Author Topic: 1975 CB550 brat build... (new pics, new bars, new stuff) (Read 35604 times)

xnewmanx · « **on:** August 14, 2012, 07:20:32 pm »

First off, I'll say that I hate using terms like "brat" and "cafe" because that makes me feel like I am trying to fit a mold.

A little back story on the bike:
I got the bike about 8 years ago at a garage sale for, I kid you not, 10 dollars. It was 100% stock, no rust on it at all. Actually just jumped it and drove it home. But then once I got it home I did a couple burnouts with it and popped the tire so I just left it outside for a year or two and it got sort of #$%*ted up from the rain and snow. A year or so later I decided I wanted to ride it so I went to retrieve it and someone had backed into it and bent the bars and broken the side covers. I threw some clipons on it and took the front pegs off of it and just flipped the shifter and used the rear. I drove it like that for a few years until this summer the mod bug bit me and I really went to town.

Here's what it looked like when I got it (these pics are SUPER lame but they're about 8 years old, so cut me some slack)

So after this summer I really started cutting it up. I love cutting stuff up.

Everything I did was done very quickly in order to minimize downtime. I don't think the bike was off the road for more than 4 days at a time at most.

the first thing I did was slap on DOT dual sport tires. (Did this in my garage with tire levers)

Then I cut the back off and moved the shock mounting points forward an inch and a hlaf:

And welded on part of some BMX handlebars:

Made a cardboard template for a seat pan:

Cut it out of 16ga and bent it up in a vice:

Glued together several layers of a weight lifting mat:

Started to carve it with air tools:

Finished:

Made a template out of cardboard for a cover:

Bought some marine vinyl and sewed some diamond pattern in it, then sewed together the whole seat:

Seat installed. It came out OK. Enough for the scope of the project... wasn't looking for perfection:

No pics, but I also welded brackets to mount the swingarm to the fender, built a taillight bracket, beat the tank in with a hammer to make it more comfortable, installed lowering springs out back, lowered the fork in the trees.

This is how it sat after the initial round of tweaking:

xnewmanx · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:22:37 pm »

Next came:

Off an 07 GSXR. Paid about 250 or 300 for the whole setup. Built everything required to install them.

Sticking with single disc.

Driving around withno front brake...

xnewmanx · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:23:58 pm »

Machined a front brake adapter and got the brakes on:

Then I decided I wasn't digging the ride/look with rearsets and wanted to change to high mid controls. So I built some #$%* from scratch (even the pegs). IDGAF about the welds.

Also threw on a BMX kicker pedal.

This is the riding position before:

I wanted something like this. More aggressive.

So here's how I did it:

^^^ yeah, that's a 3/8" socket for the shifter peg.

And here's how she sits now:

Then I ordered 400 dollars worth of stainless u bends for a custom exhaust

xnewmanx · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:27:15 pm »

Next it was time to build the exhaust. Had some fun with it. Just kinda started with the front and worked back:

All 304SS mandrel tube. At this point it was just tacked

And here it is all tig welded up. I also made some "lollipops" which are washers welded to bolts to increase backpressure in the exhaust. Took off the airbox (in anticipation of the velocity stacks I have on order) Rejetted the carbs from 100 to 110 (38 to 40 for pilot). Runs awesome. Sounds awesome.

xnewmanx · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:27:49 pm »

And here are some pics of the exhaust installed. Made some filler plates because I felt the rear was a little vacant... 12GA Aluminum.

Then I found this super old tractor taillight at work. Gonna replace the lame ebay unit...

xnewmanx · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:28:22 pm »

Here's the old tractor tail light mounted up:

xnewmanx · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:29:00 pm »

Nex I made a suicide clutch and jockey shift. I have a plan. This isn't bad to ride either...

Boostisfordinnr · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:29:33 pm »

I dig the originality of this build. I also have the same thoughts when it comes to "cafe" and "brat", also "bob" and "chop". I do things for me and me alone, I feel you have done the same thing and I commend you for that.

