As my ever continuing quest for Two Wheeled Nirvana continues, I decided to take on the task of rebuilding a classic street bike into a one off custom cafe. Ambitious, I know be it that Sven has very little mechanical know how aside from regularly scheduled maintenance. I have undergone this project to test myself not only in my technical prowess but to truly see how much I enjoy the motorcycle. Nothing can be more of a test of commitment than to see the guts of a motorcycle strewn about a garage floor.
So lets get down to the nitty gritty. I purchased myself a 1976 Honda CB550 engine and frame. At one point in its life the two items were one and probably had a long enjoyable life before being sanctioned to the pick-a-part world of eBay. At first glance, the engine obviously had seen much better days and rightfully so. The engine was in a dire need of a bath. I found twigs, weeds, caked dirt, and spider nests throughout the crevices of the poor old engine. I wasn’t too worried though, it was planned that the engine would undergo a complete tear down and rebuild to restore it to 100% working condition.
No mechanical endeavor is without its hiccups and roadblocks, and as of today I have had a few. The availability of specialized tools is the predominant issue that comes up. Plenty of tools are available for automotive projects, but few of those specialty items are capable of working on an engine 1/3 the size of a car engine. Ingenuity has to step in to alleviate the issue, and make do of what is at my disposal.
After two solid days of wrenching and cursing, the heart of the beast is splayed across my garage and inventoried. There are a few things left to remove from other parts before I can say it is completely stripped down and ready for scrubbing and repainting. For the most part things have gone smoothly and pleasantly.
There is something about seeing the internals of an engine. To see the intricacies of a series of nuts and bolts and metal components pieced together to create something that serves as one part of the internal combustion process. Then to tie that in with another system and another and another, all to complete something that is an ‘engine’ and will ultimately propel me to un-human speeds. To think that I will soon be putting the 4 cylinder back together bit by bit, piece by piece, that I will be breathing life into the heart of this old beast with my bare hands leaves me in wonder and amazement. I can tell this is going to be a very rewarding venture.
Keep the paint up and the rubber down. Ride safe. – Sven
( Photos coming soon )


















