Topic: My CB550K3 Cafe build - Project Mitch

[stidds]

I have always loved cafe racers as my Father owned a number of Triumphs and Nortons bitd, he also had a CB550 which I can always fondly remember from my childhood.

I have called it project Mitch as I bought the bike the day before my Wife Cousin Mitchell died (he was 19 years old), so it is in his memory.

So I took the plunge and bought a 1978 Honda CB550K3, it cost me the princely sum of £400, so a nice bargain.


This is my first ever build like this and I am always so annoyed when night time comes and I have to stop working on the bike.

This is how I bought it, I do have the missing pieces in boxes supplied by the PO.

As you can see Frodo (my Dog), is helping with this build.







Being stripped down and those oh so annoying surplus brackets being removed.












Wheels are stripped now and rims off to be powdercoated, new stainless spokes on order.

Swingarm coming out and engine being stripped also.

[stidds]

Seat unit ready to fit on the bike.







Just a few pictures of the continuing strip down, all the parts are off and the engine is out.

Time for a strip down and rebuild, just so I know what is in the engine and that it is in good condition before it goes back in.




And finally the frame is out

[stidds]

Here is my 1st ever lacing of a motorcycle wheel.  I have laced 100's of bicycle wheels so it was pretty easy.

The rims have been freshly powdercoated in gloss black (so gloss they look wet) and the hubs have been polished, the stainless spokes are new.

Here is the front wheel.




And the rear..

[stidds]

This is the frame with the rear hoop welded in, the frame has been powdercoated and I have started putting some bits on.





Right where does this part go, LOL (Dog still helping).....




Here is the rebuilt and sprayed engine safely mounted in the rolling chassis.  Also put the clip-on bars on.  This is my favourite picture of the build, I love the shape of the frame it just looks so aggressive.




As you can see, a little bit of colour going onto the bike also, I am such a fan of orange so decided that I will have some orange detailing on it.

[stidds]

Now to add the new tank to the bike, the tank is from a CB500 twin and it really suits the CB550K.  The reason for the new tank is that the original one had so many holes in it that it looked like someone shot it with a shotgun!!.

It was not too hard to fit the tank, I had some grinding to do and I had to raise the rear of the tank slightly and turn the fuel tap clockwise about 1/4 of a turn to ensure the tap did not hit the carbs.

[stidds]

Seat upholstered by me, as you can see I like orange.  Tail light mounted, new kickstart rubber on.




Original CB550 front mudguard shortened and redesigned.





New headlight fitted (a CEV unit with integrated mini speedo).  Also fitting of the LED idiot lights.




Braided hoses fitted to original caliper and new front tyre on.



Mock up of new exhausts, I have changed from a 4-2 system to a twin 2-1 system as I love the balanced look.  I am using tulip exhaust silencers.





Overall look at present..

[stidds]

New rearsets fitted, these fit the look of the bike so well imo and made so well with lots of adjustability for perfect feel.  Also changed the rear brake to cable pull instead of rod.









The bike has been MOT'd and taxed and is on the road, I have since these pictures changed the front downpipes and collector for a much better fitting ones also better looking as they are all chrome and I have lost the exhaust wrap.

[stidds]

So here are my up to date pictures, as you can see there are some changes to the bike.  The exhausts are new and also look a damn sight better I have raised the rear suspension slightly to give a more aggressive stance.

When I extended the wiring on the bike, I wired in a modern sportbike regulator/rectifier/charging system so I can run a halogen front bulb.  When I rebuilt the carbs I changed the jetting on the bike so I could run the new exhaust and velocity stacks, the main jets went from 98 to 110 and the needle jets were best in the factory setting, I installed new slow jets also.

The only things left on my to do list is to sort the petrol tank out, this is being sprayed this week and to re-cover the seat.  Oh yes I need some pin-striping and tank badges also.  I think the only other thing which is bugging me are the different shades of orange on the overflow/breather/fuel pipes which will need to be change cause it is really annoying me.

[stidds]

I needed a new finish on my gas tank, so I had a go at spraying it in 2k paint and pinstriping it.

It took quite a long time preparing it and learning how to paint it, plus once I started the pinstriping realised that I have very shaky hands which really doesn't help things.

Anyway after many attempts and many hours finally got it to a stage I am happy with.

[fastbroshi]

I like the idea of using the 500T tank, the dimples are a lot more subtle than you usually find on "cafe'ed" bikes.

[Gman]

Stidds,
Looks fantastic - from the pics, it seems as though it was a quick build - good job on the follow-through.  I haven't torn into mine, b/c I know once I start tearing it down, I'll never get it back together.   Love the orange...

Gman

[stidds]

Gman, I bought the bike in February this year and started in on it immediately, I think it took me 4 months to get it on the road and I am still sorting things out that I am not happy with or need changing.

I have just finished pinstriping the seat unit and I think that I have finally got it to the place I want it.  I do need to re-upholster the seat, but that will wait until the winter.

[Steve_K]

I like it!  Cafe racers are never finished, but that part of the fun.  Like the orange, the color contrasted to the black is cool.  I have a soft spot for colors like that, Laverda orange comes to mind.
Nice build!
Steve