cbx550 cafe build
- Thread starter wab
- Start date
wab
Been Around the Block
Finished,I think.Pics inside.
Ok the big day has finally arrived. Bike is more or less complete. Take a look, I hope you all like what I have managed to achieve on a very small budget and at home! Be gentle.
Started ok but wont run off the choke yet, also had some fuel coming from the airbox breather pipe? Any ideas?
Ok the big day has finally arrived. Bike is more or less complete. Take a look, I hope you all like what I have managed to achieve on a very small budget and at home! Be gentle.
Started ok but wont run off the choke yet, also had some fuel coming from the airbox breather pipe? Any ideas?
CafeRacer650
Dream it. Build it. Live it.
The bike looks great, I like all the black. Forgive me for being picky, that's just me, but was there a reason you kept the chain guard on? The slightly faded, black plastic kinda clashes with all the nice gloss, black paint on the rest of the bike.
deepwaterimports
Over 1,000 Posts
mate she looks great you should be very proud i dig it heaps well done
wab
Been Around the Block
Thanks! I need a rest for a while now. Give me 12 months and I might go again but I would have to find somewhere to do it as my lovely wife wants to decorate the dinning room!! :Fab Tanks said:Hi wab thats turned out real nice mate all youe hard work payed off in buckets now you can get out and ride it before the winter sets in and you start a new project
Why would you want to do that?!!
wab
Been Around the Block
Passed test today, road license purchased. Rode great apart from a bit of fiddling to get the tickover right. Seems to be settling down now.
Slight fuel leak from one of the carb float bowls when it's on the stand. Maybe the rubber seal is not sat right or is no good. Investigate that shortly.
Slight fuel leak from one of the carb float bowls when it's on the stand. Maybe the rubber seal is not sat right or is no good. Investigate that shortly.
NoRiders
Over 1,000 Posts
Hi Wab, thread from the dead.
Not sure if you're still active on here, but I have to say you did a great job on the CBX, very well done. Amazed you achieved it in your dining room!!
I've got ideas from your build for my CBX scrambler project so thanks for that.
Cheers Colin
Not sure if you're still active on here, but I have to say you did a great job on the CBX, very well done. Amazed you achieved it in your dining room!!
I've got ideas from your build for my CBX scrambler project so thanks for that.
Cheers Colin
SoyBoySigh
Been Around the Block
BUMP!
This one's a pretty cool bike, or at least it shows the POTENTIAL for the CBX550F - not the fake drum hubs, but the BIKE itself. I dig it personally, 'cause it's like a miniaturized CB1100R - pretty cool stuff indeed.
Only in this case, while I'm loving the paint & seat, there's some stuff I really don't get. The way the sub-frame's been modified, seemingly for no better reason what-so-ever than to make that aftermarket seat pan and cowl fit flush to it. I mean, wtf - how difficult is it to cut the seat to fit? Well really though - I've made MY fiberglass seat-pans by laying 'em up ON the frame, with tape & cardboard & stuff to create a mould for the final product. Twas a cinch and the thing is, the '82 CB900F sub-frame rails are waaay less straight than that. It's remarkable really, how simple the CBX550F frame is - it looks more like a CB350K twin frame than anything off a CB four, well maybe pretty close to the CB350F frame, which was just about as spare & simple as the CB350K twin frame anyhow. I'm always forgetting about those, and am always surprised when I see their bare frames, how lightweight & minimalist they are....
And the other objection I've got with this build, is that those YAM wheels kinda suck. Sure they're gonna be slightly lighter than the Comstar wheels over-all, 'cause THESE particular Comstar wheels are probably some of the heavier versions out there. But the RIM area is always gonna be lighter than an equivalent sized cast/mag wheel! It's all about the HUB weight! I suppose there's some good stuff going on here with the bigger rotors, lighter calipers etc - But there are far FAR better versions available from within th same early-'80s Honda DOHC-4 family. Yeah - I said it! The CBX550F is a cousin to the DOHC-4 such as CB900F and like I was saying, the CB1100R - just as the CB650 is most definitely a SOHC-4 ha-ha. I mean, yeah this engine's probably a lot more closely aligned to the CBX750F or the later Nighthawk "Seven-Fifty" type of stuff. AESTHETICALLY however, I see some huge potential for some Boomerang COMSTAR wheels from say, CB900F2 on one of these babies. Not to mention an entire fork, 39mm from DOHC or 41mm TRAC from Gold Wing for that matter. That way it's still period-correct and associated with the original model, yet still a decent upgrade to suspension, wheels, brakes, etc. The key being to make it look like nothing's even changed - Perhaps a couple of silver stripes up & down each fork leg? Mmm.... And the Comstar rims from the DOHC era, you've got all of the different versions to choose from. If the CB1100R Boomerang was GOLD, and the CB900F2 Boomerang was SILVER - How about BRONZE on the 550cc???
