Author Topic: 1974 Honda CB550 Freedom Green Metallic???? (Read 2494 times)

ktm520 · « **on:** April 03, 2020, 07:49:35 pm »

Hey folks,

I think I stumbled on an all original 1974 CB550 in freedom green metallic. I can't seem to find any full pics of the bike on line (just a tank), but it sure seems to be original paint to me. Bike has been idle for nearly 20 years and I got it up and running today after some TLC on the usual stuff.

Thoughts?

my name is nobody · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2020, 08:54:29 pm »

Ya just don't see em in that color. Very nice indeed.

jlh3rd · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2020, 03:57:46 am »

that is one nice original bike. grips are period correct but not stock honda. Most people did change them out. Rear peg is missing.
paint ,seat, chrome , engine look great. more pics would be nice.

ktm520 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2020, 07:58:34 am »

Quote from: jlh3rd on April 04, 2020, 03:57:46 am

that is one nice original bike. grips are period correct but not stock honda. Most people did change them out. Rear peg is missing.
paint ,seat, chrome , engine look great. more pics would be nice.

Thanks, must be a rare color as stated. I have had my fair share of bikes in this era and had not come across this color with unique tank scheme so I wasn't sure. Good catch on the rear peg, I hadn't notice that despite being elbow deep in it the last 2 days.

I will post some more pics after detailing it a bit. I road it last night about 5 miles and all seems great, definitely will need to get some new rubber and a deeper dive into the drive train to go any further. I put the grips on out of the gate as the originals were toast. Cool that we can still find these bikes relatively unmolested after all this time. This one started its life in Pennsylvania and was last registered in 1996 (12K) by original owner. It made its way west just to sit for another 10 years.

Cheers, Keith

Stev-o · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2020, 08:17:12 am »

Good find! 12K miles? Needs to be kept totally original including the grips.

bryanj · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2020, 08:27:28 am »

What do you mean by unusual colour scheme?

Deltarider · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2020, 12:34:45 pm »

Is that little lid (fuse) original? Can't remember I have seen it before.

bryanj · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2020, 01:11:06 pm »

Spare fuses, standard on 500 and 550 K0,1,2

jlh3rd · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2020, 01:17:25 pm »

Quote from: ktm520 on April 04, 2020, 07:58:34 am

Quote from: jlh3rd on April 04, 2020, 03:57:46 am
that is one nice original bike. grips are period correct but not stock honda. Most people did change them out. Rear peg is missing.
paint ,seat, chrome , engine look great. more pics would be nice.

Thanks, must be a rare color as stated. I have had my fair share of bikes in this era and had not come across this color with unique tank scheme so I wasn't sure. Good catch on the rear peg, I hadn't notice that despite being elbow deep in it the last 2 days.

I will post some more pics after detailing it a bit. I road it last night about 5 miles and all seems great, definitely will need to get some new rubber and a deeper dive into the drive train to go any further. I put the grips on out of the gate as the originals were toast. Cool that we can still find these bikes relatively unmolested after all this time. This one started its life in Pennsylvania and was last registered in 1996 (12K) by original owner. It made its way west just to sit for another 10 years.

Cheers, Keith

it's a stock color for 74, one of three. But there may not be as many of that color around...

ktm520 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2020, 02:05:46 pm »

Quote from: Stev-o on April 04, 2020, 08:17:12 am

Good find! 12K miles? Needs to be kept totally original including the grips.

Yup 12K original, many factory yellow paint marks intact. Will seek out some OEM grips;)

jlh3rd · « **Reply #10 on:** April 04, 2020, 05:15:46 pm »

so, are you going to ride the bike, or try to preserve it as an original, unrestored ?

ktm520 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2020, 07:04:10 pm »

Quote from: jlh3rd on April 04, 2020, 05:15:46 pm

so, are you going to ride the bike, or try to preserve it as an original, unrestored ?

I have some other bikes, so I will likely sell it sooner than later to someone appreciative of the era. Definitely will not alter from original.

I will go through it more thoroughly to make it a dependable runner, get the title work done...

I would hate to see this one get chopped or modified.

PeWe · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2020, 01:08:31 am »

All those yellow markings on bolts, nuts an important detail.

I have seen stock restores where they added the yellow markings as Honda did it.

jlh3rd · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2020, 01:55:41 am »

Quote from: PeWe on April 05, 2020, 01:08:31 am

All those yellow markings on bolts, nuts an important detail.

I have seen stock restores where they added the yellow markings as Honda did it.

yep. my 75 550F has all those, the endless drive chain, red striped fuel lines, the factory tires, etc., it's 100% ...

jlh3rd · « **Reply #14 on:** April 05, 2020, 01:59:34 am »

Quote from: ktm520 on April 04, 2020, 07:04:10 pm

Quote from: jlh3rd on April 04, 2020, 05:15:46 pm
so, are you going to ride the bike, or try to preserve it as an original, unrestored ?

I have some other bikes, so I will likely sell it sooner than later to someone appreciative of the era. Definitely will not alter from original.

I will go through it more thoroughly to make it a dependable runner, get the title work done...

I would hate to see this one get chopped or modified.

does it have the original bridgestone tires?....does the chain have a master link in it?....if the fuel lines and carb overflow lines have a red stripe on them, they are original honda fuel lines, so don't throw them away...

jlh3rd · « **Reply #15 on:** April 05, 2020, 02:06:34 am »

also, i see that is the original fuel cap......the ones that were to be replaced with the locking cap.
do yourself a favor. when you go to open that cap. push down on it as you push the lever. that reduces the chance of breaking that lever/ latch mechanism.......if it was my bike.....

PeWe · « **Reply #16 on:** April 05, 2020, 02:08:52 am »

An old stock original bike's yellow paint marks and stickers with their locations are good information for other restorers where all this have disappeared decades ago.
Photos of it all.

I have searched for stock CB750 photos to verify all stickers and where placed. Stickers differ by year and country.

Erny · « **Reply #17 on:** April 05, 2020, 02:51:36 am »

Quote from: bryanj on April 04, 2020, 01:11:06 pm

Spare fuses, standard on 500 and 550 K0,1,2

Interesting
I have original 550K1 but spare fuses are inside fuse box in rubber holder. I have us model. Otherwise airbox cover looks the same

jlh3rd · « **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2020, 04:06:02 am »

Quote from: PeWe on April 05, 2020, 02:08:52 am

An old stock original bike's yellow paint marks and stickers with their locations are good information for other restorers where all this have disappeared decades ago.
Photos of it all.

I have searched for stock CB750 photos to verify all stickers and where placed. Stickers differ by year and country.

If you're asking for pics, I'll try to put some up.....for some reason, some pics say too large........
I have done extensive research on my 550F........even the shocks have decals on them...........also, the majority of reproduction decals are not exact duplicates.......

bryanj · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2020, 06:19:31 am »

I maybe wrong about the 550 perhaps it has been retrofitted a 500 air box cover?

jlh3rd · « **Reply #20 on:** April 05, 2020, 08:22:19 am »

no, i think your right, the parts fiche for the 550 K0 shows that plate with the tool holder and the oval hole for the fuse......and shows the screen tool holder.........

Deltarider · « **Reply #21 on:** April 05, 2020, 08:41:22 am »

Quote from: Erny on April 05, 2020, 02:51:36 am

Quote from: bryanj on April 04, 2020, 01:11:06 pm
Spare fuses, standard on 500 and 550 K0,1,2
Interesting
I have original 550K1 but spare fuses are inside fuse box in rubber holder. I have us model. Otherwise airbox cover looks the same

You're correct. The older models CB500 had the spare fuse holder as shown in that pic. The CB550K, K1 and K2 had the spare fuse holder behind the left side panel and so had the CB500K2 (ED, F, G). So the spare fuse holder in that pic is not original and came from a CB500.

ktm520 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 05, 2020, 09:25:49 am »

Quote from: jlh3rd on April 05, 2020, 08:43:10 am

maybe he has a 500 ? ......jet green?

time to check some numbers?

Seriously give me a little more credit than that;) I know how to check serial numbers.

I have had my fair share of 500's as well.

jlh3rd · « **Reply #23 on:** April 05, 2020, 10:09:49 am »

i erased it....the clutch cover is for a 550........it's wasn't personal......all kinds of people with exceptional experience....or none post on here. I don't know your background from adam.........you've had 5 posts....
chill.....

jlh3rd · « **Reply #24 on:** April 05, 2020, 10:37:29 am »

furthermore......for s...'s n giggles........if the shop is open tomorrow, I'll have a look at that 74 right there, and see just what is correct.

ktm520 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 05, 2020, 01:28:17 pm »

Quote from: ktm520 on April 03, 2020, 07:49:35 pm

Hey folks,

I think I stumbled on an all original 1974 CB550 in freedom green metallic. I can't seem to find any full pics of the bike on line (just a tank), but it sure seems to be original paint to me. Bike has been idle for nearly 20 years and I got it up and running today after some TLC on the usual stuff.

Thoughts?

So here is what I think: Either this is a Frankenbike of sorts or there are some variants on VIN number information on the internet (doubtful).

Per frame/engine VIN:

Built on 7/74
CB5501201277
CB550E-1036848

This would place it (per sources from this site and elsewhere) very early in the K1 build:

So perhaps a K1 bike with K0 tank/covers.

or

There may have been some overlap in the builds (especially early) year to year depending on stock of various parts (less likely)

My hunch is the former as several items along with VIN point to a 1975 (face plates read Nippon Seiki...) As you folks know it is hard to hide the age of these bikes and this one looks the part to be original (in terms of equivalent age of various components). However, my guess is that somewhere along the way, likely in its first 10 years of life, the owner got his hands on NOS tank and covers and put them on the bike. PA/dealer screwed up the title and this is a 1975 disguised with 74 tank/covers.

Either way still a nice piece of history to get back in circulation.

jlh3rd · « **Reply #26 on:** April 05, 2020, 01:51:46 pm »

so..Is that color candy jade green ? The stripe is gold/black.....are the instrument faces dark green?...yeah, the paint looks metallic, but....gauges could be nippon seiki or nippon denso...

nevermind, the 75 stripe is shaped different....

bryanj · « **Reply #27 on:** April 05, 2020, 01:59:49 pm »

If the vin plate says 7/74 then that is what it is but built then it could well be a 75 model, dont forget shopping time to rech dealers for Jan

jlh3rd · « **Reply #28 on:** April 05, 2020, 02:21:23 pm »

no, the plate is the date of manufacture, not necessarily the model year. Unless the plate says model year, then the engine and frame number designate the model, K0, K1, etc. Honda did not start model year until 1974 . Prior to that there was a " sell date" and a " release date". And they were all over the board as to sell, release dates..
My 1975 550F frame tag says 12/74...no model year. The 75 550F however was not available until may of 1975..
Someone on here just posted his frame tag for his 1976 F model and the frame tag says 1976 model on it..

so, therefore why all the confusion sometimes as to what " model" year you have or title and registration dates....

look at this 350..

jlh3rd · « **Reply #29 on:** April 05, 2020, 02:43:33 pm »

wanna see more weird honda stuff........just what "model" year is the ca160 touring 160?....

and how about the cb160 sport 160 ?...sell date 65-69.......release date 07/01/64......?
maybe it's a typo.......who knows....

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #30 on:** April 05, 2020, 06:59:22 pm »

There are also reports of dealers switching body sets before the bikes were even sold

jlh3rd · « **Reply #31 on:** April 05, 2020, 07:17:13 pm »

also, a customer walks in to finally buy the bike he wants. Its a newer model but he likes the previous models paint scheme better. The dealer says no problem, we'll order the previous years tank and covers and put 'em on for you.
Customer rides out of the shop with a brand new 1975 550 with 74 tank and side covers.

ktm520 · « **Reply #32 on:** April 05, 2020, 08:46:29 pm »

Quote from: jlh3rd on April 05, 2020, 07:17:13 pm

also, a customer walks in to finally buy the bike he wants. Its a newer model but he likes the previous models paint scheme better. The dealer says no problem, we'll order the previous years tank and covers and put 'em on for you.
Customer rides out of the shop with a brand new 1975 550 with 74 tank and side covers.

Yeah, this one crossed my mind as the patina seems to be consistent across the whole bike. So either the dealer pulled a switch-a-roo by request or the owner did something soon after purchase.

Did the final tune today and it runs exceptionally well.

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Author Topic: 1974 Honda CB550 Freedom Green Metallic???? (Read 2494 times)