Topic: greetings from a flat country

[flatlander]

hello everybody!

i've been lurking here for a while, soaking up all the invaluable info offered. thought i'd register and say hi, in case i can contribute back something, some day.

i live in amsterdam, in the netherlands and took the plunge on a cb550f (1976) earlier this year. it took me quite a while to find one that was in a nice shape and as original as possible. seems like everyone over here builds these into cafe racers.

anyway, i found one in real good condition - even the exhaust was still on there and not rotten, and it had a second brake disc installed already!

the worst thing was the paintwork: something brownish with 70s style patterns on it. well the registration papers said "blue" so that's what i brought it back to.
then a bit of work on the carbs, change some o-rings to get rid of oil drips, new chain and sprockets, adjusting things - and we were back on the road again before summer 

here's what it looks like now:









as i started to trust it more and more i used it sometimes when i had to travel farther for work. then i got really bold and took it on a 600km trip to visit my sister on asn island somewhere between denmark and germany - which the bike did without even the slightest hiccup (unlike me, who had a cold on the way back).

here's the 550 on the ferry:



so i'm having great fun and feel very lucky that i apparently got a really good one.
now over winter i'll dive into the detail and see what bits need work or replacement so that i keep it in this shape.

[70CB750]

Welcome!

[Stev-o]

Welcome from the Texas Hill Country.

I had a blue '76 550F, it was my first Honda.  Great bike and seems yours is too.

Post some more pics of the bike in your beautiful country.

[flatlander]

thanks for the welcome.

you want pictures?
here we go... next to a friend's r80/7 on a little trip to the coast:

[Stev-o]

Yes, w e love pics here, especially of far away locals.

I'll post a pic of the 550F later, need to head to work now....

[flatlander]

i've been at work already for more than half a day but taking it a bit easy today 
looking forward to pics of your 550f.

[Bob Wessner]

Welcome. Looks like you have found a nice clean machine their. Enjoy the miles. 

[MoMo]

Welcome, I had the same bike several years ago-it was one of the few I regret selling as it was in mint condition...Larry

[WrenchMonkey]

Welcome!  Nice bike!

[Stev-o]

Hey flatlander.....here's my '76 550F that I sold a few years ago to buy a 750. 
Regretted selling it a few months later and bought another 550 (kept the 750).
This was taken at my local park....

[MoMo]

Hey flatlander.....here's my '76 550F that I sold a few years ago to buy a 750. 
Regretted selling it a few months later and bought another 550 (kept the 750).
This was taken at my local park....




Wow,,  you own a park Steve???....Larry

[Stev-o]

Hey flatlander.....here's my '76 550F that I sold a few years ago to buy a 750. 
Regretted selling it a few months later and bought another 550 (kept the 750).
This was taken at my local park....

Wow,,  you own a park Steve???....Larry

Well, actually yes. (HOA)

[flatlander]

Hey flatlander.....here's my '76 550F that I sold a few years ago to buy a 750. 
Regretted selling it a few months later and bought another 550 (kept the 750).
This was taken at my local park....

thanks for the pic. nice park.... errr bike!
indeed, it looks very familiar - must be brothers

indeed, i was not sure first if i should go for a 750 or 550 but went for this one in the end. think i will be happy with it for a while as long as i stay away from german highways where maniacs in cars try to blow you off the tarmac with 250kph.

[LesterPiglet]

Welcome. Lovely bike.
Where did you get your bike painted or where did you get the paint? I've been trying to get my tank matched for a few years now and haven't found anyone who can do it. I have brand new flake sapphire blue sidepanels and a black tank. 

Enjoy the 550, much better than the 750.   

[flatlander]

i got it done through blauweplaat.nl
the guy specialises in sohc cbs so i figured it was in good hands there, would be the right paint for the year/model. but he probably uses an external paintshop. maybe if you ask him he can refer you directly to them.

i used to live in dublin where i also studied, and travelled the country quite a bit. one of my plans is to take the 550 around scotland and all of ireland. with lots of stops at distilleries and pubs of course.

[Stev-o]

Hey flatlander.....here's my '76 550F that I sold a few years ago to buy a 750. 
Regretted selling it a few months later and bought another 550 (kept the 750).
This was taken at my local park....

thanks for the pic. nice park.... errr bike!
indeed, it looks very familiar - must be brothers

indeed, i was not sure first if i should go for a 750 or 550 but went for this one in the end. think i will be happy with it for a while as long as i stay away from german highways where maniacs in cars try to blow you off the tarmac with 250kph.

Even though we don't have Autobahns here, one of the reasons I traded the 550 was I thought it was too lightweight on the highway.  When getting passed by a large truck, I could feel the "air wake" move the bike, a unsettling feeling to me.
Years before, I had toured the US on a Kaw 1000, so I was use to a larger, heavier bike. 
I'm sure the 550 will be a great bike for you.

[flatlander]

yes i know what you mean. especially as i did take it across the border, on the autobahn. it's possible but you do need strong nerves, and a certain amount of stoic calm.
i plan to use it mainly on smaller roads that are more fun to ride and where there's more to see. for those it seems perfect. i see highways more as a utility (or sometimes necessary evil), not my idea of time well spent.

[tool14]

welcome

[70CB750]

yes i know what you mean. especially as i did take it across the border, on the autobahn. it's possible but you do need strong nerves, and a certain amount of stoic calm.
i plan to use it mainly on smaller roads that are more fun to ride and where there's more to see. for those it seems perfect. i see highways more as a utility (or sometimes necessary evil), not my idea of time well spent.

Crossing Germany, two on a loaded motorcycle (Krausers, top box and tank bag) big trucks would still move us around.  I called them dancing mastodons since they would be passing each other in 140 km speeds.  I got used to it eventually, but never felt really at ease.

[Frostyboy]

I just love those pipes. Nice machine mate. Welcome. 

[Duanob]

Welcome!

Sweet 550F. That's what mine looked like from the factory. I really like the mini guards. I'm currently bidding on a pair myself. I wish my exhaust was that clean. I may have to have it re-chromed. Have fun, stay safe, keep the rubber side down.

[flatlander]

thanks guys!

duanob, i was lucky that those mini guards came with the machine. and super lucky to find one with original exhaust in good shape. a winter project will be to remove the little rust specks (only superficial) that you don't see on the above photos, and coat it with tectyl. need to preserve that thing. no idea yet what to do with the pipes: tectyl won't help there as they get to hot and it evaporates. but maybe due to that, it doesn't need anything else than being ridden so that any humidity just burns off 

i see in your signature you have a '76 f2? that's the same year as my f1. i thought f2 was made from '77?

[Pedro 64]

Welcome to this forum, very nice 550/4 , have fun , cheers..

[flatlander]

cheers pedro!
weather's turning crap now so ordered a few rubber bits to pre-emtively replace those of the old ones that got a bit stiff over the years. if we had no winter i'd probably ride the thing until it falls to pieces under my arse

[Skyjumper]

Beautiful bike!  Must be fun to ride in the gorgeous Dutch countryside.  Thanks for sharing your pics!