Author Topic: 1978 cb550 FKR Mutt (Read 18861 times)

jeffer · « **Reply #25 on:** January 14, 2014, 12:37:37 AM »

Quote from: cwchan on December 03, 2013, 09:29:55 AM

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on December 02, 2013, 08:44:26 PM
Now THAT's a wheel. Details? Is that the cognitomoto hub?

Its from RAD Manufacturing. I had initially considered a cognitomoto hub but its was a little on the expensive side and my forks are cbr600rr not GSXR. RAD made the the wheel with everything you see (rim, stainless spokes, bearings, seals, spacers, hub, trued) for $500US. They only make the above hub with 36 spokes but since i was getting a rim anyways it seemed like a really good deal...

i have a rear rim and stainless spokes on their way from Buchanans for roughly the same $$ (RAD couldn't make spokes to fit my rear hub)

@cwchan

I really like that wheel. I want to run the same setup. Do you have a part ref nr. from the RAD hub? Then I can order it at RAD.
Thanks, and great job on the bike.

cwchan · « **Reply #26 on:** January 23, 2014, 08:19:02 AM »

Quote from: jeffer on January 14, 2014, 12:37:37 AM

@cwchan

I really like that wheel. I want to run the same setup. Do you have a part ref nr. from the RAD hub? Then I can order it at RAD.
Thanks, and great job on the bike.

I never got a part number. It's not listed on their website either. You should call or email them. I found them to be very helpful. Keep in mind the European spec may be different than the North American specs.

** I got the signature series hub

cwchan · « **Reply #27 on:** January 25, 2014, 09:59:22 AM »

.. and here is the rear..its a 150/70 17 Michelin Pilot Road 4

calj737 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 25, 2014, 11:02:21 AM »

Looks really good. Rim width?

cwchan · « **Reply #29 on:** February 01, 2014, 07:42:33 PM »

Its on a 17 X 4.25

Rear wheel installed. The tire clears the chain by maybe 5mm WITHOUT an offset sprocket. Is that OK guys?

cwchan · « **Reply #30 on:** February 02, 2014, 08:36:43 PM »

Modified chain guard. i have to remove the left shock to install it

calj737 · « **Reply #31 on:** February 03, 2014, 04:20:24 AM »

5mm clearance between tire and chain is not comfortable in my eyes. Flex of the tire during loads, deep bumps, or low inflation could contact the chain. And guess which item will "win" that conflict.

I believe CycleX sells 5mm offset sprockets for the 550. I'd go that route for safety after all you've put into the bike.

Some may say you can "take an angle grinder" to the tire. I wouldn't, but you might. It's your bike and your butt in the saddle. But the cost of the tire is far less than the least expensive trip to the ER.

cwchan · « **Reply #32 on:** April 10, 2014, 10:57:36 AM »

And here it is with the 17s

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #33 on:** April 10, 2014, 03:34:10 PM »

Are you using stock length shocks?

cwchan · « **Reply #34 on:** April 11, 2014, 07:34:11 AM »

Yup, stock length. The smaller wheel makes the shock appear longer i suppose.

Shocks are on my list for replacement. I think i'm gonna go with Ikons... but i'm not in a rush right now.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #35 on:** April 11, 2014, 04:43:42 PM »

Quote from: cwchan on April 11, 2014, 07:34:11 AM

Yup, stock length. The smaller wheel makes the shock appear longer i suppose.

Shocks are on my list for replacement. I think i'm gonna go with Ikons... but i'm not in a rush right now.

I like the IKONS on my 750. Great bang for the buck.

calj737 · « **Reply #36 on:** April 11, 2014, 05:43:24 PM »

Might give Devin's new Fox shocks a look http://www.cognitomoto.com

No clue on the pricing, but they surely look sexy from his initial pictures.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #37 on:** April 12, 2014, 01:31:58 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on April 11, 2014, 05:43:24 PM

Might give Devin's new Fox shocks a look http://www.cognitomoto.com

No clue on the pricing, but they surely look sexy from his initial pictures.

$655 for the non-reservoir model. $995 for the full-tilt reservoir model.

cwchan · « **Reply #38 on:** April 13, 2014, 08:45:54 PM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on April 12, 2014, 01:31:58 PM

$655 for the non-reservoir model. $995 for the full-tilt reservoir model.

That's more than i would like to spend

Thoughts:
Notice how my exhaust vents directly at the right shock. The viscosity of the fluid in the shock affects its performance. Having the right & left shocks being at different temps is probably not a good thing...
i'm thinking of maybe going back to the stock exhaust

Anyone want to chime in?

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #39 on:** April 13, 2014, 09:01:19 PM »

I've never noticed my exhaust cooking my right shock and I run a very similar pipe.

cwchan · « **Reply #40 on:** April 17, 2014, 04:31:48 PM »

i've also switched out the left footpeg to a cb400F. The control arm comes off a suzuki katana

I'm going to leave the right footpeg stock. I rarely use the rear brake. I realize that the footpegs are offset but i know that one of the cb750 years also has offset pegs

cwchan · « **Reply #41 on:** September 07, 2014, 03:52:50 PM »

Just got the Ikon 7610-1302. I'm happy with them but 1 complaint would be that the damping adjustment on the left shock faces inward. It has to be in this orientation because the clevis is offset at the bottom

cwchan · « **Reply #42 on:** July 30, 2015, 07:18:23 PM »

Over the winter i decided to switch back to a stock 4into4 because of clearance of the collector on the 4into1. I scraped a few speed bumps.

To my surprise (although it in hindsight it makes sense) it runs better with this exhaust. *** AND i get better mileage.. 40 mpg now compared to 36 mpg before ***

cwchan · « **Reply #43 on:** July 30, 2015, 07:26:23 PM »

Although the 78 style seat was cushy... i hated the way it looked. I decided to go with a 77 550F style seat. And i bobbed the fender and changed the tail light.

