Seat hoop

[DomP]

This might not go down too well with some people but im doing a bit of a cafe racer type conversion on my fairly untidy and not very original cb550f, I do intend keeping any lopped off bits so there is the potential for reversal in the future. 

My question is will I need a hoop with a kick up to clear the rear wheel under suspension compression?  I see many that use a straight hoop, do they just run stiffer rear shocks or less travel or something?

[Nurse Julie]

I have a swept up hoop on Millie the Mongrel 550 to help with clearance. Initially, I had new CB550 shocks fitted and the underside of the seat pan still hit the wheel so I had to fit 750 ones to get good clearance. (sorry, I've edited this, so if you read it before, it now makes sense 😂😂😂)

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[DomP]

I have a swept up hoop on Millie the Mongrel 550 to help with clearance. Initially, I had new CB550 shocks fitted and the underside of the seat pan still hit the wheel so I had to fit 750 ones to get good clearance. (sorry, I've edited this, so if you read it before, it now makes sense 😂😂😂)

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Thanks Julie, I'm intending keeping my side covers too, I'm not sure I can be bothered with hiding batteries etc and I'm not sure I like the hole in the sides look. 

[Nurse Julie]

I have a swept up hoop on Millie the Mongrel 550 to help with clearance. Initially, I had new CB550 shocks fitted and the underside of the seat pan still hit the wheel so I had to fit 750 ones to get good clearance. (sorry, I've edited this, so if you read it before, it now makes sense 😂😂😂)

(Attachment Link)

Thanks Julie, I'm intending keeping my side covers too, I'm not sure I can be bothered with hiding batteries etc and I'm not sure I like the hole in the sides look.

Yes, I don't like the 'big hole in the middle' look either. Graham built this bike for me and I know I'm biased but, I really do like the look and styling of her.

[DomP]

I have a swept up hoop on Millie the Mongrel 550 to help with clearance. Initially, I had new CB550 shocks fitted and the underside of the seat pan still hit the wheel so I had to fit 750 ones to get good clearance. (sorry, I've edited this, so if you read it before, it now makes sense 😂😂😂)

(Attachment Link)

Thanks Julie, I'm intending keeping my side covers too, I'm not sure I can be bothered with hiding batteries etc and I'm not sure I like the hole in the sides look.

Yes, I don't like the 'big hole in the middle' look either. Graham built this bike for me and I know I'm biased but, I really do like the look and styling of her.

I quite agree, subtle! 

[DomP]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183404575319?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=NAMtnR12QS6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Y0YDXM_4R0-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Has anyone used this type from Ebay without issues?

[Nurse Julie]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183404575319?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=NAMtnR12QS6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Y0YDXM_4R0-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Has anyone used this type from Ebay without issues?

Yes, that's the type fitted to my bike in the picture above Dom.

[DomP]

Oddly a lot of them are stainless steel in the description

[Nurse Julie]

Oddly a lot of them are stainless steel in the description

Mine is just steel Dom, not stainless steel. Not that it made any odds to me as after Graham had cut the back end off of the frame and welded the hoop in, the whole frame got powder coated anyway.

[DomP]

I have a swept up hoop on Millie the Mongrel 550 to help with clearance. Initially, I had new CB550 shocks fitted and the underside of the seat pan still hit the wheel so I had to fit 750 ones to get good clearance. (sorry, I've edited this, so if you read it before, it now makes sense 😂😂😂)

(Attachment Link)

You see so many 550s with straight hoops, how are they getting clearance on standard shocks?

[Nurse Julie]

I have a swept up hoop on Millie the Mongrel 550 to help with clearance. Initially, I had new CB550 shocks fitted and the underside of the seat pan still hit the wheel so I had to fit 750 ones to get good clearance. (sorry, I've edited this, so if you read it before, it now makes sense 😂😂😂)

(Attachment Link)

You see so many 550s with straight hoops, how are they getting clearance on standard shocks?

You can't get clearance with standard shocks. Even with the hoop, you need longer shocks that why I ended up with the 750 ones as the 500 ones were to short to give clearance to the seat pan.