Author Topic: '75 CB550K - "Le Mans Special" - muffler fell off at 80mph (Read 30809 times)

bill440cars · « **Reply #150 on:** July 12, 2011, 09:04:35 PM »

My pleasure, it's been a real eye opener, to see what you all are up to now days. I've missed alot, in the last bit.

Syscrush · « **Reply #151 on:** July 13, 2011, 05:59:41 AM »

Quote from: Ringo on May 30, 2011, 09:05:45 AM

And I believe member joeyputt's street-legal 550 is coming in at around 320lbs, but don't quote me on that.

Edit: spoke too soon. He's coming in at under 300, and expects to stay there.

Let's constrain the discussion to running bikes.

Ringo · « **Reply #152 on:** July 13, 2011, 09:17:43 PM »

He's had a bit of a personal setback lately. All the parts together though...they still weigh in at quite a bit less. Running or not, it is what it is. And making it run won't add any weight.

Either way, I don't much care for the weight debate. Squeezing a little more perceived acceleration from a <50 hp bike...well yeah, if I was after speed, I'd go for a modern bike...

Don't mind me; I guess I'm just grumpy.

Syscrush · « **Reply #153 on:** July 14, 2011, 05:49:23 AM »

Quote from: Ringo on July 13, 2011, 09:17:43 PM

All the parts together though...they still weigh in at quite a bit less. Running or not, it is what it is. And making it run won't add any weight.

I hope you're right and I hope he's able to get that thing running. It's a cool bike.

Quote

Either way, I don't much care for the weight debate. Squeezing a little more perceived acceleration from a <50 hp bike...well yeah, if I was after speed, I'd go for a modern bike...

I'm with ya 100% on that, although I've never been on a bike and wished it was heavier.

And the weight you've cut from your bike is an impressive accomplishment!

Quote

Don't mind me; I guess I'm just grumpy.

GET OFF MY LAWN!

dagersh · « **Reply #154 on:** July 14, 2011, 09:55:49 AM »

Ringo,

I am just awed by your work. Congratulations!

Gersh

greenjeans · « **Reply #155 on:** July 14, 2011, 01:37:24 PM »

Dang Ringo,

That turned out f'in great ! Every since I was a little kid I loved the baby blue and orange of the mighty Gulf GT40.

Well done.

shinneh · « **Reply #156 on:** July 17, 2011, 05:42:35 AM »

Awesome work through and through.

I hafta ask, where did you learn to mold the tank and seat? Reading through your build I believe I should be able to do one of my own. Is there anywhere I could read a little tutorial?

Ringo · « **Reply #157 on:** July 17, 2011, 01:29:32 PM »

Trial and error mostly. I have some sculptural experience in my past, so that helped. But it's just learning how your materials behave and how you can make them do what you want. Best thing to do is get some glass and resin, do some googling, and play around.

shinneh · « **Reply #158 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:50:43 AM »

Thank-ya for the answer, I'm off to try my hand at this~

shinneh · « **Reply #159 on:** July 20, 2011, 05:20:58 PM »

Ok, one more question. Upon studying the tank creation closer I'm a little confused on something which can be resolved with maybe one word. Does the final product (the gas tank) use that metal form that came from the old tank? Or did you cut the bottom off the old tank, use it as a mold, and then build an entire fiberlgass tank.

I was thinking it was quite ingenious to use the old tank's bottom, but then your pictures suggested that you used it as a mold...even more ingenious-ier

Ringo · « **Reply #160 on:** July 29, 2011, 08:42:20 PM »

Hey, sorry for taking a while to respond. Work's been crazy busy.

I actually did incorporate the old bottom of the tank into the new one. It was the quickest and easiest way to retain all the stock mounting points and petcock bung.

shinneh · « **Reply #161 on:** August 02, 2011, 07:41:44 AM »

No worries on the response time. I thought it looked like you kept the bottom of the stock tank. That's surprising how much weight you've lost with a half steel/glass tank.

