My 1978 Honda CB550 Cafe Racer

[stidds]

I started a thread in the new members section to say hello and in that mentioned that at present I do not have a Monster but it is the next bike I will get.

Well at present I have a 1978 Honda CB550K3 Cafe Racer, that I have built completely from the ground up after buying it as a basket case.

I love the Cafe look and will look to do a similar thing to the Monster when I get it.

Anyway hope you like it...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4471.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4472.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4473.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4474.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4475.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4476.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4477.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4478.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4479.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4481.jpg

[Mr Cake]

That is truly mega! Want it!

C

[Mand]

Larvely, old school :thumbsup:

[Rally]

Very nice indeed. I love the seat unit especially. Well done, can't wait to see your Monnie in the future!

[Mdwysc]

The whole bike has a very natural look to it, well done. Are the rearsets home made? They look great

[Stuart42]

Hi Stidds

Have been watching this on the Cafe Racer forum, and have enjoyed watching it come along.

You'll may also recognise Bex who asked you about your light?

Cheers
Stuart

[bex]

Hey Stidds, nice to see you here! :)

Bike is looking even better than last time I checked!

[gary tompkins]

If the monster ends up half as good as that it'll be a cracker

[slob]

Do you live near Brackley? I think I've seen it at Skins+. Very nice.

[stidds]

Hey Stidds, nice to see you here! :)

Bike is looking even better than last time I checked!


Hey Bex, great to join you on this site also, hope you are well.

I have always wanted a Monster as I think they are one of the best looking bikes made and I think it is time to treat myself to two things one is a Ducati and the second is a bike that doesn't leak stuff (yes these old bike leak all the time).

[Cutter]

Welcome mate - nice cafe racer! Did you use standard wheels and powder coat rims? The cans are nice - were they custom made?

[Nickj]

I used to have one of those along similar lines but with a tony foale chassis :mand:

[stidds]

Welcome mate - nice cafe racer! Did you use standard wheels and powder coat rims? The cans are nice - were they custom made?


Cutter, you are right, standard rims powdercoated and I respoked them using stainless spokes and nipples.

The exhaust system is made up of several parts, two of the downpipes are standard CB550, two are from a CB600, the 4 into 2 collector is from a CB650 and the silencers are universal tulip style.

[jerry]

brilliant...i love it and i bet it sounds evil too

[stidds]

brilliant...i love it and i bet it sounds evil too


Jerry, you are right it sounds really mean. As it is pre-83 it has no noise limit imposed on it so no need for baffles and sound deadening material, the pipes are as straight through as they can be. It is also great riding next to the Police and they take no notice of me and my loud bike.

[PDS]

Great looking bike, thumbs up here

[Dukedesmo]

I like.... :thumbsup:

[vtaggart]

Am I the only one who cant see anything :-(

[Grumpy]

Am I the only one who cant see anything :-(

No! Neither can I !!

[bex]

They were working earlier but now I dont see them either, links must have changed maybe.

[stidds]

Don't know what happened there guys, Photobucket was having a bad day I think.

Pictures are working again now...

[Mark Taylor]

Looking bang tidy mate, lovin' all the hand made parts - proper old school, can't wait to see the results of you getting a monster - keep us posted!

[Lima071]

B E A utiful

[stidds]

Here are a couple of pictures of the bike when I purchased it, before anyone asks the white thing in the bottom right of the picture is my dogs tail, he is poking his head over the bike in the 2nd picture, LOL.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4067.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/stidds/CB550%20Cafe%20Racer/DSCF4070.jpg

[Mick E]

You've done a great job with that.:thumbsup: