Author Topic: Just brought a CB550 home, I'm ready to build (Read 19982 times)

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #75 on:** December 21, 2012, 03:20:20 PM »

Well, I got a little time off work so I thought I would get back to the CB and try to finish up the build. I've been distracted by my latest find:

Needless to say having that around will change my demands for the 550 which is quite a relief.

Anyway, here is what I got done. I removed the old swingarm bushings w/o much trouble and replaced w/ bronze. I threw a new set of all ballz tapered bearings on as well as was suggested. Last night I replaced my fork seals.

That went pretty easy, I haven't decided on oil yet though. Seems a lot of folk run 10w ATF.
I pulled the center stand and kickstand, degreased in a pine-sol bath, wire brushed and gave them a coat of paint before baking them around 200 degrees for 30 min or so.

After a little assembly here is how she sits:

Getting there. Wish I had more time but at least I'm enjoying it!

Stev-o · « **Reply #76 on:** December 21, 2012, 03:31:51 PM »

Good progress. Are you going to register in VT?

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #77 on:** December 21, 2012, 03:35:30 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on December 21, 2012, 03:31:51 PM

Good progress. Are you going to register in VT?

That was my plan but then that frame popped up right by my house so I don't need to. It had a clean Illinois title. I just got temp plates for this and my cbr yesterday so I'm good to go. New titles are in the mail.
I'd still like to try the Vermont thing at some point though to see if its possible, it would be cool.

Stev-o · « **Reply #78 on:** December 21, 2012, 03:40:45 PM »

I'm going to try the VT thing on a K1 I bought.

The CBR looks sweet, how'd you find/decide to buy that?

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #79 on:** December 21, 2012, 03:48:16 PM »

Well I'm always on the lookout for a good sports/tourer (FZ1, Concours etc.) and I found that one on Craigslist. Its a '90 1000f. I showed it to my wife and she wanted to go get it right away! She's way more comfy on the back of that than my 1100 so that was it, picked it up along w a matching parts bike for $1500.

Of course everything was great till I unloaded it only to have it not start! I'm not getting spark on any of the plugs so I obviously jazzed a ground somewhere, it ran awesome the day I bought it. Oh well, I DID need another project!

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #80 on:** December 25, 2012, 09:39:10 AM »

I threw the rear fender on yesterday before leaving for family stuff. POR15'd under the chrome bits and cleaned everything up, all the wiring is getting put back stock and I'm filling each pod connector w/ dielectric grease.

Got back last night and while my wife fought w/ wiring hooking up her old original Nintendo (yeah, she's got Zelda! I never played video games as a kid so I just get to watch) I stuffed all the wires back into the headlight bucket and hooked it 99% up. Then I realized I need to unhook the hand controls to run internal wiring through my new superbike bars, dang. That's fine though, it'll give me time to really know what's going on wire-wise in the bucket.

I want to run a relay off my battery that will come on with the ignition. I think I'll actuate it on the headlight or tailight (power coming right off the battery). This will run some heated grips and a usb charger for my phone. That's my plan anyway, we'll see what it morphs into.

I'm also just gonna throw a cheapo $30 530 chain on for now as I'm not replacing my old sprockets just yet. I don't wanna waste the money on a good one till I replace all that and I wanna make sure I don't want to go up or down a tooth here and there.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #81 on:** January 06, 2013, 08:22:03 AM »

A bit more progress. Should be road worth this week.

Picked up some parts. New seat cover too.

I might cut down the old foam and put some memory foam under the seat.

Stev-o · « **Reply #82 on:** January 06, 2013, 08:28:19 AM »

Looking good and still in the house! That paint looks to be in remarkable shape. Original?

karnage · « **Reply #83 on:** January 06, 2013, 10:38:39 AM »

Looks like the shape mine was in when I got mine but has 6300 miles on it.Love that color.

karnage · « **Reply #84 on:** January 06, 2013, 10:56:15 AM »

what kind of bars are you going with??I dont like the real low clumans so i want something with less drop.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #85 on:** January 06, 2013, 01:27:54 PM »

Steve - yeah it's original paint. Not too bad really, little fading on the top and a couple scratches. I'm gonna buff it and make it look as good as possible. I like the original paint.

Here is a good shot of the bars. They were $25 euro bars off ebay. The spread is a little narrow but they work. I'll run them for now. I hate clubmans personally just because every hipster in Chi thinks they can throw them on some old clunker and suddenly it's "cafe". Whatever though.

Oh and I just cut up my stock seat and put in high density foam. It's all covered up and I'm afraid it may be too soft!! I'll roll with it, live and learn. I have a spare seat pan so I may just make my own all new seat w/ stiffer stuff.

