Re: '75 CB550 - tank/seat ideas
Thanks BadKaw!
Ah, so this Friday night will be spent in the shop instead of a bar. Priorities I guess...
I didn't post any pictures of them, but the stock fork tubes were too rusted under the fork ears to be able to make pretty again, so I trashed them. I couldn't find a reasonably priced, unrusted set of cb550 tubes on ebay, so I got a set of cb650 forks. I'm using the 650 tubes in the 550 lowers, but they're a little less than an inch longer than the 550 tubes.
So, I'm shortening the forks tonight. The plan is to put a spacer under the damper rod spring (right name for it?). Anyways, it will suck the fork tube down about 1.5 inches, without having to cut the spring. I've considered cutting it, but then the tube can still extend all the way, with no pressure from the spring. I don't like the sound of that. It also provides a way to shorten the forks without sliding them through the trees, cause that's just plain ugly, no? May help provide an alternative for those considering doing that, and it's pretty damn easy. Plus, a guy could remove or shorten the spacer if need be and not affect any stock parts. The only thing you have to be aware of is not using up too much of the available compressible length. I'll post up some pics in a bit.
Don't know if I'm explaining it clearly, but you follow me?