Author Topic: Squirley's 550 CAFE Build (Read 160376 times)

squirley · « **Reply #25 on:** May 21, 2008, 07:12:00 PM »

Here are a couple pics of the front tire mounted to the forks. I almost don't want to run any brake discs as the spokes look nice.
On a side not, do the spokes look too long? There is about 1/2" of thread sicking out the top and it hasn't even been trued yet. What do you all think?

trav72 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 21, 2008, 07:32:00 PM »

Rims look great. PC or painted? I think the spokes are definitely to long. break out the dremel and cut those babies down.

squirley · « **Reply #27 on:** May 21, 2008, 07:56:43 PM »

Rims are powder coated gloss black, along with all the engine covers.
As for the spokes being too long, I am worried that I may run out of threads before I get the wheel trued. They definatley need to be cut off, but I think buchanans may have gotten me again. They said the spokes needed to be custom for this harley rim because it was aluminum. I said I don't think so but they insisted and made me spokes that were 1/2" longer and charged an extra 40 bucks. Sometimes I just wanna....

Joel · « **Reply #28 on:** May 21, 2008, 09:43:02 PM »

I'd true it first and see if they're still too long. If after it's trued up they're still all a half inch too long, call 'em back and ask for a refund of the charge.

squirley · « **Reply #29 on:** May 21, 2008, 10:15:38 PM »

Well, I don't think truing them will make them shorter if you know what i mean. lol.
They are already 1/2" too long so truing them will just make them longer.
I have attempted to exchange spokes with them before due to them making the wrong spokes to my specs. They will not take them back because they say they are custom. For my rear wheel I specified a 550 hub, and they sent me spokes that were close to .060" larger in diamter than a 550 spoke and would not even come close to going in the hub hole. Buchanans reply to my request for exchange was that "they are custom and nonreturnable." All i wanted was an exchange for spokes that would fit my hub as I requested and they still denied me even though they were in the wrong.
Short story long, I have not had good, if any, luck with these guys

corbinwelter · « **Reply #30 on:** May 22, 2008, 07:45:39 PM »

Nice build up, and nice Jeep, your driveway looks familiar to mine.

squirley · « **Reply #31 on:** May 22, 2008, 09:19:15 PM »

Nice looking fj. Growing up my dad drove an 78 for years. Great rigs. I initially was going to build one, but the cost got so high for a mildly good condition one.

bhorocks · « **Reply #32 on:** May 27, 2008, 09:21:34 PM »

well if we are talkin jeep.....
my commanche...

.RJ · « **Reply #33 on:** May 28, 2008, 10:34:43 AM »

Quote from: squirley on May 21, 2008, 10:15:38 PM

They will not take them back because they say they are custom.

I went through this with them as well - call back and ask to either speak with the owner, or have him call you back. I did this and he was reasonable on the phone about doing an exchange. Of course they wont tell you that there's no returns/exchange on a custom spoke set...

cben750f0 · « **Reply #34 on:** May 28, 2008, 04:16:44 PM »

brilliant set up m8, must be super proud of what you have accomplished so fr...

keepin an eye on this one...

peace

FunJimmy · « **Reply #35 on:** June 01, 2008, 11:03:55 AM »

Squirley

Just catching up on all the project bikes and I ran across your cool project in all its glory.
About time you posted a build blog! You’ve been keeping things to yourself way too long.

That inverted front end looks the business! You might find that two discs with those big calipers are overkill on the 550. My single disc with 4 piston caliper is excellent, and there’s no need for two in my opinion.

The rear suspension has really taken off nicely also. That rear looks so short! Great fad work. It’s an exceptional build.

Any new pics to post?

Cheers
Jimmy

squirley · « **Reply #36 on:** June 01, 2008, 04:44:59 PM »

Well, not too much in the form of bike work got done this weekend. I was able to get a little time to work on the rear sets. I had them mocked up before and tested if they would shift and brake. The shifter and brake alike are just one linkage. The shifter side works great; as for the brake side, I am running one linkage directly from the lever to the brake. On mockup it worked fine, we shall see how it does when everything is ready to go. I still need to make a spring attachment for the brake side to return it to the up position, and find a way to connect the brake spring. In the rear set pics you can see the kickstand position. Still need to do some grinding on it so it will sit flat and mostly hidden from view when looking at the bike from the side.
ALso attached is a pic of the motor, almost ready to fire. Very excited to see how the engine sounds with the 650 cam and yosh exhaust. It will be a while before I can see if there is a considerable increase in power with the ported head and cam.
Thanks to fuzzybutt, I have a 750 super sport tank now, not sure what I want to do in the way of altering it, but tank and seat are going to be the last things I do.

