Topic: cb450 vs cb550

[EdB]

ill find out. my best friend works at a jag dealership and is good friends with one of the body shop guys. gonna have him see what he can do with the dent. of course after i get a chance to ride it for a while

[333]

My first bike was a CB450K3, and second was a CB550K3.  You said you want to "whip around".  The 550 is better for that.The 550 will run smoother (twin vs 4) which is HUGE.  And this is a forum for SOHC4 , why would any body try to talk you into a twin?  Although I do miss my 450, but I miss most bikes I don't have anymore!

[puppytrax]

i really have to disagree with proteal's assessment that the 550 and 750 feel the same... i really wish the 750 felt as nimble as the 550, but it really doesn't...

I'm partial to both myself and maybe just a bit more towards the 450 since you are gonna be looking for a builder and get a 550 as that one.

I see that you've made your choice...I'd just like to add that I agree with both gentlemen quoted above...the two 750's I rode were *very* big and heavy feeling compared to a 500/550...and although I have <sigh> four 500/550's now, none of them is rideable and two will be rebuilt eventually but for now I have just bought a CL450 off eBay for daily commuting, and I hope the PO is right about it being ready to ride...   

[WJL75]

Glad you found a bike for less.  Once you take delivery, post pics.  Tanks can be readily had on ebay for cheap (I now have 3).

[EdB]

when i get a new tank im gonna try the freezing water idea on old tank. just gotta figure 10% less of maximum capacity of tank.

[TwoTired]

Newton's law:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  The pressure required to push out the dent from the inside will have an opposing force somewhere inside the tank.

Would you be good enough to inform us where the weak points are?

Cheers,

[EdB]

picked it up tonight. bike is awsome. i couldnt really drive it to much when i saw it first because of miami rushhour traffic. drove it around my neighborhood. very nice. fits me perfect. just fast enought to have fun but not scary. big enough to feel comfortable but small and light enough to still flick it around easy. but of course im not saying anything that hasn't been said in the last 30 years. just new for me    its nothin special but ill put picks up whever i can find my digi cam.

[jabbadeznuts]

Newton's law:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  The pressure required to push out the dent from the inside will have an opposing force somewhere inside the tank.

Would you be good enough to inform us where the weak points are?

 


I'm just filling the dents in mine with bondo. Not the best way to fix a tank, but at least it will look good.

[cadler]

I just went to pepboys and got one of those dent pullers. I had to do it three or four times but it got the dent out, i was happy & for 20 bucks it is not bad.

I have a 750 K1 and the k3 450, love them both, the 450 is good because the warm up time is less 1 minute vs 3 or 4 for the 750, i guess its because you have to heat up that oil in the external oil tank seems to take longer.

[paulages]

I just went to pepboys and got one of those dent pullers. I had to do it three or four times but it got the dent out, i was happy & for 20 bucks it is not bad.

I have a 750 K1 and the k3 450, love them both, the 450 is good because the warm up time is less 1 minute vs 3 or 4 for the 750, i guess its because you have to heat up that oil in the external oil tank seems to take longer.

either that, or it's jetted richer to accommodate for impatient riders. the 550 was designed this way to allow a really easy start. mine won't take any choke for more than a minute, and it's usually less then 20 seconds even in cold weather.

[chippyfive50]

way to go....love the 550's, and you can really wake em up with some tuning. There is a lot of info in the FAQs.