Topic: When do you need a botom end rebuild?

[Jing]

My dad has a cb550 thats been sitting in the garage. It's seen better days so I'm thinking about doing a full build on the thing. I wanted to rebuild the motor but it seems a lot of people never do a bottom end rebuild and stick with the top. My question is when is a bottom end rebuild necessary?

[Tnutz]

how many miles? i have a 50,000km 550 motor that runs and sounds fine...But Retard Honda engineers used #$%*ty hyvo Primary chains with no tensioner that barely make it to 30,000 km's without chewing throught the cases...So if motor is out you might as well atleast change that too...thats probably my next step on my 500 now, runs and drives fine...but now i should do that after i rebuilt the upper half of it...

Every one pokes fun at the Italians and Brits for the way they used to build bikes...yeh thumbs up to Honda on the hyvo with no tensioner that eats the cases....i thought i bought reliability...might as well bought that Ducati Sport750 that i wanted, atleast i could have something that can corner and stop.

[IAmCitizenMe]

how many miles? i have a 50,000km 550 motor that runs and sounds fine...But Retard Honda engineers used #$%*ty hyvo Primary chains with no tensioner that barely make it to 30,000 km's without chewing throught the cases...So if motor is out you might as well atleast change that too...thats probably my next step on my 500 now, runs and drives fine...but now i should do that after i rebuilt the upper half of it...

Every one pokes fun at the Italians and Brits for the way they used to build bikes...yeh thumbs up to Honda on the hyvo with no tensioner that eats the cases....i thought i bought reliability...might as well bought that Ducati Sport750 that i wanted, atleast i could have something that can corner and stop.

Wow. You sound... disappointed in your Honda.

[Tnutz]

i like it...but where is this ultra awesome japanese high reliability engineering i keep hearing about.  obviously not on this motor.

[bistromath]

your motorcycle is thirty five years old. the fact that it still exists is pretty indicative of good engineering. 

[Tnutz]

i suppose. 

[wannabridin]

your motorcycle is thirty five years old. the fact that it still exists is pretty indicative of good engineering. 

x2!!!

show me a 35 year old duc that'll still run w/ minimal maintenance and i'll show you a honda w/ ducati stickers!!!     that was actually a really bad analogy....  fail on me!   

[bryanj]

IF serviced correctly and carbs balanced and not thrashed within a mm of their life from cold the 500/550 primary will last over 50,000.

Neglect the above and it can wear out in 25,000


Now is that bad manufacture or bad owner(s)

[Beans]

IM surprised at how well these old bikes perform for their age and when they where build.  and after riding allot of newer street bikes I don't think I could ever sell mine.   But if taken care of it will run forever.  I'm planing this winter to go through my motor since I think it has a little head gasket leak. maybe change the chain if necessary.