Topic: Honda CB550 is this a K or F

[kyle750]

Recently posted in Thailand.  Owner says 550F and the tank looks correct but this bike has a 4 into 4 K exhaust.  I thought the Super Sport had a 4 into 1 exhaust?

[bryanj]

The tank says F

[Nurse Julie]

The tank suggests it's a 550F2 in Candy Sword Blue, the exhaust isn't correct for the F2 model, it should have 4 into 1 as standard. Those exhausts were fitted to the K models. It's a bitsa mongrel.

[carnivorous chicken]

The tank says F

Yep, kickstarter too.

Headers for the 550F aren't that hard to come by, but the muffler is...

[kyle750]

1977? Fairly certain bike is JDM with the Asahi AF windshield and speed warning light in the steering stem.

[kyle750]

Owner has a proper title and license tag (extremely hard-to-find on older and large CC engines in Thailand). I am preparing to present an offer to the owner. The bike is not starting but owner is working on it - he believes there is a good chance he can get it started.   Here is a photo of the other side when he first bought the bike last week.  He has too many project bikes so he is willing to sell it cheap As-Is. Title and tag is a huge plus!

Of course the big question is "Do I have too many project bikes?"

[carnivorous chicken]

Would take quite a few things to get it back to original (bars, mirrors, side covers, seat, exhaust, etc). If you were somewhere with more of these bikes and the 4-4 exhaust was in good shape you'd have no problem finding someone to take them off your hands if you wanted to switch back to 4-1, but since you're accumulating more maybe one will come up for you. JDM is a cool factor too, although I bet that's more common there as well.

[kyle750]

I am OK with making an offer As-Is but obviously would be willing to pay more if running.  Pull the trigger now or wait?

[MauiK3]

I see a pretty big project there, especially if it won't run. Fixing the outer cosmetics alone will be pretty pricey and time consuming. If you have the funds and stamina, go for it. It does sound like you are assembling a long list of projects, do you have the room?

[kyle750]

I see a pretty big project there, especially if it won't run. Fixing the outer cosmetics alone will be pretty pricey and time consuming. If you have the funds and stamina, go for it. It does sound like you are assembling a long list of projects, do you have the room?

Definitely a Big Project but it's my kind of project.  Fixed up shiney vintage bikes with high price tags just don't excite me.  It's seeing the transformation that is the thrill for me. I can always get to the bike later but I know many people buy projects and they never get to them.  Priorities change, health changes, interests change.   

Seriously I am slow as molasses.  It took me 2 months to change an air filter. 

[jlh3rd]

talking U.S. bike:
the '77 550K had the same tank design as the previous F models. So my guess is that a '77 F tank will fit on a '77 K model. I do not think the exhausts systems are interchangeble ( from what I've read on here) as the frame mounts are different. So it seems an F tank was put on a K model.

Once again, frame and engine numbers help.

[kyle750]

Once again, frame and engine numbers help.

I've learned in Thailand never to ask for the frame and engine numbers until you have agreed to a price. Providing the numbers and photos of the title book are one of the the last things to do not the first.  Seller's will clearly state no documents or full documents.  If full documents vehicle id numbers (frame and engine) match the title. 


 

[carnivorous chicken]

Yep, closer look says K -- and although the kicker has that bend, it looks like the peg is in front of it and doesn't fold up like the 550F does.

I'm always a little suspicious when someone who works on bikes says they can't get something started, could be a sign of something more significant. Or someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

And there's something to be said for not making something shiny and nice but keeping a rider a little ratty. Less to worry about.

[pickleknuckles]

Of course the big question is "Do I have too many project bikes?"

The optimal number of bikes to own is always N+1.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[jonda500]

That frame is a 77 or 78 K model - you can tell by looking at the footpeg sub frame. Later (77/78) K models have a right angle triangle whereas F models have a smaller equilateral triangle.
John

[kyle750]

The optimal number of bikes to own is always N+1.

I like your math Brother! My Thai friend Kannika is now talking with the owner. She already knows the important questions to ask so I will wait for her report.

[Kelly E]

The optimal number of bikes to own is always N+1.

I like your math Brother! My Thai friend Kannika is now talking with the owner.

My buddy and I have found that 12 bikes between the two of us are almost more than we can handle so 6 bikes on your own should be the right amount.
The hard part is when you have to decide which one to sell if you find one that you just have to get.

[kyle750]

My buddy and I have found that 12 bikes between the two of us are almost more than we can handle so 6 bikes on your own should be the right amount.

I like your math even better Brother!

[kyle750]

According to the owner bike can be started and can drive although the clutch is "loud" (I'm not sure what that means). Title, registration, and plate all checks out (Very Rare for Thailand).  Getting a bike titled and registered here is an absolute nightmare so this is EXTREMELY valuable to me.   Price is reasonable (for Thailand) but not cheap (like in the USA). Right now I am figuring an estimate to fix up the bike.  Original parts are expensive (including added shipping expenses and import taxes)  but labor is cheap here.

At some point I will be asking for photos after cleaning.  Barn/Jungle Find photos are fun to see but get some soap and water on it already     

[kyle750]

According to the frame vehicle number the bike is a CB550 K2 from 1976

[jonda500]

Never seen a kick starter like that - appears to be a modified early model one, the brake pedal looks like an F one.
John

[jonda500]

According to my Honda SOHC fours essential buyers guide-
If it's a CB550K2, it should have a frame number between 1230001 and 2000006.
If it's a CB550K3, it should have a frame number between 2000007 and 2100000.
I still think it's a K3 frame although the exhausts are from an earlier model...
John

[kyle750]

Here you go 

[jonda500]

Well that's weird - I thought that the 550K2's had the same frame as the 500's with a pressed steel outrigger/sub frame for the footpegs/exhaust brackets...
John

[Deltarider]

Framenumber excludes a CB550F2 or CB550K3. What is the enginenumber and what number is stamped on the carbs: 022A, 087A or 069A?