Author Topic: Green Hornet CB 550/650 # Some pics of my trip to Scotland with SOHC4 Honda  (Read 80234 times)

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Offline strynboen

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Dangerous driving lessons
« Reply #150 on: August 23, 2012, 07:40:36 am »
i took my licens last year..just renember ..the 550 dont have breakes as good at nowdays abs sccolbikes..so have ekstra safty distance on this old bikes
i drive to work every day..and have got 3 close momens in one year..all cars who came  from left..and drove in front of me..not seeing anything..
i have yellov frontlight..to be seen..
i kan not speak english/but trying!!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60973.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144758.0
i hate all this v-w.... vords

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Dangerous driving lessons
« Reply #151 on: August 23, 2012, 08:08:58 am »
Hi Oette,

good to hear about your progress on the driving licence. Don't let the cages get you...

I hear a lot of bikers complaining about car drivers not paying attention to motorcycle. IMO they don't get the problem.
You'd better avoid riding next to cages, their drivers just don't see you. Try to always keep a gap on the lane next to you. If you can't do that, avoid the blind angle, keep some lateral distance to the car. You probably learn these things in school, but what the instructor can't teach you is a sense for the driving style of the guys around you.

Read Bernt Spiegel's "Die obere Hälfte des Motorrads". I do not like his style, but he's providing invaluable information about how our unconscious mind helps us and often misleads us while we are riding a motorcycle, also giving good examples on how to train situation awareness and improvement of your driving skills. Personally I think this book really saves lives...

Cheers
Carsten


Thanks, I think that will be worth a look!

Offline Syscrush

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Dangerous driving lessons
« Reply #152 on: August 23, 2012, 08:20:34 am »
Honestly, I want to push back against the "you're invisible" and "everyone's out to get you" memes that permeate so much of motorcycling lore.  If I believed either one, I wouldn't be able to get on a bike and ride in traffic.

First of all: bikes are NOT hard to see.  But people don't always pay as much attention as they should, and so they cut off or pull in front of other drivers.  This happens to motorcycles, but also to cars, minivans, SUV's, and big trucks.  Sure, a driver who plows into a bike says "I didn't see him", but that's almost always because they didn't look.  A driver who drives into a big brick wall, or over a curb, or into a fire hydrant, or under a bus will say the exact same thing.  It doesn't mean that any of those things are hard to see.

As for other drivers being somehow dangerous or out to get you, it misses a very important point: WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.  This includes motorcyclists! Most of the time, though, most drivers are doing basically what they should.  most drivers make it through years or even decades without even a fender bender.  If you see other drivers as unskilled and chaotic, then that means that you can't interpret what they're doing, or anticipate what they are likely to do next, or take cues from them about what you should be doing.  Maybe that cager in front of you is slamming on the brakes not because he just dropped his cell on the floor, but because there's an obstacle in the road that you can't see.

Anyhow, if someone encroaches on you somehow, if they don't actually cause you to wreck, then calm down and try to let it go.  You don't ride well when you're stressed out of your mind, and you are MUCH more likely to end up wrecking if you do dumb things like escalate by blasting past someone in order to flip them off, etc.

Most importantly, I don't like this line of thinking because it makes motorcyclists out as victims of the whims of fate, as opposed to independent agents responsible for their own safety.  Here's an example of what I mean.  YES, the most common car-bike collision scenario is a left-turning car pulling out in front of an approaching motorcycle.  It seems obvious that this is negligence on the part of the car driver, and I don't deny that it is.  HOWEVER, in his analysis for the Hurt Report, Harry Hurt found that more than 50% of motorcyclists involved in those collisions didn't know what countersteering aka push steering is.  So, half of the bikes that are colliding with left-turning cars have no idea how to steer a motorcycle - they lacked the most basic skills required to dodge the car.  Is it surprising, then, that those motorcyclists are ending up involved in head-on collisions?


In my experience, BY FAR the most important factor in wrecking is whether you as the rider have made something else more important than not wrecking.  You most often crash when you decide that something other than not crashing is your top priority.  Keep safety in mind, keep cool, keep focused on the life & death task at hand, and have a long, safe, and rewarding riding career!!!
Life is precious: wear your f'n helmet!
There's nothing more expensive than a free bike...
FWIW, I'm not a shill for Race Tech - I've just got a thing for good suspension and the RTCE's are the most cost-effective mod for these old damping rod front ends.

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Dangerous driving lessons
« Reply #153 on: August 24, 2012, 12:21:50 pm »
Spend some time today on minor things.

