Topic: Honda CB550 and CB750 - Am I just throwing money and good usable parts away?

[kyle750]

Just finished  all 4 wheels on the CB550 and CB750.   The old wheels and spokes were badly rusted so they are headed to landfill.   New DID rims, new spokes from Yamiya, and new Dunlop K70 tires.

A good friend was visiting this weekend and looked over all the discarded parts in the junk pile.  Looking closer at the tires that were removed from the bikes and he said they look new and have never been used. I never really even looked at the tires as I decided to replace the tires along with the rusted wheels.    Very strange that the CB750 had a  Michelin M45 on the rear and the CB550 had a  Michelin M45 on the front.  Both the CB750 front and CB550 rear tires were different brands and well worn.

After closer inspection I could not find any damage, wear, or dead spots so is it possible that these tires are still good and can be reused??

Left - Rear Michelin M45 removed from the CB750
Right - Front Michelin M45 removed from the CB550

[newday777]

Can you ride on them? Yes. But... After 5 years the rubber gets harder, thus, they get so thet don't have as good of grip as new tires will have. If you are going to ride gently through the corners and don't have to have emergency braking contact traction (the tires won't grip as new rubber does in braking). So it depends on what your pucker factor can handle and what your reactions are to pucker factor riding is, Are you capable of going through it?
As you are in the tropics, the rubber will be a bit softer than even in the southern US states.

[kyle750]

I agree with your analysis.  When my friend told me the tires look new and never used I told him I don't know how old the tires are.   Old tires can't be as safe as new tires and with no history they are not worth the risk??  He said "Who cares what tires you put on the bikes . . .  you're never going to ride them".  Ouch! 

[kyle750]

CB750 Rear Michelin M45.  Quessing this has a manufacture date in the code? 2013??

[kyle750]

CB550 Front Michelin M45.  Hard to believe these 2 tires came off different bikes, sold by different sellers, purchased at different times, and in different parts of the country.  2013?

[jlh3rd]

750 - 38th week of 2013

550 - looks like 29th week of 2013

[denward17]

CB750 Rear Michelin K45.  Quessing this has a manufacture date in the code? 2013??

You see the dry rot cracks, there is your reason not to use....

[madmtnmotors]

Those tires are 12 years old and have not aged well. Toss-em.

[newday777]

CB750 Rear Michelin K45.  Quessing this has a manufacture date in the code? 2013??

You see the dry rot cracks, there is your reason not to use....

Correct.
Picture you didn't show Kyle

[kyle750]

"You're not riding on a track like Valentino Rossi cornering with your elbow and knee touching the ground.  You're driving to the local 7-11.  Professionals and experts like to think they are high speed racers when their vintage bikes just sit in the garage" 

Not My Words

[newday777]

But what are you going to do with it? Are you not going to ride it??
Those tires are not the tires that came from the factory with and your bike isn't in the factory original condition.

[kyle750]

But what are you going to do with it? Are you not going to ride it??

No one here believes me but one day I'm going to ride the fire breathing dragon until it melts my face off

[BenelliSEI]

Don’t use them. Give them to a neighbour that is riding on even older, bald tires.

[kyle750]

Don’t use them. Give them to a neighbour that is riding on even older, bald tires.

Laughing my ass off.  Perfect!

[Rayzerman]

Brand new spokes and wheels deserve brand new tars!!  Toss those cracked ones.

[turboguzzi]

you might not lean much but in an emergency you will want the braking traction that only a fresh tire can give, ditto for wet riding.

had a pretty serious accident due to a slide, i still blame: 1st my idiocy, 2nd the 4 years old tires.

if your friend said those words, change friend, he doesnt wish you well.

[kyle750]

if your friend said those words, change friend, he doesnt wish you well.

He only saw the Michelins after they were cleaned.  From a distance they really look good with no wear to the tread. He did not closely inspect the tires and sidewalls and was not aware of the older 2013 manufacture date. 

[MauiK3]

Cracks do it for me, time for new tires

[kyle750]

Thanks Gentlemen.  All the rusted fenders and rusted wheels with old unsafe tires have been tossed away

I'm going to keep the rusted#2 exhaust    I will be installing the replacement exhaust pipe today. Hopefully it will fit with no issues.

Late Edit:  Although the rust on the pipe looks bad it appears to be on the outer surface.  No holes, no dents, and structurally very solid. I removed the baffle and looked inside the compartment - clean with no rust.  Maybe one day someone will want to rechrome it and use it??

[Don R]

CB750 Rear Michelin M45.  Quessing this has a manufacture date in the code? 2013??

I don't know but is that an early rolled rim? As in from a sandcast? Does the brake drum hub have 2 vent holes or 4?

[kyle750]

 I don't know but is that an early rolled rim? As in from a sandcast? Does the brake drum hub have 2 vent holes or 4?

Not an early sandcast rolled rim.  Maybe the lighting makes it look more rounded than flat.  Brake drum hub has the standard 4 vent holes.

[kyle750]

Photo of the CB750 when it first arrived on barely used 13 year old Michelin M45s with dry rot.  In this photo you can see the flat edge of the rim - not rolled

Late Edit:  Also the wheel is laced backwards 

[MauiK3]

Took me a second, I had to check my K3 750, I wonder how that can even work.

[BenelliSEI]

Nice pipe! Have you ridden it yet?

[kyle750]

Have you ridden it yet?

You're killing me Brother  Who cares about the condition of the chrome when I'm clearly never going to ride the bike.