Ok...so I had a post all ready at length...then my little one decided to jump in my lap and hit the keyboard...byebye posting. Let me try again.
Bought a 1976 CB550 in October of 2010. It was in pretty rough shape, but it was able to get started. Plus I knew I was going to redo most of it. Price was decent...so I bought it.
Next came time to strip all the parts off the bike to get it to my blank canvas.
Next I had to think hard about the pathway I wanted to take. I knew I was going to do a cafe racer with a monoshock rear. I wasn't really sure about whether I was going to go with a modern front end or leave the stock one. Eventually I decided on a modern front end after reading Squirley's amazing thread. Thanks to Squirley for all his wonderful posts!
Monoshock from CBR 900
People ask me how I chose the shock. I really based it mainly on the room I had to use inside the frame. Spring rate was kind of a guess at that point. I figured if I bought a shock I could take apart, I would be able to change the spring down the road.
My front end and wheel arrived, as well as the rotors...so I got started making the wheel fit. What I did differently than the rest of the people doing this was, I used an 84-99 front wheel from a Narrow Glide...not the 2000+ wheel like the others. What this meant was that I had to make a new axle and bushings to make the wheel mount to the front end. I also had to machine hub adapters to make the rotors space out to the calipers....translation...way too much work for the same result.
Once that was taken care of it was on to making the new subframe and swing arm bracing for the monoshock.
With an overall destination idea of.....
With that done, it was time to get shaping foam for the tail section. I knew what I wanted, so it went pretty fast.
Then it was on to shaping the aluminum...my favorite part!
Access panel to all electrics, taillight in rear section.
Sunk in some turn signals/extra brake lights. These are twin electrode LED's. I thought I would wire them as turn signals and brake lights, but my brake light in the tail is so bright I don't need them....it's almost offensively bright.
I then began the tank work. I don't have progress pics of this...it's really boring anyway. So here is a picture of the bike outside the garage.
I then began to make the rearsets and exhaust.
For the exhaust, I used the stock header pipes I got from a local salvage shop. I made the two into one collectors and bought the mufflers from Cone Engineering. I wrapped the pipes because I didn't want to pay for chroming the pipes. I also couldn't afford stainless.
Once all of that was done I wired the bike and rode it a bit. And sorted out the kinks.
I then figured I would polish the tank and tail. I also polished the side cases.
One thing that kept bothering me was the rear wheel. I really just didn't like the drum brake and the skinny width of the rim. So I thought, "I wonder if I can make a harley wheel fit the rear of the bike?"
So I bought a harley rear wheel and made an axle to make it fit the swingarm. It was a lot of work, but it came out exactly as I wanted. I then made the brake mount and had rear disc brakes! The front and rims both matched and looked great!
I just rode it to the 2012 Rocker's Reunion yesterday...and it was a big hit! She rides great and is quick. Now I'm thinking of selling her and starting the next build...we will see.
Thanks to everyone for all the comments I got over the build. I know I'm not the best at posting progress. I'll try to do better in the future.
Poll