But more to the point, WIRE-SPOKE wheels could turn the CBX550F into one hell of a looker AND improve handling & performance in ridiculously awesome ways. I figure the same sizes as CB900F2 Boomerang rims would be just fine, 2.5x18" Fr & 3.00x18" Rr - But then again the 3.50x18" Super-Akront rims from upgraded '70s Superbike mods, would be spot on AND probably a lot cheaper than a lot of the new production 3.00x18" rims - plus they're really light-weight 'cause they're not shoulderd and their drop-center section isn't boxy & square-shouldered. The only set-back is they don't have bead retention ridges, so you can't seal 'em up tube-less. One really good pairing, is the rear 2.50x18" un-marked Borrani from AMF-era Harley rear wheels, and a MORAD, not Borrani, 3.00x18" - the Borrani can't be sealed safely either. Now they might be a little bit heavier than the other types, 'cause they're both boxy drop-center shouldered rims, BUT - they can be sealed tube-less and one good feature fr a street-bike is they're un-breakably tough and hard to put a dent in 'em.
The main thing though, IMHO, is they'll be ideal for these DOHC-era bikes 'cause they've got that broad flat shoulder on 'em just like the Comstar wheels, so I'M of the opinion that it'd be an interesting colour scheme to paint 'em up just like the Comstar wheels, either black with silver accents, or gold with silver - maybe even the overall gold like the CB1100R & CB1100F Boomerang rims? Better still, the duller softer Gold colour on rim and spokes with silver hubs - just like the GL1000 Gold Wing LTD limited edition rims. THAT could look pretty damn cool on one of these bikes. And a "toaster-tank" paint-job on the tank just like I've got here with the CB1100R alloy tank on my "CB900K0 Bol Bomber", and I'd bet that steel tank could polish up really nicely too, with some Mother's Aluminum & Mag Wheel polish.
'Cause I feel like the CBX550F might have even MORE potential as a CB450K0 Black Bomber tribute build, aka street-bike conversion of the RC-series DOHC-4 racers of the mid-'60s, 'cause it's a smaller lighter bike for one, but also 'cause of the shorter crank & narrower over-all engine, and just the plain LOOK of the thing to be blunt. HUGE potential for that type of thing. Just the tip of the iceberg IMHO, so far as mid-'80s post-DOHC next-gen Honda models are concerned. VF-Magna, VF-Sabre, the MVX250F - PLENTY of very nice bikes in this period with HUGE potential for the "Retro-Fried" treatment, wire-spoke '60s style Grand Prix replica sort of machines. But the CBX550F is unique for it's close resemblance to the CB1100R alone, that's another whole direction to go for a truly awesome pseudo-replica project based on this model, maybe even equally awesome to the Cafe version.
I'd be very curious about whether the front "inboard disc" hub, would bolt up to the regular BOOMERANG COMSTAR wheels, for either 3.00x18" or more to the point the 2.50x17"CB1100F rear wheel up front, and the VF1000F-II 3.50x17" version on the rear. Now THAT could make for some very interesting tire choices, too. Of course, it's not the ideal front brake so the VF750F 2.50x16" is just as suitable of a substitute. The thing to keep an eye out for are the Akront "NERVI" rims, 50% lighter than Comstar types, and all sorts of sizes - still hiding out there in NOS form no doubt - though you'd have to compete with the Ducati & Bimota crowd if there's a bidding war. Still, I know of 2.50x18" & 3.00x16" readily available off OEM wheels, so either of them could make for a wonderful FRONT wheel, the rear one could be sourced from a few different places but also from other types of rims, too. OR the Kosman Industries' "Weld-Widened" method....
