CB550 Cafe Racer...DONE!

tangerine911S · 07:36 PM

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)

tangerine911S · 10-31-2009, 02:21 PM

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:

Dave L · 10-31-2009, 02:24 PM

looks good!

So what was more fun the riding or the building of it?

ERH · 10-31-2009, 02:25 PM

PRETTY MUCH PERFECT

very nice job

Ed

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

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.

Dueller · 10-31-2009, 02:34 PM

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

lyon · lyon's Garage

that is a hot bike. great job!

scottmandue · 10-31-2009, 02:42 PM

Very nice.

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

Oh, and I hate you

tangerine911S · 10-31-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave L

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

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

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.

Dueller · 02:47 PM

' 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?

herr_oberst · 10-31-2009, 02:46 PM

Nice job. Looks just right - how does it corner now?

Nostril Cheese · 10-31-2009, 02:47 PM

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.

Joeaksa · 10-31-2009, 02:52 PM

Very nice looking!

tangerine911S · 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dueller

' 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

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.

scottmandue · 10-31-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangerine911S

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.

Dueller · 10-31-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

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!

tangerine911S · 10-31-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

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...

Danny_Ocean · 10-31-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dueller

' mind showing us a shot under seat for battery placement, etc?

Most likely a battery eliminator installed under the rear cowling. No battery.

sailchef · sailchef's Garage

Nice job! Looks great. I hear Route 100 calling your name.

tangerine911S · 10-31-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

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.