Topic: Restoring this honda cb550 k3

[Demasterchef]

Hello guys,

I bought a honda cb550 k3 for restoring in my spare time,
Know can you guys tell me anything about it? Special parts? Original?
Just let me know what you think.
There's a yoshimura installed as a exhaust but cant find anything about this one.

Greets

[Little_Phil]

Hi and welcome. Looks a complete bike. You have non standard bars (look flatter than the std Euro version), different rear shocks (an improvement), twin disc conversion (an improvement), an added fork brace, a changed cover over the ignition trigger on the motor and paintwork that looks similar to the 550F than ran alongside.
Don't know a lot about the Yoshimura apart from you may not get the best out of it with those carbs fitted.

https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k3-four-european-direct-sales_model14672/partslist/#.W4UZCvZFyaE

[Bankerdanny]

Some interesting upgrades like the double front disk. Repainted tank and sidecovers. That doesn't look like the original seat cover, but probably is the original foam and base. As Phil said, those aren't original bars. That also isn't the stock master cylinder or exhaust. The Hagon shocks are a major upgrade over stock.

This looks like a great candidate to do whatever you want. It's complete, but not original, so if a café bike or bobber is your thing go for it.

As a frame of reference, here is what my 100% stock and original (right down to the tires) 7,000 mile '77 550K looked like when I got it in 2011.

Congratulations are on a really nice acquisition!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That Yoshimura can looks like it came from a modern sports bike and was fitted some aftermarket 550 pipes.

[Demasterchef]

Thnx guys for the answers,
I got the original master cylinder with it (the round one).
Anyways are those improvements original?
I wanted to make it original again underneath the blue tank there there's black paint so i guess the color was black.
I thought the seat was original? It has some wear but lucky not cracked anywhere.
The honda is alrdy standing in that corner for about 10 years so,
The license plate is from 1979 but the framenumbers tells me this one is frome 1977.
I want to get it in major components original, the improvements i like.

[calj737]

The header makes me think the bike is an F model with an aftermarket muffler. Someone did some tasteful upgrades (excluding the muffler) to that bike. Would be interesting to know the frame # to determine whether it is indeed an F or a K.

[Demasterchef]

The framenummer is: CB550K-2019480

[calj737]

K frame for certain then. Still looks like an F header though 

[RAFster122s]

Welcome!  Nice bike.

Good luck bringing here back to the running and riding state! Looks like it should be an easy job to do so.

David

[Bankerdanny]

Thnx guys for the answers,
I got the original master cylinder with it (the round one).
Anyways are those improvements original?
I wanted to make it original again underneath the blue tank there there's black paint so i guess the color was black.
I thought the seat was original? It has some wear but lucky not cracked anywhere.
The honda is alrdy standing in that corner for about 10 years so,
The license plate is from 1979 but the framenumbers tells me this one is frome 1977.
I want to get it in major components original, the improvements i like.

Maybe the pattern on the European bikes was different than the US bikes.

Your bike would not have originally come with that exhaust system, it would have had 4 individual mufflers like the bike in my photo. The paint scheme would have been similar, just black vs brown. If you look at the side covers on my '77 you will see that they are slightly different.

Personally, I would

1. Give it a good wash and shine the chrome (that's what I did in my photo, that was the weekend after I bought my bike and it had been sitting in storage for 20+ years)

2. Inspect the inside of the fuel tank for rust. Clean as necessary

3. Replace the fuel lines and battery.

4. Pull the carbs and give them a good cleaning, which requires taking them off the bike, but doesn't require you to take them off the rack they are attached to. Inspect all the jets to make sure they are original and confirm the size (see the image below, which is an actual Keihin main jet) and make sure they are clean an unobstructed, and replace all the gaskets and O-rings.

5. Check your gaps: points, plugs, valves

6. Change the oil and filter

7. See if it will start.

Completing all of the above won't cost a lot of money and can be done over 2-3 weekends of work. Once you know it runs you can work up a plan of attack for the rest.

Based on your photo, I would just repaint, replace the tires and rubber brake hoses, and install a better looking muffler and ride it. I would probably replace the handle bar too as I am not a fan of drag bars, but that's just me.

[Demasterchef]

Thnx for the plan!,
I know about the exhaust i like the 4 in 4 aswell but there very rare here in the netherlands.

[Bankerdanny]

Thnx for the plan!,
I know about the exhaust i like the 4 in 4 aswell but there very rare here in the netherlands.

The versions that came on the 77-78 550K with the reverse cone muffler are not as popular as the earlier style with trumpet ends. If you were in the US you could probably track down a decent set without spending big money, but where you are that might not be possible.

[calj737]

He could slide past Flatlander’s place and snag a beautiful set of new 4:4s. Just don’t tell Flatlander I sent you 

[flatlander]

too late - i'm watching you! if they're gone over night i know where to go...

[flatlander]

masterchef, talk to this guy: blauweplaat.nl
he's got a warehouse full of parts and may have an original 4-4 exhaust system lying around. probably not cheap if in good nick.

[Demasterchef]

Yeah he still got some lying around but exspensive

[flatlander]

out of interest: what is expensive?
original ones in good shape are getting rare, that's why prices increase. i've got a 4-1 from my 550F in the basement - i reckon in a couple of years i can retire on it 
if you don't want to spend too much and are willing to go aftermarket, delkevic makes a very decent alternative.

[Little_Phil]

The license plate is from 1979 but the framenumbers tells me this one is frome 1977.

If mainland Europe was like the UK then the K3 sold badly against the opposition. 77 K3s were still hanging around until 1980 in the UK.

[Demasterchef]

I know i know there getting rare indeed so let the search begin haha