SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Nickel frame?

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K2-K6:
I was recently talking to someone with  a nickle plated frame, it was a Cheney (originally near you Steve at Fleet) they usually made moto-cross and enduro type frames but this was one of six Phil Read had ordered specifically to build a batch of Yamaha twin engined GP road race bikes.

Anyway, the nickle plating comes about because the frames were made from thin wall high spec steel tubing that was joined with a high nickle content bronze brazing rods to best match the steel's toneage rating. apparently if you chromed this combination, then there would be a transfer of chromium into the nickle joints that would degrade their strength rating.......so they are usually nickle plated to avoid this, it's also very thin and light weight while offering goog corosion resistance.

All that I guess has nothing to do with a Honda frame, the Read/Cheney/Yam was really nice though.

SteveD CB500K0:
I'll ask Phil about that - he will probably be able to fill in more details (he has a phenominal memory!)

Steve

K2-K6:
The owner has spoken to Phil about it, he originally got the bike and didn't realise it's origins but on researching it then he got to track it back.

Phil confirmed the bike was his as the owner was trying to find out if he'd ridden that very bike at all, Phil confirmed that he'd had six built and also that he'd raced each on of them at some point.
I can't recall the owners name but met him at a small motor show down in Whitstable last month and he also had a period correct MK1 transit and various kit to make up a vintage race setup.
the bike had recently been finished and basically run up to check it and he was planning on a bigger setup outing to get it dialled in properly.

I've got a picture of it somewhere so I'll get that posted for you.

Lynx:
What a sad sight :'(. I hope someone can give it the attention it deserves.

andy120t:
I saw a fairly recent thread on the US forum where someone had a Rickman framed CB500. I can't locate it right now - but the seat/rear frame rails were straight and flat as opposed to the ones on the bike at the start of the thread.

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