This Honda CBX550 was left resting in a friends garage for eight years before I decided to rescue it (always been a sucker for lost causes!) and give it a new life. After a quick clean up this is what I was left with.
This picture will give you an idea of what I am going for.Excuse the rough paint edit.
These bikes featured anti dive forks and inboard brakes which are a bit of a nightmare for everyday use and where discontinued by Honda after a couple of years. Personally I wanted to use conventional brakes and forks so the hunt was on for suitable forks and wheels to replace the originals. After a quick check on the carbs and plugs etc I connected a battery and fired it up. Started first stab of the button after sitting for eight years!Good old Honda. The engine seems to run well and all gears selected so I will leave it alone for now apart from servicing it.
Took everything apart and was left with a bare frame. Located some forks and wheels from a Yamaha RD350 YPVS which has the same diameter forks but the fork width/spread is different.The Yamaha forks are 10mm narrower than the Honda so I made up a couple of 5mm spacers to get them to fit the original yokes.Will need two more spacers made up when I fit the brake calipers.
As you can see I have a very understanding wife, I don't have a garage so it's currently being worked on in the dining room! Love my wife.
At first I thought I would have a go at making my own seat unit and began with a cardboard mock up.
Also ordered a few parts for later including clipons,tyres,oil & filters,bearings,chain & sprockets and some slip on mufflers.
More soon.
