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Author Topic: Should i buy a 78 CB550K  (Read 5475 times)

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Offline hsas.69

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #25 on: November 17, 2015, 12:06:29 PM »
How hard can i turn this thing stock before the rods step out to say hello? 

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Offline calj737

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #26 on: November 17, 2015, 01:16:29 PM »
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 17, 2015, 12:06:29 PM
How hard can i turn this thing stock before the rods step out to say hello? 
Do you mean performance modifications? If so, a long way. Healthy performance gains are available by head work, valve changes, cam upgrades. As long as your rod and crank bearings haven't been molested, theres every reason to look forward to a very healthy dose of performance locked up inside there.

And, if you do want to really turn it up, Carillo rods and a lightened crank are just an internet click away  ;)
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"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: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #27 on: November 17, 2015, 01:58:49 PM »
These motors like to rev.  You may need a gasket refresh if the motor has been sitting idle for years, but they are made to pack on miles.
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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 hsas.69

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #28 on: November 17, 2015, 02:55:47 PM »
Talking rpm. Wanna get the brakes and suspension done before any performance upgrades.

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Offline hsas.69

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #29 on: November 17, 2015, 03:01:07 PM »
Plan on porting, cam swap at least multi angle valve job and maybe big bore once all else is good. Has been running at least the last ten. Not sure before that. Runs smooth and quiet, other that valves, now.

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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #30 on: November 17, 2015, 04:32:30 PM »
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 17, 2015, 02:55:47 PM
Talking rpm.



Mine now likes to scream up to 9K (after a carb change)

You may be surprised how much fun it is to ride a good running 550...
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Gene

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #31 on: November 17, 2015, 05:35:08 PM »
i hate you.  thief. You're gonna like the 550.
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Offline RevDoc

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #32 on: November 17, 2015, 09:47:44 PM »
Quote from: Stev-o on November 17, 2015, 04:32:30 PM
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 17, 2015, 02:55:47 PM
Talking rpm.


Mine now likes to scream up to 9K (after a carb change)

You may be surprised how much fun it is to ride a good running 550...

Honda designed these engines to be run at high revs. Can't recall if it was another thread on this forum or somewhere else that I read an article about an experiment that was done when these were still relatively new to the US market. Honda engineers got a group of pro racers together, made arrangements with police in one of the western states for the test. Told the riders they were to run back and forth between two cities (I believe west of Las Vegas) for several days and never drop below the redline. They never had trouble with the bikes and found no significant wear afterwards.

If someone knows of the original article please link to it! ;)
« Last Edit: November 17, 2015, 09:49:43 PM by RevDoc »
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Offline DaveBarbier

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #33 on: November 18, 2015, 02:11:19 AM »

Quote from: RevDoc on November 17, 2015, 09:47:44 PM
Quote from: Stev-o on November 17, 2015, 04:32:30 PM
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 17, 2015, 02:55:47 PM
Talking rpm.


Mine now likes to scream up to 9K (after a carb change)

You may be surprised how much fun it is to ride a good running 550...

Honda designed these engines to be run at high revs. Can't recall if it was another thread on this forum or somewhere else that I read an article about an experiment that was done when these were still relatively new to the US market. Honda engineers got a group of pro racers together, made arrangements with police in one of the western states for the test. Told the riders they were to run back and forth between two cities (I believe west of Las Vegas) for several days and never drop below the redline. They never had trouble with the bikes and found no significant wear afterwards.

If someone knows of the original article please link to it! ;)

That sounds awesome! Jesus, I love good engineering.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #34 on: November 18, 2015, 10:52:09 AM »
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 17, 2015, 02:55:47 PM
Talking rpm. Wanna get the brakes and suspension done before any performance upgrades.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Good plan.  I always spend my upgrade money first on brakes and suspension, unless I have oil leak issues to contend with also.
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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 hsas.69

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #35 on: November 18, 2015, 07:02:38 PM »
Any opinions on a 4-1 exhaust?

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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #36 on: November 18, 2015, 07:18:55 PM »
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 18, 2015, 07:02:38 PM
Any opinions on a 4-1 exhaust?





