Topic: a very tough decision, keep the CB550F or get a CB450

[jason41987]

i forgot to delete the post on craigslist that landed me the incomplete CB550F i have now.. paid $300 and its missing the seat, tank, turn signals, and a brake caliper.... then today someone new replies with a complete CB450, everything to it, just needs a bit of carb and ignition work and he wants $500 for it.. and everythings there

all ive put in the CB550 to this point has been maintainence parts.... o-rings in the rebuilt carbs, new plug caps, spark plugs, things to get it running...  both bikes have a title for it

so im not sure what i should do, i like the simplicity of the CB450, only having to rebuild 2 carbs, 2 cylinders, only 2 exhaust pipes, theres just phyisically  less to it

so what would your advice be?... should i rebuild this CB550 and keep it ignoring the CB450, or sell the 550 as a running, inspected, titled bike since i nearly have it running now, then put more efforts into the CB450?... or since the 450s complete, i could possibly buy this one, getting it running, then sell it... the CB450s a barn fine, so probably just needs the carbs cleaned and the ignition tuned

[Stev-o]

I think everyone should have at least two bikes. And ideally, one should be roadworthy at all times.

[jason41987]

im moving in the spring, across the country though and can only take one.. if the 450 is close to me, its a barn find, complete, and no rust on it... i would keep one to strip down and rebuild from the frame up, and the other one i would just get to riding condition, wait until spring when theyre more valuable and sell it

its just hard to ignore this 450 being in nearly mint condition, pulled from someones barn, and not running because its been sitting for 15-20 years, most likely due to the carburetors not being drained first... it turns over, has the complete electrical system, both brakes, all turn signals, seat, tank

the 550 i have has no seat, no tank, no turn signals, no front brake and needs all new wiring, but i only paid $300 for this one, with another $200-$300 into it i can have it running and road worthy.. so for the same price put into either one for the initial cost of the bike and getting it ready, i could have either one ready to sell in the spring before i move

whats the "better" bike, and i quote better because its obviously a question thatll receive an objective, opinionated response... but what will give me fewer mechanical problems in the future? and which one is in more danger of becoming rare?.. keep in mind the 550 is in fact the super sport model

[oldbob]

Ever heard the expression "better the devil you know than the devil you don't"?

You have spent enough time with your 550 to know most of its problems. IMO, a barn find always needs more than just a carburetor cleaning. Often times, much more.

Bob

[jason41987]

ive spent a week with my CB550 so far, and only know a couple of its problems, i know the plug caps were bad, the spark plugs were bad, and two or three of the carbs were siezed, all carbs were plugged... thats all i know.. im assuming, and hoping ill get it running once i correct those problems this week... thats all i know so far

[jason41987]

im trying to get more information on this 450.. the guy has the title for it, so he must know the guy who put it in the barn in the first place, its my understanding most barn finds are titleless, and discovered upon purchasing the property, or after someone dies and its whereabouts become missing... if he bought it for himself and couldnt get it running either he could be someone whos not very mechanically inclined, or theres a deeper, bigger problem to it

i just need to get more history.. if he bought this to fix up for himself id be inclined to pass up on it, if a relative passed away, or gave him permission to dig through the barn and decided to sell it for quick cash it really could be a gem

ive asked for more history on it though.. id like to know why it was sitting in a barn for so long.. someone had to have put it there in the first place, and there had to be a reason to it.. something major could have failed and he didnt think he could sell it, or rebuild it perhaps so it just sat, or maybe his woman made him give it up and he couldnt bear selling it at the time, forgetting to clean the carbs they simply gummed up... who knows, but i cant comfortable commit to buy this without knowing more

[BeSeeingYou]

Don't over think it.  My experience is that these bikes are often "found" by another party and they get them really cheap and are looking for a quick turnaround.  A good clue is if he has the title in the previous owners name but properly signed by the owner with the new owners line unsigned (important).   He does not want to incur the additional expense and time of changing the title to cut into his profit.  This can be expensive depending on the state as the rules vary.  Here in Minnesota one of my XS650's had been unlicensed for 20 years and the DMV wanted the license back fees that would have totaled hundreds of dollars unless I had a paper signed by the titled owner (it was the same situation as above buying from a third party) stating the bike had not been driven in that time.  It was just a photocopied statement and nothing real official looking.  I just practiced copying the owners signature that was on the title and signed the paper.  I could have tracked down the owner too but he lived a distance away according the the seller.
    I think a major mechanical failure is unlikely and the most likely cause is just lack of interest or minor carb or electrical problems that sideline the machine with an owner not willing to maintain it properly.  The owner of my Honda licensed the bike every year and kept telling himself that this was the year he would get it going again.   The condition of the bike, how it was stored, and the mileage are more important than who did what with what.

