Topic: Thoughts on going from CB750 to CB550?

[ofreen]

those side covers,put a little petroleum jelly on the nubs that go into the rubbers,its old plastic now and brittle,be sure the rubbers are clean inside and also a little jelly,if you get replacement rubbers non genuine they wont be pliable rubber but a semi soft plastic thats quite hard and doesnt let the covers go on or off easy,i replaced a couple and used a carbide burr to make the hole slightly larger to save cranking on those nubs too much,same for any of the old hondas?

I've kept from breaking mine over the years by pushing the tabs out from behind.  It is doable on the 750F, but I don't know if all models have access.  But it works.

[denward17]

^Good tip ofreen..

[PeWe]

I have lubricated my rubbers in frame and cover tabs with silicone grease.
Started with motor oil and grease.
Got a thought that rubber might like silicone grease better.
Both my bikes have rather new side covers. Ordered 2014 vs 2018.
Yamiya CB750 K1-K6 white plastic covers they claim is like Honda stock.

My K6 side covers where cracked in the middle after leaning bike to legs. It got aftermarket fiberglass available back in early 80's.
Maybe cracked when I bought the bike, used 2 seasons.

Had to cut off the stock cover tabs, fastened them with screws in the covers.

The old stock covers where rather brittle.

[drodg33]

Well, I bit the bullet this morning............

Project will start in about a month or so...

1976 CB550K

As a very happy owner of a 72 500 survivor congratulations on the 550!.   I earlier in this string said that a friend was going to let me ride his 73 Kawasaki Z900 which I have since ridden.  The bike actually didn't feel too big but I actually like my 500 better.  Yes the Kawasaki was quicker and much more torque off the line but after that the 500 is really much nicer bike on back roads.  Btw Peter Egan in Leanings on the 550 he bought had said, does the normal person really need more bike than this or something to that thought.   

[Stev-o]

Well, I bit the bullet this morning............

Project will start in about a month or so...

1976 CB550K

... 73 Kawasaki Z900 which I have since ridden.
...does the normal person really need more bike than this or something to that thought.   

Does the person really need it? No, but this person really wants his Z1, CB750, and CB550! [among others]  They are all different bikes and fun to ride for different reasons.

[drodg33]

Well, I bit the bullet this morning............

Project will start in about a month or so...

1976 CB550K

... 73 Kawasaki Z900 which I have since ridden.
...does the normal person really need more bike than this or something to that thought.   

Does the person really need it? No, but this person really wants his Z1, CB750, and CB550! [among others]  They are all different bikes and fun to ride for different reasons.

So true

[Kelly E]

Have you guys ever ridden an early Suzuki GS 1100E? It's a bit more power than the KZ 1000, handles more like the CB550 and doesn't feel big at all. 

[RAFster122s]

The early GS 1100E was a very special bike, they really did a great job engineering that bike, not often a bike will knock it out of the park.

My VStrom isn't really quick but it is comfortable and quick enough and it handles well, I am happy I got it but my only regret was buying a year too early, the 2020 has more functional sized panniers than the 2019. That's the only negative I have about it. It isn't an exciting bike but it is dead nuts dependable, reliable, comfortable and fun on curvy roads and handles pretty good on light off roading with good tires.

It isn't like my vintage bikes but I didn't want it to be...it has conventional UJM upright riding style which I need.

[Deltarider]

And a Vstrom - or a Transalp for that matter - can go just about anywhere on the planet. Very sensible bikes they are.

[Kelly E]

The early GS 1100E was a very special bike, they really did a great job engineering that bike, not often a bike will knock it out of the park.

I still can't believe we have 2 early GS's, an 80' and a 81'. I've never been a fan of the giant rectangular headlight bucket but it grows on you, now I say that it's ugly cool.
They really did do a great job, it doesn't need any suspension upgrades at all. The front has adjustable preload and damping. Same on the rear with a box section aluminium swingarm on needle bearings and disc brakes all around. It's only 536lbs dry, is set up to run on 89 octane and makes 100hp.

On the 81' we've changed the carbs after two attempts to get a rebuildable set we got a set of Mikuni RS36 carbs and replaced the rotten stock exhaust with a Delkevic 4 into 1 stainless exhaust system.
Now that we have the 80' back it's still running the original carbs with K&N pods and we'll have to replace the now rotten stock exhaust with another Delkevic. We might put a set of RS36 carbs on just for fun. The funny part is the GS feels smaller than the 74' CB 550 K0.