CB550 article "The Mantlepiece" (Cycle 11/75)

[cafe75-550]

This is an article on a custom built CB550 that ran in Cycle magazine in 11/75. I posted both this and its sister article "The Gentleman's Express" over at the SOHC4 forums awhile back (http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=20392.0 and http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=20601.0), but since Noel posted the sister article here I figured I'd post this one over here too. These scans are slightly reduced so I could host them on Photobucket, if you want the full format of either article shoot me a message. Keep in mind that in full form this article is 10mb, the other is nearly 20. Enjoy!! ;D

 

[Ease]

Man that is a Killer bike.

Love to get my hands on that today!

 

[78kz]

Nice bike!
What are the wheels off of?

 

[Tim]

I haven't read the article, but I'd suggest the wheels are likely Lester mags, a common aftermarket wheel of the era.

 

[78kz]

They look just like my Kawi mags.

 

[cafe75-550]

They are lester mags, and of the same design as the Kawi's, although I think the ones on that bike are specific to it or a 550. It wouldn't be too hard though to put a set of Kawi Lesters on a 550.

 

[Hellvis]

that is pure art!!! i am in love

 

[brewtown16]

did anyone else think the turbo kawi was kinda cool?

 

[capnjim01]

I actually bought that same magazine in 1975. Bought a used 350 Yamaha in 1976 wrecked it street racing on a wet road. Oh to have that bike and my youth back.

 

[m357.5]

Lesters looked more like tha cast Yamaha wheels, Morris mags looked like the Kwackers. And that Turbo Z1 is bitchin....sorry I'm just not a Honda guy LOL.

 

[sxecafe]

Damn this thing is awesome...