FunJimmy · « **Reply #37 on:** June 01, 2008, 04:48:53 PM »

Interesting Yosh header!
Must be one of those over the top and under the seat type of exhausts.

FJ

squirley · « **Reply #38 on:** June 01, 2008, 05:03:53 PM »

I am going to start up the motor and sit on it. A nice forced air blow to the face should make me feel like I am hauling through the mountains lol.

squirley · « **Reply #39 on:** June 16, 2008, 07:32:16 PM »

Ok, the recent progress may not be the most exciting, but they were small things that needed to be done. I finally welded some tabs onto the new rear frame and pressed in some PEM nuts in them. Then cut out some aluminum lined it in edge guard and bolted it into place. The bottom pan can't be seen from the side, and leaves me some room onder the electrical brackets that I previously welded on to run some wires. I also had time to mount my headlight. Still don't know if I like it's position, or if it needs to be a little lower. The last picture is there to put a face with a name (ignore the messy garage...I guess that is good as I am not wasting my project time to clean it up. I feel that I spend more time thinking and cleaning than I do actual work)

squirley · « **Reply #40 on:** June 16, 2008, 07:36:57 PM »

more
(yes i know the tire is on backwards, let's me go faster)

FunJimmy · « **Reply #41 on:** June 16, 2008, 07:48:33 PM »

Sportster headlight and brow?

Looks great!

squirley · « **Reply #42 on:** June 16, 2008, 09:16:09 PM »

Yep, that is correct fj.

KB02 · « **Reply #43 on:** June 17, 2008, 05:02:25 AM »

That engine looks killer.

sinister902 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 20, 2008, 12:55:42 PM »

any updates? your front fork swap makes me want to start sourcing parts BADLY!.....show us some more!!!

squirley · « **Reply #45 on:** June 20, 2008, 07:07:20 PM »

Well, there are updates, but none that I am really happy with. I got the rear tire mounted and put on so it is a roller now, however, I am not agreeing with it's look. When I originally began building, I was using just rims to proportion the stance. I invisioned tires on there and took measurements, but it clearly wasn't good enough. Now that it is all mocked up, it looks very short and tall. I will lower it about 2 inches in the front and 1 in the rear, but it still looks very short. Please let me know what you guys think. If you agree that it looks too short, please drop some idears on me on how I may be able to make it appear more proportioned.
When I take on the tank, I will be cutting large knee indents down the side and will narrow it down probably almost 3/4 the way up it to try and give an appearance of length by less width, other than that, I may just cut the whole back off and do it again which would be a bummer and a time killer.
Lets hear some 2cents

squirley · « **Reply #46 on:** June 20, 2008, 07:08:16 PM »

eengler2 · « **Reply #47 on:** June 20, 2008, 08:47:06 PM »

Beautiful. Love the forks with spoked rims!!! I would lower the front maybe an inch to make it look more aggressive or in-motion while sitting. The swingarm is stunning. Keep it up!

flipprboi · « **Reply #48 on:** June 20, 2008, 08:56:37 PM »

Are those stock 19 and 18 rims? bout going for a smaller rim? maybe excel Supermoto 17s. They would look nice plus modern street slicks. Good Luck!

Benjie

squirley · « **Reply #49 on:** June 20, 2008, 09:10:41 PM »

Thanks for the input guys.

The rims are 19x2.5 front and 18x3.5 rear.
When I first began building this, I wanted to go for a very stripped down, skinny look. By getting rid of alot of frame, I was wanted to make it look extended and light. Unfortunatley, the front end looked very odd with a skinnier tire due to it's width, so I opted for a larger fron tire. However, in my opinion, I think I went too big in the front, causing it to look as if I ran into a wall at 15mph and every part of the bike compressed in equal proportions. Now it is not stretched out looking or light.

I will try and tackle the tank tomarrow time allowing, hopefully I will come back with a lighter look on things.

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Author Topic: Squirley's 550 CAFE Build (Read 160376 times)

trav72

corbinwelter

bhorocks