Mmmm - and it somehow only just occurred to me now, how even WITHOUT that CB1100R style gas tank, or more to the point especially so? The '76 RCB - I mean, look at that valve-cover! It's a decent match! Yeah, with the replica pseudo-"RCB" replica gas tank from Air-Tech, or some reasonable facsimile thereof - and the correct down-sized boxy/swooshy tail cowl (perhaps the replica item, cut with a slice out down along the middle to narrow it, then trimming a smidge from along the whole bottom edge?) AND the right type of FAIRING of course, ideally with the SMILEY fairing with the big "mouth" all full of braces on it's teeth aka the oil-cooler, yeah that's definitely the style for this particular pseudo-replica - The "Mini-Me RCB"? With Silver Comstar rims, of course. Maybe even a set straight off of the CB400N/CB400T? Ideally re-built & widened, Akront "NERVI" 2.50x18" on the front or rear, paired with either 2.15x18" from several options OR the 2.75x18" from pro-link CBX and/or CB1100RB - the Metalgear Australia replica of the CB1100RB-only 296mm CB750F2 style rotors, CB900FC 39mm fork with CBX pro-link caliper-hangers, OR the 41mm TRAC fork from GL1200 - A really rugged suspension and a way over-sized front brake and yet such very very light-weight rotors it's probably lighter than any other option in the same diameter - Now that - THAT could be an AWESOME use for one of these bikes!
ANYWAY yeah, Comstar rims or wire-spokes, THAT'S what's needed to make these bikes SHINE. Just sayin'.
-Sigh.
This one's a pretty cool bike, or at least it shows the POTENTIAL for the CBX550F - not the fake drum hubs, but the BIKE itself. I dig it personally, 'cause it's like a miniaturized CB1100R - pretty cool stuff indeed.
Only in this case, while I'm loving the paint & seat, there's some stuff I really don't get. The way the sub-frame's been modified, seemingly for no better reason what-so-ever than to make that aftermarket seat pan and cowl fit flush to it. I mean, wtf - how difficult is it to cut the seat to fit? Well really though - I've made MY fiberglass seat-pans by laying 'em up ON the frame, with tape & cardboard & stuff to create a mould for the final product. Twas a cinch and the thing is, the '82 CB900F sub-frame rails are waaay less straight than that. It's remarkable really, how simple the CBX550F frame is - it looks more like a CB350K twin frame than anything off a CB four, well maybe pretty close to the CB350F frame, which was just about as spare & simple as the CB350K twin frame anyhow. I'm always forgetting about those, and am always surprised when I see their bare frames, how lightweight & minimalist they are....
And the other objection I've got with this build, is that those YAM wheels kinda suck. Sure they're gonna be slightly lighter than the Comstar wheels over-all, 'cause THESE particular Comstar wheels are probably some of the heavier versions out there. But the RIM area is always gonna be lighter than an equivalent sized cast/mag wheel! It's all about the HUB weight! I suppose there's some good stuff going on here with the bigger rotors, lighter calipers etc - But there are far FAR better versions available from within th same early-'80s Honda DOHC-4 family. Yeah - I said it! The CBX550F is a cousin to the DOHC-4 such as CB900F and like I was saying, the CB1100R - just as the CB650 is most definitely a SOHC-4 ha-ha. I mean, yeah this engine's probably a lot more closely aligned to the CBX750F or the later Nighthawk "Seven-Fifty" type of stuff. AESTHETICALLY however, I see some huge potential for some Boomerang COMSTAR wheels from say, CB900F2 on one of these babies. Not to mention an entire fork, 39mm from DOHC or 41mm TRAC from Gold Wing for that matter. That way it's still period-correct and associated with the original model, yet still a decent upgrade to suspension, wheels, brakes, etc. The key being to make it look like nothing's even changed - Perhaps a couple of silver stripes up & down each fork leg? Mmm.... And the Comstar rims from the DOHC era, you've got all of the different versions to choose from. If the CB1100R Boomerang was GOLD, and the CB900F2 Boomerang was SILVER - How about BRONZE on the 550cc???
But more to the point, WIRE-SPOKE wheels could turn the CBX550F into one hell of a looker AND improve handling & performance in ridiculously awesome ways. I figure the same sizes as CB900F2 Boomerang rims would be just fine, 2.5x18" Fr & 3.00x18" Rr - But then again the 3.50x18" Super-Akront rims from upgraded '70s Superbike mods, would be spot on AND probably a lot cheaper than a lot of the new production 3.00x18" rims - plus they're really light-weight 'cause they're not shoulderd and their drop-center section isn't boxy & square-shouldered. The only set-back is they don't have bead retention ridges, so you can't seal 'em up tube-less. One really good pairing, is the rear 2.50x18" un-marked Borrani from AMF-era Harley rear wheels, and a MORAD, not Borrani, 3.00x18" - the Borrani can't be sealed safely either. Now they might be a little bit heavier than the other types, 'cause they're both boxy drop-center shouldered rims, BUT - they can be sealed tube-less and one good feature fr a street-bike is they're un-breakably tough and hard to put a dent in 'em.
