Topic: New member from coastal NC

[frogmanjake]

Greetings fellow tinkerers, bobbers and maybe even racers.  I bought a 1973 CB500K from bringatrailer.com last year.  It looked to be in very good cosmetic shape and I got excited at the end of the auction so I ended up at $3300 at the end.  It worked out though - I had to drive my pickup from Wilmington, NC to Delaware to get it and on the way I stopped at a casino near Annapolis, MD and walked out with $1700 net winnings.  I've been poking at it all winter and I think it's finally right.  I've managed to bumble through the work myself with lots of help from YouTube, Common-Motor.com, 4into1.com, and for sure from this forum especially when it didn't go right the first time.   

Here's a summary in no particular order:

new coils
new spark plugs (several sets now)
new heavier duty rear shocks
new rectangular mirrors
new GP grips
new halogen headlamp
1 new side emblem
new chrome trim for gas tank
swapped points for Dynatek electronic ignition
r&r both handlebar switch mounts with new reproduction units
replaced entire electrical "spine" and rewired connections (hope I never have to look at that nest inside the headlamp ever again)
replaced fork seals and fork oil
oil and filter change (twice now)
cleaned out the rust from the inside of the gas tank (vinegar and Marvel Mystery oil process)
new instrument bezel cushions
replaced drive chain
r&r rear brake shoes
clean out 45 years of muck from the small drive chain
rebuild front disc caliper and piston and bleed brake fluid
new fuel lines
new tach and speedo cables
tune up stuff (twice now) - incl. adj cam chain, set valve clearances, vacuum sync carbs

I'm sure I missed some stuff but you get the idea

At several different points I have decided to pull out the carbs and rebuild them, but the way it's running now I think I'd be doing it just to do it so not yet on the carbs. 

I popped a Givi trunk on the back rack and I commute 2-3 times a week given a good weather forecast. 

My son was 15 when I bought her, now he's 16.  No drivers license yet so no immediate danger but he has held flashlights and helped out the same way I used to help my dad work on his 1960 Impala.  I lost my dad two years ago but I think he would like to see the two of us wrenching a vintage anything. 

I'll attach a picture, and a video if the file is no too large. 

Thanks to all for their incredible advice and technical know-how along the way. 

[rocket johnny]

welcome from western colorado ,,   very nice looking bike !      how was you bat experience ?

[tool14]

welcome aboard

[frogmanjake]

The BAT experience was professional, I especially like the way they extend the auction 2 min at the end with each new bid.  They seem to have drifted from their original mission to very high end stuff but I think it's good for motorcycles as most go at no reserve.

[MD]

Welcome from Lake Superior,

-MD

[bender01]

Welcome from near Hilton Head.  Nice looking bike! Did it come with the 4 pipe exhaust? There is a place selling the repops now!

[Stev-o]

The BAT experience was professional, I especially like the way they extend the auction 2 min at the end with each new bid.  They seem to have drifted from their original mission to very high end stuff but I think it's good for motorcycles as most go at no reserve.

First off, welcome.   

BaT has drastically changed, seems everything sells for over retail now.  My good friend is a car collector, we watch it daily, and have bought a couple cars [BMW & a Morgan].

I seem to remember your bike...

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-honda-cb-500-four/

[markmyodb]

Welcome to the Forum from the Raleigh.

The 500/550 machines are great rides. Fast enough to be safe, great handling, with the bonus it looks like a MOTORcycle.