Replaced the sidestand with space for the exhaust :D and also trimmed the frame with regard to useless brackets I won't use at all.
See yourself!







There she stands waiting for her journey to a glassbeadblasted engine and powdercoat of all necessary parts.
I finally decided to use the boxed swingarm to improve handling and last but not least it's a neat tidbit which got rare over here on classic bikes.


Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #prepared for powdercoating
« Reply #154 on: August 31, 2012, 03:03:35 pm »
Today I had some thoughts about the brakes of the bike, after talking to another sohc owner.

I read about using the GL 1000's frontend but I focused on doing something with dual caliper CB 750/900 brakes.
After a quick search, I found out that these had also 35mm forks, so it will be a "drop in" fit.

The main problem is, that the rotors have 5 mounting holes in contrast to the 550's 6 holes.
I heard, that some of the Cb 750 rc01 had spoked wheels before Honda introduced the comstar wheels. A hub of one of these bikes would offer me everything needed to mount the well working brakes of the CB 900 on my Cb 550.

What do you think? Any remarks on that topic?

Offline Flying J

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Some thoughts about brakes!
« Reply #155 on: August 31, 2012, 03:58:59 pm »
Just because the forks are the same diameter does not mean they are drop in. Yes the forks will fit in the triple tree but what wheel are you going to use? The triple of what ever bike you get the forks from may be wider then the 550 triple. The gl swap works because you swap the whole thing, Triple tree, forks calipers and wheel. They are a package deal. You cant just put forks in a different triple tree with some other wheel and expect it to all fit. You will need to do more research then just knowing that they will fit the triple tree. There are probably hundreds of bikes with 35mm forks. Also you can do a dual caliper with a cb 550. Just add a second one to the other side with a disk. Its not hard.

Offline mazen0822

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Some thoughts about brakes!
« Reply #156 on: September 01, 2012, 06:52:25 am »
Just because the forks are the same diameter does not mean they are drop in. Yes the forks will fit in the triple tree but what wheel are you going to use? The triple of what ever bike you get the forks from may be wider then the 550 triple. The gl swap works because you swap the whole thing, Triple tree, forks calipers and wheel. They are a package deal. You cant just put forks in a different triple tree with some other wheel and expect it to all fit. You will need to do more research then just knowing that they will fit the triple tree. There are probably hundreds of bikes with 35mm forks. Also you can do a dual caliper with a cb 550. Just add a second one to the other side with a disk. Its not hard.

Also if you want to use a GL1000 front end you will need to swap the stems on the tree's, the GL stem is much longer.

With the GL1000 front on you have a choice also of using the stock duel disk or adapting a modern set of breaks on it. I did this swap on my 550 and used a ducati monster rotor and 6pot caliper off a zx-6. Its amazing how well the bike stops now. However keeping the stock duel disk off the GL would be great improvement over the stock 550 breaks.

Also with the GL forks being 37mm as opposed to the stock 35mm on the 550 the bike feels much more stable at higher speeds.
« Last Edit: September 01, 2012, 07:06:25 am by mazen0822 »

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Some thoughts about brakes!
« Reply #157 on: September 13, 2012, 01:32:03 pm »
Made a big step forward to ride the bike next season: Today I got my bike driving license!  ;D

Offline 70CB750

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Some thoughts about brakes!
« Reply #158 on: September 14, 2012, 05:33:00 am »
Made a big step forward to ride the bike next season: Today I got my bike driving license!  ;D

Jawohl!

Offline Viktor.J

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Some thoughts about brakes!
« Reply #159 on: September 14, 2012, 05:43:43 am »
congratulations to the driver license. What does it cost in Germany ?
In Sweden the fixed cost is above 820 euros, and then 120 euro for every 80 min driving lesson.. Very expensive.
Please ! Take a look and give me feedback in my project thread, its much needed :)
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=112745.0

Honda CB750 K2

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #160 on: September 14, 2012, 04:04:32 pm »
i payed 1237 euros. That included fixed costs and twelve practical lessons. Thanks for the congratulations!

Offline 70CB750

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #161 on: September 15, 2012, 05:38:00 am »
In Czech Republic it is about 7000 Kč/Crowns - 300 Euros or so.

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #162 on: September 15, 2012, 06:02:31 am »
Man, I just don't get what justifies these prices....

