Topic: New to me 78 CB550k

[bartsitarski]

Hey guys. I just got a 78 CB550k with13k on the dial. It has recent carb rebuild, new chain, fork seals, oil change, winterized every winter and detailed every spring for the last 11 years, no rust in tank, all chrome clean, and all receipts. Got it for $1000. How did I do? I got my first bike last summer, 81 CB400t Hawk and wanted something more retro for tooling around town. More pics coming Wednesday night. 

[luap]

A good clean running bike for a 1000.00 I think is a good deal. have fun with it

[Stev-o]

Welcome.  + 1... A clean good running bike, with title, for a grand is a good deal. As you probably know, that was the last year of the 550.

Here is some more good info on the 550's...

http://www.sohc4.net/index.php/cb550/cb550-model-guide/

[bartsitarski]

Thanks guys!

[Stev-o]

How's it run?

[Bankerdanny]

Nice. That's a good price for a clean original bike that still has the 4-4 exhaust even if it needs some work to run right. If it was already running well then I think its a very good deal.

[bartsitarski]

It runs really well. Very smooth, shifts well, warms up fairly quick. It needs a few minor touches but nothing that a weekend of cleaning and putzing with a screwdriver can't take care of. Got her home tonight after getting it insured and registered. Can't wait to learn from all of you.

[Bankerdanny]

Congrats. Mine was a '77, I really miss it.

The 550 is very versatile. It's not huge, so it is a great city bike. My typical MPG was the low/mid 40's and I broke 50 a couple of times on longer trips. And despite the small displacement, it hauled my 220+ pounds down the highway at 70-75 no problem. I rode it 1400+ miles around Lake Michigan during a leg of the 2011 World Tour (scroll down for info on this year's tour and try and participate, its a great time) and it never missed a beat.