Topic: CB550Cafe's 1976 550

[CB550CAFE]

I finally pulled the trigger and bought my first bike. I've been searching online and locally for about a year now, and came across this 1976 550 on craigslist in St. Helens, OR. The guy I bought it from owned it for about 15 years and rode it as his daily commuter in the summer. I drove the 400 miles to pick it up and trailer it home about 2 weeks ago.

So far all I've done is replace the spark plugs, spark plug wires, change the oil, and it gave it a thorough wash to get familiar with the entire bike. The bike has about 21,000 miles on the original motor, and runs and drives great.

The plan is to repaint the frame gloss black and the tank, covers, and seat cowl either charcoal or beige. I'm hoping to either find some vintage badges for the gas tank or some replica decals and just clear coat over them. I'll be changing the handle bars because I'm not a fan of drag bars at all. I'm going to modify the seat, I hate these seats with the button fasteners and the flat and square seat pad, just doesn't flow with the lines of the rest of the bike.  More progress to come...

[Stev-o]

First off, welcome to he club! Nice bike to start your project with, haven't seen that one around here before.
Did you get a good deal?
Sounds like you know exactly what you want, good luck.

[CB550CAFE]

Although this is my first bike, I've had my share of projects. I'm really into older Volvos, I've owned them since I turned 16 and got my drivers license...something about 'em. Here's a few pictures of my last two projects...





After some paint, scrubbing, wheels, bumpers, blood, sweat, and a ton of weekends...










This was my last project that I just sold, I miss it but some of the money bought my 550:





After:

[CB550CAFE]

First off, welcome to he club! Nice bike to start your project with, haven't seen that one around here before.
Did you get a good deal?
Sounds like you know exactly what you want, good luck.

Thanks man! He was asking $1700 and I got him down to $1300. After a ton of research, I think I got a decent deal. I do have an idea of what I'm going for, this will be a long process as I plan to drive it all summer long while upgrading and modifying it.

[neverendingproject]

WOW nice job on the Volvo.  I'm (slowly) working on a PV544 myself.  Looks like you got a great deal in my opinion.  As I'm sure you know, prices for these aren't exactly going down.  Oh I might be interested in taking that seat off your hands if you decide to get rid of it 

Welcome to the madness

[CB550CAFE]

WOW nice job on the Volvo.  I'm (slowly) working on a PV544 myself.  Looks like you got a great deal in my opinion.  As I'm sure you know, prices for these aren't exactly going down.  Oh I might be interested in taking that seat off your hands if you decide to get rid of it 

Welcome to the madness

I appreciate it, I had each Volvo for about 2 years and I just recently sold the Beige one. Paid some things off and used the rest to get my 550. PV's are awesome, PM me some pictures when you get a chance, I'd love to see it. As far as the seat goes, I'm going to see what I can do with it, I have an idea that I think will work and look a lot better.

[CB550CAFE]

Spent a few hours on the bike today. My neighbor and I found a few wires in the wiring harness that were toast causing the brake light to malfunction. New wire, a few wiring barrels, some solder and we fix that. We also ran new gas lines to the carburetors and got her finally running still needs a full tune up and some attention to the front brake, I think I just need to bleed the line.

[SF]

love those pipes! did the guy say they were aftermarket or oem

[FunJimmy]

love those pipes! did the guy say they were aftermarket or oem

Definitely not OEM. They look familiar, but not sure why.
Nice find and worth every bit of that $1300 too.

Cheers
FJ

[CB550CAFE]

love those pipes! did the guy say they were aftermarket or oem

I like them too, they sound great! They're not stock. After a little research I think it might be a Kerker header and pipe...maybe somebody here could shed some light.

Definitely not OEM. They look familiar, but not sure why.
Nice find and worth every bit of that $1300 too.

Cheers
FJ

Thanks FJ, it's nice to get some assurance.

I've decided on a color scheme too, the plans are glossy beige tank, seat cowl, and side covers with a black frame. I'll polish every piece I can and use some vintage emblems like these:

[FunJimmy]

Derek

Here's the thread with what looks like your exhaust: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=85867.25
Still can't say who makes it though.

[CB550CAFE]

Derek

Here's the thread with what looks like your exhaust: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=85867.25
Still can't say who makes it though.

Thanks FJ! This is exactly the kind of thread I'm looking for to get more and more familiar with my bike, I appreciate it.

[DanielB]

Bike looks good!

Are those drag bars on there?

[CB550CAFE]

Bike looks good!

Are those drag bars on there?

Hey Daniel-

Thanks for the compliment, they are drag bars...I've never really been a fan of drag bars but they look ok on the bike, what I'd like to do is swap a GSXR 600 or 750 front end on it. In the mean time I might just find some nice clip ons.

[DanielB]

Thanks for letting me know.

You have a great start. I can't wait to follow your progress. It is giving me motivation to work on mine!

[CB550CAFE]

Relocated the regulator, coil, battery, some of the wiring harness. Went to town with the grinder and paint. Wish I would have taken some pictures of the progress, I'll take some later showing where and how I relocated things...

Crappy cell phone pic:



Still need to buy some filters for the carbs, fabricate a cover for the battery, finish the seat, and trim and tuck the positive cable to the coil.