Author Topic: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods  (Read 7618 times)

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Offline ironandtime

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Re: 1978 CB550 Modifications
« Reply #25 on: May 31, 2014, 08:28:46 AM »
Yep, those are ones I have in that schematic, but P.O. cut them right at the seam in front of the end cones...not sure why (rust? different sound?). So cool to have all these resources online, and the knowledge just keeps growing!
1978 Honda CB550

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1978 CB550 Modifications
« Reply #26 on: May 31, 2014, 09:31:54 AM »
Yep, those are ones I have in that schematic, but P.O. cut them right at the seam in front of the end cones...not sure why (rust? different sound?). So cool to have all these resources online, and the knowledge just keeps growing!


Oh, cut off, got it.  Yes, I bet it was for sound....louder.  The stock pipes on the '77-78 550K's were heavily baffled and quiet, too quiet IMO. (I recently sold my '78 550). 
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline ironandtime

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Re: 1978 CB550 Modifications
« Reply #27 on: May 31, 2014, 10:42:30 AM »
Yeah, I think it was probably for sound. They definitely have a audible grumble now, which is why I like 'em. Right - I remember you had that '78 CB550. How many bikes do you have now?
1978 Honda CB550

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1978 CB550 Modifications
« Reply #28 on: May 31, 2014, 03:00:00 PM »
Yeah, I bought a crash damaged '78 550, repaired it and decided to sell it.
Was a great running bike, sold in a matter of hours on Craigslist...





My current project is a '71 CB500 and I have a '76 550K, a couple 750's, a Kaw Z1 900 and a RD350.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline ironandtime

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Re: 1978 CB550 Modifications
« Reply #29 on: May 31, 2014, 04:39:39 PM »
Wow - lots to keep you busy. Btw, that custom seat on my bike now is built on the seat pan that I bought from you!  8)
1978 Honda CB550

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1978 CB550 Modifications
« Reply #30 on: May 31, 2014, 04:53:29 PM »
Btw, that custom seat on my bike now is built on the seat pan that I bought from you!  8)

Oh yeah.....it never looked better. 
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline ironandtime

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #31 on: June 12, 2014, 04:09:24 PM »
Ok, time to go ahead and tear her all down and build her back up again. Had it on the freeway today heading into work, which is the first time I've had it at a consistent 65mph for any length of time. Something in the lower rear of the engine couldn't handle it, so it started leaking oil all over the place. When I got it back home, there was oil all over the fender, center stand, rear wheel, dripping on the ground, etc. The upper regions of the engine have been leaking a bit anyway, so it's time I just take care of business and open her up. I'll remove the engine, inspect everything, soda blast/polish everything, then rebuild with new seals/gaskets and whatever else is needed (valves, rings, etc.). I'll just take this as a prompt to go ahead and tear the bike down and build her back up again, cleaning/restoring/replacing things as I go. I was about to tackle rebuilding and cleaning up the front end so as to try and do things in sections, but now I think it's time just to do the full monty.  I won't get started for another week or two as I will be out of town, but once I start the process I'll post regular updates to document the progress. Now I'm REALLY gonna learn me something. Cheers.
1978 Honda CB550

Offline grcamna2

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #32 on: June 12, 2014, 04:12:12 PM »
Subscribed  8)
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #33 on: June 12, 2014, 04:59:02 PM »
Ok, time to go ahead and tear her all down and build her back up again. Had it on the freeway today heading into work, which is the first time I've had it at a consistent 65mph for any length of time. Something in the lower rear of the engine couldn't handle it, so it started leaking oil all over the place. When I got it back home, there was oil all over the fender, center stand, rear wheel, dripping on the ground, etc. The upper regions of the engine have been leaking a bit anyway, so it's time I just take care of business and open her up. I'll remove the engine, inspect everything, soda blast/polish everything, then rebuild with new seals/gaskets and whatever else is needed (valves, rings, etc.). I'll just take this as a prompt to go ahead and tear the bike down and build her back up again, cleaning/restoring/replacing things as I go. I was about to tackle rebuilding and cleaning up the front end so as to try and do things in sections, but now I think it's time just to do the full monty.  I won't get started for another week or two as I will be out of town, but once I start the process I'll post regular updates to document the progress. Now I'm REALLY gonna learn me something. Cheers.

Bummer about you motor puking oil.  Like the bionic man, you can rebuild it better than ever.  Too bad it couldn't wait until winter!
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline ironandtime

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #34 on: June 12, 2014, 08:15:47 PM »
Racer Fan, that was definitely the plan. Now it's moved to the top of the list. Oh well, part of the deal with these old bikes I reckon. Hey, at least I have long days of daylight and nice weather to work on it! (trying to look on the bright side). Besides, I'm working on getting a dual sport kinda bike to play with on the side, so I'll have other bike adventures to keep me busy as well  8)
1978 Honda CB550

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #35 on: June 12, 2014, 10:26:52 PM »
It's good to have at least one running bike at all times, but sometimes the ease and reliability of a modern bike can discourage you from slogging through a more trouble prone vintage ride.   ;)
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #36 on: June 13, 2014, 03:53:15 AM »
Too bad it couldn't wait until winter!

In San Diego? What day is "Winter" exactly?
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #37 on: June 13, 2014, 07:40:03 AM »
Too bad it couldn't wait until winter!

In San Diego? What day is "Winter" exactly?

You have a point, Cal. I went to college in SD. The average temperature year round in La Jolla is 72. When you are a student you wear shorts and a t-shirt and maybe a sweatshirt.

Winter is on the rare chance of rain.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Blackfin5

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Re: 1978 CB550K Resto-Mods
« Reply #38 on: June 13, 2014, 07:41:54 AM »
Winter is Dec. 20th between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m.