Topic: Crazy? Scrambler 550 From a damn near mint 76!

[Scrambled550]

So I'm new here not usually one for forums but I do get a lot of great info here so I figured I would share my newest project.

Scored a 1 owner 1976 CB550 with 8700 miles in well about as good a shape as can be. I am going to convert it to a Scrambler550 that I feel like could have come from the factory in 76 with a few newer mods. I have always loved concept vehicles and that's where I want to go with this project. I live in Vermont and hit lots of dirt roads on my rides so a scrambler style with dual purpose tires fit the bill.

 Now I know there are a lot of purists out there that will think I'm crazy for tearing into this bike but I like to start with a great bike not a pos as I don't want to do any real mods on this project just some bolt on stuff. The engine runs great so no need to mess with that other then a tune up and redoing the carbs for some small air cleaners and a new 4 into 1 exhaust.

Ill try to stay up on progress as I go along. All the parts I'm not going to use will be listed in the for sale section so hopefully they can go to members and not Feebay.


Also I'm looking for a set of Lester mags for this so if you have them let me know!!!!! 19" and 18" Thanks

Thanks, Scrambled550

[TwoTired]

I live in Vermont and hit lots of dirt roads on my rides so a scrambler style with dual purpose tires fit the bill.

So, get ones of those, purpose built, rather than killing and bodging up a survivor.

Kinda like fishing a drowning man out of the sea and then cutting his eyes out cause you don't like the color.  Or, giving him a sex change cause you really wanted to save a woman.

Warning!.....

Good luck rejecting your carbs, for what you think is a "cosmetic" change to filters and exhaust.  The engine was tuned to run well for those.  You smart enough, educated enough to tune the carbs for your changes?


I need coffee...  scrambled...

Oh yeah.  It's your bike do what you want with it.  Someone will think you're a hero.  Even if there are thousands of bikes out there needing a rescue from bike adulterers.

[jakec]

Maybe this is why you said you weren't a forum guy, but here goes,

That's a survivor, the second you ride it on dirt it'll never be the same. I gotta agree with the poster above, although you did say it would be bolt-on only! And for that we thank you. You should probably keep all of the parts with the bike rather than selling them... even though I'm sure there are people here that would love to have the parts.

As for the plans you said you have, it actually sounds like a great/cool idea. If you really want to make a factory looking bike then I don't know why you would ever change the air cleaner system. Honda never used pods. If you plan to keep the side covers on there is almost no point as you can barely see them anyways (the ONLY reason to have pods, and I think most would agree is it a dumb reason).

If I were you and I wanted to make a "factory looking honda/4 scrambler," I would spent a bunch of money on a custom 4 into 2 double side pipe exhaust. That seems to me the only way to go.

[Scott S]

 Please don't chop up that bike.

[Scrambled550]

Damn maybe I should sell it and start with something else if there is that much love for it... Sounds like the airbox should remain in place since it is running right. I just thought with the new exhaust it would probably need to be jetted anyway why not.

[jakec]

I don't know how much you paid for it, but if you don't want it as-is then you could consider selling it.

[seanbarney41]

You could probably trade that for a really nice old xl350/500 dual shock era bike which was built to do what you want.  The bike you posted a picture of looks to be in extraordinarily fine condition and it would be a shame to change it.

[Duke McDukiedook]

As was said above this is a poor choice for a scrambler chop unless you only plan on riding on paved roads.

[Scott S]

 Too bad you're so far away. I have a basket case 550 that I plan on (eventually) doing a street tracker style build. Already have the seat, etc.  I'd be all about working out a swap if you were closer.

[2wheels]

I would also say that that bike has really poor suspension.  For rough roads.
It just wont be fun.
I have taken my 750 on worse roads than it was meant for.  It does the job, but again, not fun.

[low-side]

If it were me, I'd sell that beast to fund something lighter and more fun on the roads you're talking about.  If you want to stay vintage Honda you could do a CB360, maybe graft some XR parts on to it.  Maybe make yourself an old Triumph desert sled.  If you want to go all kinds of crazy in the opposite direction, there's a lot of low miles, low buck 4 cylinder GoldWings.  It's true that it's easier to start a custom from a bike in good condition, but it's one thing to find one that runs well and isn't beat to Hell; it's something else to start with a museum piece.  Whatever you decide, good luck!

