Topic: Registry of 500/550 Owners (Three Tons of fun!!)

[Ecosse]

Looks good. I should have addressed the aluminum on mine last winter... and the chrome.

Like the color too.

[Ryan 550k]

Thanks Ecosse, I really dig the look as well.  I'm afraid I've got some really lame answers for you though.  As far as the headers go, they came with the bike when I bought it and I can't identify them.  I think it's a pretty generic 4 into 1 though.  As far as the handle bars go I was trying to nail down the style name but really couldn't come up with anything.  I took some closer pics to give you an idea of what I did.  These bars traditionally are positioned up but I positioned them pointing down so they become this sort of drop bar style without having to commit to the dramatic clubman bar style.  Basically it's kind of a middle ground between the clubman and upright bars.

[Ecosse]

It's a good look RFF- They could be 400F bars but don't quote me. I'm still pretty much the green horn with these things. When I mount the 400F bars I bought maybe the two can be compared. But that require I get off of my lazy butt.

These bars give a factory look yet offer a sporting position compared to OEM.

[Jeff]

I have drag bars and Napolean mirrors on my 550 too. I really like the seating position with the flat bars, but then, I'm used to the sport bike position. I found I slouched really bad with the stock bars.

But when I switched bars, my stock mirrors gave a nice view of my elbows and nothing else. While I was working at Dennis Kirk, I compared the Napoleans with all the other off-brand mirrors of the same style, as well as the CRG's. The CRG's were nice, but I preferred the Napolean style. And the Napolean brand mirrors are 1000x nicer than the off-brand ones. Yes they were more expensive, but so worth it. The build quality and materials are far superior.

Jeff

[Gordon]

And the Napolean brand mirrors are 1000x nicer than the off-brand ones. Yes they were more expensive, but so worth it. The build quality and materials are far superior.

Jeff

+1

I have Napoleons on my 750 and Emgos on my 550.  The Emgo mirror surfaces are not optically correct and distort the view beyond about 20 feet back, and are essentially useless at any decent speed.  The Napoleon mirror surfaces are very well made and also slightly convex, so they give a broader field of view and aren't as susceptible to vibration.

[Ecosse]

Little French mirrors it is! Thanks guys for the heads up... I was suspicious of the low prices I've seen being asked for some no name mirrors.

[DarkRider]

Now that i have had a chance to go through this...heres the updated list...

1. DarkRider - 1
2. pollpegj - 1
3. mkramer1121
4. dustyc - 4 (in various stages -1 together and running)
5. MrZxp - '74-550K0 - 1
6. madmark73 - 2
7. SteveD CB500F - 2
8. CrisPDuk - 1
9. possum2082 - 1
10. Jay B - 1
11. Cvillechopper - 1
12. bozo4onion - 1
13. Badger 5 - 1
14. florence - 1
15. Hope - 2
16. spikeybike - 1
17. jensk - 2
18. paulages - 2 + 2-3 others in boxes
19. ralt12 - 1
20. tjjkc - 2
21. carl550k - 1
22. jreich - 1
23. wilinfla - 1
24. DrMark - 1
25. number13 - 1
26. cafe750 - 3
27. jsaab2748 - 1
28. psykod - 1
29. Peterbylt - 1
30. Swede - 1
31. kuyarico - 1
32. jbailey - 1
33. neil young - 3
34. Wykydtron - 1
35. OldSchool_IsCool - 1
36. Deltarider - 1
37. Somemonkey - 1
38. clarkjh - 1
39. ken74-550K0 - 1
40. bender01 - 1
41. bwaller - 1
42. blackhog02 - 1
43. drackett_19 - 1
44. Vtec-Sauce - 1
45. bill440cars - 3 (plus 2 engines)
46. Bob550four - 1
47. wpnssgt_usaf - 1
48. Jeff - 1
49. wizzy - 1
50. cbass*gxc - 1 "Oooh Oooh I have one too!"
51. Glenn Stauffer - 2
52. Angiey2002 - 1
53. Gavin - 1
54. Double A - 1
55. needswork - 1
56. dagersh - 1
57. hymodyne - 1
58. forwheeldrift - 1
59. valt - 1
60. Rock Store - 1
61. TwoTired - 8 550s 1 500
62. crazypj - 2 (plus some spare parts)
63. c91x - 1
64. WJL75 - 1
65. plastikjock - 1
66. tjjkc - 1
67. chippyfive50 - 1
68. KottkeHead - 1
69. edbikerii - 1
70. Gregory - 1
71. noelocol - 1
72. jesus freek - 1
73. bhppy101
74. James - 3
75. 1975cb550 - 1
76. 76 cb550 - 1
77. JZEROE - 1
78. Geeto67 - 1
79. pablo78cb550 - 1
80. EdB - 1
81. carl - 1
82. Mule Train - 1
83. FunJimmy - 1
84. someday - 1
85. Leurw - 1
86. flipprboi - 1 "pinas 550"
87. BSA_Mikael - 1
88. Oldted - 1 1976 550F
89. tintin - 2 (Former owner and yes it still counts)
90. Tvag - 1
91. doug_id - 1
92. c15racer - 1
93. R550 - 1
94. chopstar500 - 1
95. ajinreno - 1
96. phactory - 1
97. RACERTON - 1
98. Ecosse - 1
99. freezingprocess - 1
100. onesickrace - 1
101. ohiocaferacer - 1
102. Jygge - 1
103. winnipeg550guy - 1
104. altf4 - 1
105. Chicago550 - 1
106. nilsey - 1
107. 2Shoes - 1
108. Blind Bob - 1
109. Gordon - 1
110. Klark Kent - 1
111. B. Alec - 1
112. NE550 - 1

