Topic: Which exhaust is more coveted?

[Chris McCarthy]

Heyo! New to the site and it looks like we’ve got a lot of knowledgeable folk on here, excellent! I’ve done all the hard stuff. My 1978 CB550k is running tip top. It’s got 3,500 miles on it... wellllll ok...
Let’s start over:

Original owner bought it in 78. In 1982 he  crashed it in a unique fashion. It hadn’t run since and was stored inside ever since! The only damage was to the stator motor cover... which pushed on the rotor connected to the tip of the crank shaft and “bent” the crank shaft. Crank  Oil seal still intact

Previous owner bought it thinking it was an easy fix. Gave tip of the crank a little whack... you know... to straighten it back out 😂 sure enough the rotor and tip of crank flew across the garage. So he bought a 76 thinking he was going to take the crank from it and fix up the 78. Turns out the 76 was much easier to get on the road. He stole the 78 pipes (4 into 4) because they “looked cooler” and installed them on the 76. He sold me the 78 with the 76 tulip style exhaust 4 into 4.

After swapping the crank, vaporblasting every piece of the engine and carbs,  stuffing it in the back of my Tahoe, delivering it to Marathon, FL from Maine, then riding it flawlessly without a hiccup 50 miles to Key West (where I currently reside aboard my 35’ sailboat) I’m  at a crossroads.

I know the 76 pipes work excellent on my 78. They are in Great condition compared to some of the stuff I’ve seen on E-Bay. 5mm hole in one on the underside near the connector rubber/hose clamped piece (not visible to any onlookers but needs to be jb welded or something to quiet it up)

Wondering if I should just keep the 76 pipes, which I like the tulip shape 4-into-4 (looks like a spaceship or something!) or should I sell them to someone in need of them who is restoring an earlier model?

 I see that I could make some good money off this great used set of ‘76 4-into-4 pipes AND they aren’t period correct for my ‘78. I see that acquiring a nice set of the 78 style exhausts is easier and would probably cost less than the more coveted tulip style ones I have.

I could make a little profit off the swapping of the pipes I think. Will my ‘78 be more valuable with the period correct exhaust on it, or with the more coveted tulip style 4into4’s?
I just get the feeling that if I am going to use the 76 exhaust on my 78 it is going to bring the value down, might as well sell the 76 exhaust to someone who could really appreciate them and get the period correct ones for my 78.

If having the 76 exhaust on my 78 is not going to affect the overall value of my bike I may as well save myself the headache of shipping and receiving and not to mention actually hunting down a full set of 78  four into four exhaust.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, I know it’s a long shot but maybe someone out there In a similar but opposite situation as I am, would be interested in a Trade?
I guess I’m too new to post pics? Still figuring out the gallery.
@ mcetchy On insta

Thanks for reading.

-Chris
76 Universal Atomic 4 (Sailboat)
76 KZ400
82 Honda Magna v45 750
83 Honda Magna v45 750
2001 Suzuki Bandit 600
78 CB550K Four

[bryanj]

Not sure what your are on but if you think the 78 pipes are easier to find i would love some of it!!! Cmsnl do pattern ones of both but neither are cheap

[Chris McCarthy]

True true.... maybe someone would trade just so we both have period correct pipes? But, yes the headache of finding ‘78 pipes in as good of condition as my current ‘76 pipes might not be worth it. 🤔

[ekpent]

If your bike is minty as far as paint and all stock I would think having the correct year pipes for it would help its value rather then pipes that were not originally stock. Its sounds like though you prefer the older design so you 'could make it your own' with those if they fit and mount up. Sounds like one has a hole which is a sign that the cancer has started unfortunately on that one.
  Your story reminds me of when I crashed a 750 once many many years ago. I broke the alt cover on the left side. Well after getting a new gas tank,handlebars and all the other new tid bits installed to fix the crash I put the replacement cover on last and the motor spun about 1/4 of a turn and stopped. Come to find out I had bent the end of my crank and the wobble did not give enough flywheel clearance inside the replacement cover. CRAP ! plopped in a different crank and all was good again 

[Chris McCarthy]

“Plopped” in a new crank. 😂 this was my first crank plop and it was a daunting task. Slow and meticulous but well worth using my patience. 

[bryanj]

I did actually straighten a few cranks back in the 70's we had a 10 inch x 2 inch diameter bar machined so we could bolt it to the taper and a concentric diameter on the outside to put a dti on, then with gentle or not so gentle taps at the end kept turning it and taping it till concentric.

[Scott S]

 Re: exhaust

 Keep or sell the early style. They probably flow better then the '77-78 style. For a quality 4-1 that won't break the bank, look into Delkevic.

[seanbarney41]

The 77/78 pipes should be worth less (imo) as the 77/78 bikes that they are correct for are in less demand even though clean examples of the 77/78 very well may be quite a bit more scarce.  The earlier pipes go all the way back to the 71 cb500.

Chris, if you do decide to swap to the correct pipes, I may be able to make a cash offer for your 323 pipes.  I am in need of a really clean pipe #2(lh top)  Just drop me a pm and maybe we can work a deal.  However, I don't have your correct pipes to trade.

[Chris McCarthy]

This may be something I'd consider. I just have to have my sights set on a good set of 77/78 pipes Before I part ways with this decent useable set. Afterall, putting around KW on this clean classic is the main goal!

[Gman]

Exactly - if it's running well, ride the piss out of it.  This is coming from a guy whose ride is not loving him back at the moment, so my sage advice is "If it ain't broke...".   

Peace,
G