# Decided to mod my 10 dollar CB 550... Project Instant Gratification. Grimey Brat. **URL:** \ **Category:** Builds\ **Created:** [July 10, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485 "2012-07-10T11:58:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 10:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/81 "2012-08-15T10:28:19Z")
Not much. Less offset on the tree, lowering it probably fucked it up way more. ---
**Author:** ![Willybeen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/willybeen/32/7351_2.png) [@Willybeen](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Willybeen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/82 "2012-08-15T12:07:26Z")
“dampers are not meant to correct geometry problems” :lol: ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/83 "2012-08-15T12:55:57Z")
> [@Willybeen](#): > > “dampers are not meant to correct geometry problems” > > :lol: “\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ are not meant to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_” The story of my bike. ---
**Author:** ![Willybeen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/willybeen/32/7351_2.png) [@Willybeen](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Willybeen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/84 "2012-08-15T22:56:32Z")
Touche… Looks good though. I dig it ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/85 "2012-08-16T17:37:43Z")
So today I shortened the forks internally which allowed me to put them in a normal position in the triple clamp. I also removed the steering damper. The result is a super clean front end. Still unsure if I want to do anything as far as building bars or if I should stick with the clipons. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/86 "2012-08-16T20:51:26Z")
OK, so in these pics you can see that the fork tubes are pretty close to the top of the triple tree. I tried putting them flush but it didn’t look right. I also removed the steering damper. I may attach it underneath the triple at a later date. ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/D86A80D1-CA97-4AA1-B5E2-776BAE7EA65F-531-0000002DAF8526D9_Snapseed.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/D86A80D1-CA97-4AA1-B5E2-776BAE7EA65F-531-0000002DAF8526D9_Snapseed.jpg) ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/0852C092-108B-4CC7-BD97-A7584453F088-531-0000002DA81EF099_Snapseed.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/0852C092-108B-4CC7-BD97-A7584453F088-531-0000002DA81EF099_Snapseed.jpg) ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/929B5EEE-04CC-49F5-B951-1B87385B92AA-531-0000002D965CA0AF_Snapseed.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/929B5EEE-04CC-49F5-B951-1B87385B92AA-531-0000002D965CA0AF_Snapseed.jpg) Here is a closeup of the jewels in the fender. They serve no purpose. Strictly aesthetic. ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/601AF391-F2B9-4B47-A175-58BD2C8F8F51-531-0000002DB6FE91C6_Snapseed.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/601AF391-F2B9-4B47-A175-58BD2C8F8F51-531-0000002DB6FE91C6_Snapseed.jpg) And lastly I removed the nuts on the shift lever and replaced it with a pretty rare Japanese one from a boutique auto company called cruise. There are probably hardly any like it in the states. It was a special order item direct from japan that I had intended to use on my BMW but never did… ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/457290B3-788D-4636-891D-1D7FFAAD18D5-531-0000002D9F14D225_Snapseed.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/457290B3-788D-4636-891D-1D7FFAAD18D5-531-0000002D9F14D225_Snapseed.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![XwalkerX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/xwalkerx/32/7598_2.png) [@XwalkerX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/XwalkerX)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/87 "2012-08-16T22:19:07Z")
i should have started a thread on the pan… ---
**Author:** ![jay\_g](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jay_g/32/111288_2.png) [@jay\_g](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jay_g)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/88 "2012-08-17T06:24:09Z")
What I like about your build threads is how everything looks professional and clean. No jungle wire mess, no shitty welds. I do say WTF is he thinking on a lot of stuff though. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 9:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/89 "2012-08-17T09:06:50Z")
[quote=“jay\_g,post:88,topic:224485"”] What I like about your build threads is how everything looks professional and clean. No jungle wire mess, no shitty welds. I do say WTF is he thinking on a lot of stuff though. [/quote] The wiring is clean. The welds, ESPECIALLY the ones that I do in my garage w/ my 110v lincoln are BAD BAD BAD ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/90 "2012-08-22T12:57:24Z")
