Cb550 Cafer Racer....

[Jamie S]

It all started back with This thread, I decided not to sell them both right now as I
won't get a fraction of what they are actually worth once done.
So, I'm making one in to a cafe racer, and the other will be rebuilt as just a standard bike.
I have entered the cafe racer in the 2009 thundersprint cavalcade , so this will be my deadline.
Today I got round to "starting" the project properly:

First job was to make a humped single seat, it's based on one that I had lying around:
Here is what it looked like when I started:

https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/DSC01201.jpg

I then cut the hump off
https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/PB283493.jpg

https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/PB293502.jpg

https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/PB293504.jpg

BEFORE:
https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/P9303352-1.jpg

After: (Yes I know it doesn't look like a huge job to do, but more work has gone in to making it than what it looks)

https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/PB293507.jpg

Rearsets: (well, improvised M10 bolts for now)

https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/PB293509.jpg

I have still got the front edge to finish off but it gives you some sort of idea what it's going to look like:
I'm ashamed to admit it took me around 5 hours in total, I don't have any specialist tools like metal folders or such like, just a grinder, welder, tin snips, and a few hammers, didn't even use a tape measure, it's all done by eye.
I had to do a lot of panel beating with a ball pein hammer and a sand bag, as you can just about see in the before picture, the seat used to curve upwards. and I also had to cut near the rear of the seat and move the sides in, as the frame is narrower where the seat is situated now, as I have also cut bit's of the frame under the seat.
The good thing is it's made to measure so fits both me and the bike, and has saved me quite a considerable amount of money.
Opinions/ comments are most welcome, I'd like to know if you think it looks "right" or not?
Note: The last picture shows where the rear-sets are going to be, compared to the std footrest it's quite a bit higher and with the seating position as it is it's actually much comfier with my feet higher up and backwards slightly, compared to in front and down ( Where the bolts are is where the rear-sets will be once made)

https://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/honda_tlr/PB293510.jpg


Thanks for reading, Jamie.

[Whosthedaddy]

Why not just use the first seat instead of cutting and trying to fabricate a new one that looks exactly the same?
____________________
Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Jamie S]

[hmmmnz]

gotta say jamie, you have more nouce and mechanical ability than 95% of the plebs on this site,
keep it up, i like seeing your projects

i think you shoud cut of the part of the seat unit that is touchong the tank,
have it end at the base of the tank, only the soft padding should be touching the tank,

looks good though, almost flat track racer
____________________
the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[CaNsA]

[ben350]

Bit of a pointless comment, but; if you made that hump out of aluminium and then polished it then it would look like a proper old-skool cafe racer

This looks like its going to be a great project
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Ducati 996 Biposto
Suzuki Goose 350
DT125R Supermoto (Project)

[NiteMare]

i think by using the pillion peg mounts for rearsets you'll find you've moved your feet back too far....

i'd be tempted to look around for some modern rearsets (or make my own) and cut off the pillion mounts, weld my own tabs to the frame so they are mounted exactly where i wanted them ....

seatbase is looking good, but i agree with the other posters comment of not having it rise up the back of the tank, get the foam cut and covered professionally, i'd probably look at having the hump covered with material as well for a proper period look (i had to make a seatbase myself a few weeks ago, fun getting the folds in the correct places with minimal tools ) ....

keep us updated with your progress, lots of pictures please
____________________
it ain't broke...

i ain't fixed it enough

[metal ken]

Looks real good,

What is the rear wheel clearance like aginst the seat unit when you are sitting on the bike.

Ken
____________________
My motorbike breakers metalken.co.uk

Current bikes, GSXR750 Fighter, GSXR7/12, RD350 race rep, KH400

[Flip]

Fair play to you J.

[thegubner]

Happy days J, looks like it will be a good un, the polished ally idea for the seat hump sounds good too.