Offline strynboen

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #163 on: September 15, 2012, 06:27:44 am »
10,000 kroner in denmark....and i gave 14.000 for my 550... :P
i kan not speak english/but trying!!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60973.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144758.0
i hate all this v-w.... vords

Offline terza96

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #164 on: September 15, 2012, 06:31:38 am »
Holy Moly ,
that business about driver licence in Europe is a crocks rip of ,big time . ;D
Here in Canada as I remember, not more then $ 100 !

Offline strynboen

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #165 on: September 15, 2012, 06:40:41 am »
you learn first help ..learn to drive on track..to break safe vith no abs.......kontra stering..and a lot of driving in traffic...and a hell lot of teori..drive day and night...
i think it vas the money vorth..
i kan not speak english/but trying!!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60973.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144758.0
i hate all this v-w.... vords

Offline Viktor.J

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #166 on: September 16, 2012, 07:19:27 am »
Well total with 10 driving lessions i belive The total amount For The driver license is abot 2000 euros :(

Its a hell of a lot money, but on The other hand Sweden is one of The worlds safest mc Countrys :)
Please ! Take a look and give me feedback in my project thread, its much needed :)
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=112745.0

Honda CB750 K2

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #167 on: September 16, 2012, 01:22:40 pm »
That's sick. And I thought I had spend too much money  :D

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Got my driving license!
« Reply #168 on: November 21, 2012, 11:58:50 am »
It's been a long time, but finally the parts made their way back home from powdercoating and glassbeadblasting. They are looking like new ones.

Check the pics out!





The car in the background is a intermediate purchase, my "new" old '99 Audi TT. Was an offer I could not deny and a good investment in driving fun :D


Offline iron_worker

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #back from powdercoating/glassbeadblasting
« Reply #169 on: November 21, 2012, 12:16:46 pm »
Wow! Did they blast/coat the engine just like that (assembled)?

IW

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #back from powdercoating/glassbeadblasting
« Reply #170 on: November 21, 2012, 12:25:22 pm »
The whole engine has been disassembled. What you see is only the engine case. Moreover I closed every hole with an old bolt or adequate parts. I told them about bearing shells and other problematic parts of the engine before.

All in all they did a great job, the engine case is in a very good condition. They started with a plasticblasting to remove the old paint and gave it a finish with glassbeads.

The coated parts have been sandblasted.

Offline Flying J

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #back from powdercoating/glassbeadblasting
« Reply #171 on: November 21, 2012, 12:29:30 pm »
make sure all your oil passageways are very clean. You dont want any of that going through your motor.

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #back from powdercoating/glassbeadblasting
« Reply #172 on: November 21, 2012, 12:32:50 pm »
I know. Have the engine treated is one part, cleaning every bead out of it is a job for a whole saturday  :D. Meanwhile I took the head down and cleaned it, but the whole work is worth the new looks.

Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #back from powdercoating/glassbeadblasting
« Reply #173 on: February 03, 2013, 11:56:30 am »
Some pics of the latest progress on the engine:

Stripped and cleaned engine case



Cleaned valves



Cleaned head



Looks better than new, eh?



Lower case assembled







Sealing the cases





After having spend no time for the bike the last weeks, I'm back with a little tidbit. For some reason someone has sent my tacho and speedo into trash.
Since I am not willing to spend much money for new ones I decided to go with the stock tacho.
In my opinion a single instrument in the bike's cockpit is far better looking than two stock ones.

After checking the box with bicycle spares i found an old Sigma Bike Speedo with just the needed functions. I did some research and found out it serves up to 300 km/h.
And here the work of a rainy sunday afternoon begins... a hybrid tachometer/speedometer.

Collecting all the necessary parts, open the tachometer, some  12V LED-light stripe (which actually provides a VERY nice and clear tachometer backlight) and the bicycle speedo.



Disassembled the speedo down to the display and chip. Fits quite well into the tachos lower area.



Assembling chip and display to a useable unit for my tacho. Function test shows, that it is working well.



Next steps are integrating it into the tachos surface and connecting the necessary functions to buttons outside the tachos' case with 3 tacticle switches to access the functions easily.

Moreover I ordered 4 LEDs for the control lights which will be fitted into the upper area of the gauge. Let's see what it is going to look like when it's finished. I'm also planning to restore the tachos' case.

regards


Offline Oette

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Re: Cafe Racer CB 550 #Selfmade HYBRID Tachometer/Speedometer
« Reply #174 on: February 04, 2013, 07:12:18 am »
And this is the current state after the last one and a half hour milling and filing to fit the digital speedo into the gauge face...







In my opinion this first result looks brilliant! I am really curious what it will look like when it's completely rebuild and painted.