Topic: Let me introduce Maybelle. 78 CB 550k

[Spokes]

I just picked her up a couple of weeks ago for $200, she wasn't running but spun over great.  Not a bad price for a 34 year old hunny in my opinion.  She's not pretty to look at but after a couple of weeks of tinkering, boiling the carbs and replacing the gaskets, she is a runner.  She is officially my first bike, maybe thats why I love her so much. Hell, i know I've been with uglier.  Got her started for the first time this morning, and she fought me, but finally fired up.  After some adjustments, she is purring like a kitten. I will need to sync the carbs still, check the valves...the list goes on, but shes a lady, so I would expect no less.

I still cant decide what I am gonna turn her into.  I really want to do a bobber, but she would have to keep her shocks.  I am not ready for any serious frame mods yet.  I also like the look of the cafe's, but fear the riding position may be hard on my back.  Time will tell and I will keep everyone posted on which direction we go.

Am I the only one that gets excited like a ten year old on Christmas morning when these things fire up for the first time.  I'm so excited, I'm gonna run back outside now and give her a little more exercise.  Thanks for reading my jabber and I'll see you on the other side.

[fastbroshi]

You don't HAVE to turn it into anything, it could just stay the way it is and be super cheap transportation.  You got a good deal on it too.

[Spokes]

Your right fastbroshi, but Maybelle is more photogenic than one would think.  With closer inspection, her chrome is pretty rusty, she has a hole in her tank where the PO removed the emblem. All four mufflers are rusted through...the list goes on.  I definitely dont think I overpaid for her, but my intention was to buy a cb for a bobber build.  I am feeling quite intimidated by this as I am not a fabricator.  I do have plenty of mechanical experience...not motorcycle related...and I like to think I have lots of common sense. I can build my bike with the help of the fine folks here at SOHC and am looking forward to this adventure.  Also I am almost the owner of a 250 Ninja which will be my cheap transportation for this season.  I hope it was ok to say that here lol.

[fastbroshi]

  Fair enough.  Keep in mind all is not lost.  Stout exhaust systems and tanks are popping up on here all the time, and tanks can be found everywhere.  Even if you end up replacing the tires, cables, hoses, rebuilding the brakes, polishing the chrome, etc., you'd be doing all that and more on a chop project.   Whatever way you end up going, these old bikes are a good hobby.

[steakCB550K]

Great find, good luck on the project, finally a non-cafe build!

[Mcwilliams570]

Nice find looks like a good bike whatever way you go with it.

Matt

[Stev-o]

First off, welcome. Great deal, and good job getting her running. Now get her cleaned up and roadworthy.
And yes, you can say you have a Ninja, I have a Suzi 250, a lot of us have other bikes.

[CafeDawg]

Spokes great that you got it running.  You got a good deal just for the fact that it's running.  Take everything else piece by piece, triage it and figure what you need to do first, something easy like seal the tank then move on to the next thing.  You've got your daily rider in the Ninja so makes it easier to take your time with this one.  That's what I think anyway.  Good luck.  Download the manual, has helped me a lot.

Respect
CD

[Spokes]

Thanks for the kind words gents.  I can see I've come across a fine group of people here at SOHC/4. Looking forward to learning and moving forward with Maybelle.

CD, Thanks for the tips. I see in your build thread things are going far from smoothly. I hate to see that but it will be a learning experience for all of us.