1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed (now a Roller!) Yes..

[chrisf]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Thanks for posting the paint stripper. I've ner seen results like that, so that's what I'm going to use on my project. Great find! FWIW, I too used some Lowes/HD stripper, but not the same stuff. Now I know.

--Chris

 

[03rangerxlt]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Your work is ridiculously awesome! I love that shotgun. I'll be honest with you, its not something I'd really own, maybe. But damn it looks cool as hell. And the pin-up with the Desert Tactical Arms rifle...
...says to me that you are probably a gun nut cut from the same clothe as me?

 

[swan]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Any particular reason you are using a JAPANESE motorcycle for a World War II "theme" bike?


Nothing against Japan or Japanese bikes (I own several) but they were the enemy in WWII, they killed and wounded many Americans soldiers and civilians and I would think the use of a Japanese bike would piss off some older veterans.


When I worked in Italy some older people refused to ride in a Mercedes Benz car we leased. When asked why, they said the same Mercedes name was on the tanks that invaded their village when they were children during the war. I traded the Benz for a Fiat and all was well.

 

[kookie31]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

man this thing is refreshingly different. love it so far keep up the great work. cant wait to see how it turns out

 

[theboxrules]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Any particular reason you are using a JAPANESE motorcycle for a World War II "theme" bike?


Nothing against Japan or Japanese bikes (I own several) but they were the enemy in WWII, they killed and wounded many Americans soldiers and civilians and I would think the use of a Japanese bike would piss off some older veterans.


When I worked in Italy some older people refused to ride in a Mercedes Benz car we leased. When asked why, they said the same Mercedes name was on the tanks that invaded their village when they were children during the war. I traded the Benz for a Fiat and all was well.

You could flip the same thought and look at it as the ultimate mark of victory! Could you imagine old Japanese veterans seeing a Japanese bike decorated in "enemy" colors?

I asked my grandfather before he died, if he was angry with me for taking a job at a Japanese auto manufacturer (Honda). He was a Navy veteran in the Pacific. His ship endured Kamikaze attacks, participated in the shelling of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, etc. He said "no" and without missing he beat he claimed it was now the Russians that ticked him off! LOL

 

[my-79-750-k]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

I can't believe I haven't seen this build yet! I'm thinking this bike is gonna turn out abso-frickin-lutely amazing. The paint work alone would make it great, but polishing all the bits and taking the time to rebuild everything is going to send this one over the top. I'll definitely be checking up on this one.

 

[teazer]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

The bike is OK. It's the "Premium Stripper" that caught my attention...... ;-)

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

So progress continues forward with the motor work, think of these pics as the before shots.. 

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Here were entering the discovery phase

Wow.. everything looks good, no surface damage, all is well.. nice..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Clutches

Here’s what the inside looks like, just incase know one has seen it?.

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Inspecting the clutch and pressure plates for wear,..

Man.. everything looks real good. No signs of wear or heat, nice

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Here’s all of the bits and pieces associated with a clutch, again just incase anyone is curious, that is..

Here’s all of the bits and pieces that I need to polish up, yeah me.. hahahaa Yhaa.. Hours of good times here..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Lets prep the motor for paint.. Yes I’m painting the motor, yeah… I know.. but your going to have to trust me on this, or not, either way no worries.. lol..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Here’s how the parts are coming along, polish wise..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


I was also looking through some old boxes and found this!.. Yeah score!.. hahahaa. Nothing says “old school” like steel braided lines..
I’ve got an idea, oohhh this is going to be nice.. See team, I’m planning on hard piping in all of the wiring (more on that later), which should really look different, I like different, anyway, this falls in nicely into the overall look / theme I’m going for.. Well that is IMO..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Dam… one sleeve short..

Still, not to bad looking.

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Ok, now lets start to put everything back together, but first I need to polish the bolts and screws..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Ok, now lets add on the top cover and see the basic engine now looks like..

Here’s were it gets fun team.. It’s discussion / decision time, typically this is what most of us have,(simple) hose clamps around out intakes

Ie this..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Here’s a fail on my part for the teams amusement.. I wasn’t going to post this up but I just thought I would share the fails along with the successes too.. Please keep in mind that you cant make an omelet without breaking some eggs..

This is my theme bike, I decided to think a little outside of the box and try a few things that just might be, more ascetically pleasing, shall we say. So I wrapped them in stainless hose to match the rest of the lines and I got this.