Topic: Is it worth it? searching the craigslist ads....

[JZEROE]

PS, I think that's a 550F, not a K—check the location of the kickstand.

[Elkie]

From the passenger peg mounts I'd say it was a 74/75/76 CB550k, both my k's have the kickstand in that location.

[youngerthanmybike]

Yeah, i thought the F's didn't have the center stand because of the 4-1 exhuast, or maybe that's just the aftermarket exhausts that don't fit. I'm hoping to find out more about what he did to the engine, and then we'll see, hopefully I can get him on the phone over the weekend here.

I'm not worried about the carbs, I can handle that.
I'm not worried about the paint or the seat cover, those are just aesthetics.
I like that it has new cables and lines
I think you're right about the gauges....
I like that the frame has been powdercoated.

[Elkie]

The gauges seem fine. Pic of my 76.

[youngerthanmybike]

So here's a couple questions I want to run by him-

-More specifics on the engine cleaning that was done
-Were specs checked on any of the internal engine parts? Parts/gaskets/seals replaced?
-On the powdercoating- what was done for prep? Any bearings replaced on reassembly?
-Where are the oil leaks coming from?

What else do I need to find out?

[Hannibal Smith]

As common as CB's are...................................

Engine not molested (never opened up from a factory build) and a title.

Even if the motor needs to be rebuilt, you are ahead unless you know the guy who did the wrenching personally. New to CB's but wise to cars/bikes.

No title...........walk away. Purchased a non-titled Shovelhead in Alaska, had to sell it for parts, never again.

I just purchased a strong running, well taken care of CB550 with a title for $500.00. Went down to the California DMV, showed my papers and walked out with a legal title in my name in less than 10 minutes...................that is worth at least $200 bucks of headache and snags.

My opinion, but I am thanking myself everytime I work on my new 550.

[Kframe]

I've never seen fuel lines routed like that.
Might be why the bike doesn't pull very hard.  Low fuel levels in the bowls possibly.


 
-K

[Hannibal Smith]

It's like buying relics, it doesn't matter what the guy tells you, it is 100% irrelevant. This is a machine not a painting.

"I honed the cylinders, and re-ringed her" This could mean any of the following, plus about 1000 more-
1- Total lie.
2-Honed with mixmatched stoned for 20 minutes while drunk".
3-Crosshatched the bores with 220 grit, just like Grandpappy taught me.
4- Used the old rings, and didn't measure a thing, don't need to.
5-Mixed up all the parts.
6. Forgot to install a wrist pin circlip......she runs though!
7-etc. etc. etc.

This is the reality that I have found to be true.

I have seen more hacks than I can count.

[Hannibal Smith]

Okay, so I've passed on the 750's, especially the 750F's. I just really like that chrome rear fender, I don't think a CB looks right without one, even if it's been shortened.

Anyhow, here's a new one. A rescued 75 550K that needs to be finished:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/mcy/1669081958.html

$500 - runs, no title.
Here's the email I got from him: "I purchased the bike in 2007 to tear down and turn it into a cafe.  The bike was a mess.  I think they were using it as an off-roader.  I took it all apart and cleaned all the dirt and grime off then started a rebuild.  My grandfather is a mechanic and he helped with the engine, but we didn't find any problems, so I basically cleaned it and put it back together.  

I had the frame powder coated and started putting it back together.  It was missing all electrical, the sidecovers, the seat, and much more, so I searched around and bought all the parts I could find and put together a bike.  The electrical harness came from a '77 and the gauges and ignition came from a '76, but it did not come with a key, so I wired in an push button start hidden next to the gauges (it works perfectly), also added small blinkers and a flush tail light in the fender.  The side covers are from two different bikes and don't match perfectly.  I cleaned and re-coated the inside of the tank and put in new fuel lines.  

I fired it up today and took it around the block.  It starts great and runs, but has very little power, because I never had the carbs timed right.  It also leaked oil two summers ago, and I haven't tried to fix that yet.  One of the carbs also leaks fuel (most likely a float that sticks).  The bike looks great and has cool lines.  The tank and side covers need painted, and the seat needs recovered, but it could be a cool bike.  I haven't put any real miles on it and the the gauges are from a different bike, so I have no idea how many miles are on the thing.  I will get some more pics in the morning and send them to you."

