550f2 Cafe Build.

[kendo57]

Had a mixed day today, picked up the frame from Tripple S and they definately do a good job. I was expecting to have to
get my taps and dremel out to clean off powder coat on the threads and splines but they have taken care of everything.
I don't think i will have to clean up anything when i rebuild the frame.
On the down side the frame had some bad pitting from corrosion and i left it. I new in my mind it needed sorting but
sometimes you ignore things when you want to get things completed. So the pitting in some places looks bad, in others
the powder coat has run in and smoothed it over. In hindsight i should have filled the frame with a metal filler , maybe lead
or braze and smoothed it off. Its not the end of the world but i am a bit annoyed with myself for ignoring. I suppose there are
always going to good parts and bad in a project.
So here is the frame,, satin black and looks ok in the picture.

Some odd brackets which cost me an extra £45, was hoping they might do them for free with the frame.

So to end on a high note [for me anyway] i polished up the seat unit which was painted the same way as the mudguard
and trial fitted my cover.

 

[kendo57]

Quick update, nothing to write as i am just re building what i have already done but with everything painted.

 

[kendo57]

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Those pictures make it a high point for sure! Well done man. lookin' sweet

 

[john83]

That looks really sweet! What're your plans for the tank?

 

[motorpsykler]

That rattle can paint job is amazing. What kind of clear coat did you use?

 

[kendo57]

Thanks for the good comments.

What kind of clear coat did you use?

I am in the UK and just bought some clear from the local Auto Spares shop, nothing
special , i think it was made by Holts,

What're your plans for the tank?

I am preping it for paint at the moment, its had a few dents in its life so i am just trying
to get it reasonable without too much filler. It will not be perfect but hopefully i can get it
looking good on the bike.

 

[kendo57]

Made a small housing for the idiot lights, first out of cardboard, i have gone through a few cereal boxes in this build.

Then out of aluminium with some stainlees sheet i had. Fitted the lights and wired up

Also made a fuel container so i can start the bike without a tank. Used an aluminium drinks bottle [£1.99 Pound Stretcher]
and fitted a fuel tap to the bottom. Handy thing to have.

So time to start the engine, very nervous about this as its been in bits for so long. Well it fired straight away but as there is no
fast idle it would not rev up, i then realised i was twisting the grip with no cables attatched. A quick reach down to the carbs and
lifting the throttle it fired up nicely. I then fitted the cables and rearsets.
Heres a quick video of it running, hope it works.

 

[kendo57]

Its virtually complete really but i have given all my money to the dentist recently.
Just need a few parts,, Seal kit for the M/Cyl, front brake hose, two fuel taps and hoses, number plate
and probably a new battery.
Here are the latest pics

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

I just deleted what I wrote since I did not read your plans for the tank....

OH, forgot to say, that she sounds GREAT!!!

 

[john83]

Wow, really beautiful man. I'm glad you made the seat a little short to compensate for that long tank. It looks good that way. Are you going to paint the tank yourself as well? If you can get it to come out the way your other pieces did it's gonna look really nice. What about the side panels? Leaving them bare?

 

[CafeRacer650]

Well Done!!

 

[jelloelstone]

Love this build! The rattle can job came out really well, wish i could get my rattle jobs to come ou thtat good

 

[kendo57]

The rattle can paint is all about the finnishing. Paint the scheme you want then put a few clear coats on, leave well alone for a week or two for the paint to harden. Then i carefully flat off with wet 1200's paper, avoid any edges, you can feel the surface smooth out as you do it. Keep wiping clean until you have a nice flat matt surface all over. If you go too far then you will see the base coat color appear on your wet/dry paper. Then i rub all over with a fine rubbing compound , i used Facela G10, then polish with a good wax.

Heres the painted tank, just waiting for some Honda decals.

 

[vincent84]

great work, love it !

 

[HerrDeacon]

Stunning bike! Very nice work. Totally agree with you on the paint, exactly how I do it as well.

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Hell yeah, man. She looks fantastic.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Wow. That came out wonderfully!

 

[kendo57]

Thanks for the good comments , its winter here so will be a while before i get the bike on the road, too much salt down now. Heres a final picture with the Honda tank badge, hopefully i will post some more out on the road next year.

 

[Whitey80]

It's backwards