Topic: Need opinions on tank/seat

[MILO]

Hi,

I'm building a CB550 cafe racer and I really like the style of some of the combos from Benjiscaferacer.com

The only thing holding me back is the price. $1600 for a fuel tank and seat is a fair bit for me, being a student with a barley existing income...

At the least I'd like to get one of his seats, but how would it match up with a stock fuel tank? Or a CB750 tank with knee dents bashed in?

I'm after that nice and simple, clean look of having the electrics hidden under the seat, and a nice round tank.

What would you guys recommend?

cheers,

[madmtnmotors]

Sorry I can't help with your question, I just have to ask if the reference was literal or subconsious:

"barley existing income..." = "I live for beer..."

Always been my motto! 

[WilliamA]

I love Benji's stuff also but the price is a little high for me also.
I am using the seat from a 76 super sport and will put the curves in the tank.
Keep looking for parts, there are some cafe seats on ebay I have seen.
I wonder if the barley comment was a subconcious yearn for a cold one also.

[MILO]

I would say beer has quite a part in my financial situation of crappyness, but if I try I reckon I can get this bike going if I ration where my moneys need to go...

This is my first build ever, I like the single seat benji makes, and of course the tank to suit, but if I get the tank as well I will be looking at being close to zero dollars in the piggy bank after ive done with the rest of the bike. What happens to the beers if that happens?

I was thinking of maybe just getting the seat, and using a tank from a 750, or maybe even a stock tank, and bashing it somehow to match up with the front of the seat, is that possible? I just want the seat to be nice and flush with the tank.

If worst comes to worst... which isn't that bad, I'll get the tank, I want to do the build properly.

I want the look of cb550fcafe's bike in this thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67189.0

[flybox1]

in the service offered section, there are guys here who do knee dents. check them out.
airtech streamlining has seats, for a lot cheaper than BCR, which would match up to your tank just fine, allowing you to save your beer cans to recycle for the "tank-n-seat combo fund" 

check these out too..

http://www.cafeseat.com/LargeCafeSeat.html

[68grandprix]

Why not make your own? I made my CB seat from fiberglass, and it cost me about $60. I made my GS seat from an old trash can, and it cost about $35. Jim

[Coyote13]

There are many ways you can go about getting a nice looking cafe seat and tank combo for cheap. Check out ebay and what not for old gas tanks (some will need adjustment/new brackets/etc to fit) and find something you like. Then check out Benjie or airtech or glass from the past or whatever to find a seat that would look good with that tank. You could also do the reverse (find the seat you like and then find a tank to accompany). You can absolutely make your own from fiberglass on the cheap, but if you aren't comfortable with fiberglass work I wouldn't recommend it (it's messy). Get your googles out buddy, there's tons of ways you can get this done

[domer]

i got carpys "rocket four" seat. i think it flows with my 550 tank really well, ignore the homemade seat pad. its a 75 or 76 550 tank on a 72 500.

[curtis]

i gots carpy's dunstall seat on my cb750 and it looks great with original tank.some of the seats he sells it says that they fit cb550 and 500's. look into it he does make some quality stuff. and not priced too bad the seat ran me 130.00 plus shiping.www.cb750cafe.com

[domer]

ya, mine wouldnt bolt right to the frame rails like it would on a 750. well im sure it would, but it wouldnt line up with the tank... 2- 4x8 peices aluminum bent in a vise made a perfect platform. i think mine worked out to $150 shipped.

[MILO]

Ok, I've decided on getting a seat from Benji's, and leaving it at that.
I'll make the rear hoop and battery box to put under the seat myself.
As for the fuel tank, I think I will keep the stocker, and wack in some knee dents.
The tank isn't quite the same round shape as benjis one, but It'll do.

Once I've got the seat, I can cut the frame, make the hoop, weld it on and get it sandblasted and powder coated......then I can start putting it all back together again.
The engine will have to wait until I sell my lathe.... I need some room, I've got an area of about 2m x 1.5m to work in.

[curtis]

if you are gointo spend the money then look around the tank shop has real good lookin stuff and the wrench monkeys got real neat stuff thair are alot of cool sites out there dimecity.com rockcity.com but you are right the style of benjis stuff is badass