CB550F Cafe Interceptor
- Thread starter FunJimmy
- Start date
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
Checking the first carbon fiber seat for fitment.
If you look closely you will see the stock rubber bumpers for additional support.
The ¾” rare earth magnet with steel cup works like magic. The steel cup increases the power of the rare earth magnet 4 times.
Now the seat snaps shut with a positive click, but can be pulled free with a firm tug.
No apparent stress to the fiberglass seat pan while lifting or sitting on the seat.
The magnetic closure also provides a solid and balanced base with the factory hinge.
Checking the first carbon fiber seat for fitment.
If you look closely you will see the stock rubber bumpers for additional support.
The ¾” rare earth magnet with steel cup works like magic. The steel cup increases the power of the rare earth magnet 4 times.
Now the seat snaps shut with a positive click, but can be pulled free with a firm tug.
No apparent stress to the fiberglass seat pan while lifting or sitting on the seat.
The magnetic closure also provides a solid and balanced base with the factory hinge.
HerrDeacon
Over 1,000 Posts
Re: CB550F Interceptor
All I can say is Wow, you do some mighty fine work. Thanks for posting.
All I can say is Wow, you do some mighty fine work. Thanks for posting.
Swapmeet Louie
Put some metal in yer eye....
Re: CB550F Interceptor
Ya, very nice. Bike looks like it came that way.
Ya, very nice. Bike looks like it came that way.
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
tweakin
You’ll definitely see me at the Isle of Vashon 2011. Maybe this time we can spend a bit more time riding together. Gotta tell you about last years adventures riding home too.
Louis
Thanks for the complement. I love the bling of polished aluminum and machined parts, but I was trying to make it looks as factory as I could.
Reinhard
Sorry man. I sold the seat mold a while back. Still have the fellas contact info if you’re interested.
tweakin
You’ll definitely see me at the Isle of Vashon 2011. Maybe this time we can spend a bit more time riding together. Gotta tell you about last years adventures riding home too.
Louis
Thanks for the complement. I love the bling of polished aluminum and machined parts, but I was trying to make it looks as factory as I could.
Reinhard
Sorry man. I sold the seat mold a while back. Still have the fellas contact info if you’re interested.
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
Well up until now the build’s been all about sorting the chassis and styling out, and I’m pretty pleased with the outcome.
The bike rides great! It tracks perfectly and carves the corners with much more confidence and stability than I could have imagined for a 35 year old bike, and the single disc brake has all the stopping power I could want in a vintage café racer too.
In this next phase I’ll be focused on making the bike look good and run even better. Here, it’s all about the details.
Before I strip the bike down to the frame, I went to work mounting these awesome, fully adjustable Attack Racing billet triple trees that I found on ebay.
Well up until now the build’s been all about sorting the chassis and styling out, and I’m pretty pleased with the outcome.
The bike rides great! It tracks perfectly and carves the corners with much more confidence and stability than I could have imagined for a 35 year old bike, and the single disc brake has all the stopping power I could want in a vintage café racer too.
In this next phase I’ll be focused on making the bike look good and run even better. Here, it’s all about the details.
Before I strip the bike down to the frame, I went to work mounting these awesome, fully adjustable Attack Racing billet triple trees that I found on ebay.
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
These triples are a lot beefier looking than the stock Yamaha R6 triples and lighter too.
Gonna have to find a better location for the ignition switch though.
Notice that large plate of aluminum under the steering head?
I'll machine the steering stops from that plate.
These triples are a lot beefier looking than the stock Yamaha R6 triples and lighter too.
Gonna have to find a better location for the ignition switch though.
Notice that large plate of aluminum under the steering head?
I'll machine the steering stops from that plate.
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
Before sending the frame out for the mirror black powder coating, I removed redundancies including the factory seat lock, helmet holds, tabs and anything else that stands out.
I also had tabs welded on for the muffler bracket, a little cosmetic fillet brazing to clean up things and welded the connection between the head tube and two down tubes to reduce flex.
Before sending the frame out for the mirror black powder coating, I removed redundancies including the factory seat lock, helmet holds, tabs and anything else that stands out.
I also had tabs welded on for the muffler bracket, a little cosmetic fillet brazing to clean up things and welded the connection between the head tube and two down tubes to reduce flex.
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
When the frame was back from the powder coater, it started to come together nicely, but with the frame striped of the fenders, air box, battery and electrics is was easy to see that the rear wheel was left of center by almost 3/16”.
I relocated the Dresda swingarm with new bearing cups and now the wheel is in perfect alignment.
When the frame was back from the powder coater, it started to come together nicely, but with the frame striped of the fenders, air box, battery and electrics is was easy to see that the rear wheel was left of center by almost 3/16”.
I relocated the Dresda swingarm with new bearing cups and now the wheel is in perfect alignment.
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
I really liked the idea of relocating the ignition switch under the tank.
It cleans up the top triple tree area nicely leaving just the tach to worry about mounting up there.
Problem is that the ’77 CB550’s didn’t have an under tank option and once the frame was powder coated I couldn’t weld any mounts on.
Interestingly there are two 6mm threaded holes on the right side of the frame just under the coils that the plastic harness box bolts to.
Since I removed that harness box last year, those mounting holes made the best ignition switch mounting point I could have hoped for.
I really liked the idea of relocating the ignition switch under the tank.
It cleans up the top triple tree area nicely leaving just the tach to worry about mounting up there.
Problem is that the ’77 CB550’s didn’t have an under tank option and once the frame was powder coated I couldn’t weld any mounts on.
Interestingly there are two 6mm threaded holes on the right side of the frame just under the coils that the plastic harness box bolts to.
Since I removed that harness box last year, those mounting holes made the best ignition switch mounting point I could have hoped for.
FunJimmy
Been Around the Block
Re: CB550F Interceptor
Earlier last year I bought a second engine on ebay and this is the bottom end opened up for cleaning and inspection.
The crank bearings are in excellent condition and well within specification.
Tranny looks real good too. I think this engine has relatively low mileage.
Earlier last year I bought a second engine on ebay and this is the bottom end opened up for cleaning and inspection.
The crank bearings are in excellent condition and well within specification.
Tranny looks real good too. I think this engine has relatively low mileage.
