Topic: 1975 CB550K Restoration

[kap384@telus.net]

So HondaAddict, whereabouts in Canada?  Great job on the resto!!  Looks stellar.  What paint did you use on the engine by the way?

[HondaAddict]

I had one of those friendly runs with a Challenger the other day. It was one of those two lane turn lanes with the second lane merging into one. He was behind me so I don't know what kind it was but he decided he wanted to go around me before the lanes converged. I wasn't going to have any of that. I opened the magna up and pulled away. We gave each other the thumbs up as I was turning into my neighborhood.
I'll have to say, if there is a sleeper bike anymore its the magna. People just assume they are harleys so it's easy pickings. I still get, "what is that thing?"

My FIL said he raced a HD up this long hill years ago and got to about 90 by the top, that was on his (now mine) CB750, I said that I use that hill to see how my V4s are running. I should be about 120 by the top. "Your bikes will go that fast?" I said that's 4th gear, I got two more. I do enjoy the CB but when I have the urge to go fast, its on a V4.

I just love riding old bikes. I love the nostalgia and the sound of them. Nothing sounds like the CB with four pipes sticking out the back.

Time to go warm up the old iron for the trip to work. Question is, which one?

Well said. The CB/Four sound wins for me, but the V4 power and torque are impressive. You'll have to take the FIL for a ride on a V4 so he can see what he's missing.

[HondaAddict]

So HondaAddict, whereabouts in Canada?  Great job on the resto!!  Looks stellar.  What paint did you use on the engine by the way?

Thanks! I used Dupli-Color Engine Enamel - code "CDE1615 Aluminum"

I'm in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I had one of those friendly runs with a Challenger the other day. It was one of those two lane turn lanes with the second lane merging into one. He was behind me so I don't know what kind it was but he decided he wanted to go around me before the lanes converged. I wasn't going to have any of that. I opened the magna up and pulled away. We gave each other the thumbs up as I was turning into my neighborhood.
I'll have to say, if there is a sleeper bike anymore its the magna. People just assume they are harleys so it's easy pickings. I still get, "what is that thing?"

My FIL said he raced a HD up this long hill years ago and got to about 90 by the top, that was on his (now mine) CB750, I said that I use that hill to see how my V4s are running. I should be about 120 by the top. "Your bikes will go that fast?" I said that's 4th gear, I got two more. I do enjoy the CB but when I have the urge to go fast, its on a V4.

I just love riding old bikes. I love the nostalgia and the sound of them. Nothing sounds like the CB with four pipes sticking out the back.

Time to go warm up the old iron for the trip to work. Question is, which one?

Well said. The CB/Four sound wins for me, but the V4 power and torque are impressive. You'll have to take the FIL for a ride on a V4 so he can see what he's missing.

Oooh.  Beauty is in the eye and ear of the beholder.  Personally, the sound, power and torque of a V4 are pretty compelling.  I wish Honda would make a V4 superbike and naked bike.  Unfortunately, they cost more to develop and mass produce than inline 4 engines.

[HondaAddict]

I wish Honda would make a V4 superbike and naked bike.

That sent me daydreaming about a retro-styled V65 Sabre, like Kawi did with the Z900RS. It could have a mighty V4, all the latest tech and a modern take on the first-gen Sabre look. Hey, a guy can dream.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I wish Honda would make a V4 superbike and naked bike.

That sent me daydreaming about a retro-styled V65 Sabre, like Kawi did with the Z900RS. It could have a mighty V4, all the latest tech and a modern take on the first-gen Sabre look. Hey, a guy can dream.

I know.  For the last however many years, rumors have been coming and going on Honda producing a V4 sport bike, since they stopped making the VFR sport (not touring) bikes.  I would love one.

[Stretch]

This is my last hijack of your thread.

These are my daily riders.

There are others in various stages of restore but these are the runners/riders.

[HondaAddict]

This is my last hijack of your thread.

These are my daily riders.

There are others in various stages of restore but these are the runners/riders.

Very nice! Lots of musclebike muscle there! Is that a Corbin seat on the Sabre?

I've been keeping an eye out for an early Interceptor as a future project. I was in love with them when they first came out but I was in university and money was tight.

[Stretch]

Any updates on your 550?

[HondaAddict]

I threw together a video slideshow of this project a while back and just got around to uploading it to YT. Here it is for anyone looking to waste 10 minutes.

[HondaAddict]

I was browsing the 2,800 photos I have from this project and decided to make a series of more detailed videos. I hope to do one for each major phase/assembly.

Here's my shameless plug for the first one: 

[HondaAddict]

Installment 2 in this series focuses on the front end:

[HondaAddict]

I just published Episode 3 of the video series for this project. This one focuses on the engine.

[Shtonecb500]

Great survivor you've found there, I love 500/550s. I would get rid of those heavy later model pipes and put on a newer lighter system....and always be looking for a nice set of original pipes, that bike deserves a set a survivor pipes.

[RAFster122s]

Thanks for your hard work Hondaaddict

[Stev-o]

Great survivor you've found there,  that bike deserves a set a survivor pipes.

Member Bobco has some...

[HondaAddict]

I finally got around to making a video about how I restore aluminum parts, like I did with this CB550K.

Here's the link, for anyone interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBj5G3VvLRg