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CB550 Cafe Racer...DONE!

Hey guys,

I bought 2 cb550's about 6 months ago with the intention of making one good bike to turn into a sweet cafe racer. Original thread is here: Bought a cb550 for a cafe build...what have I got myself into?! with some early progress pictures.

Well, I am done and very happy with the results. Every nut/bolt/piece on the entire bike has been replaced, restored, polished, painted, powdercoated or otherwise modified with the exception of the bottom end of the motor and transmission. With that exception, I took the bike down to its absolute most deconstructed state possible. Oh and I am pretty good at polishing aluminum at this point(). I could list a lot of details but I will just post pics for now. You can ask if you want to know more about it. Hope you like it.





(rain drops on the tank)




Last edited by tangerine911S; 10-31-2009 at 07:36 PM..
Old 10-31-2009, 02:20 PM
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On this picture you can just see where I hid the rear turn signals. They are bright LED strips hidden under the rear edge of the seat and only visible when they are on:


Old 10-31-2009, 02:21 PM
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looks good!

So what was more fun the riding or the building of it?
Old 10-31-2009, 02:24 PM
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PRETTY MUCH PERFECT

very nice job

Ed
Old 10-31-2009, 02:25 PM
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Nice work.
Got her done just in time to park it for the winter. That's got to suck.
Maybe you can take it down south and run it.
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:28 PM
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OUT-FRIGGIN'-STANDING!!!!!

Just curious...is the shift pattern reversed? (1 up and 4 down...can't tell from the linkage.)






NOW...go out and get rid of those chicken stripes on the rear tire
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:34 PM
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that is a hot bike. great job!
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:40 PM
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Very nice.

With no front fender doesn't stuff fly up in your face?

Oh, and I hate you
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave L View Post
So what was more fun the riding or the building of it?
Hard to say. Building it was fun and frustrating at times but riding it is really a blast! Especially now that I got the carb jetting just right since I put pod filters and the 4-1 exhaust.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pete3799 View Post
Nice work.
Got her done just in time to park it for the winter. That's got to suck.
Maybe you can take it down south and run it.
Ya kinda sucks but you better believe I will be bundled up and out there until there is snow falling.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dueller View Post
Just curious...is the shift pattern reversed? (1 up and 4 down...can't tell from the linkage.)
NOW...go out and get rid of those chicken stripes on the rear tire
Shifting is normal. The linkage acuates from the bottom of both the rearset and the shift shaft. Won't be leaning it over too much yet. Its my first bike afterall. I just got my permit last week. I have ridden bikes before though and I actually feel very comfortable on it. No sweat.
Old 10-31-2009, 02:44 PM
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' mind showing us a shot under seat for battery placement, etc? What work did you do...I'm sure you didn't powder coat, but paint etc. Looks better IMO than the Norton you patterned it after in the original thread. Kudos.

EDIT: Oh yeah...what is the semi-circle panel at the rear of the tank? Access for tank bolt?
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Last edited by Dueller; 10-31-2009 at 02:47 PM..
Old 10-31-2009, 02:44 PM
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Nice job. Looks just right - how does it corner now?
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:46 PM
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Very nice. Where did you find jets for it? I had a '77 and the only jets available were for '76 and older. I'd like to see how you ran thee elctrical as well.
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:47 PM
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Very nice looking!
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dueller View Post
' mind showing us a shot under seat for battery placement, etc? What work did you do...I'm sure you didn't powder coat, but paint etc.

Oh yeah...what is the semi-circle panel at the rear of the tank? Access for tank bolt?
I did not make the tank/seat, paint them, powdercoat the wheel rims, and a little bit of welding as I dont have a welder. Everything else I can think of I did. I dont think I have a pic of under the seat but I will take one a post it later. The semicircular thing is the seam between the seat and the tank. Below that seam is part of the seat pan. Its like that so you can access the rubber mount for the tank. The rubber mouding between there I made from a modified windshield wiper blade.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese View Post
Very nice. Where did you find jets for it? I had a '77 and the only jets available were for '76 and older. I'd like to see how you ran thee elctrical as well.
'77 main jets are the screw in type and you can get them from a few places online like CYCLE-RE-CYCLE PART II Motorcycle Parts or Welcome to siriusconinc
I actually called and found a shop that had them about an hour away from me for cheaper and they sent them in an envelope for free and got them next day.

Last edited by tangerine911S; 10-31-2009 at 03:00 PM..
Old 10-31-2009, 02:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tangerine911S View Post
Won't be leaning it over too much yet. Its my first bike afterall. I just got my permit last week. I have ridden bikes before though and I actually feel very comfortable on it. No sweat.
I will pay for shipping to my house... you can have it back when the weather improves... I'll have it all warmed up and broke in for you... I was quite a knee dragger back in the day.

But seriously, I don't know what your plans are for the future however you could make a living off building bikes if you had to.
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Old 10-31-2009, 02:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scottmandue View Post
But seriously, I don't know what your plans are for the future however you could make a living off building bikes if you had to.
Yup...a clean cut East coast Carpy!
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Old 10-31-2009, 03:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scottmandue View Post
But seriously, I don't know what your plans are for the future however you could make a living off building bikes if you had to.
I'm 23 and a mechanical engineer but not happy with my current job. Hmmmm...
Old 10-31-2009, 03:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dueller View Post
' mind showing us a shot under seat for battery placement, etc?
Most likely a battery eliminator installed under the rear cowling. No battery.
Old 10-31-2009, 03:05 PM
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Nice job! Looks great. I hear Route 100 calling your name.
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Old 10-31-2009, 03:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean View Post
Most likely a battery eliminator installed under the rear cowling. No battery.
Theres a full size battery under there along with all the wiring (rectifier, fuses, flasher, starter solenoid, etc). It was all orignally in the open triangular space under the seat. I shaved all the brackets and removed the inner fender for a lighter look.

Old 10-31-2009, 03:12 PM
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