As 26-year old Mick Jagger sang back in 1969, “You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.”  That’s what was going through my head as I looked at Jack Cofano’s photos of this lovely woman getting about at Smoke out 17 on her bobbed CB550 Honda. She looks confident enough to me just riding that bike that I wouldn’t be surprised a bit if she built it herself in her garage. Okay, maybe she had a bit of outside help somewhere, but, unless you’re a pro builder, who doesn’t?

   Whether this was a ratty bike freebie or all she could afford at the time, you gotta give her credit for taking some old heap and turning it into something cool and a bit unusual. Even though the basic profile of the bike hasn’t changed radically, there has been some serious work done. The stock rear subframe was chopped of neatly and a section of curved tubing welded in to finish off the rear section and provide a bum stop on the seat. The top shock mounts were also modified and cleaned up accordingly to fit the slightly forward and probably stock facing coil-over shocks. The passenger peg mounts/exhaust hangers which are a fairly massive piece of welded sheet metal were cut off from their base on the frame and that opened up and cleaned up the whole back end. 

   Up front the forks were shortened a bit for a little more oomph in the stance department and still carry the stock front disc brake. Stock wheels were disassembled and the chrome steel rims got a coating of candy apple red along with the lower fork legs. After re-lacing and sticking them in the matching candy apple red frame, the bike started to take on a look of its own. Instead of those old cardboard rubber tires this bike came with in the ‘70s, our mystery woman chose a matching set of Shinko 10SR 712 tires , a 100/90×19 up front and a 110/90×18 out back. The choice of Shinko tires really helps save big dough while still that looking cool while handling and wearing well too. Keeping it tight budget wise, but still having fresh rubber is a plus in anybody’s build. Who doesn’t like fresh rubber?

   What can you say about a Honda engine other than it probably pushes this bike along just fine but minus the sound all of us Harely-Davidson freaks love. Mystery lady id her best in this department keeping it stock other than getting rid of the OEM air box and putting K&N individual filters on all four carbs. For the exhaust it was a matter of just cutting the four headers to the look she wanted and basically calling it a day. All I can say is you’ll know when she’s coming as that’s going to be one blatty-loud bike. Hey, each to their own and more power (and noise) to our mystery lady. And, as a matter of record, she did keep the kick starter so kudos for that.

   With not the least vestige of a fender in sight, bodywork has been kept to an absolute minimum. What there is consists of a tank off a 750 Super Sport Honda that’s kept its chrome block lettering logos. That shows that no matter what, this mystery lady is proud of her bike. Some plastic frame cover pieces, possibly stock, have been stripped clean of badges and just cover up the battery and whatever electric stuff is mucking about. Both were sprayed in a simple matte silver base that contrasts nicely with all the candy apple red. The only graphics consist of a sticker on the left frame cover that says, “One Bad Bitch.” That’s another reason I think she built it too and if she did, she is “One Bad Bitch” in anybody’s book.

  Being that this was a budget build, the stock head light stayed, but with a color scheme more in like with the bike. Same goes for the stock instruments too. The only real deviations up top there is the aftermarket headlight brackets and a set of tasty Z-bars to give it some attitude. Stock foot controls stayed right where they are and I’m sure they’re doing a marvelous job and sometimes it’s best to leave well enough alone on a build like this. The thinly-padded pleated black seat nicely fills up the space between the tank and taillight and adds a custom touch while doing it. I do like the centrally mounted bullet light atop the curved seat tube as it’s hard to believe this little touch brings as much funk to the build as it does just sitting there.

  Whether this was a first build to test the custom waters or something built by someone because that’s what they could afford is fine by me. It’ll never be worth a fortune or called a classic, but it will be one bike that this “One Bad Bitch” will probably fondly remember.