1974 CB550 Brafobber?... Yet another Honda

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #1

It starts here. 1974 CB550 that I've had for 15+ years. It runs and rides great, and until nearly 2 years ago was my daily rider. Everytime I rode or cleaned my new motorcycle I could feel the icey stares coming from the other side of the garage. I promised one day soon would be her time for attention.

Plans are for lowered rear, lowered front, clip-ons, hacked cafe seat, knee dents in tank. Also beer drinking, hitting things with hammers and cutting things with angle grinders. And beer drinking.

Engine doesn't need a tear down, so it won't come out of the frame.

All large detail items will be taken care of and the bike will get put back on the road, then the little weekend projects can take over.

All of my pictures will be dark because most things will occur after work and will be taken with my iphone. I'm lazy like that.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #2

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

So the tear down starts.

wiring knarliness.

More dis-assembly. i don't know why I thought all these pictures would be fascinating.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #3

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Got the trees off to find the original loose ball bearings. Oldschool.

this might explain the notchy steering feel.

more parts missing

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #4

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Got the forks dismantled. Going to paint the lowers black. New fork tubes and fork seals and gators going on. Look how crusty the tops of those fork tubes are.

pics of the new fork tubes and gators.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #5

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Glass bead blasted some parts that will get repainted.

Got some tires that everyone hates.

Got some other necessities too.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #6

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Cut and ground off the chain guard tabs. Not going to use that again.

Then I started priming some parts for paint.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #7

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Then some paint...

And more paint...

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #8

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Made some limit spacers for the front forks.

and chopped some spring off the rear springs

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #9

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

tuck it.

I put the forks all back together and mocked up the front too.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #10

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Started to sort out some wiring but then felt like stabbing someone.

so I painted some stuff white instead. my side covers need some more body work so I'll have to redo those. I think.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #11

Re: 1974 CB550 Brafobber... Yet another Honda

Made a template for knee dents out of a beer box. Thanks Busch Light!

Too dark to tell but I went way to aggressive on this side. I'm going to have to build a lot of bondo up for it to look right. There is a massive ripple in the upper right in that photo.

 

M.B Co

Coast to Coast

• Jun 5, 2013

• #12

I dig it.

Following.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #13

Wheels got glass bead blasted as well and are getting some paint treatment.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #14

Some parts can now start to make their way back on the bike.

A little cockpit mockup.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #15

M.B Co said:

I dig it.

Following.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I've been looking over your build thread. Definitely looking good!

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #16

Tank sanding...

and sanding

and bondo. I have no idea what I'm doing.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #17

Shaping the bondo.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #18

Let's switch gears entirely and cut some things.

C'ya.

Chop.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #19

Here are some parts thrown at a motorcycle.

Here is some paint thrown at a gas tank.

Here is a run I'll spend forever trying to sand out, only to pop through the paint so I get to paint the tank again. Actually I need to anyway because I didn't come anywhere near to smoothing out my knee dents. Didn't realize until I started spraying color. Live and learn.

 

volthause

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2013

• #20

The seat is too long and needs some chopping.

Measure twice.

Then measure a third time, take a swig of liquid courage and then cut.

Pieces...