Topic: 1974 Honda cb550K in pieces

[BenelliSEI]

Yesterday, I stumbled on a ‘74 550K just a few blocks away! Original owner stopped riding it +20 years ago. Very clean, all boxed and labelled nicely. The frame is spotless, engine is clean. Speedo shows less than 18,000 miles and he says it was running well. He has other motor cycles and “wanted to tidy it up”. Original pipes are gone, chrome 4-1 MAC. Seat has tear, carbs look clean.

I’m thinking of making an offer. What do you guys think it’s worth? Assuming I pick it up, pictures will follow.

[69cb750]

Old motorcycles are worth whatever someone will pay.
My guess is $700

[PeWe]

Check for sale adds what others want for a similar bike.
All adds shows not sold bikes

[bryanj]

Must have a title and expect to spend four figures to recommision it without standard 4 into 4

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks for the input. Offered $600 and “he’s thinking about it”. We’ll see........
I’m busy with the Rickman, so if I get it, this goes in what my wife calls the “SABLE” pile:
Supplies Above and Beyond Life Expectancy!

[carnivorous chicken]

Always a head-scratcher to me when someone says "It was running great" and "I tore it all the way down and now it's in boxes and has been sitting for years."

$600 seems generous, but fair if everything is there and in good shape (and meets the parts-worth-more test).

[craz1]

If you get it for $600 I think that would be a good price. It does get pricy to restore if done properly. Actually if all the parts are there and cleaned I would call that a bonus. Saves you the time too tear it down and clean. The 74 Im working on was kind of a mess with grease.

[BenelliSEI]

Always a head-scratcher to me when someone says "It was running great" and "I tore it all the way down and now it's in boxes and has been sitting for years."

$600 seems generous, but fair if everything is there and in good shape (and meets the parts-worth-more test).

I have to agree, always wonder about “running great” too. It’s actually about US$450, so not too much risk here. I have a feeling he’s going to turn me down.....

[MauiK3]

Not many people would take it off his hands even if it were free.
Getting these things up and running is not something just anyone is willing to do.

[Prospect]

Yesterday, I stumbled on a ‘74 550K just a few blocks away! Original owner stopped riding it +20 years ago. Very clean, all boxed and labelled nicely. The frame is spotless, engine is clean. Speedo shows less than 18,000 miles and he says it was running well. He has other motor cycles and “wanted to tidy it up”. Original pipes are gone, chrome 4-1 MAC. Seat has tear, carbs look clean.

I’m thinking of making an offer. What do you guys think it’s worth? Assuming I pick it up, pictures will follow.

Prices are inversely proportional to the distance from Toronto. Probably $3000 in the big city decreasing by $100 every 10 miles.

[DesertKyorugi]

I got lucky with mine last week. Complete with original 4 into 4 exhaust from the original owner's family for $700. Carbs and inside of gas tank were crap but the engine looks clean. Got the engine cleaned and ready for the first start, just waiting for the carbs to come back from vapor blasting by @Finnigan

[Maltboy]

If he turns you down, explain how you came up with that number (cost of refurbishment versus final value, etc) and tell him to give you a call if he has a change of heart.  Also mention that it's a shame to have it sitting in boxes, just going to waste.  He needs to understand he's never going to restore it, and the reality is that your offer is fair.

[carnivorous chicken]

If he turns you down, explain how you came up with that number (cost of refurbishment versus final value, etc) and tell him to give you a call if he has a change of heart.  Also mention that it's a shame to have it sitting in boxes, just going to waste.  He needs to understand he's never going to restore it, and the reality is that your offer is fair.

Definitely. I rode by a house a few times that had a 550K and a 350F parked in the carport, then knocked and told him I'd be interested if he wanted to sell. They were both all there, but he had torn off the carbs of both down to the screws. He said he wanted $2500, I told him I'd give him $500. I later found out he was a friend of a friend, and 4 or 5 years later, after he had a kid and realized he would never get to it, I got em for my price. Sometimes It's worth planting the bug in his ear and waiting it out.

[BenelliSEI]

Funny ending (maybe beginning?) to this story! Bob came by today, and spent a “masked and socially distanced” hour in my shop. He’s having serious doubts about selling the bike he bought when new. Over the past 15 years, he bought lots of new parts and cleaned/ polished/ lubricated everything else.

After a nice discussion, here’s what we decided. He’s going to get started. I’m going to rebuild the front end, and lace in some new spokes, tubes, and tires onto his polished pair of hubs. Next I’ll get the carbs ready. I’ll keep track of my hours and charge him a base rate. If he loses interest, we’ll do the math. $600 - whatever he owes me= I own the bike. Truthfully, he seems pretty determined and I think we’ll have a few laughs. Nice guy, he has two others modern bikes and rides both on and off road regularly.

[carnivorous chicken]

Funny ending (maybe beginning?) to this story! Bob came by today, and spent a “masked and socially distanced” hour in my shop. He’s having serious doubts about selling the bike he bought when new. Over the past 15 years, he bought lots of new parts and cleaned/ polished/ lubricated everything else.

After a nice discussion, here’s what we decided. He’s going to get started. I’m going to rebuild the front end, and lace in some new spokes, tubes, and tires onto his polished pair of hubs. Next I’ll get the carbs ready. I’ll keep track of my hours and charge him a base rate. If he loses interest, we’ll do the math. $600 - whatever he owes me= I own the bike. Truthfully, he seems pretty determined and I think we’ll have a few laughs. Nice guy, he has two others modern bikes and rides both on and off road regularly.

That's actually a pretty cool deal. Good luck with the project!

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks! I’ll post what happens....

[Shtonecb500]

For me its gonna be a buck per cc then however you want to add value to the title, condition of motor and everything overall. It's always going to be a "he says its good" versus "who knows what the hell it is". If he does'nt want to assemble it and sell it for what he actually wants then....idk.