Author Topic: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)  (Read 9489 times)

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Offline outerringz

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1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« on: June 06, 2010, 04:34:26 PM »
I picked up a pretty clean 1977 CB550F that already underwent it's first cafe conversion, but was done on an apparent shoestring budget. I'm rebuilding it, and hoping to turn it into something special. I'm documenting the entire build process on a WordPress blog at http://cb550.wordpress.com/ for anyone interested in following along.
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline scunny

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2010, 04:50:19 PM »
looks good and yes, cleaning the carbs so they shine is a pita
past-cb100,ts250,cb500,cb500,gs1000,gs650g.phillips traveller
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Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2010, 10:46:05 PM »
If anyone is a fan of RSS feeds, you can monitor my build progress by subscribing to http://cb550.wordpress.com/feed/. I wish there was a way to dump my WordPress blog feed into this site to avoid double posting.
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline GStarIndustries

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2010, 01:12:23 PM »
Dude that carb sync tool is sweet! where did you get it? I would very much like to tune the carbs on my bike!

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2010, 07:10:29 PM »
I bought the gauges here: http://www.sportingforless.com/servlet/the-50/Carburetor-Synchronizer-carb-sync/Detail

I wanted to know that the carbs were good before I spent all that elbow grease polishing them. What a difference it makes when they are in sync. My bike was running okay before the syn, but the idle was a little rough and when I revved the engine, it took a long time to idle back down. Syncing the carbs resolved both issues.

This guy has a descent video to get you started.
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2010, 12:18:43 AM »
Bump! I have a bunch of updates posted on my build blog if anyone is interested.
http://cb550.wordpress.com/
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

traveler

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2010, 04:24:42 AM »
Nice blog.

Bike is coming together well!

~Joe

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2010, 08:06:32 AM »
Thanks Joe, your project was one of the bikes that inspired me, I love the way it turned out. I'm also using the same OEM badges that you have, but on a stock tank.
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2010, 12:08:59 PM »
I have subscribed to the blog. Nice work on that and the bike.. One thought tho, on the blog you may want to install the wordpress gallery so you can show the images with out the user leaving the blog. I just added it to mine, its pretty simple install and you can add captions and descriptions of the photos. Just a thought..

Good work on the bike!!! And I agree, Joes bike is fantastic. Also now I know how to setup and use those vacuum gauges. I picked up a set last fall and need to tune my bike and now I know how, thanks for the video!

.: Scott :.
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75 CB550F  | 


Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2010, 07:12:42 PM »
Scott, Thanks for the tip on the gallery, I'll check it out. I'm glad the video link helped you, I found it pretty helpful myself.
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2011, 08:46:20 PM »
Just wanted to bump this post and let everyone know I finished my cafe racer. Well, not completely finished, I have a few odd and ends (seat vinyl), but I took it out for it's first 20 mile ride since the tear down. You can check out the entire build blog at:

http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Here is a shot of the finished bike.
« Last Edit: January 17, 2011, 07:42:02 AM by outerringz »
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2011, 04:43:16 AM »
Dang that turned out sweet! Great job. They are never "completely done" anyway! ;)

.: Scott :.
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75 CB550F  | 


Offline johnny

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2011, 05:55:07 AM »
Great looking bike!
1976 CB550K
1974 CB350F http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=81781.0
1974 CB550K
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1965 Lambretta
196(?) Honda S90
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Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2011, 07:38:24 AM »
Dang that turned out sweet! Great job. They are never "completely done" anyway! ;)

.: Scott :.

Thanks Scott, and your so right, they are never "completely done."
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2011, 07:39:52 AM »
Great looking bike!

Thanks Johnny, is was really fun taking it out on it's first ride.
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2011, 04:22:03 PM »
Before and after shots:

Before


After
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline fastbroshi

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #16 on: January 20, 2011, 12:23:06 AM »
Any idea where the seat came from?  Looks like it fits very well.
Just call me Timmaaaaay!!!

Offline greenjeans

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #17 on: January 20, 2011, 02:32:52 PM »
Wow.....night and day difference.   That silver really works for that bike.   Looks great.
Yep, I'm the kid that figured out how to put things back together...eventually.

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #18 on: January 22, 2011, 08:42:00 AM »
Any idea where the seat came from?  Looks like it fits very well.

I believe the seat came from Carpy (http://www.cb750cafe.com), but to get it to fit the way it does now I cut the length by about 2 or 3 inches, made custom mounts that raised it up and angled it forward, cut off the rear of the frame (stock blinker mounts), moved the blinkers forward, closer to the shocks, and bent and welded the steel behind the rear blinkers.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2011, 08:43:45 AM by outerringz »
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #19 on: January 22, 2011, 09:06:24 AM »
Wow.....night and day difference.   That silver really works for that bike.   Looks great.

Thanks! The devil is in the details right? I didn't make any radical changes to the bike, but plenty of small tweaks everywhere.

Changes from front to back:
1. Sand blasted and powder coated the wheels, frame, center and side stands (added the side stand, it was missing)
2. Removed the stock spokes and re-laced with stainless steel, and installed modern tires.
3. Ditched the front fender.
4. Replaced the front brake line and hydraulic brake light sensor with braided stainless and an electronic sensor.
5. Ditched the speedometer, and made custom brackets to relocate the ignition key to allow the tachometer to take center stage. Laid it down a bit flatter and tucked it in close to the bars. I'm working on a micro controller powered GPS-based speedometer, but the bicycle speedo works until that's finished.
6. De-greased, painted, and polished the engine, and rebuilt the carburetors.  
7. Replaced the air filters with stacks.
8. Relocated the bike battery and all electronics under the seat cowl, and removed all non-essential tabs and brackets from the frame. The tabs you can see on the frame in front of the rear wheel hold the black plastic fender insert that is installed now, but I forgot to put it back in before I took the pictures.
9. Added a custom bracket to mount the exhaust to replace the passenger pegs/frame that I removed.
10. Replaced the rear shocks.
11. Modified the fiberglass seat cowl to fit better and to be a true solo seat, and made custom brackets to raise it up and lean it forward.
12. Added frame behind the rear blinkers.
13. Relocated the rear blinkers closer to the rear shocks.
14. Replaced the rear brake light.
15. Relocated the license plate to the left of the rear wheel and mounted a small LED spotlight under the seat cowl to shine down and illuminate the license place.
16. Repainted all the body work silver.
17. Added the Superhawk badges.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2011, 09:14:22 AM by outerringz »
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline Free Booter

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #20 on: January 23, 2011, 05:18:52 PM »


Before


Damn! I just painted my tank like that! LOL



Looks great in silver though. I have to Say the Smaller bikes always look good in solid colors.

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #21 on: January 23, 2011, 11:24:11 PM »

Damn! I just painted my tank like that! LOL



Looks great in silver though. I have to Say the Smaller bikes always look good in solid colors.


The orange and black paint job was not done very well. It looks better in the picture than it did in person. I thought about doing two black stripes down the center of the silver, but decided the Superhawk badges added enough detail for me.

What's the rest of your plan with that 750?
1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline outerringz

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #22 on: March 19, 2011, 09:49:12 PM »
Finally had a chance to upload a little video.

1977 CB550F
Check out my complete build blog at:
http://cb550.wordpress.com/

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #23 on: March 21, 2011, 04:32:46 AM »
Very very very nice.. Great job on that cafe!

.: Scott :.
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75 CB550F  | 


Offline socalenduro

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Re: 1977 CB550F Cafe (take two)
« Reply #24 on: March 21, 2011, 07:17:15 AM »
very nice looking bike...
what kind of bars are those?