MotoGP makes the best one.....if you can find one.  He only makes a very limited number each year. 
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline solo 2

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #37 on: November 18, 2015, 07:42:34 PM »
My first bike was a 78 550K, thrashed that thing for 2 years, crashed it a few times and sold it to a buddy who continued trashing it for another couple years. Great bike, bought it with 600 miles on it in 1983, 17 years old and bulletproof.
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #38 on: November 18, 2015, 07:54:20 PM »
Quote from: solo 2 on November 18, 2015, 07:42:34 PM
My first bike was a 78 550K, thrashed that thing for 2 years, crashed it a few times and sold it to a buddy who continued trashing it for another couple years. Great bike, bought it with 600 miles on it in 1983, 17 years old and bulletproof.
that picture #$%*in rules!
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Offline rusty_tank

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #39 on: November 18, 2015, 10:18:15 PM »
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 18, 2015, 07:02:38 PM
Any opinions on a 4-1 exhaust?

MAC makes great headers and exhaust. I ran this combo on my 550 for years and it sounded goooooooood ;)
4into1.com sells it, http://4into1.com/mac-4into1-chrome-megaphone-exhaust-system-honda-cb500-cb550/
I'm pretty sure dimecitycycles.com sells the headers as well and in black 8)
« Last Edit: November 18, 2015, 10:41:26 PM by rusty_tank »
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #40 on: November 19, 2015, 03:24:59 AM »
Quote from: rusty_tank on November 18, 2015, 10:18:15 PM
Quote from: hsas.69 on November 18, 2015, 07:02:38 PM
Any opinions on a 4-1 exhaust?

MAC makes great headers and exhaust. I ran this combo on my 550 for years and it sounded goooooooood ;)
4into1.com sells it, http://4into1.com/mac-4into1-chrome-megaphone-exhaust-system-honda-cb500-cb550/
I'm pretty sure dimecitycycles.com sells the headers as well and in black 8)
+1. I had that system on my 550.  Lots of folks bag on MAC pretty hard around here and I am not really sure why...does have kinda of a nasally annoying sound unless you get the race baffle though...
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Offline hsas.69

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #41 on: November 19, 2015, 05:28:07 AM »
My 750 had a mac on it when i got it. I made my own baffle and packed the megaphone with stainless wool. Sounds really good now. Was thinking of going that route again but wanted other opinions as well

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Offline salty_seadog

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #42 on: November 19, 2015, 07:51:07 AM »
Buy it!

I spent more than I care to share on my 78 cb550k... :-[
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Offline eoddom

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #43 on: November 19, 2015, 09:50:13 AM »
From listening online, the Carpy exhaust sounds good.
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Offline hsas.69

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #44 on: November 19, 2015, 10:04:48 AM »
I like the looks of the motogp and the carpy but i think either will be too loud.

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Offline DaveBarbier

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #45 on: November 19, 2015, 01:58:34 PM »

Quote from: hsas.69 on November 18, 2015, 07:02:38 PM
Any opinions on a 4-1 exhaust?

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

Ripple Rock Racers makes a nice stainless system, too. I just got one for my 650 motor. Great guys to deal with, great price (they're in Canada so the exchange rate is great) but you might have just missed the 20% off site wide discount they had going.

http://www.ripplerockracers.com/product/honda-cb500550-hindle-vintage-racing-stainless-steel-exhaust-fits-71-78/
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #46 on: November 19, 2015, 03:11:50 PM »
The MotoGP pipe is available with a removable baffle.  With the baffle, it is civilized.

The Hindle also has a baffle built in.  The Hindle is lighter (thinner wall stainless).

Both are a major improvement over the Mac. 
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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 hsas.69

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #47 on: November 19, 2015, 06:30:15 PM »
Cant find a MotoGP anywhere. I saw then hindle earlier today. Really like the header, not so much the muffler, between being a 4-2-1 and atill having access to the oil filter im leaning this way. Would like to hear one first though.

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Offline goldarrow

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #48 on: November 19, 2015, 08:42:29 PM »
Here's my motogp pipes sound
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Should i buy a 78 CB550K
« Reply #49 on: November 19, 2015, 09:24:07 PM »
Quote from: goldarrow on November 19, 2015, 08:42:29 PM
Here's my motogp pipes sound

You ready to sell that to me yet?!   Or trade for Lester's?!!
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........
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