OK, lots of updates. In order to decide what I wanted to do with the bars, I drew them in CAD: ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo.png](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo.png) Then printed them on my 3D printer at work: ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo2.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo2.jpg) ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo3.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo3.jpg) ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo4.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo4.jpg) Decided I liked them so I translated the pieces into flat paper templates, then wrapped them around the pipes so I knew how to cut them: ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo7.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo7.jpg) The finished bars. I decided not to paint them and just clear coated them. ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo5.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo5.jpg) ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo6.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo6.jpg) Before installing them I went on a ride and one of my cool cast iron headlight nuts fell off (must buy loctite) so I made these brass ones up to replace them. Not as cool as the cast Iron ones, but whatever, made them on my lunchbreak at work. ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo84.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/photo84.jpg) And here are some shots of the bars installed with the vicious cycles internal throttle: ![https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/524461_10151194082149365_1348465121_n.jpg](https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/524461_10151194082149365_1348465121_n.jpg) ![https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/298793_10151194095549365_996093047_n.jpg](https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/298793_10151194095549365_996093047_n.jpg) Oh yeah… and I got this too: ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/DA992917-DFEA-43F7-93FB-E4AF65042EF9-6691-0000049F46C0277B.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/DA992917-DFEA-43F7-93FB-E4AF65042EF9-6691-0000049F46C0277B.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![XwalkerX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/xwalkerx/32/7598_2.png) [@XwalkerX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/XwalkerX)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/91 "2012-08-22T13:44:37Z")
FUUUUUUUUU i still want one of those moto 3’s ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/92 "2012-08-23T05:40:46Z")
Two pics of the whole bike: ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/CD1FD520-E4B8-412F-9C61-875C53327F4C-7472-000005791C902E5C.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/CD1FD520-E4B8-412F-9C61-875C53327F4C-7472-000005791C902E5C.jpg) ![http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/41CFA345-CC84-4CF0-9E0D-F424B1B3E94D-7472-0000057913A56C59.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/ctnewman3/41CFA345-CC84-4CF0-9E0D-F424B1B3E94D-7472-0000057913A56C59.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Kramer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kramer](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Kramer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/93 "2012-08-23T05:58:12Z")
Pretty sure i saw this on the 90 west this AM…that helmet really sticks out awsome build nice work as always… ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 6:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/94 "2012-08-23T06:30:49Z")
I like those bars ways better then the clip ons. Jump on it I wanna see the riding position. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/95 "2012-08-23T06:57:22Z")
where is the throttle? ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/96 "2012-08-23T07:10:48Z")
Right grip, as normal, the mechanism is just internal. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/97 "2012-08-23T07:14:04Z")
oh, sweet ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/98 "2012-08-23T07:16:53Z")
I also ordered a set (one side) of E30 euro smiley headlights that I am going to attempt to put on there. We’ll see how that goes… ![http://img4.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/dustin02n5t6am9eo3.jpg](http://img4.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/dustin02n5t6am9eo3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![drvnkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/drvnkd/32/109615_2.png) [@drvnkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/drvnkd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/99 "2012-08-23T08:02:07Z")
Looks great architecturally. Someday I hope to learn mechanical aptitude. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485/100 "2012-08-23T08:27:05Z")
do you want the lights parallel or offset? Some like this but on an angle would be cool. ![http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT96YCBii8_ExxImtenApDO8bwSPq8EFB2p8MXD6wPXMHQFcGz2](http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT96YCBii8_ExxImtenApDO8bwSPq8EFB2p8MXD6wPXMHQFcGz2) I randomly found this and like it… ![http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4-K7X51JDY/UB-pzaQrJ-I/AAAAAAAABDE/07SVayrvBYg/s640/tantaka_custom_bmw.jpeg](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4-K7X51JDY/UB-pzaQrJ-I/AAAAAAAABDE/07SVayrvBYg/s640/tantaka_custom_bmw.jpeg) [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485.md?page=4) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/decided-to-mod-my-10-dollar-cb-550-project-instant-gratification-grimey-brat/224485.md?page=6)