So, here's the dream bike I picked up. I picked up a 750 a few months ago off craigslist for a good price for a runner. She'd been maintained wellish for a while. As I showed up and bought her, I ran into a collector who was going out to see her. After I bought her he let me ride his 550 and 650. I enjoyed the 550 so much that it had been on my mind since. He was attached as well, so I had my eye out for another one.
Off craigslist I picked up 4 frames, 2 engines, and more various 550 stuff for next to nothing, the guy had bought it as a project but never followed through; they were in boxes under a tarp in the yard.
I stopped by a bike shop to chat, and learnt of this 550 sitting out at a Subaru tuning shop. The cycle shop guy owned her for a while before selling her. That owner left her at the Subaru shop as a consignment, and there she sat for ten years, most of it right there in the grass.
I picked her up for less than the box bike, and got her running over the weekend. Compression is good, spark is good, and electrics are good. I tuned her up and she idles at 1000 and 1200 beautifully. She's not smoking after some running, and so I guess it's time for everything else she needs.
New wheels. I'm leaning heavily towards 1.85x18 front and rear. Thoughts on sizing?
I'm thinking about cutting the rear and fitting a brat style seat, tucked and rolled. I'm concerned about weakening the frame; if I welded on the hoop (with an upswing for clearance) and welded on some crossbars on the seat pan, would that sufficiently firm up her tail? Heh.
Master cylinders, I'd like to go modern. I'll do some research on here, but if you have any insight, please let me know.
Hagon shocks.
Racetech emulators + springs, or just Progressive springs? Where do I even get the Racetechs? Tubes are slightly (hopefully) pitted above the travel area, I'll try to salvage them. A bit of Patina isn't so bad.
Bayed a NOS tank.
Hondaman ignition.
Yoshi repro pipes, with the reverse megaphone, I think.
Allballz steering head and wheel bearings. Do they make a swingarm kit?
A123 batt
Kicker only
Rearsets
Flattrack bars
Halogen headlamp
New speedo/tach
Inline blade fuses
New sprockets and chain (530x100 old school, 520 for weight?)
Powdercoat the applicables.
The 750 is going to my larger than me friend. And that about sums it up what I see happening. Now, hopefully I'm not too crazy busy these next few months...which is usually the case.
