DKB
New Member
Spent hours going through the forum and digging through info and finally got around to joining. Lots of good stuff and inspiring builds! Figured I'd start a thread to document my upcoming winter project. I picked up a 1976 CB550K here in NYC back in July. Approx 20,500 miles and in decent enough condition. Here's the bike as purchased:
Replaced the horn, front and rear signals, installed New Dunlop K70's, and sorted out some electrical quirks to pass NYC inspection. Put a few hundred miles on the bike right off the bat and then got into some basic tune up items. Cleaned the carbs, new points plate and advance mechanism, replaced cables, Valve Adjustments, set timing, etc..
Also spent some time cleaning up the bike, repainting, and polishing parts. Found a nice set of Yamaha Drag bars I liked, installed a Nissan front brake master cylinder and replaced the lines, bar end mirrors, new tail light assembly, and removed the sail grab rail. I don't have access to a garage so all of the works been done out front of my apartment on the street. It's been an interesting experience to say the least.
Here's the bike out and about over the last month or so:
Pulled the carbs again as #4 Cylinder was slow to warm up compared to the others and rebuilt them with new parts and seals. No luck. Still having idle issues and the tach is hanging up. Think I may have an air leak on #4 as the boots are in rough shape and I've gone through everything a few times. Picked up a Morgan Carbtune and have the carbs synced dead on after performing all other tune up items. We'll see how it goes. Everything else on the bike is pretty spot on. This idle/#4 issue seems to be the one sore spot. Runs great overall and I've put around 3000 miles on it over the past couple of months.
Here's a shot from a trip up the the Palisades Parkway. I found the stock tank in great shape on ebay for 30 bucks the week prior with a new petcock. So stoked.
I was riding home from Brooklyn last month and was hit by a taxi while I was stopped at a light. No major damage. Just some minor bumps and bruises, though I've never wanted to strangle someone so bad in my entire life. I was hit from behind and the taxi driver tried to pull around me and split. Got him to stop and he was pissed this was going to cost him money. Hung around till the cops arrived about an hour later to file an accident report and limped home.
Seems I've got a gypsy curse or something as a few weeks after getting all the repairs sorted and the bike back in top running shape it got hit by an overzealous parallel parker. Came home from showing my mom around NYC over the holiday weekend to find my bike in pieces on the street in front of my apartment. I spent the last week working with my insurance company who declared the bike a "total loss" but was able to retain the bike and original title when all was said and done. I spent yesterday morning taking it apart and managed to get everything in the elevator and up to my 4th floor apartment to begin the rebuild process. I really dig the bike and figure it'll make for a fun winter project. I'm kind of curious to see what I can pull off within the limitations of building a bike in an apartment smaller than most peoples walk in closets.
Currently going through the bike and making a parts list and getting ready to get into a ground up rebuild. I figure I've got a few months of crap weather up here to get everything sorted and the bike ready come spring. Planning on a top end rebuild, paint the frame / engine and components, cafe seat, new rear shocks, relocate battery and electronics, and rebuild the front end. I'm looking for a nice set of 35mm clip ons, cafe seat, Front forks (or a set of top fork bolts), and points cover if anyone has any of these items for sale / trade. I've got a ton of spares and parts I pulled off the bike during the break down process so shoot me a message if anyone needs 550 parts for their build/restoration.
So my first question- Any recommendations for good aftermarket shocks that wont break the bank? I've heard solid things about the Progressive shocks but wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions for other options.
Replaced the horn, front and rear signals, installed New Dunlop K70's, and sorted out some electrical quirks to pass NYC inspection. Put a few hundred miles on the bike right off the bat and then got into some basic tune up items. Cleaned the carbs, new points plate and advance mechanism, replaced cables, Valve Adjustments, set timing, etc..
Also spent some time cleaning up the bike, repainting, and polishing parts. Found a nice set of Yamaha Drag bars I liked, installed a Nissan front brake master cylinder and replaced the lines, bar end mirrors, new tail light assembly, and removed the sail grab rail. I don't have access to a garage so all of the works been done out front of my apartment on the street. It's been an interesting experience to say the least.
Here's the bike out and about over the last month or so:
Pulled the carbs again as #4 Cylinder was slow to warm up compared to the others and rebuilt them with new parts and seals. No luck. Still having idle issues and the tach is hanging up. Think I may have an air leak on #4 as the boots are in rough shape and I've gone through everything a few times. Picked up a Morgan Carbtune and have the carbs synced dead on after performing all other tune up items. We'll see how it goes. Everything else on the bike is pretty spot on. This idle/#4 issue seems to be the one sore spot. Runs great overall and I've put around 3000 miles on it over the past couple of months.
Here's a shot from a trip up the the Palisades Parkway. I found the stock tank in great shape on ebay for 30 bucks the week prior with a new petcock. So stoked.
I was riding home from Brooklyn last month and was hit by a taxi while I was stopped at a light. No major damage. Just some minor bumps and bruises, though I've never wanted to strangle someone so bad in my entire life. I was hit from behind and the taxi driver tried to pull around me and split. Got him to stop and he was pissed this was going to cost him money. Hung around till the cops arrived about an hour later to file an accident report and limped home.
Seems I've got a gypsy curse or something as a few weeks after getting all the repairs sorted and the bike back in top running shape it got hit by an overzealous parallel parker. Came home from showing my mom around NYC over the holiday weekend to find my bike in pieces on the street in front of my apartment. I spent the last week working with my insurance company who declared the bike a "total loss" but was able to retain the bike and original title when all was said and done. I spent yesterday morning taking it apart and managed to get everything in the elevator and up to my 4th floor apartment to begin the rebuild process. I really dig the bike and figure it'll make for a fun winter project. I'm kind of curious to see what I can pull off within the limitations of building a bike in an apartment smaller than most peoples walk in closets.
Currently going through the bike and making a parts list and getting ready to get into a ground up rebuild. I figure I've got a few months of crap weather up here to get everything sorted and the bike ready come spring. Planning on a top end rebuild, paint the frame / engine and components, cafe seat, new rear shocks, relocate battery and electronics, and rebuild the front end. I'm looking for a nice set of 35mm clip ons, cafe seat, Front forks (or a set of top fork bolts), and points cover if anyone has any of these items for sale / trade. I've got a ton of spares and parts I pulled off the bike during the break down process so shoot me a message if anyone needs 550 parts for their build/restoration.
So my first question- Any recommendations for good aftermarket shocks that wont break the bank? I've heard solid things about the Progressive shocks but wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions for other options.
