Topic: cb550 grab bar questions

[Thamuz]

I need 2 grab bars, a 74 cb550 and a 77 cb550f.  Do these have to be year specific or will this work across all years?  Im not going to resell the 550f.  the 74, maybe. lol  Original parts would be nice, but yeah

[goldarrow]

if memory serves me right, mounting holes are the same locations.  rear end shape of the bars are different, and also blinkers mounting locations.  so yeah they varies throughout the years and between K and F

[Thamuz]

76 cb550k should work on a 74 cb550k?  that one has nothing on back.

[goldarrow]

74 has different blinker mounting holes.  74 blinkers are smaller than 75/76

[TwoTired]

I need 2 grab bars, a 74 cb550 and a 77 cb550f.  Do these have to be year specific or will this work across all years?  Im not going to resell the 550f.  the 74, maybe. lol  Original parts would be nice, but yeah

The Cb550 F models use a grab bar that matches the seat rear "turn-up" profile.  All years of F 75-77 are interchangeable.  These are different than ALL K models.  But, you might be able to mash together something that works/functions, even though it is not a correct match.

I believe the 74 will take a grab bar from a 72-73 CB500, as well as from 75-76 Cb550K.  I have not verified the part numbers of all.  Yes, the turn sigs are different from 75 on, but the mounting tabs on the bar itself is the same, as I recall. 

Avoid the 77-78 Cb550 K grab bars. I'm pretty sure they will hit the tail lamp mount.

[goldarrow]

The tabs have different mounting holes sizes to accommodate larger or smaller blinkers

[TwoTired]

The tabs have different mounting holes sizes to accommodate larger or smaller blinkers

The tabs, or the brackets and rubber pieces that go on the tabs?

[Thamuz]

So, to put it right, a F is a F.  the K is all over the place?  If that's the case, I am gonna take the 3 piece grab bar and have it welded back together. >.<

[goldarrow]

The tabs have different mounting holes sizes to accommodate larger or smaller blinkers

The tabs, or the brackets and rubber pieces that go on the tabs?

Here's off 75/76 550k



This one 74 550k. Smaller blinker with smaller peg and will surely be smaller hole and different rubber pieces

[Thamuz]

Ty gold.  visual is best.  I been lookin on fleabay too.

[SohRon]

That '74 is missing a couple of parts... Here's the bar with its mounting hardware, then a shot of it on the bike

[TwoTired]

You can fit both the old and new blinker stalks on any of the 72-73 CB500s and the 74-76 CB550s grab bars if you have the correct parts to mount them.  Goldarrow's posted picture of the 74 is a field modified hack fitment, missing the vibration isolation parts.

[goldarrow]

You can fit both the old and new blinker stalks on any of the 72-73 CB500s and the 74-76 CB550s grab bars if you have the correct parts to mount them.  Goldarrow's posted picture of the 74 is a field modified hack fitment, missing the vibration isolation parts.

Yes indeed mine is missing few parts by the PO. But if I remembered correctly holes to fit the blinker stalks are different sizes

[TwoTired]

So, I waded out into my cluttered storage shed/garage.  Indeed the tabs are different for mounting the newer 75-76 blinker stalks.  If that is an important consideration, then only the grab bars from 72-74 K models will be period correct.  But blinker tabs notwithstanding, the actual grab bar profile to surround the seat is the same for 72-76 K models.

[goldarrow]

For OP, this may not be crucial info, but for future readers this info maybe important info.

[Thamuz]

It is to me.  Trying for a good resto of the 74

The main issue it seems is finding a F grab bar.  K all over.  no way to make it work?  It is just the angle difference?