Topic: Honda CB550 is this a K or F

[kyle750]

Lots of new information coming from the owner.  Very forthcoming but the photos with all the dirt really bother me.     The owner likes small engine 100cc vintage bikes and has a huge collection of Kawasaki's, Yamaha's, and Suzuki's. All restored to like new condition.  He is a good guy! 

[kyle750]

He really likes small engine Kawasaki's

According to @Kelly E  7 bikes is over the limit

I don't have a problem!

[jlh3rd]

that # "fits" for a U.S. 550K'76. Just really high, so makes one question things.
You can see the tank change from '76 to the '77. Supposedly the "F" style tank doesn't fit in '76 and earlier 550K's. Which brings up the seat/seat pan fit. It does have the "F" front fender, which the '77 K was switched to.

you said it's a JDM...that may explain some things.

[kyle750]

Thanks for the comparsion photos.  Very helpful.  The rear fender tail light bracket also looks like the later 1977 and not like the earlier 1976 ski slope bracket.

[newday777]

Here is a US 1977 CB550K model frame for sale to compare as it is stripped bare.
I don't have a F frame to show to compare with.

[Stev-o]

Supposedly the "F" style tank doesn't fit in '76 and earlier 550K's.

If not mistaken, although the shape of the tanks are the same, the petcocks are on different sides.

[kyle750]

Impossible to Escape the Bōsōzoku

Asahi AF Windshield and customized Shibori "squeezed  handles" with inward-bent, narrow handlebars

Late Edit:  Eyes, Nose, and Big Grin 

[bryanj]

The 77 and later K only fit earlier bikes if you change the seat as well due to length changes, never tried an F tank on anything else so cant comment

[kyle750]

A very strange coincidence as I posted the photo of the Bōsōzoku handlebars at the very same time as I received notification from Ebay that the OEM replacement handlebars I purchased for my Candy Gold CB550 were delivered. 

[jonda500]

The 77 and later K only fit earlier bikes if you change the seat as well due to length changes, never tried an F tank on anything else so cant comment

All 500/550 frames are the same at the seat hinges and the tank mounting points - so any 500/550 tank will fit any frame, but an F or 77/78 K tank will need to be used with an F or 77/78 K seat where the seat hinge mounting points are moved forward a little to set the seat rearward enough to accommodate the larger tank.
Using an F or 77/78 K seat with an earlier model tank leaves a gap between them.
Also for F's and 77/78 K's, only the right grab rail that goes with the seat will fit.
John
edit - to be clear, the F seat is a shorter/different shape at the rear and the F grab rail follows that shape closely, so a 77/78 K seat would be pushed into the grab rail if used with an F grab rail - the other way round leaves a big space between the seat back and the rail, which looks like what you have there...

[kyle750]

All 500/550 frames are the same at the seat hinges and the tank mounting points - so any 500/550 tank will fit any frame, but an F or 77/78 K tank will need to be used with an F or 77/78 K seat where the seat hinge mounting points are moved forward a little to set the seat rearward enough to accommodate the larger tank.
Using an F or 77/78 K seat with an earlier model tank leaves a gap between them.
Also for F's and 77/78 K's, only the right grab rail that goes with the seat will fit.
John

Excellent information.  Very helpful and Thank You.  Looking closer at photos and you can see the rear grab rail is very different from the normally seen grab rail. Baffling   Also I just noticed the rear tail light indicators are earlier smaller and the front are the later larger size. 

[kyle750]

Reviewing the title and documents now.  Bike was originally imported from Japan into Thailand in 1990.  Highly unusual as both my Honda CB750 and the candy gold Honda CB550 were also imported in the very same year -  1990.  I wonder if there is a connection.

The previous owner bought this bike in 2016 so he had it for close to 10 years before selling it to the current owner. Impossible to know the history of the bike but it looks like the previous owners did nothing for over 30 years that it has been in Thailand. 

[kyle750]

Owner just sent my Thai friend a short clip of the CB550 startup.  I'm not sure what I am listened to or what I should be listening for??  Any observations would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in Advance!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_uImnwSUAe4

[Stev-o]

Owner just sent my Thai friend a short clip of the CB550 startup.  I'm not sure what I am listened to or what I should be listening for??  Any observations would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in Advance!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_uImnwSUAe4

I hear an unusual sound but with such a short vid clip, cant pinpoint what the possible issue might be?

[jlh3rd]

um...I'd be walking.

[kyle750]

I just noticed the tach needle did not move 

[Stev-o]

I just noticed the tach needle did not move 

That would be the least of my worries...

[kyle750]

I just noticed the tach needle did not move 

That would be the least of my worries...

Agreed.  My CB550 did not even have a tach cable.  Original replacement cable in excellent condition costs $5 

[MauiK3]

Looks like a gamble, price would need to be very low.

[kyle750]

Looks like a gamble, price would need to be very low.

Definitely a big risky gamble.    IMO considering the bike has a valid title, registration, and tag the price is reasonable.  A valid title is extremely valuable to me. Saves a lot of time and bureacratic hassles.

I do believe the price needs to be negotiated much lower.  Even if I get the bike for Free the parts and time to restore will cost much more than the final value of the bike. The true present value of an older Honda where the final restoration costs will be greater than the market value of the bike should be Zero.   

[Stev-o]

Restorers have a saying: 

"The cheapest bikes are the most expensive bikes!"

[bryanj]

It is worth what the good parts would sell for less the time to strip it

[kyle750]

It is worth what the good parts would sell for less the time to strip it

I imagine the parts sellers in the USA make a decent living doing this and provide a very valuable service to those restoring an old bike. I was able to buy all the parts needed for the restoration of my CB750 and I am very grateful to them for making hard-to-find parts available at a reasonable price. 

[kyle750]

Owner with the blue CB550.  While casually scrolling through his FB in the background of one of his photos a JDM CB350 with rusted tank.  In my mind I can see a flying dragon restoration

I'm just joking.  I'm afraid if I start another bike project my friends will have me committed to the nerdy bin. Which sounds like a magical place, if I'm being honest

[kyle750]

The same seller just posted this photo to his FB today with the following caption (translated from Thai)

When we are crazy, what follows is a burden.
Done deal. Prepare to lift it home.

I have absolutely no idea what is going on