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For Sale: Matt MacVittie’s 1977 Honda CB550 “Sapphire”…
Should you had to decide on one classic Japanese motorbike to function the bottom for a café racer mission, you’d be hard-pressed to enhance on the Honda CB550. Whereas the bigger CB750 clearly had extra displacement and energy (68 vs 50 hp), many riders then and now agree that the 550/4 was a type of uncommon, fantastically balanced machines by way of energy, weight, and allure.
Our pal Ben Department at Silodrome has known as the CB550 a “Goldilocks Bike” for this candy spot character, whereas a latest trip on a restored CB550 even managed to melt the center of diehard two-stroke aficionado Steve Cooper of Britain’s MoreBikes:
“I’d fortunately go on file to say it’s very probably the most effective of the early SOHC cam Honda fours. Sufficient poke to get a wiggle on and keep an honest day by day mileage, but not too cumbersome or compromised by extreme mass.” –MoreBikes
Enter our new pal Matt MacVittie (@macvittiemotorcycles) of Asheville, NC — an engineer and household man who builds bikes out of his residence storage, doing 100% of the work himself.
“I wish to put a contemporary twist on basic bikes and make enjoyable, dependable, eye-catching cell artworks.”
For his seventh construct, Matt says he needed to construct “the proper cafe racer,” so he picked up a ’77 CB550F Tremendous Sport because the donor.
“The 550F, often known as the ‘Tremendous Sport‘ mannequin had much less chrome on the gasoline tank, a lighter four-into-one exhaust, and two inch decrease handlebars. All this result in a dry weight of 423lbs and a sportier trip.” –Iconic Motorbikes
Nicknamed “Sapphire” for the stunning blue paint, this CB is a type of builds whose silhouette and colorway is excellent. Then, as you step nearer, particulars abound wherever you look. From the customized exterior fork springs and dual-disc conversion to the handmade one-off metal seat pan and cowl, the extent of thought and element right here is phenomenal.
Different highlights embody a freshly rebuilt engine, twin Mikuni VM34 carbs, Excel Takasago rims with stainless spokes, and all new electronics that includes elements from Motogadget, Dyna, and Rick’s Electrics. Not surprisingly, Matt assures us “Sapphire” is a blast to trip.
Better of all, in case you’re available in the market for “the proper cafe racer,” this one is on the market at Iconic Motorbikes till Friday, December 8, at 1pm EST. Recover from and place a bid!
Beneath, we speak to Matt for the total particulars on “Sapphire” — and keep tuned for his subsequent construct, coming quickly!
Honda CB550F Café Racer: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
I’m a household man and engineer and I wish to construct cool ass bikes in my free time. All of my builds are 100% constructed by me in my storage. I wish to put a contemporary twist on basic bikes and make enjoyable, dependable, eye-catching cell artworks.
• Please inform us a bit in regards to the bike.
That is my seventh construct. It’s a 1977 Honda CB550 named “Sapphire”. I needed to construct the “excellent cafe racer.” The entrance finish is modified for twin rotor brakes. I had customized exterior dampening springs made for the entrance forks that make the entrance suspension really feel trendy.
I retrofitted a 60’s CL350 headlight and modified it to just accept an LED bulb. I then modified the inventory fork covers to deal with the entrance blinkers whereas hiding the wires and shaved the highest triple tree.
I hand-made a one-off metal seat pan / cowl that hugs the gasoline tank.
I created my very own rearset mounts out of blocks of aluminum. I used to be capable of neatly conceal a rear tail gentle blinker combo beneath the cowl.
The engine was totally rebuilt with all new gaskets, o-rings, freshly honed cylinders and piston rings. The piston and cam are inventory. It has Murray’s carbs 4-2 carb arrange with Mikuni VM34 carburetors.
The bike acquired all new electrical from Motogadget, Dyna, Rick’s motorsport — which I constructed a customized wiring loom for. Ikon rear shocks.
This all sits on some fairly Excel rims, Bridgestone Battlax BT45 tires, and chrome steel spokes. Completed off in a sapphire blue paint.
Using Movies
This bike is a blast to trip!
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