Sorry for the late update guys...but i guess thats what happens when ya have a site such as this and get lost in reading all the great posts on here.

[Ecosse]

Thanks Dark... (can I call you dark?) for putting forth the effort in the first place.
I look at all the posts and my eyes just gloss over!

[DarkRider]

Yea you can call me Dark..and no problems man. I can def understand the eyes glossing over thing when looking over the pages...From doing this i have gone through several revisions of the plan set forth for my 550. Basicly the goal now is to build myself a nice clean cafe racer. Using either a Benjis seat or a seat simular to andys made from the stock pan. So seeing all the different styles of bike in this registry allows me to come up with ideas for my own and hopefully make it unique in its own way.

[TonyDanger]

Its currently a 71 cb500, which I just bought and I'm going to to get running here this summer when I'm out of school. I have a 79 cb650 engine that I'm going to rebuild and try to shoehorn in there at a later date. She's getting the cafe treatment here soon, but here is the bike as it stands right now.

[rockwell500k]

another 1971 CB 500 as well...

right below the same bike...awesome!

no plans to hack, cut or significantly modify anything. i really like the bike as-is. new lower bars are on order, new grips, and some small minor fresh parts as well.

this winter will call for new stock paint, and various cleaning/polishing. i would really like an original NOS exhaust system, but the period correct 4-1 piece i have on there now is 99% perfect...so it'll do for now.

[Dave-and-his-550]

I own a '76 550F I have no photos, but if its nice out tomorrow I can maybe get ya'll one

Is there anybody in the Southeast Iowa area who is an expert with these CBs? I'm really interested in learning how to work on them, but not very motivated on my own 

[Ecosse]

Dave,

for what it's worth there's a sharp bunch in this group- I'm not one of them. 

There are many patient, friendly, and knowledgeable people who share the passion for SOHC's.

Look forward to your pix. 

[DarkRider]

Hmmm now i want me some french mirrors...are these the right ones?

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=&store=&catId=410&productId=p39301&leafCatId=41008&mmyId=

[Ecosse]

Those are the ones. Black or chrome look good but I think I'll get chrome mirrors; although DK doesn't show them I know they're available elsewhere.

*edit* I just located the emperor's mirrors discussion here:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=30934.0

[Ryan 550k]

Guy's, I think the Napoleon's are made in Japan.  I get the French connection with Napoleon, I really do.  But I just bought a pair the other week and the packaging is all in Japanese.  Regardless, they #$%*ing rule.

[Ecosse]

Yeah, the name came from somewhere and being a trivia nut I am curious about the names origin.

Thank God they're not from the U.K. or they'd be too expensive for me. Like those really nice Halcyons!





  Sorry DarkRider.

[Jeff]

Yep, the DK one's are what I have. It's a good mirror.

Jeff

[splittie]

Been off the forum for a little while and forgot I was going to register.
Mine is a '73 500f bought for the amazing amount of $150 and took very little to get running.
Now it is getting some new and much needed parts.

[Ecosse]

Hey buck50,

How about another picture of your tank if you have the chance? I like that stripe.

Some people are preserving old graphics on these bikes and I think they stand out as a result.

Not that I'm telling you what you should do with your own ride... 

[Muk]

here is my 76. Anoy body have an extra left side cover

[xkillerbx]

My first bike '71 CB500.  Always a work in progress.

When I got it:


Currently:

[Ecosse]

My first bike '71 CB500.  Always a work in progress.

I like that seat but what is the tail light from? It doesn't seem original to me... not that there's anything wrong with it! 

[xkillerbx]

My first bike '71 CB500.  Always a work in progress.

I like that seat but what is the tail light from? It doesn't seem original to me... not that there's anything wrong with it! 

Honestly, I have no idea.  The guy I bought the bike from told me, and I completely forgot.

[splittie]

Hey buck50,

How about another picture of your tank if you have the chance?

Sorry no closeup of the tank. I already stripped the paint from it as it was an extreme 70's orange metalflake (HUGE flakes) and the clear coat wsa cracking due to it being so flippin' thick.
I started to sand it and that was doing no good at all, so I broke out the paint stripper and scraper. After @ 4 coats of stripper, it is down to bare metal.