The give away bike 1977 CB550 with Autographed parts!!!!!!!DONE 8-3-12

[cb550fcafe]

I'm not the best at build threads but here goes. Two projects to build, very different from each other. First one will be a clean cafe, reliable, legal, easy to ride and maintain, that one I will call Anxiety.

Its not a clean as it looks, rotted pipes, rotten carbs, missing air filter elements, corroded, stuck engine.

Second bike, a real POS! I'll call this one 220. I paid $40 for it. Picked it up at swap meet. This bike is going to get a VFR single sided swing arm, Marchesini front wheel and a CBR929 front end, all swap meet scores. Motor will get a big bore kit, CR carbs, Lossa header, belly pan, front fairing, Motogadget speedo, TA Baker tank(i hope), pretty much I want to build my best piece yet from a bike that was going to the dump.

Stay tuned for updates.

 

[cb550fcafe]

Re: two new builds, just getting started CB550's

work has been moving along on the "Give away bike". I have been fitting the fiberglass seat pan. It wasn't fitting quite the way I wanted, so grab some cardboard, tape, sheet metal, tin snips, and a hammer. I roughed out the shape with the cardboard then transferred the shape to the tin. I'll weld it all on and blend it in. It gives the stock tank a sleeker cafe look and ties the two pieces together nicely.

This is what it looked like when I started.

A little card board and tape.

This is the rough shape.

After this it gets welded.

 

[cb550fcafe]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!!

So when I began building the 77 CB550 I call Anxiety, I had always intended to give it away at a CT Rockers event in September 2012. So before I left to go to Barber, I bought two new side covers from FrankenStuff on SOHC4, I had them painted black, cleared and wet sanded. When I got to Barber, I had Mark Wilsmore and Mick Duckworth sign both covers. Mark & mick both signed a copy of ACE TIMES to include with the bike. Now I'll clear coat over the signatures and lock in the writing.

I am very excited about how the bike is going to come out. To have two guys like Mark and Mick in the same place at the same time in America to sign my side covers and book is pretty incredible. Someone very lucky is going to get an awesome one of a kind bike.

 

[cb550fcafe]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!! work update 2/2012

As work continues, I took some pictures to keep it interesting. Body work completed. Tank is stretched, sealed with Caswell, seat pan perfectly reworked to frame and tank, tank smoothed out where factory emblems once were. Engine completely torn down, all new O.E. Honda seals and gaskets, new rings, chains and paint. Thinds are going well.

The silver went down first, I lay the stripes then the black will go on, I have some special decals the will get buried under the clear. The silver stripe will be wide down the center and thin on each side.

More updates soon.

 

[Big-D]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!!

I like how you did the tank by the seat. It really cleans that up

 

[03rangerxlt]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!!

looking forward to seeing this one develope!

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!!

Great man! Tank "extension" looks really nice! Keep it up. ;D

 

[cb550fcafe]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!!

Painting done. Picture stinks, on my tail gate, just couldn't wait. Sides of tank smoothed. Seat side stretched. Ct Rockers logo in center. All decals buried in clear coat.

Wheels back from Buchanan's

Don't forget, I am giving this bike away at the Rocker Reunion in September.
Today she became a roller.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!!

Absolutely Beautiful sir. Well done! 8)

 

[zero]

Re: two new builds, CB550's with Autographed parts!!!!!!!

great work! Any links or info to the event? I want to be there bright and early to claim my prize! 8)

 

[cb550fcafe]

She's all done. 500 miles and counting. On September 2nd one luck person will ride this bike home from the Rocker's Reunion hosted by CT Rockers.

The entire album can be seen here. http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/zz321/kldinsmoor/give%20away%20bike/?start=0

 

[MotoMadness]

Re: two new builds, just getting started CB550's

work has been moving along on the "Give away bike". I have been fitting the fiberglass seat pan. It wasn't fitting quite the way I wanted, so grab some cardboard, tape, sheet metal, tin snips, and a hammer. I roughed out the shape with the cardboard then transferred the shape to the tin. I'll weld it all on and blend it in. It gives the stock tank a sleeker cafe look and ties the two pieces together nicely.

This is what it looked like when I started.

A little card board and tape.

This is the rough shape.

After this it gets welded.

Nice work. Tank to Seat is where 95% of custom builds fail =) This one looks good.

 

[Bert Jan]

Sweet build! Very clean everywhere. Could you tell me the size of the rear tire? Looks good on it!

 

[Rockers CT]

Kevin.. Man your bikes are so great.... Setting a standard in bikes and helping set "the standard" in the Caff Community.. I remember sitting drinking beers over a year ago planning up just giving away bikes.... So stoked on the next ones..

When it comes to Japanese KDI Cycles is the Groups One stop shop... NO one else...

Cheers
SETH - ROCKERS CT

 

[cb550fcafe]

Sweet build! Very clean everywhere. Could you tell me the size of the rear tire? Looks good on it!

Thank you! The rear tire is a 130/80/18 if anyone is wondering the front is a 100/90/19, I also run a 110/90/19 on the front of some of the other 550's I've done. I like to use Shinko Tourmaster, they have a wide variety of sizes for these bikes.