Topic: Another Carolina Barn Find

[Bootlegger56]

Bought this 75 550 out of a barn this morning.  I didn't really want the bike especially with the Windjammer but the PO mentioned he had a box of original parts.  When we dug the box out it contained the original signals, fork ears, headlight bucket, headlight trim ring and assembly and a ton of other parts including a new set of plugs that had to be at least 30 years old.  The original parts were all wrapped in plastic stored in paper bags and look like they are brand new.  I would have paid what I gave for the bike just for the box.   

[Prospect]

Nice find!  You should put this in the sohc technical forum.  we all love barn finds and more people will see it in that section.  You're right, sometimes the parts make the deal.

[grcamna2]

Yeah ! More pics 

[dave500]

in my mind im going to carolina!

[Stev-o]

How many miles? You try to start it? 

[grcamna2]

in my mind im going to carolina!

Oh Yeah ! I'm Sure JT would ride that sweet vintage beauty 

[luap]

damn I wish Arizona had barns

[Bootlegger56]

It has 17K on it and last ran about 2 years ago.  The PO still had a battery tender hooked up to it but it wasn't plugged in.  I am going to clean the grunge and go through a total service to find out what Ive got.  I am sure the carbs will need to come out and be cleaned.  I did pull the drain screws out of the bowls and found some gas that probably wouldn't burn if you struck a match to it.  After that I think I will decide if and what I want to invest in it or do I want to bob, restore or sell.  It might not look bad in the pics but up close its got all the typical rash of a 40 year old barn bike.  Either way that Windjammer has got to go!!   LOL

[octagon]

40 year old barn bike - not really. 2 year old barn bike is more accurate, hey it had gas in the carburetor bowls. anyway have fun with it.

[faux fiddy]

Way nicer than any  of the boat anchors I have to start with. 

[bender01]

Nice color. I never find stuff like that here in the lowcountry. They would ask 3k in that shape if I did. Just found a local 305 scrambler no seat/fender/title or keys for $800. It was painted with some good quality house paint though!   If thats something you might want to sell Im looking for a project. That would look good beside my orange bike.
  Ben

[nomad]

What part of the state did you find it in?

[Bootlegger56]

Bike was in Statesville where I live less than five miles from my home.  I ran an addy on the local "home ad" radio show looking for CB750 parts bikes.  The PO called me.  Octagon is probably right....its only been two years since it was tagged but it was parked in a barn right along side of his 1940's Allis Chalmers B which looked better than the bike.  LOL.... Being sort of new on here perhaps he could "edjekate" me on the technical specifications, definitions and criteria of the "Barn Find" term.  PO bought it in 1980 and according to the title put <4k on it in 32 years.   Just thought the members would find it interesting.  I think that if you know the history behind any old bike then that is part of the pleasure of owning it.   

[Stev-o]

Barn find = bike found in barn. 

+1 - take that 'jammer off, that will improve the looks instantly.
Funny how the twice as old tractor looked better than the bike!

[Chachi]

Nice find. I got my 72 500 out of a Quonset hut in Eastern NC. I got a windjammer too, but it was not installed.

[Bootlegger56]

Would you like to have another windjammer...LOL

[Imago]

It has 17K on it and last ran about 2 years ago.  The PO still had a battery tender hooked up to it but it wasn't plugged in.  I am going to clean the grunge and go through a total service to find out what Ive got.  I am sure the carbs will need to come out and be cleaned.  I did pull the drain screws out of the bowls and found some gas that probably wouldn't burn if you struck a match to it.  After that I think I will decide if and what I want to invest in it or do I want to bob, restore or sell.  It might not look bad in the pics but up close its got all the typical rash of a 40 year old barn bike.  Either way that Windjammer has got to go!!   LOL

Your bike is identical to my very first bike except for the colour... mine was orange metal flake. I traded straight across for a '59 Chev Apache Fleetside pickup. GREAT bike! Don't be too quick to dismiss that fairing... as I understand it, the Vindicator was one of the the last and perhaps best version Vetter made. In my opinion it suits your bike and will come in very handy on a long ride. I wish I could have afforded one back in the late 70's.