Author Topic: Stock or custom?  (Read 4235 times)

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stingray

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Stock or custom?
« on: June 24, 2005, 06:56:02 PM »
As I ponder my up and coming '76 550 restoration, I must say that my mind has been wandering.  I have always returned my bikes to original stock appearance.  I feel that you can't loose by taking this route.  However........ my son (19) is trying hard to convince me that I should slightly "customize/personalize" my ride.  I have to tell you, it's tempting.  Right now, my everyday ride is a totally stock 1976 Triumph Bonneville 750.  It looks nice, but it also looks like all the other 750 Bonnevilles that came off the line in Meriden.
So I'm asking you Honda faithfulls for some advice.  I know I know, it's all up to me right?  What is it that I'm looking for.  I will obviously have to reach a decision.  But I want to get your perspective as to what you guys/girls did and WHY you did it.  I must tell you that I do think about re-sale value when it's all said and done.  Not that I'm thinking about selling anything. ???

Offline Uncle Ernie

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2005, 07:06:15 PM »
If you're worried about re-sale, restore it to original, put it in your living room, and never ride it.  Personally, the older I get the more I like to personalize things, if only just a little. In some cases it's to make things more comfortable, sometimes because ilike the look (and sometimes that fact that it pisses some people off adds a little value just to me ::)). I've also found that some bikes REALLY look good with a patina of age and use. Pre-'69 Beemers & pre-'53 Indians to name 2. I've seen some cafe-style SOHC4s that are simply breath-taking- as in, better than stock. Are you building this bike for you or the next owner? Just MY 2 cents.
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2005, 10:43:45 PM »
Put your signature on it.
Enjoy,, Ride, Smile :)

Offline Tim.

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2005, 12:56:40 PM »
I like subtle touches.  I have a stock 1976 CB550F, right down to the brown vinyl seat.  However, I liked the Sunrise Orange metal flake paint offered in 1975, so I have that tank and sidecover set.

I'm considering CB400F handlebars for a lower profile without sacrificing interal wiring routing.  I've got socket-head bolts on the engine and pretty much everywhere else (even the lens bolts for signals and brake lights are socket-heads).

I also have a Corbin solo-seat coming up that I'm kind of hoping might sit well on the bike.  Remains to be seen.  Now that I have it totally stock, I'm willing to take some bits off and make it into more of a cafe or bobber style without cutting anything up.

On the other hand, I'm also itching to break the bike completely down and have the frame painted, refinish/polish the engine and put it all back together again stock  ::)   Decisions decisions!
Roule comme dans les années 70...   Roll as in the Seventies...

three sticks

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2005, 01:07:39 PM »
i know, get two!

Offline 6pkrunner

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2005, 01:47:21 PM »
When I was younger...well much younger, I loved the modified look. Make 'em personal and such. Factory was boring. On the wrong side of 50 now and the stock look is what I prefer now. Internal modifications sure, but the look of factory delivered is now my crank spinner.

Offline chippyfive50

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2005, 06:27:41 PM »
I had the same dilemma with my 71'  500. I have a bone stock 750K3, and had every intention of returning the 500 to its original glory, but not do frame off. WELL.... I pulled the motor out to fix some seals, and the next thing you know the frame is @ the powdercoater.
I found this cool beehive taillight by accident and mocked it up on the fender, and custom fever overcame me. I lowered it, bought a 550motor on ebay, wide low bars ect ...ect.....I have more fun on it than I ever imagined.....  I love a correct, stock bike, but anybody  can have one, customizing is art-like, a personal statement. You can always go back to stock anyway. Variety is the spice.... I say have some fun........   here's how it worked out for me>>> I looked forward to my winter evenings..
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Offline Raul CB750K1

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2005, 09:16:01 AM »
I would say: "customize whatever you want, but make changes reversible". If you can't, at least do changes in spare parts so you always keep the original ones.

Raul

three sticks

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2005, 05:53:15 PM »
chippy, that bike is out of control. (in a good way) i love the look! how do those white walls handle?

Offline jotor

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2005, 06:10:27 PM »
But I want to get your perspective as to what you guys/girls did and WHY you did it.

I'm new here and by way of introduction I thought I'd jump in with what and why on my 550F.  I have been tinking around with old Japanese bikes for a long time.  My philosophy is "mix & match".  If something is missing from a project bike, or I don't like the way it looks or works, I look around in the collection of parts I have for anything suitable to replace it with.  If I can't find anything suitable then it's time for another donor bike or trip to the bone yard or eBay.  Crazy, I know, but that's me.

