Topic: Thanks for Advice...maybe a bit more?

[Nortstudio]

So I went to look at the 1976 CB550K today.  It was in rough shape, but I thought it would be from the photos the seller sent me.  The help I received here, prior to seeing it in person, was much appreciated.  But now for the help with the final push...

I am looking to get a cheap bike that runs, that i can use minimally for now - no long trip in my future, but to also learn to work on these things myself.  I understand that I may get in over my head, but, worst case, have reputable shops (and all of you folks!) nearby. 

Seeing the bike up close makes me feel that i can fix a few things immediately, and then look toward the future for a more healthy refurb - to get it more to my liking (definitely not worried about "all original" or anything, I just want the basic functionality and look to be cool).  I would love to hear if you all think I am wrong, or just plain crazy, to go ahead and buy this beast.  Price is $550.

I have posted some photos on a mobileme account, hope the link works...  Check them out, to see if it might help with a recommendation.

https://www.me.com/gallery/#100028

The good (as I see it):
Clean Title
Started up fine
Idled pretty well (a bit of increased reving while idling, and then back down again???)
Took it for a test drive, seemed pretty good
Forks, despite looking awful, seemed decent

The bad:
Shocks are a bit rough (understand this is pretty typical).
Needs a turn signal relay
Low beam worked, but high beam didn't
Needs new air filter
Needs new hand grips
Needs new side panels (I don't care to have them be original, cheap will do.
The rear brake assembly/arm seemed pretty old and could use replacing (for peace of mind)
The front brake needs to be bled (seller said he would try to get it done at dealer across the street

Any help is so much appreciated!

[scunny]

sounds just about brand new, buy it.

[kck3]

Cant see the pics you posted...but for that price you cant go wrong with the clean title.  A member on here is making reproduction side covers (search for it) for a good price-all you would have to do is paint them, can prob find a new relay at an auto parts store, carbs prob need a good clean, and with the description it sounds like new tires will prob be needed.  If the owner gets the front brakes worked on, just pay him the $550 and get out of there.

[swellguy]

I have posted some photos on a mobileme account, hope the link works...
Any help is so much appreciated!

Nothing sounds too difficult but at some point you'll have to figure there is something within the bike that will need some sort of attention.
Can't see your photos because they're on a mobile me account and that requires someone who wants to see the images signing up to Apple's service that you inevitably have to subscribe to. My 30 day "free" account was never renewed so I can't sign in and refuse to give Apple another email address to look at the pics.
Might I suggest a free photo hosting service like Photobucket. Linked photos will show up in your posts, nobody else has to join anything and it will make it far easier to get help and advice from other forum members.

[Stev-o]

Again, the link does not work, but for $550, buy it! [Or maybe offer $475 since you need to buy a few parts]. But all sounds minor.

Open an acct on photobucket.com [free] and you can post some pics for us.

PS. I have a '76 550F and love it.

[Nortstudio]

Sorry about that folks.

I will try photobucket..

[Stev-o]

She's a bit rusty, I'd lower my offer or keep looking.

Photobucket works great!

[seaweb11]

$1.00 per CC  Buy IT!

[kck3]

Id be careful with that tank rust-could be from the inside out.

[Nortstudio]

Thanks for the replies and the photobucket tip (where's this been all my life!)

I do recognize the rust issue, so I guess my question would be: is it insurmountable?  Realize that the look of this thing is about exactly what I want for the streets of Brooklyn right now. If in the future I was able to get her looking decent, I would then move her into an indoor storage facility around here.

Price wise, I have been searching for about a month or more. In this neck of the woods, there are not many bikes close to this range. I don't want to bother with something that becomes $500 down the drain, but also wouldn't mind if this particular bike just needs more elbow grease than others (that I have much more of than cash right now).

I checked the tank and it didn't seem bad.

I've already done a bit of the craigslist dance with this guy for the price, and I was the one who settled on $1/cc. So probably not much wiggle room there.

Your help and wisdom is much appreciated.

[seaweb11]

Id be careful with that tank rust-could be from the inside out.

pick up a used tank on ebay $25.00 - $100.00
There seems to be nothing wrong with it that can't be sorted quite easily

[Stev-o]

Go ride it for 20 min. If all good and that's the look you like, buy it.

[Nortstudio]

Sorry    I guess I stated that in a weird way.  This "look..." theme from Sanford and Son playing in the background!...is not exactly what i would be going for if I had the money, but for my circumstances right now, it's about the best i can do.  And it also seems like it will offer more than enough opportunity to learn the in/outs of these things.

I did ride her, and she seemed pretty good to me.  Of course, it was in queens (land of 1000 stop lights), but I did get to open her up a tiny bit on a more out of the way road.

With the one missing muffler, she sounded like a f%#king Harley.  Killed me...  I think I forgot to put that in the first "bad" part of the post.  Seller has a slip on for me, but I think that I would be shooting for a new set of pipes/exhaust fairly early on.

I really can't say enough about the help on this forum.  Finding it has been a godsend,

[Nortstudio]

pick up a used tank on ebay $25.00 - $100.00
There seems to be nothing wrong with it that can't be sorted quite easily

I read about an acid solution that can get rid of slight rust inside a tank, is this too good to be true?   

The tank actually looked decent to my untrained eye, in the blaring sun.

[wookie]

Looks like a great bike to learn wrenching on.  There are tank kits which come with an acid cleaner, etcher and coating. 

[Nortstudio]

The stuff I saw was called Metal Rescue.  It seemed about as easy as possible. The kit you mentioned, is there a specific brand you like?

