Don't let anyone sell you an x ring or oring chain for the 550. Not even the Honda dealer. They are too wide, and will damage your engine cases. Hondaman says that Honda sprockets have extra machining to make them run quieter and create less wear. 550 uses 17 front and 37 rear, stock sizes work pretty well for the street. If you have special needs, then change ratios for your needs.
Honda dealers don't make money by training new mechanics walking in and out their front door. Some won't even work on old bike's (some because of lost knowledge). If they give you advise about brakes and you kill/injure yourself later, they also open themselves for liability suits (blame), all without any form of payment by you (no gain). Why should they risk that?
We give you free training on this forum (cause were such great philanthropic people).
But, why would you expect free training from a commercial establishment that has nothing to gain? There is also the aspect that the parts counterman often doesn't have mechanical training himself. He sells parts, can work numbers, and types on a keyboard. Any actual motorcycle repair ability is tertiary to his required skill set. Yes, he might know. He may also be good at BS and prefer to make you feel bad about yourself rather than admit he doesn't know what he's talking about. He's behind the counter and a "professional" you're just a stupid customer paying him to feed his ego. If he was good at working on bikes, why isn't he?
Don't rely on getting "educated" by a parts counterman. Good ones aren't all that prevalent. Do cultivate the rare ones that knows what they're doing, and is really trying to help you solve the problem. Most just want to make a sale by whatever means necessary to the "mark" that walks in the door.
If they are making you feel inferior, either your attitude is grating on them, or they aren't worth giving any credence to anyway. Knowledgeable or not, it's not a relationship worth cultivating. He's supposed to earn your business. If it's not convenient or a good deal for you, then there are other outlets for the materials you want.
Our Honda dealer in my town, was bought out by owners who didn't understand this dynamic. And, two years ago they finally closed up a shop that had operated over thirty years in this town. They drove away the customers they didn't want, and didn't do what was required to attract the ones they wanted. They became arrogant bastards that no longer have a job.
Make it clear what business you want with them. And if they can't or won't work with you, take your business elsewhere. They usually don't stock what you want in house anyway. You can mail order/internet/phone order and get your parts in about the same time they get them. Check out the FAQ.
FYI, there is a front brake caliper rebuild walk-though there.
Cheers,
