78 cb550k Cafe racer build. GSXR front +++

Yet another cafe project on this forum.

Im normally a car guy, mainly using a 400whp miata for track use but wanted a bike project too, and ive wanted a slightly modernised cb cafe race style bike for some time.

This is actually the first ever bike i have owned and (obviously) the first bike i have modified.

The bike i got was in good shape, but it needed a lot of work done (as do all old bikes/cars) when you really start looking over it.




quickly started tearing it apart..


stripped the frame..



engine will be rebuildt, probably getting the heads ported, everything will be blasted and repainted or polished.

front end will feature a gsxr fork/brakes etc.


HD sportster front wheel, modified for gsxr bearings.


I refinished the switches. glass blasted the housings, and rebuildt/overhauled the switches inside.also cut of the clutch handle on the left switch, regrinded the housing so it is not possible to see that its missing a clutch handle. Using the GSXR clutch handle so it looks like the brake handle, but i want to keep the stock switches as a feel the gsxr switches look too modern.


Tank swapped for a Holtworks alu tank. holtworks seatpan.
Here i am testing the seating position after installing mounts for rear sets.


Rear set mounting points


Modified/straightened the frame under the seat to get the lines of the tank and the seat to match , and it also looks better.


Redid the shock mounts(stock location but the old ones had to be cut of for the frame mods.


Made a steering stop that uses the posts on the gsxr fork.



Mounts for undertray, lower mount for tank and mount that will hold the battery etc almost finished.


Motogadget gauge, upper fork yoke will be a cognitomoto retro piece.





Hopefully you guys like me project so far and i am really looking forward to getting this done before spring

Harald.

Excellent, it is great that someone with experiance in another mortorsport field is doing a build. I suspect there will be a few inovative ways of doing things. Subscrivbed.

i like the way you did the steering stops i have mine mounted the wheels and brakes worked out

ect but have not decided where i am going to put the stops and if i will mod the frame or the tree lol

i know i need one of those real nice steering tube nuts i ordered it from icognito moto

Nice work! I really like the rear set brackets - simple but very stylish.

Love the rearset mounts. Very neat looking!
Hopefully you are going to add a rear loop behind the shock mounts to add some stiffness to the back half of the frame.

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Very cool! Tell me, besides the steering stops, what was involved in fitting the GSXR front end?

Too cool! Looking forward to seeing this one pan out.

LOVE the polished tank look!

+1 on the steering stops, that's neat. I'm in for the ride.

Good work so far


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the rear set mounts when viewed from above.. had to be angled out a little bit to get the correct width, and to clear the swingarm.
Also like that the bolt for the rearsets will be hidden inside the mount.
These are plenty strong using 25mm tubing and the ekstra support underneath. i have seen a few mounts that looked flimsy to me and id rarther make it stronger than it needs to be



regarding the steering stop.. this is pretty much the easiest way of doing it, a piece of 3mm thick steel plate, just welded underneath the frame, perfect fit and reuses the stock tabs on the gsxr fork for a "factory" look

More to come

I'm in. Looks to be off to a good start.

tried the new parts on. also smoothed and polished the stock GSXR steering tube to make it match the triple tree. still need to do the other side. and the lower, stock part of the triple..

Nice. Following this one. Specs on Miata? LS based?

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Miata is a stripped out trackday car, 6pot wilwwod brakes, race pads, brake cooling ducts, aero, 6 speed transmission and OSgiken LSD. 1883ccm mazda engine with a gt3076 turbo, custom everything. 400whp 170mph top speed. easily as fast as a 550hp supercharged m3, gt2 porsche, faster than a v8 audi R8 etc..

I like that you stuck with the Miata motor for your build. People arr too quick to throw a small block into anything they can. You should put up some pix/specs of your Miata in our Cages section...id like to check it out

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my m3 is gear/rpm limited

7k rpm rev limiter and that is about 163

1999 m3 coupe

And its probably down a few hundred HP to match the turboed miata my e92 diesel(288hp 650nm) will easily match or exceed the top speed of the miata, but the miata can get there a lot quicker

what would be the best, classic looking, adjustable shocks for my cb550 build? any suggestions ?

teddpage said:

I like that you stuck with the Miata motor for your build. People arr too quick to throw a small block into anything they can. You should put up some pix/specs of your Miata in our Cages section...id like to check it out

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Click to expand...

+1

the bike and the miata look good man!

Mini update.
brake discs arrived.. 320mm, so i need to add a small spacer for the caliper to clear.


a friend reluctantly posing with the new bits.


also started with the electronics.
padded batterybox will be made fuses and relays mounted to it.

the regulator... does it need to see air flowing over it to function without overheating?
any tips here would be helpful