Topic: CB500/550 Triple Clamp Swaps for Clip-On Bars

[the B.N.G.]

Ok, I know it has been gone over before but I wanted to start a thread to document all options so feel free to add.  I have a 72 CB500 and a 74 CB550.  I have clip-ons on both bikes.  On my 550, I tig welded up the underside and milled off the mounting brackets.  It looks like a stock 550 upper but without the bar and instrument mounts.  Thing is, this was more work than I wanted to do.  I could have bought a billet clamp, but wouldn't look stock and cost way more than I wanted to shell out.  So, lets start a list of interchangeable upper triple clamps that would work with a little bit of machining for the 500 and 550's!  I am starting the list with the one I know of that works with a bit of grinding but can never seem to find.

1. 1979 CBX Triple Clamp

Others?

[the B.N.G.]

Bump!  No one out there with any viable options?  If no one can come up with anything, I am going to make a limited run of 10 welded, machined uppers.  Would anyone be interested?

[fastbroshi]

  What does it look like?  Keep in mind I think ttr400 has some billet ones for the 550 on sale too.  He doesn't list them on the site though.  The one pictured is for the 400.

[tbpmusic]

Now I can't vouch for this personally, but I have a friend who really can - he has a personal salvage yard, and wouldn't have said it if he didn't actually know for sure -

His message:

"450 trees fit 450's and 500T and can be used as a pair on the 500-550/4's or
ANY 350, 360, CM 400, or CB 650"

I do know the 450 and 500/550 both have 35mm forks - not sure about the offset or width, though.

I have a 450 stem in the shop, but the top clamp is cracked.

bill2

[bwaller]

The 450/500T are the same offset as the 400F but different from the 500/550 fours.

[the B.N.G.]

  What does it look like?  Keep in mind I think ttr400 has some billet ones for the 550 on sale too.  He doesn't list them on the site though.  The one pictured is for the 400.

Thanks for that tip.  Will give him a ring and see what he has.  That is a great looking clamp but I think it is a bit too modern for what I am looking for.  I just basically wanted a stock looking upper without the bar risers.  One that passed for a stock cast piece without all the flash.  That is why I originally strayed from the billet ones.  But like I said, if there is a demand, I will have a batch welded up all at once and sell them off.  I will post pics of my finished upper later this week.

[the B.N.G.]

Now I can't vouch for this personally, but I have a friend who really can - he has a personal salvage yard, and wouldn't have said it if he didn't actually know for sure -

His message:

"450 trees fit 450's and 500T and can be used as a pair on the 500-550/4's or
ANY 350, 360, CM 400, or CB 650"

I do know the 450 and 500/550 both have 35mm forks - not sure about the offset or width, though.


bill2

Bill, thanks for that idea but bwaller is totally right.  They will bolt up but have a different offsets between the twins and fours.  One would think that Honda would have just cut corners and used the same uppers on all the 35mm forks of the same year.  Go figure.

[DarkRider]

Now the question is...are the Twins the same width as the 550? Just wondering since i did at one point want to set my 550 up with the same offset as the 400.

[tbpmusic]

Now the question is...are the Twins the same width as the 550? Just wondering since i did at one point want to set my 550 up with the same offset as the 400.

No, they're not (to the best of my knowledge) - at least the fork width is different, not sure about the actual offset. I do think the 500/550 offset is less than a 450. Front axles may differ as well, giving concerns about the wheel mounting up.

Typically it's easier to swap the whole front end as a unit, that takes care of any concerns about brakes/fenders/wheels, etc.
That's what I did on a CB450 - just swapped an entire 1979 CB400T2 front end on to a CB360 stem/clamp, and the whole thing just bolted up to the CB450 (1970).

I've never seen the various offsets listed anywhere - just notes from guys who have actually measured it. But that wouldn't affect the actual component mounting, just the steering characteristics.

[d3buttz]

its a little off subjectandway lazier-but when i put on my clip-ons i made this plate out of aluminum and polished it-it hides the bar clamp well and gave me a place for my ignition switch on my 550.

[papp101]

Does anyone know if you can put a 550(4) upper on a 500(4) lower?

Also can you still use the indicator lights from a 500(4) on the top of that 550(4) triple?

Thanks team, I need some help choosing what to purchase.

Word!