« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway  (Read 4264 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline CB550moseby

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« on: May 16, 2014, 05:26:30 AM »
Hello everybody!

After several years in the Norwegian Classic Ford scene, I've now stepped over to the two-wheelers.
I've always liked the look on an old CB, and finally I came across this CB550K.
The previous owner imported it from the US about 15yrs ago.
Now, he's to old to ride it. So he sold it to me  ;)




The plan is to build a crossing between bratstyle and vintage cafe racer.
For now, I'm thinking towards "Seaweed and Gravel's" bikes, but that can change during the build.

I'll hope to post whenever there's progress!

Cheers


Ole
Logged

Offline FunJimmy

  • Who you calling
  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,802
  • Vancouver
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2014, 06:25:47 AM »
Welcome abourd. Looks like a nice bike.
Except for the seat.  ;D
Logged
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

CB550 Cafe Interceptor a Gentlemans Roadster
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.0

Offline Roar

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 55
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2014, 06:55:25 AM »
Hei, Ole! Da er det bare å begynne å skrelle..... ;D

Looking forward to see what you get out of this, are you keeping the 4-4 exhaust?
Logged
1977 CB550SS Caf Racer

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

  • Speak up, Whipper-Snapper! I'm a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,731
  • SOHC/4 Member #1235
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2014, 08:03:10 AM »
You might consider replacing the seat with a stock reproduction and call it a day. That's a fairly sanitary bike.
Logged
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Bankerdanny

  • Eventually I will be old enough in reality to be
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 7,626
  • Endeavor to persevere
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2014, 09:00:21 AM »
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on May 16, 2014, 08:03:10 AM
You might consider replacing the seat with a stock reproduction and call it a day. That's a fairly sanitary bike.

I was thinking the same thing. Put on better bars and a stock seat and enjoy. But it's your bike, you have a vision so go for it.

I will say if that exhaust is a good shape and you don't want to use it as is sell it. It is valuable and will help pay for other parts.
Logged
"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline CB550moseby

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2014, 09:35:14 AM »
It's a good, solid bike. Except the engine needs a overhaul!
It's leaking oil by the headgasket and the camchain is a bit noisy.
The seat and all the aftermarket chrome is going of ASAP! Got some more parts with the bike, including some awful leatherbags. Looked like they could belong to a Harley...
I'm not sure what road I'll choose yet, but I'm seriously considering to keep the original exhaust.

Time will show...
But thanks for replies and opinions! That's always nice!

O.C.
Logged

Offline CB550moseby

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2014, 10:46:00 AM »
Took the bike for a spin this morning, just to get the feeling of it before I dismantle it completely.
After that I got a solid 30 minutes in the garage..

Before


Now:




Some parts are up for sale...


I've also decided to sell the original exhaust. But I don't know how much I can ask for it. Any ideas? It's in pretty good shape!

Cheers
Logged

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

  • Speak up, Whipper-Snapper! I'm a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,731
  • SOHC/4 Member #1235
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2014, 02:47:24 PM »
That is a fairly tidy bike.  I see that you are set on modifying it to a cafe/brat.  Those sidecovers (if not damaged) and the exhausts are rare. 
Logged
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline rb550four

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,472
  • I'm nobody's slave and nobody's master
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2014, 06:11:19 PM »
I was going to ask you about that seat, my couch at the house is worn , an I was thinking.... Sorry, my wife says NO.
Must be the wrong color.
Logged
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline CB550moseby

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2014, 11:01:37 PM »
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on May 20, 2014, 02:47:24 PM
That is a fairly tidy bike.  I see that you are set on modifying it to a cafe/brat.  Those sidecovers (if not damaged) and the exhausts are rare.

Yeah, it's quite good! The exhaust is up for sale, but I'm not sure about the sidecovers yet. I'm kinda into keeping some stock parts. But we'll see...
Logged

Offline CB550moseby

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2014, 11:07:50 PM »
Quote from: rb550four on May 20, 2014, 06:11:19 PM
I was going to ask you about that seat, my couch at the house is worn , an I was thinking.... Sorry, my wife says NO.
Must be the wrong color.

Really? My wife said just the same... ;D
I just can't seem to find a reason that explains that seat. My god, that's ugly!
Logged

Offline CB550moseby

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Re: CB550 bratstyle Cafe Racer in Norway
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2014, 01:02:37 PM »
Hi again!

Been a while since I've posted here.. Some progress in the workshop, but not as much as I want!
But, I've taken some photos. I'll let them talk for themselves... Feedback is great, negative and positive!













Next up is to get all cutting, welding and final adjustments sorted. Then the frame, swingarm, forks and wheels are heading for paint.
Still haven't decided what color I should go for on the tank... I've been thinking about a retro racecar paint scheme, like british racing green and gold stripes, "gulf blue" and white stripes or Ford's Ermine white with Sherwood green stripes (Lotus Cortina).
But now I'm on to OEM colors instead. I really like the Honda Candy Sapphire Blue and the Candy Bacchus Olive  :)
But I really can't decide. The rest of the bike will be all black... Any tips or ideas??
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »