Topic: Minimalist CB550 Cafe build (updated 10/16/2012)

[Celco]

SHE RUNS!!!!

Got the wiring all fixed up.  Got the carbs on. Got the oil in.  So happy that this thing will turn over and run with this wild wiring harness and this motor with the CB650 cam in it. 

Ill just leave this right here.
(turn speakers down... poor time for Pandora to start playing again on the phone)
http://youtu.be/6Guky3b-pNc

[wolfbiker88]

lol at pandora killing your video.

[kennydean2000]

NICE!  Nothing better than the sound of it starting up after being torn down.

[Celco]

Woo!  She runs and I am slowly patching the gas tank holes, Haha!





Need to get some new exhaust gaskets and make a baffle.  This thing is WAY loud heading down the road.  GoPro video soon to come.

[Celco]

Click this link for hi-res http://i.imgur.com/5u632.jpg

Click this link for hi-res http://i.imgur.com/O6qoF.jpg

And a picture of the proud poppa! (nerd!) Smiling so hard from ear to ear you can see that gap between my teeth!

Click this link for hi-res http://i.imgur.com/gCICi.jpg

This weekend was the first real shake down on the bike.  Did about 90 miles round trip of just cruising out to Algonac State Park in Michigan.  Here is a photo my buddy took with his jazzy camera when we were out by the water.  What made the ride even more enjoyable is this was the first little "get lost on some roads" weekend ride my buddy has ever taken.  It was great to share the joy of some 2-wheels to someone and them appreciate it.  Kind of got me a little emotional.   

Overall she was running pretty good.  Tank is still passing some sediment so another carb clean soon will be needed.  I did get a filter on there, but i need to knock around some nuts and bolts to get everything loose out of there.  Been thinking about maybe a tank cream.  I had a few pin hole leaks that I have sealed with some JB weld, but I only really see that as a temp fix.  I would like to prep the tank for paint, but even a sanded down area of JB weld has to be prone to flaking and possible dislodging. 

I was getting some some floats sticking open and when in the slow jets she was stumbling a little bit.  Also, this thing is freaking LOUD!  Haha!  I had quite the ringing in my right ear after the ride Sunday.  I got a score and found a old SuperTrapp muffler at a swap meet I went to today.  Going to shorten up the header pipe and hit it with the tail pipe expander.  Then cut about 3inches off of the super trap and weld on some exhaust spring loops.  Tip of the supertrapp will probably end 3-4 inches behind and below the right peg at the same angle.  Going to spray the headers and black exhaust wrap them too after the welding is done.  Dont know how I want to paint up the supertrapp, but I do want to run the sand blaster over everything first. 

I real deal ride and walk around video soon I think too. 

[steakCB550K]

nice work.  I can feel the love through the pic.

[Messenger750]

Looks great! What are the plans for the paint and everything?

Might I ask how tall you are? Because I'm 6'5" and I've been looking to build my own cafe and I've wondered how comfortable I'd be with the rear-sets and such. I don't want to be all scrunched up.

[Chris Liston]

how does it run with that open MAC.   I thought about that for mine as I love the look.

[otosjay]

Love this bike.

Might I ask what Brand/Color paint you used for the front calipers?

[Celco]

Looks great! What are the plans for the paint and everything?

Might I ask how tall you are? Because I'm 6'5" and I've been looking to build my own cafe and I've wondered how comfortable I'd be with the rear-sets and such. I don't want to be all scrunched up.

I am currently thinking about paint schemes.  Really leaning toward black frame, white tank and tail, red accents. Heavy on the black and white.    I feel like a dick for wanting to steal the idea, but I am really looking forward to something like the "Lossa SR500" bike.  Red front fender, white tank, white tail.  I think I am going to clean up but keep the big HONDA emblems too and bondo up the tank.  Going to bob the front fender a little.

I am 6'1" about 290lbs.  The pegs aren't too bad where they are.  Knees are a little cramped after awhile, like any "racer" type of bike, but its not too bad.  You could raise the seat up a little too.  I have the seat right on the frame rails. 

how does it run with that open MAC.   I thought about that for mine as I love the look.

