"Traveler's" 1977 CB550K Cafe build

hmmm...not sure...I thought the cafe world was anti-shiny.

I never cease to be amazed at how hard it is to get guys to comment on here.....must be a clique thing....I'm not "in" yet....oh well...been a lone wolf for years...at some point I'll get the "hint" and walk away.

~Joe
 
It'd be a shame for you to walk away from here. You clearly have some talent and an eye for detail. As to the lack of input I think 13 pages of a build thread that only started at the end of december is quite respectable. I only wish I had that kind of traffic on my build thread. Of course you've got a lot more shit done than me in a lot less time. ;) :p
 
Well, a little insecure are we? Someone need a hug? ;)

I'm definitely watching your thread man, as I'm sure a lot of others are. Its just that I'm also watching about 30 other threads and I don't have time to reply to every post. I try to chime in when I have something to add and you seem to being doing just fine without much help. Your bike is looking tits!! One thing though; I think you need to change those mirrors they look klunky on that bike.

I just picked up a 78' CB550 that has these tiny little chrome rectangular mirrors. I was going to save them for something else but if you're interested I'll click a pic and if you want them we can work something out super cheap for you.

diesel
 
sounds good. let me see what you have.

Been looking at my mirrors a little skeptically as well. :-\

It's not about being insecure...it's about going to the effort to post for the members and being ignored.....I'm not a good martyr.

~Joe
 
I'm guilty about being a bike voyeur and getting a little pissy about not enough comments on my build at the same time. I like to get comments good or bad about the build as well.

That long tank really sets off the bike. I'm not feeling the seat pan tilted forward like that. Is that going to be the way it is or you haven't finished setting it up yet?

And the rotors look the biz on there.

Jay
 
I was just ribbin' ya'. That bike is over at my new shop space, I'll get pics in the next day or two and pass them on then.
 
I'm with you on the mirror skeptasicm...they don't work with the look you've got. Other wise nice build so far...
 
The seat was made that way by Sean.

I'm a tall guy, so the reach is nothing...it actually fits me well.

~Joe
 
Well, I got the entire valve cover done today...took 3 hours, but it looks pretty good, I think.....

002-21.jpg


003-25.jpg


004-24.jpg


005-23.jpg


006-23.jpg


007-19.jpg


008-19.jpg


009-17.jpg


~Joe
 
Damn that engine is clean. I don't think my engine was that clean the day it rolled off the assembly line. ;) Seems like every time I work on it I just make stuff dirtier.
 
Thanks! ;D

To tell you the truth....it takes alot of brake cleaner, toothbrushes, steel wool, 80,100,150, & 220 grit sandpaper, and Never Dull polishing wads. Also the use of green and finally white scouring pads....shortly, the whole motor will be buffed out with the white pad and WD-40....will have a satin glow to it!

Should have about 20 hours in the motor when I get done. :-\

~Joe
 
Traveler said:
008-19.jpg


~Joe
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of the 'brushed not polished' look too, and your motor looks great. I would have taken the easy way out however, and painted the castings silver ;D

Well done for having the patience to do the whole shebang.

Looks a million dollars.

ian
 
bike is looking great JOe! kind of dig that motor work now that the whole thing is getting closer.... what about those rear sets they look pretty hight and forward. but it may just be the angle have you sat on that think yet to check them? i know all the bikes i have with them are under the ass and prety much lower than that.
 
Motor looks good. That tank and seat look BADASS! Be careful not to burn the shit out of yourself on a hot sunny day! This thing is killer. Well played. The "cafe world" is whatever the hell you make it. My bike is built like a "cafe", painted like a "tracker", and fuckin filthy. Im cool with it though, so who cares. As long as your diggin what your riding fuck em all. And PS... I have checked this bike out a million times. Just never thought I could say anything you didnt already know, or answer any quesions better than anyone else. Stick around man.
 
Hey Joe I somehow missed this thread until today... Let me tell you it really brightened up my Hematology and Immunology lectures this afternoon lol.

Seriously though the bike looks amazing, rockcity that is some amazing work. I like they way you're tackling the build, going through it piece by piece, not overkill (not every bike needs the engine pulled/rebuilt etc).

Love it!
 
VonYinzer said:
Motor looks good. That tank and seat look BADASS! Be careful not to burn the shit out of yourself on a hot sunny day!
Click to expand...

double on that, I rode my 400f with a polished alloy tank to Phily (300 miles) on a nice sunny day and got awful sunburn on my leg where there was a hole in my jeans... scared me at first cause I thought it was a rash or something!! :D
 
Man...sure sure am glad you found my thread and posted....that's all I want is a little comraderie....

I really love the old 60's to mid 70's jap stuff....so far ahead of it's time...back then the jap's they would try any and everything, and really were innovative.....jsut think what we would have if the EPA hadn't forced them to stay with 4 strokers?????

I really love the old 2 stroke smokers, and the old Honda CB SOHC4 cylinders....guess that's why I finally had to have one! I really love this little cafe bike!

~Joe
 
Looks to me like everything is coming along very nicely there Joe. Keep up the good work, and that engine is really starting to look good!
Whats your plans for the front end, is it in the finished state or are you going to run some drop bars or dare I say clipons?
Keep it up
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light
    • www.jadusmotorcycleparts.com
    www.lostapostle.ca/
    www.sparckmoto.com

    Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom