Topic: Survivor CB550F Incredible Find

[dieselguy]

Hello, I wanted to share a bike that is new into my life. I found it local to me.... 1 owner CB550F with just under 7K on the odometer. She was bone stock when i picked it up. Just added a Delkovic exhaust, new brake pads, fresh fluids, and some elbow grease to remove years of storage grime. I feel like this is a pretty special bike... worthy of keeping away from the cafe' knife. I am curious to know the severity of the rocker shaft wear issue on the early gen 550's as this is a very early 1976 model, manufactured 2/75. Other than that concern, she is a strong bike.. im surprised by the power coming from Ducati and Harley stable mates.

[bryanj]

Been working on them 40 yrs, read about it a lot but only seen one.
Plenty of good rocker covers out there all from 71 to 78 will fit but only last two years have the mod

[dieselguy]

Thanks for the response. So in your experience, this is not a big concern with the 550's? She runs perfect and has no unusual noises, but as you know, internet information sometimes leads one astray.

[flatlander]

that's a nice one in great shape! bummer that it doesn't have the original 4-1 exhaust but it's still great as it is.

if your rocker cover is still good, you can jam o-rings under the end caps, between the cap's stud and the rocker shaft, to prevent the shafts from turning. same size o-ring as is used on the caps. i haven't tried this trick myself but people on here reported it to be working.
or just find a new rocker cover with the fixed shafts.

[jlh3rd]

really nice bike, but not quite sure as to its originality. The seat looks black, it should be a dark brown shade. The tank and side covers are shiny orange, which is a 1976 color, but your frame date is 2/75 and the 1975 550F wasn't introduced until the spring of 1975, May I believe. ( it's 3am, my documentation is outside in my shed).
Curious what your engine and frame numbers are.
Im only talking U.S. models.
regardless, it's is a great find....

[Little_Phil]

He said it's a 1976 model. I have a shiny orange manuf 6/75 (1976 model). Rear brake pedal looks adjusted very high. What happened to the stock headers/muffler? Even in poor condition they are worth $$$.

[jlh3rd]

he said it was bone stock and just added the exhaust.

[bryanj]

Is it possibly 12/75?

[Stev-o]

that's a nice one in great shape! bummer that it doesn't have the original 4-1 exhaust but it's still great as it is.

+1....welcome to the "550F club"!  Just rode mine a couple days, ago and always puts a smile on my face...




PS.  Hey FL, I have a question for you.  I'll PM you later....

[Bankerdanny]

Nice. I've had two 550's, most recently a '75 F model that had been modified early in its life with a Kerker, Lester wheels, and a bunch of chromed parts. I took it on a 4700 mile trip in 2017, where it mostly performed very well. They are great bikes that like to be ridden, so don't let it sit around.

[dieselguy]

He said it's a 1976 model. I have a shiny orange manuf 6/75 (1976 model). Rear brake pedal looks adjusted very high. What happened to the stock headers/muffler? Even in poor condition they are worth $$$.

Ive got the stock header which I removed. Light surface rust in some places but otherwise mint condition. The original muffler was changed at some earlier point in its life so I dont have that unfortunately.

[dieselguy]

really nice bike, but not quite sure as to its originality. The seat looks black, it should be a dark brown shade. The tank and side covers are shiny orange, which is a 1976 color, but your frame date is 2/75 and the 1975 550F wasn't introduced until the spring of 1975, May I believe. ( it's 3am, my documentation is outside in my shed).
Curious what your engine and frame numbers are.
Im only talking U.S. models.
regardless, it's is a great find....

Thanks. Seat is definitely original and is dark brown. In stunning condition I might add. To speak to originality, the original owners widow has provided me a statement of history for the bike. The man was meticulous and kept the bike indoors (house) for many years. I just looked again and was incorrect on build month. It is indeed 3/75 and tag states it is a 1976 model year. Here are pics of build tag and engine serial number.

[bryanj]

Thats early for a 76 year model but tag says so therefore its good

[C2YT]

Beautiful! I'm sure the new exhaust sounds fantastic. Continue to enjoy!

[Deltarider]

Yours is a CB550F1-A. 'A' indicates USA market. Source: p.4 of your parts list: http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac550/CB550F_F1/CB550F_F1-1.pdf The year is completely irrelevant.

[dave500]

you got a great find there,too many so many bikes become unloved and end up like this?makes you cringe but this one got lucky and i put it back together for a second life.

[jlh3rd]

Yours is a CB550F1-A. 'A' indicates USA market. Source: p.4 of your parts list: http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac550/CB550F_F1/CB550F_F1-1.pdf The year is completely irrelevant.

It is relevant, it is a 1976, as designated by honda. However, I have seen your previous posts and you are absolutely correct about honda prior to 1974. 1973 and previous years are designated as "sell date". So KO, K1, etc., is how to identify these bikes. We might say it's a 71, but in fact honda was all over the board with sell dates, release dates, but they actually were not model years.
     In 1974 honda began designating official model years. And from 74 to 75, it was kinda a transitional period.
     look at the 450 K5, is it a 72, or a 73?.....really neither, its a K5.
My 1975 550F is a F0........the 76 , technically is an F1, but not according to the honda guide....it's a 76..
      The OP here could probably care less......it's a nice survivor.....real nice.

[jlh3rd]

really nice bike, but not quite sure as to its originality. The seat looks black, it should be a dark brown shade. The tank and side covers are shiny orange, which is a 1976 color, but your frame date is 2/75 and the 1975 550F wasn't introduced until the spring of 1975, May I believe. ( it's 3am, my documentation is outside in my shed).
Curious what your engine and frame numbers are.
Im only talking U.S. models.
regardless, it's is a great find....

Thanks. Seat is definitely original and is dark brown. In stunning condition I might add. To speak to originality, the original owners widow has provided me a statement of history for the bike. The man was meticulous and kept the bike indoors (house) for many years. I just looked again and was incorrect on build month. It is indeed 3/75 and tag states it is a 1976 model year. Here are pics of build tag and engine serial number.

yep, a76. Since others showed their bikes, here's my original, unrestored 75 550F

[jakec]

Longview, Washington?

If so, almost bought this bike a few weeks ago but passed because I wasn't sure I'd be able to find a muffler. Ad is obviously gone now but here is the thumbnail image.

[jakec]

Just read more closely, must not be the same bike unless the guy just died in the last two weeks 

[jlh3rd]

Just read more closely, must not be the same bike unless the guy just died in the last two weeks 

actually, looking at both pics, those are not stock honda rear shocks. The chrome cover is much shorter . Both bikes appear to have the same ones. That would be some coincidence.

[jlh3rd]

front tires are different....

[jakec]

Well it had been off market a week or so so I thought it was possible they made changes before posting. Like the exhaust for example. The bike I saw for sale had those thick dunlop or firestone tires and If I had bought it I was planning to replace them immediately.

[dieselguy]

Same bike. Replaced tires that were on since 2011. Bike was shipped from West Virginia where it was purchased and spent its life.

[jakec]

It is the same bike? Listed for sale in Washington about 2-3 weeks ago? 6932 miles? that would be really sad if the guy died. He seemed nice.