Topic: Introduction....

[JG550]

Hey guys,

New member/new owner/new rider just saying hi. I've been lurking and studying this site for a while, as I've long been trying to decide between old Suzuki GSs or Honda CBs. Well a buddy who's been riding Hondas for about 25 years convinced me this way, and last week I found and bought a '78 CB550K. I took some pics when I got her home and got my gallery set up: http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/JG550/

My Clymer, headlight, and front blinkers all showed up in yesterday's mail, but I'll be damned if I can't find any used fork covers to mount them anywhere!!! The OEM prices make me cringe quite a bit...but I suppose I'll end up going that way as the urge to ride starts outweighing my $$$ day by day. 

The plans right now are:
- get fork covers and the lights mounted asap
- get plates
- get my practice license
- get it tuned up
- and get some riding gear (or at the very least for the moment, a helmet)

For now I've just been taking her for little rides around the neighborhood when I get home from work. I'd say I have an average amount of mechanical knowledge but zero experience with bikes, so I'm thinking as soon as I'm street legal I should ride over to the nearest dealer and have a full tune-up done. Then in the future I'll attempt my own maintenance and upgrades.

Anyway, ending the longest newbie post ever, can't wait to start bugging you guys with stupid questions like, what's the preferred shift point? And should it take more than a week to get my new member email? 

Take it easy,
Geoff

[supersport_CB400F]

That’s a nice looking bike, welcome!...... please don’t turn it into one of those café things, it would be a waste of a good looking machine. 

[prsman23@hotmail.c]

Cafe's ROCK!!!! Don't listen to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh yes, and welcome 

[JG550]

Haha, thanks!!
Nothin' wrong with a good looking cafe......but the plan on this one is to leave it as stock as possible.

[Bob Wessner]

Welcome. Nice looking machine. Did you find it in that condition, or did you have to do some work. Either way, very nice!

[JG550]

Thanks Bob. That's actually straight off the trailer after a 4hr drive back from picking it up in Grand Haven. Had two POs, the one I bought it from builds 750 choppers, and had owned it for a year but never got around to it because he's been rehabbing this last year (he was the guy that went flying into the Grand Haven pier last summer).

Honestly looking around for used parts, the first problem I've run into is that my chrome seems to be a good 5x better than what I'm finding! Crossing my fingers that the engine's in as good shape. My sister got married this week so I haven't had the time to dive in, but so far all that's obvious is that it needs a new chain, there's a little oil build-up below the left crankcase, and that using the old hand-to-the-pipe method my #2 seems to be running a little cooler. But then I've only had her up and running around for periods of like 15min and 50mph tops.....

Sorry to be so long-winded. I guess I'm still an excited newbie. 

[Bob Wessner]

Nice find for sure. Keep us posted on progress.

[cbjunkie]

thank god you saved it from the "chopping" block...

bikes in this condition deserve to be maintained - cafe "cool" factor notwithstanding...

best of luck!
junkie out...

[Slapguts]

Welcome to the forum, nice bike.

Grand Haven, huh? That's my hometown.

[eldar]

Boy them later 550s look like 750s! That is a nice bike for sure. I understand what you mean by the chrome. My chrome is pretty good yet and most stuff is rusty and pitted. Sucks for sure. You have to do a lot of polishing and you have to keep up on it too with these lousy parts. the later models can be hard to find parts for.

When i got my 750, I had a fairing too. not the most desirable in town but when traveling a ways, very nice to have.

An option you have is to get generic or univerasal fork ears that are brand new. Will look a bit different but at least the chrome will be good. They are about $20 and just clamp on to the upper parts or your forks between the tripple tree mounts.

It is something to look into anyways. I might do that sometime. If you do a stock headlight, try to get the H4 set up. Uses halogen and is better at night OR you could use the head light from your fairing. They really dont look too bad by themselves. At least mine didnt.

[ProTeal55]

Welcome