Thanks alot for the answers, gonna help me alot.

Ringo · « **Reply #162 on:** October 10, 2011, 09:49:40 AM »

First hiccup so far: the aluminum muffler mount. Because brilliant me thought aluminum would be fine for the most vibration-prone place on the bike.

Ended up losing the muffler at 80mph. No worries though, got another one, and remaking the mount from stainless.

Guess that's what I get for trying to shave weight everywhere...lesson learned.

Syscrush · « **Reply #163 on:** October 10, 2011, 01:00:22 PM »

Quote from: Ringo on October 10, 2011, 09:49:40 AM

Guess that's what I get for trying to shave weight everywhere...lesson learned.

Sounds like a job for titanium!

bwaller · « **Reply #164 on:** October 10, 2011, 01:21:45 PM »

Ringo, same-same for mine. Made a tidy little piece out of SS and cost me a few grams....one less beers worth.

catsoup · « **Reply #165 on:** October 10, 2011, 04:38:02 PM »

Reading the title, I thought the whole bike took a fall, glad to hear it was just the muffler - would hate to see this bike hit the ground.

definitely one of my favorite builds.

SF · « **Reply #166 on:** October 11, 2011, 01:48:32 PM »

glad to hear it was just the silencer! super bike!

Emokid · « **Reply #167 on:** October 11, 2011, 10:32:11 PM »

Fantastic build , congratulations on a wery cool looking bike

Can i ask you a question on the fiberglass tank and seat?
Im just starting to glue together styrofoam blocks for my build , and i think i will adopt your idea of keeping the lower half of the tank (maybe

)
It looks like you used strips of fiberglasscloth , is that right ? And how much cloth and resin did you need for the build ?
Thanks , and again , one of the most original builds i have seen so far , and offcourse i mean that in a good way

Ricky_Racer · « **Reply #168 on:** October 12, 2011, 10:19:11 PM »

Hi, Ringo. Impressive build! Would you share what kind of carving foam you used? It looks almost like a floral foam. Or is it something more exotic? Thanks. RR

voxonda · « **Reply #169 on:** October 13, 2011, 01:43:28 AM »

Well done, very nice looking bike!

Rob

Ringo · « **Reply #170 on:** October 13, 2011, 02:46:05 PM »

Quote from: Syscrush on October 10, 2011, 01:00:22 PM

Sounds like a job for titanium!

I like your thinking...

Ringo · « **Reply #171 on:** October 13, 2011, 02:51:12 PM »

Emokid, I used strips, yes. The amount of resin you'll need will vary. For all the glasswork on the bike, I went through about a gallon. But I also wasted a lot too...

I would buy more than you think you'll need, because running out mid way through is heartbreaking...especially when you're on a roll.

Ringo · « **Reply #172 on:** October 13, 2011, 02:52:47 PM »

RR, floral foam it is. It's very easy to work with, and sands really nicely.

nvr2old · « **Reply #173 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:45:28 PM »

I've seen your bike featured on BIKEEXIF's site, and how nicely it was received. Thoroughly enjoyed the body work process..it's a ton of work, I know, I do it for a living. Just wanted to say what an incredibly cool 550 it is. Which magazine is it featured in? I have a '76 550F model that I've had good luck with, too. Great little bikes.

Ricky_Racer · « **Reply #174 on:** October 14, 2011, 01:30:18 AM »

Quote from: Ringo on October 13, 2011, 02:52:47 PM

RR, floral foam it is. It's very easy to work with, and sands really nicely.

Thanks, Ringo. I've been looking at various carving foams. Some of the pro foams get pretty pricey.

Did you use a template to maintain left/right symmetry, or just do the look and touch thing? Thanks again. RR

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Author Topic: '75 CB550K - "Le Mans Special" - muffler fell off at 80mph (Read 30809 times)

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