This is the e-mail that should have been sent.
CB550 Leaks oil, doesn't run for sh%t, no power, Frankensteined parts and electics, no title, and I want $500.00 for it.

[youngerthanmybike]

Thanks Hannibal,
I appreciate the thoughts. I would have echoed them while I still lived on the east coast in the suburbs, but out here in the mountains of the west, well, there are 4 cities in the state of California that have more people in them than the entire state of Montana. This state itself has less than a million people, California has like 35 million. There are only 2 counties in the entire state that have a population larger than 100k. (I'll get off my soapbox in a minute) I just don't have as many bikes to choose from, and I'm going to have to go to further lengths to get one. I'm not, however, going to drive to CA to buy a bike. But that's okay, I don't live here because of the CB bike market.

I've only been searching Craigslist for about a week, so I'm going to keep it up. It's a pain though, searching every city within 500 miles of here.....

[754]

Hannibal, you are scaring the kids..
 How much was the shovel, when, and how much was there..?

[Hannibal Smith]

Hannibal, you are scaring the kids..
 How much was the shovel, when, and how much was there..?

No title, not too sure, but it was about an 80% basket case that I got from a guy that did the Fairbank's HA guy's bikes (man, there were some sweet Harleys that crew rode) The frame was not original to the motor. It was without any paperwork, and I tried to get it titled/registered in California...................enough said, maybe could have done "special construction" but it was more trouble than it was worth (at the time).

I paid something like $1800.00??? No front end or wheels, but everything else basically and this would have been 1994-5 when I got out of the Army. The frame got chopped by some local here, and I don't know if he ever got it legal. I should have saved the darn Mill! Could have put it in a rigid Paughco with the MSO........................

Don't worry, I will score another, just with a title though!

[Elkie]

I google craigslist, in the results page it has a box under the link, can use this to search the entire craigslist site. Search for what your looking for and add your state. Ex. "CB550 UT" Then you might want to narrow results to the last week etc. As far as the fuel lines looks like he ran them after he assembled everything. Its a PITA to get the hose on the nipple the correct way after assemblying.

[traveler]

First, decide what you REALLY want.....a 750 or a 550...they are not the same bike.  I wanted a 750, and got a deal on my 550.....I like it...but it's still not a 750.....

Second, have to have a title, be COMPLETE, and RUN.

Do you want a "K" or an "F"?  spend a bit more time looking at pics, and then go find what you really want in your heart.

~Joe

[SHELLFISH]

I just registered a 1976 550K in CT. No title but I did have the signed off X registration from 1982.
In CT the signed off registration is the bill of sale. The fella told me he lost it. When I went to CT DMV they said we don't need a title for that old a bike; they previous owner probably couldn't find it right? YES! The bike is now titled to me!
In Florida...no title.... no registration!

[youngerthanmybike]

So I got a bit more of the story. He took the head and the carbs off the bike about 2 years ago and cleaned them both real good, but didn't replace anything, not even gaskets. I think he did that while the whole frame was stripped down for powdercoating. I don't think he replaced any of the bearings on reassembly, he just put it back together. One of the pipes has a welded repair around the mounting bracket which is a bit rough. The bike is a 75, but he swapped in a wiring harness from a 78 because the original was so hacked. That needs to be tidied up. He didn't have a key, so he wired in a push button start rather than a new ignition  so that has to go. I figure this is what I need to make it run:
New ignition
New seat cover
Carb kits
Gasket set, even if I only use the top end for now.
Needs speedo and tach cables
And a new air filter.
He also says he isn't stuck on the $500 price, he paid 350 for it, and it sounded like he'd take that again.
I'm not worried about the title, it sounds like that shouldn't give me trouble here in MT.

I'm still trying to talk the wife into a me buying a bike though. The going is slow. She's due with our second kiddo at the end of May and is pretty focused on that. We also just got 6-8 more inches of snow here in Bozeman, so it's seems like I should be looking for a snowmobile instead of a motorcycle.....