Author Topic: Hello, just picked up a CB550k in rough shape  (Read 1553 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

ChopperCharles

  • Guest
Hello, just picked up a CB550k in rough shape
« on: September 11, 2007, 07:33:17 PM »
Hi all. I just picked up a CB550k for $250. Originally picked it up to part out on eBay, but I spent a weekend cleaning out the old gas and replacing the points and condensors, and it started right up and ran great! Of course, it spewed gas out the carbs and threw oil all over the motor from the missing tach cable mount, but it ran.

So, now starts my quest to turn this bike into a passable cafe rat!

So... about me. I run two other forums, a CX500 forum at http://choppercharles.com (that's also where I documented my chopper build up and have a bunch of pics of my old bikes), and a forum for my favorite dual sport at http://tw200forum.com

I'm on the Honda v4 forum and a bunch of Delphi forums as well... all pretty much related to bikes I used to own.

I've owned a bunch of bikes before, and I've had a V65 Magna for 7 years and almost 70,000 miles... and while it's a great bike, super powerful... it's also heavy and cumbersome. I also have my TW200, which is a blast offroad and around town, but with barely 12 horsepower and a comfortable cruising speed of 55mph, it's not so great for distance touring. I'm hoping this CB550K will be able to take the place in the middle of those two extremes.

Basically, I'm going to make it into a cheap fun bike that I don't care about keeping washed and shiny. I'm going halfway between cafe racer and adventure bike... daytona bars instead of clip ons, shortened fenders with lucas taillight and mini signals, but at the same time longer shocks and knobby tires. Want an all-purpose bike that can handle dirt roads and some really simple trails infrequently, but will also haul my ass to work every day with decent fuel mileage.

Anyhow, I'm glad to be here!

Charles.

Offline 333

  • Time for change
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 7,558
  • Mail List Member #162 - Call me Stan
Re: Hello, just picked up a CB550k in rough shape
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2007, 08:11:35 PM »
Welcome.  Love to see some pics of all the stable.
Go metric, every inch of the way!

CB350F0  "Scrouching Tiger"
CT70K0    "Sneezing Poodle"

www.alexandriaseaport.org

Offline kpier883

  • is quite the
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 677
Re: Hello, just picked up a CB550k in rough shape
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2007, 08:16:26 PM »
Welcome aboard!  I am looking forward to your posts.  It sounds like you have somes interesting ideas.  Keep us posted on the progress.
74 CB750
80 CBX
82 KZ1000 K2 (LTD)
57 1/2 ton chevy

Offline droopy

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 281
Re: Hello, just picked up a CB550k in rough shape
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2007, 08:47:55 PM »
Welcome abord from a not very active member ::) of your cx500 form ;D
2007 lifan 200cc sport ohc thumper

ChopperCharles

  • Guest
Re: Hello, just picked up a CB550k in rough shape
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2007, 08:56:14 PM »
The stable? Well... each and every one of my bikes have heavy modifications... you'll like these I think.

1984 Honda V65 Magna (still own it, 69,000 miles)

Mods include a Yamaha Roadstar Warrior tank, daytona bars, chromed out engine, 3.40 rear gears (more acceleration), kerker 4-into-1 header with a Blackbird can welded on, VTX headlight, fender eliminator, flyscreen, bar end mirrors, VTX control pods modified to work on 7/8" bars... LOTS more mods.

1982 CX500/650 Chopper Project (previous build up, sold it last year):

CX500 with a CX650 motor, 8" over tubes, raked neck, and a TON of custom work. This was my first chop... and it made me realize how much I don't care for choppers! Cafe and streetfighters are much more fun...

Next project was a 500 Ninja that I picked up trashed and bent and mangled. Turned it into a bad-ass street fighter for just a couple hundred bucks.... I *really* wish I hadn't gotten rid of this bike. I sold it for a pittance....


This is my Yamaha TW200... yes, that rear tire is stock.

Minor mods here... painted it olive drab, put on an aftermarket headlight and speedo, shortened the front of the seat so it didn't cover the tank, and added saddlebags.

Those are all the cool ones. I only have the TW200 and V65 in this list right now, along with the CB550K and another V65 I'm fixing up and don't have pics yet. I've also owned a DOHC CB750 Custom, a Yamaha Virago (POS), a Yamaha XS650 (worst bike ever made), a V30 Magna, a V65 Sabre, and an 02 Shadow 750... but they were all largely stock and not too interesting :)

Charles.

Offline steven400/4

  • tyre inspector
  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 518
  • that nice
Re: Hello, just picked up a CB550k in rough shape
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2007, 01:37:57 AM »
welcome from the uk  ;D ;D
steve ;)
1978 honda 400/4 f2 my baby