The story of my CB550 ratbike - Now hardtailed!

[Nath]

[yambabe]

He says check the cam chain in the complete engine before you put it in the bike cos the guy he got it off said it was "worn". He never checked to see how bad it was, but it might be worth doing anyway to save you some bother later.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Nath]

Yeah it's seen some miles, but I think there's a fair bit more life in it yet. Between the two camshafts there's about 10mm of sideways play in the chain. At the point where a boring old fart would declare the chain "worn" and aim to replace it, or where someone like me would stick it back together and keep riding it for another 5years with no problems

Had a quick poke today, the problem is that I spent so much time messing around with the bloody Honda that everything on the Yamaha appears to be done totally backwards. Guess i've got another long winter of cold days and nights spent in the garage then
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[R4nger]

Took you long enough....

[mr.z]

Ah more pics at last

Still running good? how do you fancy a pet food run early next month (if its still happening) me tom and maybe others will be going, short run a goodun.. + found a site, £2 a night near matlock.

Will be interested to see what you do with the yam, what sort of thing are you going to be going for? dr.death style hemaroid machine or squashy ubertourer?
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Jenks]

chris, what? :S
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[McJamweasel]

[Nath]

[greenmeanie]

legendary.
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Rh.

[Bishbash]

Wowser, that bike really needed doing! But it looks great.

[stevo as b4]

Very very Interesting thread!

Well done, with the transformation from a pile of rusty bits, and a wreak of an engine, to a reliable running bike! That in its self is amazing!

I love the new Rat bike direction that your going in with this bike now! The Honda 550/4 like many an old air cooled jap four seems to be as bullet proof as they come!

The scaffolding pipe exhaust is brilliant, and i reckon it's just a square steel plate flange away from being a bespoke turbo manifold too! Now having a Garret T2 hanging off the side of the bike would make it so much more Mad Max style too! And also you could see just how tough the 550 lump really is then too!

[shadow1987]

hmm... very nice motorbike
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Everything about motorbike There is many helpful information

[Nath]

A couple of months of abuse later and the bike is still running. I had to refit the 4-into-1 exhaust for a couple of weeks of commuting after crashing my other bike, but it's now back with the uber-loud scaffold jobby. Aside from the ridiculous oil leak I also have a knackered clutch, but this really works into my hands as it enables me to slip the clutch at will making massive amounts of noise due to the straight through pipe. I've spent nothing on the bike since coming back from Europe 5 months ago, apart from an 80p pushbike brake cable used as a throttle cable.

This bike is the perfect example of smiles per mile for the smallest amount of dosh possible. Did some green laning the other day and the few people I came across didn't know what to make of the thing, it's not exactly a classic motorcycle, but no other description fits it other than ratbike. What would you think if you saw the bugger coming at you sidways down a muddy track?
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[MarJay]

Good read, but it makes me feel less worthy rebuilding my 1998 KE100...
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[colin1]

i still want to read your big account of your huge tour of europe.

In particular Im interested in the scandinavia bits, and spain bits.

Its great that you can ride fast on an old bike, and keep it going with a bit of knowhow and various oddments, but id also like to hear about these particular bits of europe. Particularly dramatic scenery, and deserted roads.

Were you camping sometimes and using hostels other times ? Just pull up at the side of a road, or on camp sites ?

I have been offroad a few times with my dirt bike, and my mate on a c90, and its an unlikely offroader, but great for being super light, and agile so it doesnt even matter that it has road tyres. Im gonna do a thread when i find the lead for my camera to upload pics.

[Handsome]

And I'm sitting here moaning about a Coil that should have been delivered Saturday morning...

Top stuff mate and very inspiring...
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[MarJay]

Also I'd like to add that it makes a change from all the damn NC30 projects that keep cropping up on here!

No offense to anyone doing an NC30 project!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[hellraiser]

Amazing!
What a good read!
Not on here much anymore, but with topics like this i wonder why i'm not.
What a ride that mustve been. I wanna do something like that.
You have made me want to do the trip to Spain ive been wanting to do. Got relatives there.
One day i'll do it.
Hope to read about the full trip!
Well done mate!
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1987 FZ750 - 1994 YZF750R

[Gpz 900R]

Give that man a medal

[Gpz 900R]

Give that man a medal

[Zen Dog]

What can i say, nice work!

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Dalemac]

someone should organise a bcf tour of europe.....get loads of people to buy a throwaway bike, make it ridable and just tour a couple of countries. would be a great experience for everyone....would also be good to get to know others and expand biking knowledge....

cant see it happenin tho
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[h00dwink]

fantastic thread! very inspiring.

and dale, if you wanna do that lemme know 'cus it's something i'v had in mind
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Sahf East Winnah 4LYF
https://bikepics.com/members/h00dwink/00sv650s/
www.youtube.com/h00dwink updated regularly

[Dalemac]

if i could find the money to do an old banger up then i would love to do it!! could spend the whole summer holz touring europe! would be ace!
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[Essex_Mike]

I didn't like the rat bike at first, but the more i've read through this thread the more i've liked the look of it.


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CBT - Passed - 14/07/2006 Theory - Passed - 19/08/2006 A2 test - Passed -19/07/2007
Previous Bike - Suzuki EN125
Current Bike - Suzuki GS500F