The main thing though, IMHO, is they'll be ideal for these DOHC-era bikes 'cause they've got that broad flat shoulder on 'em just like the Comstar wheels, so I'M of the opinion that it'd be an interesting colour scheme to paint 'em up just like the Comstar wheels, either black with silver accents, or gold with silver - maybe even the overall gold like the CB1100R & CB1100F Boomerang rims? Better still, the duller softer Gold colour on rim and spokes with silver hubs - just like the GL1000 Gold Wing LTD limited edition rims. THAT could look pretty damn cool on one of these bikes. And a "toaster-tank" paint-job on the tank just like I've got here with the CB1100R alloy tank on my "CB900K0 Bol Bomber", and I'd bet that steel tank could polish up really nicely too, with some Mother's Aluminum & Mag Wheel polish.
'Cause I feel like the CBX550F might have even MORE potential as a CB450K0 Black Bomber tribute build, aka street-bike conversion of the RC-series DOHC-4 racers of the mid-'60s, 'cause it's a smaller lighter bike for one, but also 'cause of the shorter crank & narrower over-all engine, and just the plain LOOK of the thing to be blunt. HUGE potential for that type of thing. Just the tip of the iceberg IMHO, so far as mid-'80s post-DOHC next-gen Honda models are concerned. VF-Magna, VF-Sabre, the MVX250F - PLENTY of very nice bikes in this period with HUGE potential for the "Retro-Fried" treatment, wire-spoke '60s style Grand Prix replica sort of machines. But the CBX550F is unique for it's close resemblance to the CB1100R alone, that's another whole direction to go for a truly awesome pseudo-replica project based on this model, maybe even equally awesome to the Cafe version.
I'd be very curious about whether the front "inboard disc" hub, would bolt up to the regular BOOMERANG COMSTAR wheels, for either 3.00x18" or more to the point the 2.50x17"CB1100F rear wheel up front, and the VF1000F-II 3.50x17" version on the rear. Now THAT could make for some very interesting tire choices, too. Of course, it's not the ideal front brake so the VF750F 2.50x16" is just as suitable of a substitute. The thing to keep an eye out for are the Akront "NERVI" rims, 50% lighter than Comstar types, and all sorts of sizes - still hiding out there in NOS form no doubt - though you'd have to compete with the Ducati & Bimota crowd if there's a bidding war. Still, I know of 2.50x18" & 3.00x16" readily available off OEM wheels, so either of them could make for a wonderful FRONT wheel, the rear one could be sourced from a few different places but also from other types of rims, too. OR the Kosman Industries' "Weld-Widened" method....
Mmmm - and it somehow only just occurred to me now, how even WITHOUT that CB1100R style gas tank, or more to the point especially so? The '76 RCB - I mean, look at that valve-cover! It's a decent match! Yeah, with the replica pseudo-"RCB" replica gas tank from Air-Tech, or some reasonable facsimile thereof - and the correct down-sized boxy/swooshy tail cowl (perhaps the replica item, cut with a slice out down along the middle to narrow it, then trimming a smidge from along the whole bottom edge?) AND the right type of FAIRING of course, ideally with the SMILEY fairing with the big "mouth" all full of braces on it's teeth aka the oil-cooler, yeah that's definitely the style for this particular pseudo-replica - The "Mini-Me RCB"? With Silver Comstar rims, of course. Maybe even a set straight off of the CB400N/CB400T? Ideally re-built & widened, Akront "NERVI" 2.50x18" on the front or rear, paired with either 2.15x18" from several options OR the 2.75x18" from pro-link CBX and/or CB1100RB - the Metalgear Australia replica of the CB1100RB-only 296mm CB750F2 style rotors, CB900FC 39mm fork with CBX pro-link caliper-hangers, OR the 41mm TRAC fork from GL1200 - A really rugged suspension and a way over-sized front brake and yet such very very light-weight rotors it's probably lighter than any other option in the same diameter - Now that - THAT could be an AWESOME use for one of these bikes!
ANYWAY yeah, Comstar rims or wire-spokes, THAT'S what's needed to make these bikes SHINE. Just sayin'.
-Sigh.