MAC was loud and ran ok I suppose.  Little to much on the popcorn side.  It would pop bad on decel.  I think with the supertrapp I put on there it runs a bit nicer though. 
I only tested it with the long muffler just held together with the safety wire and a coupler.  I just doctored it all together tonight and haven't had a chance to take it out (damn rain!).  I ended up cutting 3 inches off the header and using a expander and then cut 2 inches off the supertrapp.  Hammered the pipe into the header and sealed it with some high temp RTV and thru a few rivets aorund the junction.  I wrapped the seam and used some safety wire to support some of the weight near the frame. 

Love this bike.

Might I ask what Brand/Color paint you used for the front calipers?

It was some of the Dupli-color wheel paint. http://www.duplicolor.com/products/wheelCoating/

I think I am going sand blast the rims and hubs.  Might just clear them to keep the raw look.  Maybe paint them black and have raw spokes and new brass nipples. 

[Celco]

Little update... painted some body stuffs.  Also used the Caswell tank epoxy, which spur'd the painting while it was out of commission anyways. 


Before


After


Pre buff on the bike


Looking good!  Need to cure, bake, and buff it out though. 

This was the "$20 Rustoleum" paint job.  While with enough prep it could look pretty amazing, I kind of slacked after the first few coats and didnt feel like getting the tank perfect.  Just wanted everything to be one solid color.  I will probably repaint everything this winter when I strip it down and doll up the motor and frame too.   Enjoy!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Looking good.  Enjoy riding it!

[03rangerxlt]

very cool!

[iron_worker]

I have to admit that the cafe scene wasn't my thing before and I preferred the stock bikes but some of you guys really have a way of making it look just right.

Great project.

IW

[Celco]

So... its been awhile since I posted.  My internship ate most of my summer and sadly posting and riding were mostly put on the back burner.  Now that the cold is swooping in I am aching to get back on a bike and tinker in general.... figure I would post some pictures of the summer with this thing.


Got some Hagons installed and had a great 160mile ride July 4th by myself.  Having some life troubles and needed to just blow off.  Was a great ride.  My sister sending me off.


Took a road less traveled (dirt road) and bumped into a empty R/C Airfield.  Took a few great shots and sat and had lunch on the grass and admired nature for a bit. 


Bumped into some cool busted down barn.  Took a shot.


Then the bad times... In late aug/early sep my tail light took a #$%* at night coming back from bike night.  Some lady in a van let me know I was riding lightless  I was riding down the road and was hand signaling brake for a red light.  Light changed green and I was looking behind me to see if the light really was out.  I was twisted, looking behind me while I hit a ripple/hump in the #$%*ty Michigan roads.  Sent my bars slapping left... and my fat ass rolling on the ground on the right.  Concrete hurts at 35-40mph.  I was "Fine", just a swollen knee the next day and the feeling like someone beat the ever loving #$%* out of me.  Pushed the bike to the side of the road and got a friend to pick me up.  Went back home and got the trailer.  It was a sad night.  Tank dented, brake lines chewed, side cover exploded, bar bent, rearset bent (not broken!), and some scuffs on headlight ring and throttle cables.  Yeah, that is my blood on the tank!  Slammed my nose into my face guard in the helmet and had a bloody nose when I got up.


Really not looking forward to pulling all the dents and redoing the tank all pretty, so I am playing with the idea of using the leather from the jacket that saved my skin and wrapping the tank and tail in the extra leather.  Not sure how it will be done, but I have a few idea.  Kind of excited with the idea of the ratty custom look of the leather wrap. 

More stuff will eventually happen with the bike, and Ill be sure to post that progress when it comes around.

[Gman]

Celco,
    Sorry about the bike- I was enjoying the thread, but that's not how I expected/wanted it to end when I got to your last post.   . Bike can be fixed, though.  Glad to hear that you weren't too scuffed up and are back at it.

Cheers,
G