Flying J CB550 Atomic #13 DONE! Vote at BOTM
- Thread starter ffjmoore
- Start date
tWistedWheelz
BUILT NOT BOUGHT!
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
Also, there are many bike/car manufactures that use wings of some sort in their logo. Even though I really dig the jMo logo, I do think wings are a bit cliché.
+1Tim said:
Also, there are many bike/car manufactures that use wings of some sort in their logo. Even though I really dig the jMo logo, I do think wings are a bit cliché.
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
News flash! It's not BS but it's not well explained. Most bikes look "right" when there's a natural looking line or lines from front to rear.
A typical Brit bike has what I refer to as "Table top" styling. In other words the bottom of the tank and seat are one long more or less straight line. That long line connects the whole bike into one continuous look. Top half fairings are often arranged so that their lower edge follows that same straight line.
Interestingly enough, if it's literally one straight line it looks forced and unnatural.
The next most common line is a continuous curve from somewhere around the front disk under the fairing and tank and seat. BMW Cup bikes are a good example of that approach. Again, it gives a continuity to the look.
If that curve is too perfect like it was on a couple of Bimotas, it looks unnatural.
On the G50/7R, the line is more imaginary, and what makes it work is the curve of the tank into the seat that connects them and provides linkage between teh different design elements.
If you look at a CB750/900/1100 series or Superdream, Honda made the rear of the tank swoop dwon and connected visually with the side panels which connected into the shape of the seat hump.
So it's not so much about a "line" as it is about the shapes working together to create a visual flow. That's one of many design elements that make a bike look "right" and where so many go wrong with seats that don't match the style or line of the tank.
On this bike, the tank is really nice but it looks as if it is too high at the front and that is jarring to the eye. It doesn't look "right". What that means is that our brains see shapes and looks them up in a mental database of shapes. In my case that "database" is full of old Tritons etc as well as natural shapes like meandering rivers which flow in nice curves. Other nice curves also come to mind, so to my eye, flowing curves look "right"
Cliffs and rocks are also natural but they suggest sudden change, discordant effects and complete absence of flow. They suggest aggression, power pushing through with brute force etc, so an angular bike can also look good but it's a harder to pull off.
We each see thing differently based on our own unique visual and emotional experiences
BTW Wings look like a Matchless or Aston Martin etc so they look "right" but run the risk of looking too much like a copy. Why not try something completely different.
Maybe a simple M leaning forward into the wind with say a slight suggestion of a tail to indicate the wind behind it
Swagger said:
News flash! It's not BS but it's not well explained. Most bikes look "right" when there's a natural looking line or lines from front to rear.
A typical Brit bike has what I refer to as "Table top" styling. In other words the bottom of the tank and seat are one long more or less straight line. That long line connects the whole bike into one continuous look. Top half fairings are often arranged so that their lower edge follows that same straight line.
Interestingly enough, if it's literally one straight line it looks forced and unnatural.
The next most common line is a continuous curve from somewhere around the front disk under the fairing and tank and seat. BMW Cup bikes are a good example of that approach. Again, it gives a continuity to the look.
If that curve is too perfect like it was on a couple of Bimotas, it looks unnatural.
On the G50/7R, the line is more imaginary, and what makes it work is the curve of the tank into the seat that connects them and provides linkage between teh different design elements.
If you look at a CB750/900/1100 series or Superdream, Honda made the rear of the tank swoop dwon and connected visually with the side panels which connected into the shape of the seat hump.
So it's not so much about a "line" as it is about the shapes working together to create a visual flow. That's one of many design elements that make a bike look "right" and where so many go wrong with seats that don't match the style or line of the tank.
On this bike, the tank is really nice but it looks as if it is too high at the front and that is jarring to the eye. It doesn't look "right". What that means is that our brains see shapes and looks them up in a mental database of shapes. In my case that "database" is full of old Tritons etc as well as natural shapes like meandering rivers which flow in nice curves. Other nice curves also come to mind, so to my eye, flowing curves look "right"
Cliffs and rocks are also natural but they suggest sudden change, discordant effects and complete absence of flow. They suggest aggression, power pushing through with brute force etc, so an angular bike can also look good but it's a harder to pull off.
We each see thing differently based on our own unique visual and emotional experiences
BTW Wings look like a Matchless or Aston Martin etc so they look "right" but run the risk of looking too much like a copy. Why not try something completely different.
Maybe a simple M leaning forward into the wind with say a slight suggestion of a tail to indicate the wind behind it
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
I should point out that I'm not a stylist and have zero training in that area.
With one of my projects, I tried to work out a look and it wasn't coming to me, so I pinted out lots of pictures of bike that look "right" and covered a garage wall with them and stared at them until I could see what it was that I liked.
I repeated that for bikes i didn't like and they started to tell me a story and I understood what I didn't like about them and why.
It's all about pattern recognition - I must get round to writing that book someday. We see patterns in behavior, or shapes, or colors that the brain processes those against our own database and it informs us emotionally whether the shape/behavior/sound is "good" or "bad".
You know that sometimes something doesn't look right. That's the same thing. Our brain searches through the database and tells us to get the heck out of there or to proceed with caution or that it's OK and the response is to the part of the brain that processes the basic stuff like fight or flight. It's an emotional reaction that we get - a so called gut feeling.
The brain somehow processes motorcycle shapes the same way.
