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Author Topic: GREAT article about the CB550 - original  (Read 1394 times)

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Offline alacrity

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GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« on: October 05, 2015, 01:50:41 PM »
Moderator: this should prob be posted someplace "sticky..." For archival purposes etc.

:-)
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I recently restored and sold a 77 cb750f, and am nearly finished with a (former basket case) cb750k5.  This is a place to share, learn and enjoy.  I am grateful to and for 99+% of this site's membership.

Offline alacrity

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2015, 01:51:57 PM »
and I just noticed or rather, just paid attention to something in it for the first time... their graph sure makes it look like 5th gear is redundant.
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I recently restored and sold a 77 cb750f, and am nearly finished with a (former basket case) cb750k5.  This is a place to share, learn and enjoy.  I am grateful to and for 99+% of this site's membership.

Offline mrfish2

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2015, 09:47:59 PM »
The graph at the very bottom? If you notice, they took 4th gear to 9500 rpm, and 5th gear to only 8500 rpms, so they coula squeezed a little more out of it. Pretty good write-up on a 550 though.
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1976 CB550K            1979 XS1100
1980 CB650C - Sold

Quote from: crazypj on October 19, 2008, 09:14:45 PM
It's a little motor and likes having the tits revved off it.

Offline rocs

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2015, 06:17:06 AM »
I love this stuff. Thanks for sharing!!
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #4 on: October 06, 2015, 08:00:36 AM »
Sure would be nice to grab a few at $1700-1800!
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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 flatlander

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2015, 08:18:40 AM »
nice find! thanks for posting it up.
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Offline Lostboy Steve

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #6 on: October 06, 2015, 08:36:35 AM »
All I need is a pair of bellbottoms now....
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Offline Duanob

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #7 on: October 07, 2015, 10:43:19 AM »
I like the pic at the bottom of page 2, Sparks flying off the exhaust! I've never leaned mine over that far.
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
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Offline Restoration Fan

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2015, 02:30:39 PM »
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Ron

Stella - Logan's Senior Project    78 750K http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=141761.0

Logan's Reward - CB500 and CB550 Cafes    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,147787.0.html

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2015, 04:30:26 PM »
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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 Restoration Fan

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2015, 04:58:37 PM »
Yep.  Funny thing is that I checked and I was able to find 4 different 550's for less than $2K that are within 6 or 7 hours drive from me and 2 of those are running/driving bikes.  Good news is that it looks like I'll have little trouble finding the next bike after these 2 are done.
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Ron

Stella - Logan's Senior Project    78 750K http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=141761.0

Logan's Reward - CB500 and CB550 Cafes    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,147787.0.html

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2015, 05:06:32 PM »
How close is Logan to getting his motorcycle permit/license?
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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 Restoration Fan

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2015, 05:31:48 PM »
Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on October 07, 2015, 05:06:32 PM
How close is Logan to getting his motorcycle permit/license?
He is signed up to take the class the second week of November.  He's busy with college classes right now but that weekend worked out.
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Ron

Stella - Logan's Senior Project    78 750K http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=141761.0

Logan's Reward - CB500 and CB550 Cafes    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,147787.0.html

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2015, 06:05:57 PM »
Sweet. Did he already get his permit? Many DMVs allow a "PASS" on the driving test on the MSF course to count for the DMV driving test.
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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 BomberMann650

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #14 on: October 08, 2015, 09:42:12 PM »
That article pretty well summed up the 550's. 

But they left out the part about how much of a PITA it is to get one of these bikes purring perfectly smooth.  That sick trifecta of Timing, Valves, and Carb Sync that has to be dead on or else you feel it.
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Offline alacrity

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #15 on: October 09, 2015, 04:27:02 PM »
Quote from: BomberMann650 on October 08, 2015, 09:42:12 PM
That article pretty well summed up the 550's. 

But they left out the part about how much of a PITA it is to get one of these bikes purring perfectly smooth.  That sick trifecta of Timing, Valves, and Carb Sync that has to be dead on or else you feel it.

Hondaman's ignition magic box sure helps a helluva lot with that.
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I recently restored and sold a 77 cb750f, and am nearly finished with a (former basket case) cb750k5.  This is a place to share, learn and enjoy.  I am grateful to and for 99+% of this site's membership.

Offline HondaAddict

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Re: GREAT article about the CB550 - original
« Reply #16 on: October 11, 2015, 07:14:12 PM »
Great article. Thanks for posting!
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1976 Honda CB400F
1975 Honda CB550K (sold in 2020)  Project thread | Videos
2008 Honda GL1800AL
2016 Honda CB500F
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