78 CB550 Cafe Conversion

[cafe kid]

Well I finally got started on my 78 CB550 K. The build will be a slow process because I have many home
projects and a new daughter. But I seem to find time here and there to fix her up. I've started on the seat,
I got the parts from fleabay. A 74 seat pan and 74 cb550 tank. I hated to cut the tank because it was
in pretty good condition. But it was super cheap!!!! I now have the Club man bars mounted. Hopefully I can
switch the bars with some adjustable clubmans because these aren't the most comfortable. Plus the bars
hit the tank If I turn to sharp. Here's the pics if any body has some ideas or criticism. Let me know!! Thanks
and enjoy!!

 

[Ease]

No Criticism here.
Great lookin bike.

You could try mounting the clubmans upside down for now. Should raise them up a bit for you.

 

[coolatula]

Tail piece is going to look good.
That's a good bike for a project as they are smooth runners and just about the perfect size for a older standard.
That's why I like the Kawasaki KZ550 and 650s so much. Same goes for the 550-650cc Yamahas and Suzukis. They just make great all-around machines.

 

[snowman88]

cool bike, i have the same bike, year and everything. only mines not in that good of shape. good luck with making it a cafe. i might be asking you questions when i run into problems with mine. don't be afraid to ask me questions too, although i don't know too much

 

[matt365]

If you want a bit more power out of it, the CB650 engine is a bored out 550. You could drop her in with minimal mods. I'd like to find a CB550 for my next cafe project.


Yours looks like it's coming along real well.

 

[renegadmonk]

Tail piece is going to look good.
That's a good bike for a project as they are smooth runners and just about the perfect size for a older standard.
That's why I like the Kawasaki KZ550 and 650s so much. Same goes for the 550-650cc Yamahas and Suzukis. They just make great all-around machines.

my buddy has a kawi csr650 and i see alot of "cafe" potential. He laughed about cafe racers and said they were butt ugly. Then he finally saw mine the other day and immediately thought of transforming his kawi 650. lol.

 

[coolatula]

my buddy has a kawi csr650 and i see alot of "cafe" potential. He laughed about cafe racers and said they were butt ugly. Then he finally saw mine the other day and immediately thought of transforming his kawi 650. lol.

The KZ650s have a almost cult following and besides the 900/1000s seem to be the most sought after KZs to own and modify.
It seems like just about everyone that loves Kawasaki KZ fours owns,has owned,wants to own again or wants to own the 650 version me included. If my buddy ever decides to sell his I may just have to snatch it up! If not I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and start gathering parts to build my own. Parts,engines,frames etc. seem to be everywhere for the 650s and that's a GOOD thing since they are so popular to begin with.