I should point out that I'm not a stylist and have zero training in that area.
With one of my projects, I tried to work out a look and it wasn't coming to me, so I pinted out lots of pictures of bike that look "right" and covered a garage wall with them and stared at them until I could see what it was that I liked.
I repeated that for bikes i didn't like and they started to tell me a story and I understood what I didn't like about them and why.
It's all about pattern recognition - I must get round to writing that book someday. We see patterns in behavior, or shapes, or colors that the brain processes those against our own database and it informs us emotionally whether the shape/behavior/sound is "good" or "bad".
You know that sometimes something doesn't look right. That's the same thing. Our brain searches through the database and tells us to get the heck out of there or to proceed with caution or that it's OK and the response is to the part of the brain that processes the basic stuff like fight or flight. It's an emotional reaction that we get - a so called gut feeling.
The brain somehow processes motorcycle shapes the same way.
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
here is another logo im considering. Not sure if i want to go with my initials or come up with a name. Like "bugger flicking customs". treitz what kind of file do you need to make stickers and whats the cost? PM me.
As for the rest of you overly critical scrutinizing pricks,
i chopped off the forward tank mount points and im lowering the tank as much as possible. Will post pics next week. After that its as low as it will get and you will all have to live with the way it is.
As for my seat, they had it built and ready to grind the welds and polish it. They made the seat the same as the back of the tank, knee dents and all. Not what i wanted, it also was not built to fit the template i gave them so they had to start over. I talked with the guy who had been out sick and got the details all sorted so hopefully next week sometime they will have and new seat for me.
here is another logo im considering. Not sure if i want to go with my initials or come up with a name. Like "bugger flicking customs". treitz what kind of file do you need to make stickers and whats the cost? PM me.
As for the rest of you overly critical scrutinizing pricks,
i chopped off the forward tank mount points and im lowering the tank as much as possible. Will post pics next week. After that its as low as it will get and you will all have to live with the way it is.As for my seat, they had it built and ready to grind the welds and polish it. They made the seat the same as the back of the tank, knee dents and all. Not what i wanted, it also was not built to fit the template i gave them so they had to start over. I talked with the guy who had been out sick and got the details all sorted so hopefully next week sometime they will have and new seat for me.
Swagger
Putting boot to ass since 1967!
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
Hey, you just reminded me by not reminding me.....
I found a short little honda kickstarter whilst bashing around my storage unit. It's for an S90, perhaps that would allow you to retain your kicker without any weird pull puns or folding brake pedals.....pm if interested..
Hey, you just reminded me by not reminding me.....
I found a short little honda kickstarter whilst bashing around my storage unit. It's for an S90, perhaps that would allow you to retain your kicker without any weird pull puns or folding brake pedals.....pm if interested..
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
Ok, here it is. I only have one of the mounts welded up but this is as low as i can get it. What do you think, did it help much? Talked to the guy building the seat for me. The seat was almost "done" but when i looked at the pics it was all wrong so we talked and sorted it out and they are going to make a second attempt. They are good guys.
Ok, here it is. I only have one of the mounts welded up but this is as low as i can get it. What do you think, did it help much? Talked to the guy building the seat for me. The seat was almost "done" but when i looked at the pics it was all wrong so we talked and sorted it out and they are going to make a second attempt. They are good guys.
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
I think the tank looks good - I know the frame is a pain to work with (I had one) for different tanks. If you raised the tail end of the tank 1/4 inch it might make a world of difference, but it's pretty darn good.
Why the 16" rear wheel? Sorry if it's been covered, but either now or later, get yourself an 18 or 19 inch hoop for that thing. Find another 19" front and some spokes - would look awesome, or at minimum go back to the 18" stock size.
I think the tank looks good - I know the frame is a pain to work with (I had one) for different tanks. If you raised the tail end of the tank 1/4 inch it might make a world of difference, but it's pretty darn good.
Why the 16" rear wheel? Sorry if it's been covered, but either now or later, get yourself an 18 or 19 inch hoop for that thing. Find another 19" front and some spokes - would look awesome, or at minimum go back to the 18" stock size.
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
A little update on progress or lack of progress. Still waiting on the seat, they keep telling me their working on it so i keep waiting.
Im almost ready to buy my own english wheel and build my own. I took the bike to Los Angles to have some exhaust built for the bike. It will be made of stainless. 4-4 or 4-2.
In the meantime i polished up my other caliper.
A little update on progress or lack of progress. Still waiting on the seat, they keep telling me their working on it so i keep waiting.
Im almost ready to buy my own english wheel and build my own. I took the bike to Los Angles to have some exhaust built for the bike. It will be made of stainless. 4-4 or 4-2.In the meantime i polished up my other caliper.
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
Looks nice, ffjmoore. Quick question: how did you get the solid line pipe out of the caliper? I'm getting all my misc parts polished up too, and I'm damn close to stripping that bolt! Can't use an impacter because the tube's in the way. Yours may not have been as frozen as mine though...
Looks nice, ffjmoore. Quick question: how did you get the solid line pipe out of the caliper? I'm getting all my misc parts polished up too, and I'm damn close to stripping that bolt! Can't use an impacter because the tube's in the way. Yours may not have been as frozen as mine though...
ariel.714 o/c
Monkey see monkey do is all i see now days!
Re: CB550 alloy sprint
looking sick . love the bikes over all look
looking sick . love the bikes over all look