1974 CB550 Build and Ride, but mostly Ride.

[adamtowner]

I have been searching for a CB550 and finally picked up a 1974 CB550 the other day. Here it is:

My plan is to do what I need to do first to get it on the road so I can ride.

-new tires
-controls and bars
-lights and blinkers
-new seat
-pet cock

carbs and brakes have already been rebuilt

After that, I figure I will work project by project, cleaning and polishing so I can keep riding all sumer and fall. Maybe then I will tear things down during the winter.

So I am hoping, you guys wont mind me getting lots of advice as this build goes on.

 

[adamtowner]

Also, anyone have an tire recommendations or sites to buy them from?

 

[csok05]

Nice 550! Rusty Cycles?

 

[adamtowner]

Yup csok05, thats Rusty Cycles! I live next door in Worcester.

So got some new parts in:

New Tires: Pirelli Sport Demons 100/90 x 19 front and 110/90 x 18 rear

clubmans, mirrors, and grips from DimeCity and tarozzi rear sets from FastfromthePast.

DCC and FastfromthePast were awesome to deal with, they answered all hundred of my questions.

I also have a seat on the way from RocCity, looks awesome cant wait to get it.

I'll post some pictures after I start installing the new parts.

I need to ride, the weathers getting good!

 

[adamtowner]

Got my seat from Roc City, looks awesome and has that great fiber glass smell. Reminds me of fixing my surfboards when I was a kid. Im at work now, cant wait to get home and put it on the bike and see the look.

 

[adamtowner]

So I also started installing the new rear sets and I had a couple questions:

Looking at a lot of other builds, it looks like the rear sets are back father, mounted to the rear foot peg mounts. Mine are a bunch more forward. Look right?



Only the left side is on, as I broke the ubolt on the right side. (tight is tight and too tight is broken)






Look right? or any tips?

 

[rory]

looks fine to me, rearsets on the rearpegs is a little far back imo

 

[03rangerxlt]

Your rearsets look right. On my 500, they are going on the passenger peg mount, but I'm running a BCR tank and seat. The BCR tank is longer, so you would be sitting further back, thus the pegs get mounted back.

 

[csok05]

Yup csok05, thats Rusty Cycles! I live next door in Worcester.

So got some new parts in:

New Tires: Pirelli Sport Demons 100/90 x 19 front and 110/90 x 18 rear

clubmans, mirrors, and grips from DimeCity and tarozzi rear sets from FastfromthePast.

DCC and FastfromthePast were awesome to deal with, they answered all hundred of my questions.

I also have a seat on the way from RocCity, looks awesome cant wait to get it.

I'll post some pictures after I start installing the new parts.

I need to ride, the weathers getting good!

Is that a Fire truck i see? yeah i am also here in worcester. How is she running?

 

[adamtowner]

Hey csok05, sorry i just saw the reply. Ya thats a Fire Truck. I fund my bike with my day job as a fireman, and my side job as a paramedic in the city.

Shes running alright, I ran the bike with a little rust in the tank and I think i clogged the jets. Time to clean them out and grab some filters.

 

[adamtowner]

So I got my seat from Roc City and it looks great, good quality and looks rad on the bike.



Now I just have to fabricate a mounting system. I am toying with using the stock hinge and lock.

 

[adamtowner]

So I mounted the left side rear set and...



and I knew that I would have to bend the kick start lever, but it seems like its going to be a pretty drastic bend to make it around the rear set.





Any thoughts?

 

[adamtowner]

I know I have been awful about updates, but hey I've been busy.

So the carbs are tuned and cleaned and the motor is running great. The fork seals are changed and the controls have all been cleaned up and new cables run. Also clubmans are installed.

The wheels had some rust and needed new spokes and bearings, so they are at http://www.cafecyclesri.com being rebuilt. The rims and hubs are heading to powder coating and they wheels are getting new stainless spokes. They should be back any day next week.

A bunch of parts came in: a rear hoop from DCC and some directionals.

And a new Yashimira Replica Stainless exhaust from MotoGP Werks.

So the plan is to get the wheels back and get this bike rolling. Then get it to work at the Fire House where I'm lucky enough to have our mechanic help me weld in the rear hoop and mount the seat (which is at my buddies upholstery shop http://www.newenglandtrim.com and ready next week). After that, I'd be all set to go except...... I need to find a new front caliper to rebuild.

The idea is to get this bike running and ride it, while doing some projects here and there before ripping it apart over the winter.

If anyone has a caliper, let me know.

 

[Frostycb]

Goodness mate! Im excited to see how this goes! Those pipes look mint too. Whats the measure of the inlet and exit outlet of the yoshi pipes?!