How do those tires ride?

xnewmanx · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2012, 07:30:10 pm »

Bought a rear master cylinder from an R6 and attached it to the frame. Ran a hydraulic line up to the front brake. Took the brake lever off. Cut the bars down. I think I am going to make some really low rise attack bars for it, but the clipons will do til then. I also replaced the shifter seal that had been leaking oil ever since I bought it.

I also put some vintage amp "jewels" from a fender guitar amplifier in the back fender. Also installed steel dragon "old school" velocity stacks.

A few pics of the whole shebang...

This is how she sits currently!

I have some more plans in the works...

BillGodRules · « **Reply #9 on:** August 16, 2012, 06:26:22 am »

Nice looking bike XNEWMANX. $10? Nice score. I have a 500 the same color. Just curious what are you doing with the stock parts you are taking off? I may be interested in the exhaust if the price is right. What sort of shape is it in?

xnewmanx · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2012, 12:11:34 pm »

Most of the stuff I threw away, but I still have the exhaust. There are some pinholes in the bottom of it, though.

Mcwilliams570 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 16, 2012, 01:28:13 pm »

I really like the look of your bike very nicely done hats of to you made me really look at it and get some ideas..

Matt

cb550choppa · « **Reply #12 on:** August 16, 2012, 03:52:10 pm »

that thing is pure awesome

Mcwilliams570 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 16, 2012, 04:00:44 pm »

Quick question how is the rear fender mounted..

Matt

xnewmanx · « **Reply #14 on:** August 16, 2012, 04:45:36 pm »

Quote from: Mcwilliams570 on August 16, 2012, 04:00:44 pm

Quick question how is the rear fender mounted..

Matt

on struts welded to the swingarm.

xnewmanx · « **Reply #15 on:** August 16, 2012, 05:11:52 pm »

So today I shortened the forks internally which allowed me to put them in a normal position in the triple clamp. I also removed the steering damper. The result is a super clean front end. Still unsure if I want to do anything as far as building bars or if I should stick with the clipons.

Finksies · « **Reply #16 on:** August 16, 2012, 05:16:37 pm »

cool bike, do u have a link to what u used for your front brake lines? Never seen that before.

xnewmanx · « **Reply #17 on:** August 16, 2012, 05:22:47 pm »

Quote from: Finksies on August 16, 2012, 05:16:37 pm

cool bike, do u have a link to what u used for your front brake lines? Never seen that before.

what do you mean? It's just a 25 dollar piece of braided hose from summitracing???

xnewmanx · « **Reply #18 on:** August 16, 2012, 08:51:07 pm »

OK, so in these pics you can see that the fork tubes are pretty close to the top of the triple tree. I tried putting them flush but it didn't look right. I also removed the steering damper. I may attach it underneath the triple at a later date.

Here is a closeup of the jewels in the fender. They serve no purpose. Strictly aesthetic.

And lastly I removed the nuts on the shift lever and replaced it with a pretty rare Japanese one from a boutique auto company called cruise. There are probably hardly any like it in the states. It was a special order item direct from japan that I had intended to use on my BMW but never did...

greenjeans · « **Reply #19 on:** August 20, 2012, 05:18:07 am »

Have to say....when I saw the first photo in the thread, I almost didn't look any further

But, I am glad that I did. Love it. Really dig your style on that one. Very unique industrial style.

Something about those knobbies...

jaguar · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2012, 04:50:55 pm »

Where in NY are you?

Dannodarko · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2012, 05:07:01 pm »

Awesome build

kerryb · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2012, 09:16:32 pm »

Very creative...I'm looking forward to the attack bars.

corey607 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 22, 2012, 07:48:24 am »

Cool ideas. how did you run the clutch cable?

Blitzburgh207 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 22, 2012, 08:29:36 am »

I like the way you see things

Cool build - very original.

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Author Topic: 1975 CB550 brat build... (new pics, new bars, new stuff) (Read 35604 times)