Stev-o · « **Reply #86 on:** January 06, 2013, 01:54:02 PM »

I like those bars, similar the the "superbars" I have on my K4.

If your not happy after buffing your tank, you could shoot some clear and buff it, bet it would look great. Recently did it on my Yammie tank that had peeling clear...
[working on badges now]

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #87 on:** January 06, 2013, 02:26:31 PM »

Nice tank man! RD perhaps? Love those bikes but folks seem to know about them so it's hard to find a good deal.

They're fetching more money around here than they're really worth. Little beasts though, gotta love em!

Stev-o · « **Reply #88 on:** January 06, 2013, 02:33:01 PM »

Yes, '73 RD350, got it last year. Remakable good cond, just needs a few things.
My buddy had one years ago, was a blast to ride, so grabbed this one when I saw it.

Sorry...hijack over.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #89 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:15:05 PM »

When I have more room I'm going to start a collection of good bikes to die on. The RD350 will be on the short list!

Other dangerous rides would include the H3, an early TL1000... fun stuff

Stev-o · « **Reply #90 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:18:08 PM »

Me too. H1 is next on my bucket list and one day.......Z1. TL1000?

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #91 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:28:09 PM »

It was a mean little v-twin Suzuki put out in the late 90's. Killed a few guys on the pro-circuit due to a "different" rear suspension. (Just took careful tuning from what I've heard). Suzuki changed the design later but the TL had already gotten a reputation as a widowmaker so sales fell off. Too bad since it became a great all-around bike by about 2000.

Stev-o · « **Reply #92 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:29:54 PM »

Beautiful. Would you keep your CBR?

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #93 on:** January 06, 2013, 04:37:28 PM »

Haha!

I need a nice sized garage first but yeah, I probably would. I'm not in the market now. The TL was on my list at the time of my CBR purchase though. Nice thing about my bikes and most of the bikes I'm interested in is that they're cheap anyway and most people want something newer. Most people looking for full fledged sport bikes want new whereas I'm only interested in the late eighties through early 2000's. Folks practically give that stuff away.

Of course now I have a CB and that's old enough to be collectible... it may get sold if the demand goes up enough.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #94 on:** January 08, 2013, 05:24:14 AM »

All assembled! I hope to have time after work today to wheel it out to the porch and fire it up. I still have to add fork oil, brake fluid and properly adjust and re-route my cables but other than that it seems pretty much back to normal.

My turn signals don't work though. I messed around w/ them and I can get both front ones to stay on as running lights but when I turn on the right I get a solid bright in the front and back (no flash) and when I turn on the left I get nothing. I checked the bulbs and they don't appear to have burnt filaments. It did this before I tore everything apart too so if I goofed the wiring then I put it back the same as when I got it!

DustyRags · « **Reply #95 on:** January 08, 2013, 06:47:25 AM »

Lookin' hot!

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #96 on:** July 21, 2013, 04:57:23 PM »

Wow, so I haven't been around here since January! I didn't forget about the old CB. Heck, she's been sittin' pretty in the dining room for months. The CBR has just been too fun for me to think about other bikes.

That changed today though, I figured I had waited long enough so I ran through a couple little things, my buddy came over on his CX and we picked the old girl up, took her down the flight of stairs in front of my house and I was ready to ride! I gotta say, it runs great. Still got minor tuning to do and I need to address the master cylinder (rear brake only now) but the thing starts and idles better than anything I've ever owned. I'm really impressed. Here is a nice artsy pic:

More to come, I'll try to update as I keep fixing her up. She runs great though, we'll see what happens in the future. I'll probably wind up selling it to make room for more sportbike projects but who knows. It sure has some charm

DustyRags · « **Reply #97 on:** July 21, 2013, 06:53:16 PM »

Awesome, congrats!

Stev-o · « **Reply #98 on:** July 21, 2013, 06:55:00 PM »

Welcome back. Don't sell, you'll regret it.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #99 on:** July 21, 2013, 07:34:25 PM »

Thanks Dusty, it's great to ride it around again!
We'll see Stev-o, I just really enjoy riding the old rockets around and they can be had so cheap now. I kinda just wanna roll with whatever I can get the best deal on. It seems right now everyone is blind to what amazing sportbikes were available over the last two decades! So long as I can grab 'em up cheap I'll do all the flipping of them that I can.
Of course I wouldn't sell the CB till next spring anyway so I'd get the best price, maybe by then it'll have earned its keep

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Author Topic: Just brought a CB550 home, I'm ready to build (Read 19982 times)