So--the 550f.  A number of years ago I found this bike at an auto junkyard.  Front end smacked and engine frozen.  The only reason I bought it ($75.00) was because the original paint was in such good shape.  Sometime later I was given a CB650 and then I remembered reading somewhere that the 650 engine was based on the 550.  Hmmmm.....

Here's the result--engine, forks, wheels & instruments from the 650, new brown seat from Honda, aftermarket parts here and there, a can of color match fender paint from the hardware store, and the exaust from an '82 Nighthawk I picked up "on speculation".
I'd rather ride a Yamaha than eat worms.


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Vatch

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2005, 11:13:42 PM »
Are you building this bike for you or the next owner?

I'm not sure it could be put any better.

Chippy, sweet bike.  I love the white walls!

Offline chippyfive50

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2005, 11:59:41 AM »
thanks for the complements.....    the tires are maxxis classics, the rear is a little larger than stock @ 120/90 (appx.4.25) since it is a rigid, I need  the extra cushoining!!!. The modern tire design makes  cornering worlds better....
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Offline Tim.

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2005, 12:04:15 PM »
But I want to get your perspective as to what you guys/girls did and WHY you did it.

I'm new here and by way of introduction I thought I'd jump in with what and why on my 550F.  I have been tinking around with old Japanese bikes for a long time.  My philosophy is "mix & match".  If something is missing from a project bike, or I don't like the way it looks or works, I look around in the collection of parts I have for anything suitable to replace it with.  If I can't find anything suitable then it's time for another donor bike or trip to the bone yard or eBay.  Crazy, I know, but that's me.

So--the 550f.  A number of years ago I found this bike at an auto junkyard.  Front end smacked and engine frozen.  The only reason I bought it ($75.00) was because the original paint was in such good shape.  Sometime later I was given a CB650 and then I remembered reading somewhere that the 650 engine was based on the 550.  Hmmmm.....

Here's the result--engine, forks, wheels & instruments from the 650, new brown seat from Honda, aftermarket parts here and there, a can of color match fender paint from the hardware store, and the exaust from an '82 Nighthawk I picked up "on speculation".

Did the '82 Nighthawk exhaust bolt right on?
Roule comme dans les années 70...   Roll as in the Seventies...

Offline jotor

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2005, 12:30:32 PM »
The '82 Nighthawk has the same engine as the CB650 so exaust bolted on BUT that exaust is an aftermarket 4 into 1.  Nighthawk comes with 4 mufflers.
I'd rather ride a Yamaha than eat worms.


Gallery.....http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=2254.0

Offline pmpski_1

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2005, 03:31:01 PM »
Resale value? What's that? Even if I restored my bike to the exact way that it came from the factory, with the time I've spent working on it and the money I've spent troubleshooting and replacing parts I would still lose money on it. Or barely break even.

If you're really worried about resale value, put the numbers together and see where you stand. One of the reasons that I would lose is because I'm sorta new at this. I take longer to do things and make more mistakes. Those types of things would cost money in the long run.

Mod it and enjoy it.

Chippy, I love the look of those whitewalls. I saw a bobber with the same tires here in town. I just had to order some since I needed new tires anyway. Hopefully I'll get them someday. They're on backorder right now.
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stingray

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #15 on: June 29, 2005, 02:35:26 PM »
Well.. lots of really good advice, opinions, ideas and philosophys here.  I really appreciate the input.  For now, I have decided to return the 550 to it's original state.  The only exception will be the color, handlebars and tires.  The official brown into green color scheme is not to my liking.  I am thinking blue or that righteous candy apple orange that I have seen on Hondas like "philly550" is sporting.  I realize that this is not stock for my year and model, but I can deal with this.  The handle bars, which I believe to be original stock are a little to high.  I like the lower "flatter" bars.  Am I restoring it for the other guy?  Not really.  I'm restoring it for yours truly.  Selling it is not in the future.  Do I think that I can command a good dollar for it?  Not at all.  I'm sure that there are a lot of '76 550's out there.  Could this change in another 10-15 years?  Yes I believe it can so I want to make sure that it looks decent.  You never know when somebody, somewhere, might walk up to you and say "I used to have one of thoses when I was a .........!"  "Are you interested in selling it?".   
Ride easy!

eldar

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #16 on: June 29, 2005, 05:53:04 PM »
Well as for resale, you never know what can happen in the future. BUt they are not making any more of these bikes and so for a collector, I am sure the price would go up. For myself though, I would rather ride the bike and say how much fun I have then say how much it is worth or could be worth and never have it see the light of day.

VMAX1970

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Re: Stock or custom?
« Reply #17 on: July 03, 2005, 12:31:18 PM »
If its nealy stock put it back to stock sell it and get bits make somthing fun.

if its bits or realy messed up make it yours and sign it.

just my 2 p worth.