mild mannered" 750..and it's operator.  haha

Cheers!

[Flying J]

How much is a regrind? and your sending the sprocket to Mreick? Dont be a pansy, send the whole head.

[Tintop]

Ahaha... I don't think your beast will have any trouble keeping up with my "mild mannered" 750..and it's operator.  haha

Cheers!

I'm not concerned about the operator, its those llama tricks in the "mild mannered" 750, that has me worried.

How much is a regrind? and your sending the sprocket to Mreick? Dont be a pansy, send the whole head.

The regrind (hardened) cost $359US shipped to me in Canada.  That said, they only offer the 'hardened' version now, and the price is / has gone up to $359US + ship.  It sounded like I am getting the last one they will do at their old price.

I did seriously consider sending a head to Mike.  Actually, almost bought a spare just for that.   However, unless I was going to do a Stage 2 or 3 the HP gain would have been minimal, and only at the top end.  The cam will give it better mid range, a 550 weakness.  The slotted sprocket will allow me to dial in the cam, and take full advantage of what it offers.  I'm also saving my porting pennies for the race bike motor.  That's were I will get a better bang for my buck.

[bwaller]

I would strongly suggest you send a set of rockers for hardwelding to go with that cam. Don't plan on running used rockers.

I saw a new set of M-Cycle cams for a GSXR1000 destroyed in no time with used rockers.

edit: sorry that was an older 1100 model with followers

[Tintop]

I would strongly suggest you send a set of rockers for hardwelding to go with that cam. Don't plan on running used rockers.
I saw a new set of M-Cycle cams for a GSXR1000 destroyed in no time with used rockers.

Hummm, more money.   Thanks for the tip bw.  I've got a second set from the other 550 I could send out.  Maybe Canada Chrome can do it, I'll give John a call tomorrow.  Any other possible sources for that kind of work, in our neck of the woods?