Well I just finalized the deal, so I guess Ill let you all in on my plans! To make a long story short a early 550 showed up on a trailer at the Marina I work at, tucked away amongst the old boats in the back where none ever goes, I put 2 notes on it and the trailer and it sat for 2 weeks, before it disappeared and I got phone call from the owners. Turns out a nice young guy and his dad have been collecting 550's for a few years now and he was transporting one when complications forced him to leave it there, as he is a member of the marina.
His plans for there collection was for them to go right to Craigslist but he said I could come look around first. Most of his bikes are here in Maryland and the rest are in Jersey. I told him I wasn't looking for a show piece since my 500 is pretty good looking besides the engine and he told me he has a old 550 with a good engine I could take home for a few hundred. I jumped on it. While we were talking I asked if he was interested to get rid of the 550 that I saw at my job on his trailer. He gave me a good price, and I countered by joining the two bikes and offering a fair deal. He says he will take it and I can come get them next week. I had pictures of the bike he left, but I broke my phone and had to get a new one, thus loosing the picture. The 550 looked complete, titled, solid motor and frame, rusty 4into1, ape hanger bars, perfect original seat and two rims which I need.
My plans are to see if I could get the 550 I'v seen running as is, then swap the tank side covers and other needed parts and make one very solid cruiser using parts from both bikes. Or just swap the 550 engine in my 500. But remember the first 550 he offered me? Well I plan to take the engine and other parts from that bike, and build a little cafe racer on either the 500 or 550 platform using parts from all 3 bikes....Building a true parts bike, or bike made from all the leftovers. I have never had a cafe racer but I would like to make a decent little racer.
A little hard to follow, but Basically I'm going to have 3 bikes to work with this winter which I'm very excited about. My little shop is going to be going full throttle! I plan to make another thread following this project and I will have pictures for sure! Most likely looking at at-least one engine rebuild so I will need help with that guys, I have never fully dissembled one of these before, so I'll need your expertise! Let me know what you guys think of this plan! Really excited and can't wait to get started tearing down!
