1974 CB550K Thinking of Buying / Trading Help

[Crash]

Got an offer from a guy in my area to trade bikes or buy his. It is a 1974 CB550k. What are the bad things about this bike, what are the good? Parts availability? Performance upgrades? The last 70's model Honda i had was my 74 CL200, and I loved it. Purchase price has not been negotiated nor has the trade. Help me out here.

Some Pics

 

[Tim]

Lots and lots of good, not much bad.

I had a 1973 CB500K and a 1976 CB550F. The 1974 would be the first year of the 550. Styled the same as the 500K, which is one of my favourite Honda designs ever. Lots of people think this is the finest of the SOHC4 Hondas. Good power/weight ratio, nimble handling etc.

The 550 got a better transmission than the 500 along with the extra 50cc. You can bore these out to 605cc's, put hot cams in them etc. Lots of folks race them.

I've rebuilt the engines a couple of times. You can get a complete piston/ring/pin/clip/gasket kit for this bike for $150, and it's about a 0.5mm bore on the 550. It's actually a big-bore kit for a 500 but works great on the 550 for a standard rebuild if you need it.

4 carbs are a lot of work. Since going to twins (BMW and XS650) I can't imagine going back to a 4 cylinder. Twice as much to bore, buy, tune etc. But they're smooth, rev high and look great.

The exhaust in those pics looks interesting - looks like a crossover header - I'm no expert - could be a valuable exhaust and looks to be in good shape. Should polish up nice. The paint looks original - the tank and sidecovers on their own are worth $200+ if in good shape.

Aside from the surface rust on the exhaust hanger and rear shocks, which looks like it would polish off easy, it looks in great condition. Just needs to be shined up. Easily worth $1000 if it runs, probably more if it runs really well and was cleaned up.

Check the right side-cover for cracking. Be very very careful removing them. The right side covers the battery and as such got the most use. They're prone to cracks. The rubber grommets can be replaced easily from Honda for fresh soft rubber.

Replacement parts are plentiful. Honda still has tons of parts for them. The SOHC4 forum is the definitive place for these bikes. forums.sohc4.net

What bike are you trading for it if you do? Any idea on selling price?

OH SHIT! I just checked the stock colors, and I almost thought it might have been from the pics - it looks like the Sunrise Orange metal flake / Black combination. In my opinion, it's the nicest color Honda ever made. I'd be all over that bike. And don't you dare touch the paint!

The Honda Service Manual is available on our site for download in PDF.

 

[Crash]

Thanks Tintin. It is the original paint and is Flake Sunrise Orange. Was not planning on touching the paint on this one. I like it alot, too. I would be trading my Cafe Racer that I just finished. The 1993 CB250.

Have not seen it, yet So I can't comment on the condition of anything, but I'll take plenty of pics. I do know it was last running in 1998 and has sat in his garage caovered for 10 years. I plan on more of a streetable Restoration for this one. Nothing to over the top, nothing that can not be changed back to original if desired. NO CUTTING! Maybe a few performance mods like jetting, air filter, sprockets, or maybe even some race carbs. Maybe som superbike handlebars or drag bars depending on how it sits. Budget will tell.

I'll take my time on this one, but want to get it running ASAP.

Not sure about the exhaust either. I know it is not stock, and does not look like MAC. We'll see.

Got the service manual, thanks.

 

[Tim]

Yeah - that exhaust looks interesting. almost looks like no baffles in the pipes.

The other nice thing about the CB550 is the engine can be torn down in-frame. Many bikes require you to pull the engine to do anything significant. You could ostensibly build an engine from scratch in the 550 frame, from the bottom case on up. Makes top end rebuilding a lot easier.

You can get decent priced Dyna ignitions for it too from Z1 Enterprises. $120 I think, which isn't a lot more than Honda OEM points/condensers. I put one on my 550 and it was night and day difference.

You certainly won't run out of places to get parts and info on the 550. It will run an easy 110mph too.

This is the piston kit I was talking about. They're made by ART, which is the OEM Honda manufacturer of the original pistons. I bought two kits from this seller.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CB500-Four-BIG-BORE-555cc-Performance-Rebuild-Kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35595QQihZ012QQitemZ220216479262QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[Roustabout]

You won't be disappointed with a CB550. My first street bike was a cafe 77 and definitely my favourite. It had a "free flowing" 4 into 4 exhaust. I still get shivers when I think of the sound that came out of her...... hell on wheels! I beat the crap out of that thing and it was totally reliable. Having said that, all things do wear out eventually.....

 

[Fear My Twin]

With my limited knowledge all I can really say is that I love my 500 and that is ALOT better starting point than most of us had lol.

I think its a pretty fair trade ;D

 

[Ease]

Depends on what your other bike is worth to you I suppose.

I think I'd go for it as long as I was sure it was solid.

 

[Crash]

Still waiting on the guy to call me back. I called him this morning, and he said he had to go pick up a trailer and would get back in touch with me. That was at 11:00. It is now 4:45. We'll see.

 

[sclay115]

Crash, ok, I may be the only one to say this, but I gotta say it anyways. Dude, I love your little bike man. Like, I really, really like it, I think it's something totally unique, and sure, it may not be super fast, but I'm sure it gets you around alright, right? I have been wanting a bike that is still unique, but still dead nuts reliable that gets awesome gas mileage just for the daily grind, and your machine is basically the best interpretation of that I have seen. Basically, and this isn't knocking any CB550 owners/builders out there, but your CB250 is so much more unique, at least in my opinion. So, I say keep it. You can always find another CB550, so maybe save up some extra cash, wait to buy one, and still keep the 250. Just my 2 cents, whether it be right or wrong, thats my opinion. Good luck with either venture!

Steve

 

[Crash]

Crash, ok, I may be the only one to say this, but I gotta say it anyways. Dude, I love your little bike man. Like, I really, really like it, I think it's something totally unique, and sure, it may not be super fast, but I'm sure it gets you around alright, right? I have been wanting a bike that is still unique, but still dead nuts reliable that gets awesome gas mileage just for the daily grind, and your machine is basically the best interpretation of that I have seen. Basically, and this isn't knocking any CB550 owners/builders out there, but your CB250 is so much more unique, at least in my opinion. So, I say keep it. You can always find another CB550, so maybe save up some extra cash, wait to buy one, and still keep the 250. Just my 2 cents, whether it be right or wrong, thats my opinion. Good luck with either venture!

Steve

You may be right, I may be crazy, but I enjoy working on bikes as much as I do riding them. So when I finish one, i tend to sell it or trade it. I have done this with almost every bike I have owned. A couple, I kick myself in the ass for, but in the long run I am happy.

This bike (the CB550) has been one that I have wanted for a LOOOOOONG time. And the fact that it is a 1974 (year I was born) makes it that much sweeter. The little 250 is nice, but it would not carry me and my wife very well. which is why it became a cafe racer. The 550 on the other hand has twice the HP and almost 3 times the tourque and will haull me and the wife with ease. Plus, I get to work on another bike without my wife saying "why are you doing that, doesn't it work already?".

But if this deal falls through, no bother. I'll come across another one soon.

 

[Ease]

The 550 on the other hand has twice the HP and almost 3 times the tourque and will haull me and the wife with ease.

I don't know if it'd take all 3 of us... but hell I'll try!

 

[Crash]

I don't know if it'd take all 3 of us... but hell I'll try!

Sad thing is, I knew you would say something like that. So I left it.

 

[Crash]

Deal fell Through. Owner decided not to sell. :

Keeping the Lil' Devil and gonna hunt for another SOHC.