650 Cafe Project

The front end went right on. I am ordering new steering bearings because both sets are rough. I also am going to have to weld up some fork stops - without it the forks don't hit anything with the tank off, but hit the corners of the tank.

I originally thought the new forks were raked out a bit more than what they really are - it is pretty close. They are slightly shorter than stock too.

First setback...

After 13 days of waiting patiently for my swingarm, I get a notice that the seller screwed up and double posted the part for sale and does not have it.

I bought it, paid for it within 5 minutes... I got the shipping notification through USPS the next day... Today he tells me he doesn't have it.

Looking again and 2 weeks behind where I thought I was. Everything is on hold now.

sroberts152 wrote:

First setback...

After 13 days of waiting patiently for my swingarm, I get a notice that the seller screwed up and double posted the part for sale and does not have it.

I bought it, paid for it within 5 minutes... I got the shipping notification through USPS the next day... Today he tells me he doesn't have it.

Looking again and 2 weeks behind where I thought I was. Everything is on hold now.

Wow, that is total B.S.! Was that through eBay?

That sucks, I'm right there with you on the setbacks....my washing machine died....and my Excel wheel fund just went to buying a new washing machine. But hey ya got's to have clean dud's LOL.

Yeah, from eBay. Its funny because on Sunday I got a "Congratulations on 10 years of shopping with us" email.

I knew going in that I would have setbacks... it's just hard to prepare for them. Patience Grasshopper.

I worked 15 hours Thursday and Friday and was gone all weekend. I got home and needed to do something. I took Ben's help and cut off the huge tabs for the exhaust pipes. I used an angle grinder (since that is all I have right now). It really cleans up the bike. It couldn't be a perfect night (or I would still be out there grinding) because I ran through my last metal grinding wheel.

Here it is now:



Vs. with the tabs:



And where I left the brake mount. I will need to weld this up before too long.



My swing arm should be in tomorrow - the replacement for the one that was never shipped. Also, my seat should be delivered tomorrow - it was here Friday but they wanted a signature). I hope to get my mock-up started tomorrow right after I clean up the rest of the cuts.

I pick up my CB550 tomorrow too.

keep it up....ima watching....Joe

kz1k wrote:

keep it up....ima watching....Joe

Good, cuz I'm watching yours.

You are a few steps ahead of me.

I guess I'm not allowed to have a different swingarm. I found another Zephyr swingarm on ebay last week after having a complete implosion on my first order. The new one was shipped and got in today. I don't know what they sent to me but it isn't a 1990 Zephyr. This is a monoshock that is about a half inch too big to fit into the frame. I emailed them, they apologized and told me to send it back, they would find the right one and send it over. More frustration.

On a good note, my new seat pan is in. It isn't going to fit with the seat mounts so I will be selling that flat track seat as is. This means I am taking off the rest of the tabs on the top of the frame and cutting a bit of the back of the frame.

Also, I went to pick up the 1976 CB550 and it wasn't anything like I imagined. It was not running, there was not a lot of compression when I tried to kick it, the carbs flooded really quick, the front brake locked up when I pulled it. It is another project when I thought it was a runner. I don't have the time or energy for this right now but I may take it on when the KZ is done.

I guess today was a 1 for 3 night.

A few pics of the tail section. And with my old swingarm to get a feel for how far back it goes.







I have to cut the tabs and the back of the frame to get this to fit just right. Then I have to figure out how to get it to sit flush on the frame and stay in place.

Apparently, I'm really not allowed to have a different swingarm. I just got word that the place that sent me the wrong one doesn't have the one they were advertising on ebay either.

Other than a Zephyr, are there other aluminum arms that are close to drop in? I think I found the 2 places selling what they didn't have.

Looking good! Bummer about the 2nd swingarm too!

Keep me in line for that flat track seat if the first deal doesn't go through. It would bolt right onto my SR and would be killer! I can paypal you the money right now!

By the way...I'd be interested in buying the metal frame from the flat track seat if the other buyer isn't interested...PLEASE keep me in mind.

By the way, is the Zephyr arm supposed to be a close fit on the SR frame?