[scottly]

Here you go, Scrambled:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html

[Scrambled550]

Thanks Scotty thats a sweet thread.

The bike will be 80% on pavement and 20% dirt. I plan on upgrading the suspension and tires to accommodate.

[Scrambled550]

Lowside I thought of doing exactly that but this 550 showed up and I could not pass it up. I actually wanted to do it from a 450 Twin Cylinder or ideally 500T but here I am. I do ride a lot at highway speeds so I need enough power to not struggle and it won't be truly off road other then Vermont dirt roads which there are a lot of. Not off road like trail riding. I should have titled the thread city scrambler or backroad scrambler something like that.

[BRG-BIRD]

I’m too much of a purist to say much except with such a nice survivor like that it would seem a shame to cut it up IMO.

[Robbo]

Not an endorsement, but it can be done...



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[Deltarider]

A four cylinder for a scrambler... that's bad taste. What that bike needs is  a new repro 4-4 exhaust. Don't worry about the costs. Immediately after fitting such a 4-4, the bike has doubled its value. http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB550K-1976-USA/part_273944/

[Scrambled550]

Man those pipes would be sick but thats a lot of change...

[Deltarider]

Yours is mint and could be in this vid.

[Bankerdanny]

So when I took my long road trip last summer on my 550F (4700 miles total), I spent a couple days in Monument Valley. There is a road (I think its about a 20 mile loop) that you can drive on inside the reservation. Fortunately I didn't discover that motorcycles weren't allowed until after I completed the loop. It is all dirt, lots of very large potholes, and far better suited to Jeeps and adventure bikes than a 70's UJM sporting a café seat and street tires. I learned the benefit of adventure style standing up while riding.

I handled it fine, but if I were going to do something similar on a regular basis a converted SOHC4 would definitely NOT be my choice.

[Tews19]

How much did you get it for? I'm sure someone would be willing to recoup your purchase price. Save the bike!

[BomberMann650]

I too have strayed from the pavement with my 550 honda.

It was awful. 

[SF]

Sell the survivor and look for a twin way more fun when you’re not moving that much weight and change up the sprockets


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[TwoTired]

Sell the survivor and look for a twin way more fun when you’re not moving that much weight and change up the sprockets

I agree.  If you don't like the bike the way it is,  A torquey twin is a better scrambler.  The 4 makes power at high RPM.  The twin gives low end grunt which the 4 lacks.  Down shift and Rev it to move out, rather than just a throttle twist in whatever gear you happen to be in.

The 4s are more suited to road/pavement operations.  Possibly there is a reason why Honda didn't offer a 4 in this era for dual sport use?

Cheers,

[low-side]

I don't know what you have in it but FWIW, a quick scan of recently ended auctions on eBay looks like you could get $2500 to $3500 for that 550 and maybe do better if advertised properly.  That would get you a decent 450 or 500T along with money for customization. 

[scottly]

The 450 and 500 twins were also poor dirt bikes, having similar suspension, and are as collectable as the 550 in similar condition.
Scrambled, as long as you don't do anything that can't be easily undone, have fun with your bike.  

[low-side]

I hope no one misunderstands me.  I am all about modification of a bike.  I literally don't like a bike unless I build it myself.  At the end of the day these are just machines so do what you will with it.  That said, they're only original once.  I don't mind tearing into a  bike that has sat for years and looks like hell or one that has a bunch of bad mods, but if I run across a museum  piece I sell it to someone who wants a museum piece. There are plenty of cosmetically challenged old Honda's out there that can be picked up for a third what this bike is worth.  Scrambled daid that he started out looking for a 450 or 500T, which while collectable can still be picked up for a grand in running condition. 
Scrambled, do whatever you want wih your bike.  It's just a machine, a piece of property.  All I'm trying to say is that right now it is a somewhat unique and valuable piece of property that will be much less unique and valuable once it's no longer original. From a purely economic standpoint, I'd recommend keeping the parts you swap so that you can change it back if you ever want to sell it.  Whatever you decide, have fun.

[Scott S]

 Looks like we're too late.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,174014.0.html

[jakec]

Looks like we're too late.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,174014.0.html

It's alot easier for some guy in a garage to dismantle one of these bikes than it was for the engineers and designers to put it together. I'll never understand why people think that just because they can... they SHOULD modify these bikes.

[TwoTired]

Can't be a rebel without destroying something admired by others.

[jlh3rd]

his bike, his money, free country...