Topic: Trad's 74 CB550 K0

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Bummer! 
Rust & Bones is up for sale and PRICED TO SELL FAST.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-street-cruisers-choppers/edmonton/1978-cb550k-street-tracker-turn-key-motorcycle/1103597932?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Someone's going to get a great bike!

[Trad]

I dig it completely. Maybe I will follow. Maybe you will change my mind

HAHA, you're bike is coming together incredibly. It will be amazing however you choose to finish the parts. You have some real talent man!!!

[Trad]

How's your everyday bike riding, Jared?  Hope you are healing up from your latest BMX ouch. 

It's going great. Finishing up a video project I've been working on for the past 5 months. Excited to announce who I'm riding for now when it's released. Running out of time though. I have until October 14th to get the last banger clips and I keep crashing bad. Today was another gnarly fall. 

And thanks for the post on the 78

[Trad]

Well, I was unemployed for a while so the build took almost a 1 year hiatus. I'm back at it and lots of accumulation has been had. I sourced a new to me bottom from a 78 that I got from a fellow member here who has sent it to Mark (Hondaman) so he can go through it with a fine tooth comb. I will will do all the top end assembly.

I also got to ordering a few goodies for the build which arrived this week. Some of these trick M-Pin rear indicators, a new Rick's reg/rec, NOS primary and cam chain, APE cylinder studs, and a bunch of vintage style plugs and connectors for when I build the wiring harness. My cat was really interested in all the goodies too. haha

I'll be fabbing up a new bolt on frame crossbar that will also mount the tail of the seat and have a tray for the M-Unit. The piece Benjie originally made for me is flimsy as #$%* and not going to be used.

Anyway, I thought I'd bring this back from the dead..............

Indie with Parts by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

M Pin by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

[GV1390]

Glad it's coming together, you're welcome for the parts!

[Trad]

Haha, Yeah man. I'm hoping the bottom end arrived ok. Mark hasn't had time to check it out yet...fingers crossed.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Welcome back to the fold, Jared.  The recent BMX videos look great.

[RAFster122s]

Welcome back and hope your financial drain from the unemployment is resokved (quickly if it isn't)... long term unemployment has a heavier price and is more difficult to dig out of if you're trying to handle debts and obligations as before.

David

[Trad]

Welcome back to the fold, Jared.  The recent BMX videos look great.

Thanks Don. I always appreciate you checking them out my friend.

[Trad]

Oh ya, my Wife was working and our expenses are quite minimal. It just meant I couldn't buy parts, or go out as much as normal. All is well though. Thanks David.

[Zaipai]

Glad things are going better and this project can see some light.

.: Scott :.

[sethmcalister]

What's the bolt on cross brace you mentioned?

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Trad]

Seth,

I'm making a new piece that will bolt on at the rear of the frame. This will join each end (I cut out the original piece on the back of the frame as it was too tall for the low cowl that's on my seat). It will also secure the back of the seat and possibly have a small platform for the M-unit. I haven't decided on that 100% yet. Most likely make it out of 1/8th or 1/4" inch stainless.

[sethmcalister]

I'll be anxious to hear about the details on this when you get it all put together as I'm looking for something similar.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Trad]

No sweat, I'll keep the this thread updated. I'm planning to set time away this Sunday to get it made up.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

What's the bolt on cross brace you mentioned?

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Jared cut out the fender mount which also serves as a cross-member.  He's putting in a replacement to prevent frame twist, and it will multitask some other functions (electronics/seat mount point).

Many builders cut out the stamped sheet metal fender mount to go with a lower profile seat, but if you don't replace it with a hoop or lower profile crossmember, the frame can experience twist from the stresses of riding.  This will not only have an effect on handling but also cause potential damage to the frame (and other welded joints) from stress.

[Trad]

Being indecisive about this bike all the time. I might push the fork tubes up a bit more and run the bars on top of the triple.

CB550 Cockpit by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That and a nice Renthal fatbar might make for a very easy to ride bike, especially since you are going with stock footpegs.

[Trad]

I've ridden clips on's with mid pegs for years. I'm only 5'9" so it's not all that stretched. It's just after riding the Renthals on the other bike all summer, I feel like a little more height on the bars would be nice. I don't know if I want to lose the shaved triple though. Putting the clipons above the triple on the fork tubes seems like the easiest option. I also picked up some 310mm Hagon rear shocks so the back end will be coming down a bit to help even out the 1" drop on the fork tubes.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Both solutions will work, but I tend to agree that high mounted clip-on will allow you to keep the shaved triple and should give you enough height for the bars.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Happy Birthday Jared! Hope you are not frozen solid in the Great White North!

[Trad]

Thanks Don! I'm about to head out with my Girl to a bar called "Black Dog". I hope it's as shady as it sounds. haha.

Happy New Year man!

[GV1390]

Happy Birthday, homie!

[Trad]

I finished designing and fabricating the rear bolt-on "Multi-Brace". I made it by hand out of 6 pieces of 1/4" stainless steel. Just cut, clamped, mig welded, ground, and drilled/threaded. This piece supports the rear end and replaces the higher, factory brace which I cut out of the frame. It also mounts the tail light below and the M-unit above (under the rear seat cowl). Lastly, the brace will hold the small Motogadget turn signals just below the fame tube. So many functions for one piece.

I'm going to look around at prices for powder coating around here to have the Multi-Brace, seat mounting pieces, and motor mounts done.

These shocks are going on the 78 and I picked up a pair of Ikon shocks that will be going on this bike. The tail light to the tire is 3.25" with the 13" Progressives. The Ikon's are 12.5" long and total compressed length brings them down to 10.2". This means I'll still have over 2.4" of travel before the tire would hit the taillight.

The crank case is currently with Mark but he's in the midst of a few other projects so I'm just waiting my turn. Once that is back from him it's time to assemble the top end and go.

While the lower end is in Mark's care, I'm going to start on the wiring harness.

Multi Brace 1 by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

Multi Brace 2 by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

Multi Brace 4 by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

Multi Brace 3 by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

Multi Brace 5 by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

Multi Brace 6 by Jared Chilko, on Flickr

[Tews19]

Nice fabrication skills. The pic from the rear has some really impressive clean lines that flow!