[Killer Canary]

Logically speaking, there are more 550s out there so your chances of finding another later on are better. But keep both!

[bollingball]

im trying to get more information on this 450.. the guy has the title for it, so he must know the guy who put it in the barn in the first place, its my understanding most barn finds are titleless, and discovered upon purchasing the property, or after someone dies and its whereabouts become missing... if he bought it for himself and couldnt get it running either he could be someone whos not very mechanically inclined, or theres a deeper, bigger problem to it

i just need to get more history.. if he bought this to fix up for himself id be inclined to pass up on it, if a relative passed away, or gave him permission to dig through the barn and decided to sell it for quick cash it really could be a gemive asked for more history on it though.. id like to know why it was sitting in a barn for so long.. someone had to have put it there in the first place, and there had to be a reason to it.. something major could have failed and he didnt think he could sell it, or rebuild it perhaps so it just sat, or maybe his woman made him give it up and he couldnt bear selling it at the time, forgetting to clean the carbs they simply gummed up... who knows, but i cant comfortable commit to buy this without knowing more

It does not matter. You will not know until you start working on it. If it looks good and turns over buy it. They are fun and easy to work on. You are over analyzing this whole thing. Sell the 550 for parts. Lot of guys here need them.
Ken
Ken

[Stev-o]

Have you even seen the barn 450 yet?

Could it be that you are feeling overwhelmed on what is needed to get the 550 on the road? Buyers remorse??

[apehanger 550]

  Your 550 has a missing tank and seat for 300.00
  The CB450 is complete for 500.00

  As far as I am concerned, both bikes are the same price once you factor in the missing parts.
  Yes,the Honda twin carbs are much simpler for those of us with limited experience. And also even if a previous owner parked the bike and it ran it means nothing as far as its present condition.
  Taking a chance on old bikes can be rewarding,but it can also be a disaster,and the very same bike can be a gem to one person and a disaster to another, depending on each person's Patience and Talent or Ability to Listen to the Old Guys and Treat them with Respect. And Gratitude  
  I am not saying this as an old guy but as a guy who really needs advice on occasion. My take on the purchase price of a barn bike is do not pay more than you can part the bike out for unless you can chalk it up to the price of an education. 

[jason41987]

im going to pass up on the 450 for now.. its a 2 hour drive from where im at and im not willing to make that kind of trip unless im sure i would buy it, and i cant be sure i would buy it without finding it... guy says he bought it for a friend looking for a cheap bike, but his friend decided on a yamaha instead... could be the truth.. could be he dicovered something about it he didnt like...

so it just seems too far to travel on such a large question mark.. the fuel costs alone to go get it would cut deeply into the price.. the CB550 i got was over an hour away, but the previous owner delivered it at no charge as his wife was making him clean out his garage... his wife even wanted to make sure i was going to rebuild it and not sell it as scrap

so.. for the time being ill stick with this 550, though as people on here said before.. both are good, the 450 would probably be more fun for around town but the 550 would be nicer on longer trips, since it is a more smoothed out ride

by the way.. where im at now is atleast an hour and a half from the next major city, where im moving to, for that distance i could visit milwaukee, chicago, and madison, so ill be able to find more after i move

[RFogelsong]

It sounds like you're trying to talk yourself into the 450 and out of the 550.  Since both bikes aren't immediately streetable, just take whichever one you feel like (seems like the 450 from your posts), They're probably both gonna need many of the same things to get running anyway. 

[dylboss]

I have to say.  When i had my 450, I liked it better than my 550.  Not much less HP, MUCH easier to work on, and less parts to deal with.  That said, I have to +1 with saying that one road worthy bike and one project is the way to go.  At any given moment, those roles will swapped during the course of their life cycle.  And you will likely make your money back +  with either if it is running at time of sale.