I'll recover the seat over the winter. I'd like to get a front fender that matches the rest of the bike better..

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #44 on:** July 30, 2015, 07:53:18 PM »

Cwchan, I am curious about your impressions of how this bike rides after all the suspension mods. Do you ride it hard? Have you ridden a well set up 550 to compare it to? Did all the work and money result in a performance improvement?...etc. I like what you've done. Really seems like your method of not tearing everything down at once, more of a development, is the way to go.

riverfever · « **Reply #45 on:** July 30, 2015, 08:16:10 PM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on August 21, 2013, 10:18:12 PM

The front end looks killer.

Fookin right it does!

cwchan · « **Reply #46 on:** July 31, 2015, 10:13:03 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on July 30, 2015, 07:53:18 PM

Cwchan, I am curious about your impressions of how this bike rides after all the suspension mods. Do you ride it hard? Have you ridden a well set up 550 to compare it to? Did all the work and money result in a performance improvement?...etc. I like what you've done. Really seems like your method of not tearing everything down at once, more of a development, is the way to go.

I wouldn't say that the bike was well set up when i got it. I think the rear tire was too big for the rim and so the tire was fairly squared-off, the front caliper dragged.

I think i ride it harder than i should ... but at the same time i've never dragged the pegs on the ground. I'm very happy with the improvement in braking and front suspension damping.. the seat is fairly cushy so i wouldn't say that there is a huge difference the rear suspension change made for street riding... the steering was definitely better after installing those steering head roller bearings.

As for costs.. there are a few things i would probably do differently but i've gotten some of the money back through selling unused parts.

The MAIN reason that i got the bike was as a hobby. Just to learn about mechanics and how things work and that interest has expanded to cars too. Now i'm known as the "car guy" amongst my peers. I know that if i just did a complete breakdown and rebuild i would already would have moved onto another hobby... stretching a build over many years definitely gave me the time to research, think about where i wanted the build to go, and determine whether something was within my ability & budget.

Rather than the performance improvements, the biggest reward has been challenging myself - someone who wasn't super mechanically inclined - to create something that is somewhat an expression of myself. It feels good when someone acknowledges that effort when they go out of their way to make comments and ask about the bike. And i enjoy riding it:)

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #47 on:** July 31, 2015, 01:02:02 PM »

Thanks for the thoughtful answers.

nevikwen · « **Reply #48 on:** September 16, 2016, 04:37:26 PM »

Hi CWchan,
Sorry I noticed this posts is quite old, but I absolutely admire the work you've done on your CB550. Beautiful front end and wheels!

I also have a 78'' CB550 and is looking into putting a 2005 CBR600rr front end onto it. Was Hoping I could get some answers from you.
According to Rusty Olive, the stock CBR600rr triple and stem will just go onto the CB550 frame with perfect fit, all I need is the top and bottom bearings from AllBalls bearings. Was that the case with you? Also does the steering stop fits right for these two bikes, or will there be some adjustments needed?
Lastly, I saw your post about the CB550 ignition being able to fit the CBR600rr ignition holder on the top tree, and still have the steering lock to work perfectly. Is this the case? I know I probably be asking too much but do you mind showing me a few pictures of your ignition set up on your top tree?

I am very excited about this front end swap, sounds like everything will be in without too much hassle, only tricky part is the wheel hub.

Thanks a lot for your help mate!

Kev

cwchan · « **Reply #49 on:** September 21, 2016, 02:37:20 PM »

Quote from: nevikwen on September 16, 2016, 04:37:26 PM

Hi CWchan,
Sorry I noticed this posts is quite old, but I absolutely admire the work you've done on your CB550. Beautiful front end and wheels!

I also have a 78'' CB550 and is looking into putting a 2005 CBR600rr front end onto it. Was Hoping I could get some answers from you.
According to Rusty Olive, the stock CBR600rr triple and stem will just go onto the CB550 frame with perfect fit, all I need is the top and bottom bearings from AllBalls bearings. Was that the case with you? Also does the steering stop fits right for these two bikes, or will there be some adjustments needed?
Lastly, I saw your post about the CB550 ignition being able to fit the CBR600rr ignition holder on the top tree, and still have the steering lock to work perfectly. Is this the case? I know I probably be asking too much but do you mind showing me a few pictures of your ignition set up on your top tree?

I am very excited about this front end swap, sounds like everything will be in without too much hassle, only tricky part is the wheel hub.

Thanks a lot for your help mate!

Kev

Yes the Stock stem fits right in and the steering stops are perfect if you keep the CBR clip-ons. They stop just before touching the tank. But the degrees of actual stop to stop travel is less so your turning radius isn't as sharp. This really only affects when you are parking though.

I ended up wiring in the CBR ignition key switch... i put some spacers between the CBR key switch ignition and the CBR top triple for it to clear the steering lock. It was difficult to unscrew the CBR ignition from the CBR top triple to put the spacers between them - there are 2 torx screws that are locktighted on.

I never got the steering lock to work. But i think its possible if you wanted to modify the frame but i didn't want to do that. From what i have heard is that its better to leave it unlocked. Steering locks aren't that effective in preventing theft and its better that you recover your bike undamaged if it ends up getting stolen

The wheel hub ended up being simple with what i ended up ordering.

The top triple area is more of a concern for me...i fabed up a rather poor mounting for the choke cable, the speedo/tacho with a sheet of aluminum. I moved provinces last year and i haven't gotten around to an out-of province inspection to get the bike safetied. In its current state i don't think it will pass. My original plan was to get a custom made top triple anyhow... when more funding became available.

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Author Topic: 1978 cb550 FKR Mutt (Read 18861 times)