CBX550-Brat/urban scrambler on a budget

[NoRiders]

Nice! Seems like you took a strange bike and made it cool too!

Thanks 'prohibited', I worked with what I had (owned for 20+yrs) which turned out OK. CB360/550/750s are great, but I do like it when someone takes an unpopular model and makes something of it. Quite a few on here which I follow.

[NoRiders]

Bike looks great. Glad you have some time to enjoy it. I can definitely get on board with the lower headlight, but why remove the center stand? I've done it and regret it every time I work on the sucker


Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON

Thank you advco, it's nice to get out on it, even for a quickie ;-)

I want to remove the centre stand to reduce weight so I can make higher jumps and tricks......haha! I have a paddock stand for garage/servicing use which works well enough. Headlight lowered by a touch and maybe the speedo as well?

I have been thinking of extending the side stand as the chunkier tyres stand the bike a bit taller so it leans more on the side stand. Maybe a 40-50mm extension will have it rest better?

[xb33bsa]

you want to extend the side stand yes so the bike is up pretty high,almost anywhere you go there will be a sideslope ,anyway,see........... and you'all going backwards all day and night,means that pulling of the road if you want to kick the stand it will indeed be better long-ish
also a short stand overloads the mount when climbing on or off with it down,planted
headlight too high ? nope thats not the issue..
you could change the bike totally almost with one simple add-on
about a 4-6"{ tall wind deflector that forms onto the headlight shape and down the sides just enough to have a definate inside corner
you could put slight soft bends there and shape the top however but just high enough to only show the tack bezel
i dunno you might not have the skills or savvy to pull it off....... proly gonna need t hire it out
it wants to come down to the headlight at least 2" back and end about 1" gap to the tacho pretty much a bit more steep than the forks angle,whatever place ments gets you that tach distance .......swooped back too far will look pretensious
it will totally hide the clutter up there,which now draws the eye too much ..............and you could hire somebody else to emblazin' it with a logo
.............a plastic rectangular office size waste basket or tin even is a perfect donor for the stock to cut protos you get at least 4 per garbage pail

[verboten1]

Thanks 'prohibited', I worked with what I had (owned for 20+yrs) which turned out OK. CB360/550/750s are great, but I do like it when someone takes an unpopular model and makes something of it. Quite a few on here which I follow.

That's the same reason I'm building the Virago Scrambler, because I had it!

FYI, the meefos are great, but a Mitas E-07 is even better!

[NoRiders]

you want to extend the side stand yes so the bike is up pretty high,almost anywhere you go there will be a sideslope ,anyway,see........... and you'all going backwards all day and night,means that pulling of the road if you want to kick the stand it will indeed be better long-ish
also a short stand overloads the mount when climbing on or off with it down,planted
headlight too high ? nope thats not the issue..
you could change the bike totally almost with one simple add-on
about a 4-6"{ tall wind deflector that forms onto the headlight shape and down the sides just enough to have a definate inside corner
you could put slight soft bends there and shape the top however but just high enough to only show the tack bezel
i dunno you might not have the skills or savvy to pull it off....... proly gonna need t hire it out
it wants to come down to the headlight at least 2" back and end about 1" gap to the tacho pretty much a bit more steep than the forks angle,whatever place ments gets you that tach distance .......swooped back too far will look pretensious
it will totally hide the clutter up there,which now draws the eye too much ..............and you could hire somebody else to emblazin' it with a logo
.............a plastic rectangular office size waste basket or tin even is a perfect donor for the stock to cut protos you get at least 4 per garbage pail

Side stand could be done soon.

I'll look into the dustbin screen :-)

[Northish]

NoRiders - Look how far your project has come!  It looks solid and mean.  Too bad about the sprocket stud coming out and delaying your Oct. ride for a bit.  Glad you had a buddy up the road and you were able to keep on enjoying the bike.  I was so nervous about something like that happening to my bike since I had touched every nut and bolt building it and didn't trust myself - I carried about 20 lbs of tools on my back for every ride this fall haha.  Anyway, you really put some cool into that CBX.  Great work!

[NoRiders]

NoRiders - Look how far your project has come!  It looks solid and mean.  Too bad about the sprocket stud coming out and delaying your Oct. ride for a bit.  Glad you had a buddy up the road and you were able to keep on enjoying the bike.  I was so nervous about something like that happening to my bike since I had touched every nut and bolt building it and didn't trust myself - I carried about 20 lbs of tools on my back for every ride this fall haha.  Anyway, you really put some cool into that CBX.  Great work!

Gee, thanks northy. I am a bit nervous about riding it out n about since that stud issue and do have the means to carry a simple tool kit, but being a simple tool myself I don't....and trust to good luck and good buddies dotted about the place..haha!

You're absolutely right about it looking 'solid', it is a lump compared to your sprightly bike with a spring in it's step, and not to be thrown around on dirt I think.
I'd love to do something with a GL1000/1100 Wing as they are a brute when stripped down in the right way.

[thefish]

Just got in on this thread. Definitely following. Great build and posts!

[Trace]

I've really enjoyed your thread and just wanted to say thanks for documenting your build.  Having a steamy, wet day here in the tropics today, so staying indoors in the airconditioning and decided to read your thread through for the second time.  I've recently added a CBX550 to my garage and am just in the process of acquiring a few pieces of missing hardware (tyres, chain, battery) before I start working on getting her running more smoothly.  It's been insightful to read your build and I like where you took the bike; very nice. Looks a pleasure to ride. You've kept stock several of the key things I've also been contemplating, which was encouraging. I imagine I'll be revisiting some of your posts again as I get into it more. Thanks again for all your sharing.

[NoRiders]

I've really enjoyed your thread and just wanted to say thanks for documenting your build.  Having a steamy, wet day here in the tropics today, so staying indoors in the airconditioning and decided to read your thread through for the second time.  I've recently added a CBX550 to my garage and am just in the process of acquiring a few pieces of missing hardware (tyres, chain, battery) before I start working on getting her running more smoothly.  It's been insightful to read your build and I like where you took the bike; very nice. Looks a pleasure to ride. You've kept stock several of the key things I've also been contemplating, which was encouraging. I imagine I'll be revisiting some of your posts again as I get into it more. Thanks again for all your sharing.

Gee, thank you trace. It's good to know some of my efforts and meanderings actually help to motivate others to 'get it done' haha!
I'd like to see your progress and watch another CBX550 get back on the road, Do you have a build thread yet?
Thankfully, the service parts you need are available in the aftermarket...original model specific parts might be more of a problem to source for you in the balmy tropics. In the UK there is a good supply of used parts from breakers etc. BYW it's very cold, wet n snowy here...brrr!