Author Topic: 1974 CB550K restoration project  (Read 1398 times)

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Offline Honda_All_The_Way

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1974 CB550K restoration project
« on: April 09, 2019, 04:49:31 AM »
Hello guys, 

When I was younger (circa 1992-1993). My younger brother purchased an old 74 Honda CB550K, to practice to get his motorcycle license. After enjoying the bike for a few years, he sold it to a friend of mine who was supposed to do the same to pass his license, which never happened. Years passed, we went to college, university, work, etc. and the bike always sat in my friend`s old man`s garage for all these years without running.

One day, during the fall of 2017, I passed next to my friend`s father and stopped to say hello.  He was now retired and cleaning his stuff to eventually downsize to a smaller house.
While drinking a beer, I told him that my brother passed away a few years ago, in a car accident, but I would like to find something that belonged to him. Since my brother was a mechanic maniac. A car or motorcycle that he owned would be perfect to remember him.  He said that he still had that old bike in a barn, and since he was making space, if I wanted it, I just had to backup my truck at the barn. Which I did. I offered him money and he refused.

The bike was pretty much complete, but tires were dried out, carbs were stuck, battery dead, and it needed a lot of TLC. But the mileage was only 4700 original miles.  A good start.

Now after approximately a year of work, the bike is just about ready to go on the road.

Here`s some pics of the bike the day I got it, and now.  I just ordered a set of brand new repro 4into4 mufflers that is shipped as we speak, and the original front fender also.

Then the bike will be completely original looking.

Offline BRG-BIRD

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2019, 04:55:49 AM »
Sorry to hear about your brother. Great story and beautiful looking 550!
“You are either on something or onto something.” The Comman Man

Offline przjohn

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2019, 04:57:32 AM »
Looks Great! The 4 into 4 pipes will throw you for a loop when you get them. They don't come with the rubber connectors or Black Clamps that are used as equalizers on the mufflers. You have to get those seperate. Kind of pissed me off when I did mine and I ended up doing a hardware store fix.
I like poetry, long walks on the beach, and poking at dead things with a stick.

Offline Honda_All_The_Way

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2019, 05:03:25 AM »
I`ve ordered the kit from CMSNL.COM, you can get all the brackets, muffler tubes, muffler bands, etc.  They are one of the best replicas that you could find for the 1974 CB550.  Even the tips of the muffler are similar to a 74.  I`ve seen a lot of other kits that looked more like the earlier models 77-78, they are different.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2019, 03:59:11 PM »
Nominated for BOTM - Anyone want to second it?  Post in the following thread: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,177015.0.html
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 Mark1976

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2019, 08:06:34 AM »
BOTM...
Start with the end in mind...

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2019, 08:32:18 AM »
BOTM...

If you are trying to second the nomination, please do it in the nomination thread:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,176614.0.html

Otherwise just saying "BOTM" is a compliment but otherwise does nothing.  As the post above you reads, POST IN THE FOLLOWING THREAD:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,176614.0.html
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 Gurp

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2019, 05:16:33 AM »
I seconded this bike.

Now Honda all the way all you need to do is accept the nom!
slow Progress 74 cb550.

Poor boy chop 73 CB500 chop

Future project 77 Cb750 Amen Savior

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2019, 08:24:44 AM »
Honda all the way,

Please go to the following thread and post that you "accept" the nomination:   http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,176614.0.html
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 Honda_All_The_Way

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2019, 01:22:43 PM »
Here's the final result with the reproduction 4 into 4 mufflers:

Offline Honda_All_The_Way

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Re: 1974 CB550K restoration project
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2019, 01:29:04 PM »

Honda all the way,

Please go to the following thread and post that you "accept" the nomination:   http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,176614.0.html

By the way. Thanks for the nomination for BOTM. I'm just saw the post today. I haven't logged in the forum in the past few weeks and haven't had the chance to accept the nomination.
« Last Edit: May 13, 2019, 01:30:48 PM by Honda_All_The_Way »