Topic: Frame Repair CB550

[bluebasil]

Hi All,
1974 CB550.  Left front down tube is bent just below the double thickness part under the headstock.  Any thoughts on whether it would be safe to have someone cut out the damaged part of the frame and weld in a replacement?  Any recommendations for somewhere in Milwaukee, WI that might be able to handle such a task?

I suppose a replacement frame from Ebay would work but then numbers don't match, have to change all the parts over, etc...
Thanks
Gareth

[fergie]

cosidering that back in the 70's they used to cut the steering  down tube off  cb's and reweld them on at a different angle to make a chopper. welding in a new tube on your frame if done proffesionally doesn't sound completly out of the question.however that being said,if it were me,I would go the ebay route. just make sure you get the proper paper work to go with it.good luck,Fergie.

[Bill Vaughan]

Gareth,

If you're looking for a good frame shop, I'd highly recommend GT Enterprises in Northern California.  I sent a '75 Honda 360 frame to them for repair earlier this year all the way from New Jersey and they did an excellent job.  UPS will ship the frame unpackaged for around $60.00.  The downside is there's about a two month wait, but once they get to it, they do it right.

Here's the website:   http://www.snowcrest.net/gte/

Best of luck

[CHUNG]

A dent might be fine but if it looks "bent" the wheels are probably not "in line" They were marginal when new!!! Grab a couple competent friends, some string, a framing square, level/strait edge and a ruler and check it out. It might be strait??? If not, repairs are expensive. Two schools here: fix it with a hammer/hyd jack or fix it with a checkbook and expert help. The REAL "bottom line" is are the wheels where tyhey need to be? I'm kinda anal about keeping the original stuff (#1Son calls me a "purist") but another frame w/title is always an option. Pre AND post heat-treatmen for welding seems to be the order of the day on honda freame metal. The old "stick welders" had problems with cracks?

[Caferacernoc]

Post a pick so we can see how bad it is. I'm in Milwaukee too, I could come check it out and help to see if the frame is straight. I'm always up for meeting new CB people in my area!

[bluebasil]

OK, a couple of pictures.  I guess it looks pretty bad huh?  I think there is an effect on the handling, we seem to ride differently depending on which direction we are turning.

[bluebasil]

OK, so I found someone with a frame for sale.  Problem is that he has a cb550F frame and my bike is cb550K.  His a '76 mine a '75.  Will I need to source other parts from the F model to fit the two together?  Is it best to hold out for a K model frame?

[fergie]

As far as I know,and from what I have read ,everything is the same between models,only difference is cosmetics.Maybe someone could elaberate on this.good luck,Fergie.

[Einyodeler]

The frame of an F model is different from the K in that the sidecover mounting grommets are in a different place so you`d have to to get 550F sidecovers.The `74 550 is the same as the CB500 frame.