[Nortstudio]

I had shoved this question into my OP and I think it got lost among all the great replies n

Now that i actually have the bike, I found that the headlight works, but the highbeam does not. Are there two filaments in this thing?  It's only replaceable a whole though, as it's sealed?  Pain in the ass.

 I have done some searching, and it seems that "upgrade" to halogen is taxing on the battery? 

[Stev-o]

Yes, it's a sealed beam and even on high, doesn't put out a lotta light.

Do you plan to do night riding?

[Nortstudio]

I'm sure there will be some night riding in there. I plan on getting around NYC on the thing, and a few house always becomes 8 hours around here.

Is there a reason that it wouldn't be turning to high beam other than a blown filament?  It does have 2???

I found a cheap replacement - so I can go ahead and order it, but I'd like to suss out if it's a headlight issue, or and electronics issue. 

[TwoTired]

From the pics I can see, it's worth at most $300.
You will easily need to put another $1000 in that bike to make it reliable.

I think you are going to need another tank, seat, spokes, Carb kits, shocks, exhaust system, probably chain and sprokets,
Tires? Tubes? Battery,  Electrical repair, Brake overhaul,
Possibly, Head bearings, Lots of steel wool, and paint, side covers, air filter, hoses, etc.

Probably gonna take $1000- $1500 (or more) to make it a regular rider.
IMO.

Cheers,

[Stev-o]

Ooh, I just heard his bubble burst!

[Nortstudio]

Arent you a bundle of joy!

No bubbles burst in the least. I knew that I'd have to put money into it. Just no plans to make it the immaculate machine i will hopefully have one day.

It's got new chain, new rear tire, and a few things on the way that will hopefully bring it closer to decent. The tank is not rusted, and it is, and has been running - so I'll enjoy it while it's working ok, and recognize that's exactly what the subway is for, when it doesn't.

And if in the end, it turns out to be a somewhat expensive learning project, I'm ok with that too. Not sure where the $300 evaluation comes from, but the few #$%*bags I saw near here, that were not running, were well over that. I got the best bang i could for the buck, at least in this neck of the woods. Around here I can't get a 3 day Continuing education workshop for $500. So, this should prove more fun.

[seaweb11]

Yes, it will cost a few bucks and some learning to get it back to some peoples standards?  

That's what we and the forum are here for....... no?
Obviously you know that, and have taken on the project with the knowledge that you will throw a few bucks at it from time to time over the next year or so.
Nice to see she has a new owner with good visions for her.

P.S. TT. I'm sure the post on your part was not intended to bring this guy down, but I don't see really see the point   It runs!
 He posted that he owns the bike now.

Lets just help him not put pods on it and all will be well.

[Nortstudio]

Thanks seaweb. TT was blunt for sure, but correct if I was talking about bringing this thing Back to it's original glory. I'm not looking to do that. The seat stays!  It's going to be parked Nightly on a Brooklyn street.  It has a huge chance of being backed into and knocked over by a disgruntled teamster, on a nightly basis!

This bike is for me. I'm happy to have the opportunity to learn a bit. And one day, with that knowledge, and this forum, I will have a bike TT will love.

No worries. I have the pods on the way and an appointment to have the whole bike dipped in gold.

[seaweb11]

I like you already

[swellguy]

This could be a solution to some of your rust issues . . .

Years ago I was looking for a Harley Sportster (Buell actually) motor for a custom build. Never really found the wrecked bike or basket case I was hoping for, but then I found this:



A complete running and registered bike. What is topical here is that the guy who built it pretty much dry fit everything, then torqued it all down and sprayed everything with bbq paint. I mean everything. Nuts, bolts, capscrews, wheels (some overspray on the tires), spokes, hubs, brake line fittings, exhaust . . . everything. Take the air filter off and half the carb was black, the other half polished aluminum (S&S Super E).

Crazy Australian guy, I remember he intentionally scuffed part of the frame when I was looking at it then pulled out a can and sprayed over the scuff. "There you go mate, no worries!"

I'm just suggesting a relatively direct and foolproof direction for your bike. It might be near worthless afterwards, but what the hell.

So what happened to the bike pictured above? Bought it for a song, gutted the frame and built this:



It's not Honda, I know, just thought I'd share.

[TwoTired]

P.S. TT. I'm sure the post on your part was not intended to bring this guy down, but I don't see really see the point  It runs!
 He posted that he owns the bike now.

Sorry, I didn't realize he already bought the bike.  I guess I missed the post saying he owned it already and thought it was a prospective buy.

FYI, I bought the bike below for $300.  I don't have a before picture.  But, this is what it looks like after the renovation with much of the items I listed replaced.

Cheers,

[Nortstudio]

Both amazing bikes!  It proves with a little ingenuity you can make a nice something or other. I'm looking to probably shoot somewhere in-between.

A little solidity, a little personal flare. My tastes run toward the stock, original older bikes. But these two examples show just what a little elbow grease (and of course money!) can do.

I'm planning on taking it slow.  It's a process I'm pretty excited to get into. The learning is going to be just as rewarding as that first great ride...well, almost

Thanks for all the great input, and I will be hitting you up for some of those much needed fixes TT mentioned.

Scott

[Stev-o]

Nort - Seaweb would LOVE it if it were plated in chrome!


PS. Here is the "after" pic of my $600 project bike:
[1 year and countless dollars]

[Nortstudio]

Very sweet. I will very, VERY lucky to har something half that nice when I'm done