Topic: Which model CB550 have I got.

[Mark M]

Yes it's one of those "I just baught this bike and I don't know what I got" to which the obvious reply is "how did you know what to pay?" the answer to that is "Ebay!, just dont tell the wife - I realy did find it in a skip with a 'rescue me' note attached"  ........ I'm going to ask anyhow.

I picked up a CB550 first reistered in 1978
The frame number is CB550K-2020503  which I assume makes it a 550K -  would this be a K3?

What I realy want to know is what pipes should it have, it's got a Motad 4-1 at present but I realy like the 4-4's. Should it
have the ones with the sculptered ends or the straight cone type?


 

 

[bryanj]

According to my US ID book the CB550K'77 550 Four K (built in 77) has a frame number from CB550-2000007 (note NO "K" in the number) and an engine number from CB550E-2000001.
This would have had a 4 into 4 system with the cone shaped ends (now unavailable new) and the sculptured end (or trumpet type) which are still available new ----go figure!,  need to have a differnt frame mounting point and i know that if you put the later cones on an earlier bike you have to modify the brake pedal to clear

[SteveD CB500F]

A UK K3 should have "straight cone type" exhausts and the PD46 carbs. These have the carb-tops screwed on "front and rear" rather than the 500/550F carbs which had the tops "left and right"

You can only get 2 of the 4 exhausts NOS and they NEVER come up on eBay (at least, none that you'd ever want to bid on)

Here's a pic of my '77 K3

[Mark M]

Thanks Brian, I'm not too sure where that leaves me on which pipes it should have.

I am assuming my bike was a US 78, then imported into the UK probably in the 90's (it's on a '78 plate). The log book stays with the previous owner these days so I havn't had a chance to look at it for any more info yet. Then again the year dating accepted by the DVLA for these imports is often inaccurate.

The frame number deff has a K as I took this from the headstock rather than from documents.  

[Mark M]

Steve, Yes I already checked DS for parts availablility.

Where's the pic?

[SteveD CB500F]

Much as I hesitate to contradict Bryan, my list has:

Frame: CB550K-2000001 to 2072668
Engine: CB550E-2200001 to 221144862

Can't for the life of me remember where I got these from though...

[SteveD CB500F]

Oh, and if I was at home I'd check my VIN but I'm fairly certain it has a "K" in it.

[Mark M]

Steve, thanks for the pic, you've set the bar far too high though.

It will make a good point of reference, the only discrpancy I've spotted so far is my mastercylinder is the solid casting type rather than having the nylon reservoir.

[SteveD CB500F]

I bought it in May from a guy in Leicester (eBay)

He paid £1400 for it from a mate and then another £1000 on cosmetics. He rebuilt it from the frame up with powder coat, stainless bolts, new wheels, tank, seat, the whole 9 yards.  BUT he couldn't find any new pipes so these are original. They look beautiful but #3 and #4 have no innards!

I paid £1750 including delivery (which must have cost him £200)

[Mark M]

And I thaugh it was all your own hard work......

I have a slight headstart being only £420 out of pocket (must have dropped out of my pocket lifting it out of the skip). It is very original if a little 'aged' arround the edges. It's been kept inside most of it's life and not much sign of winter salt rot, so I'm happy.

Cleaned the traditional crap out of the carbs/jets last night and it ticks over on all four, with a little drip of juice from number 2 just for luck. Can't get it in the workshop just yet so will have to wait for the weekend to sort out the brakes, an MOT, and out on the road. ( Perhaps that's a bit optimistic!  )