Topic: 1976 CB550 - Restore or sell

[bsobolik]

After looking for a new bike for about a year and a half and being paralyzed by over-analysis, I finally bought this '76 CB550 two weeks ago. After getting it home, riding it, and doing some research, I now realize that it needs a lot of work, probably including an engine rebuild.

Last week, I bought a '78 CB750 that only has 10k miles, was owned by a professional mechanic and is super clean.

I would like to try to fix up the CB550 and I have the time, but I have zero wrenching skills. Am I crazy to take on a project like this? Should I just get rid of it?

Thanks in advance for the input. I love this forum. I'm bummed that I missed the relay. I hope to participate next year.

[Toxic]

Your lack of skills should not be the determining factor.   Are you determined to take on a project like this?  Are you willing to learn?  Are you resolved to the fact you will probably spend more on the bike than you will ever get back when you want to sell it?

If you don't have the desire or the resources ... sell it

[KingCustomCycles.com]

The chances of you learning to wrench on a bike you already don't like, and with another nice one to ride, are about zero.  The 750 will keep you busy with small repairs.  Sell it.

[bsobolik]

Toxic: I am definitely willing to learn. I don't know if I have the financial resources. How much does restoring a running bike typically cost?

KingCustom: It's not that I don't like it. I got the second one because at $2000 I felt like it was too good a deal to pass up. If I fix up the 550 it would be my girlfriend's bike.

[davesee]

if you don't desperately need cash and you have the space, i'd keep the 550 and work on it. you will learn a lot (at your own pace because you have a working bike) and you can use what you've learned to do the maintenance on the 750.

you also might discover that you really like working on bikes as a hobby.

that's what i'd do. good luck whatever you decide.

[Bankerdanny]

I think davesee has it right. If your budget can support it I would fix it up, but not 'restore' which implies a whole different level of work and cost.

You talk about doing research that leads you to believe you need to do a lot of work on the bike. What kind of research? What is it that you think that you need to do? These bikes make all kinds of noise that might sound expensive, but in fact be easy to resolve.

It's a 4 cylinder bike, so restoration won't be as easy as a twin or single. But the SOHC bikes are pretty straight forward and if you have some mechanical aptitude there is no reason you can't do a lot of the work yourself with nothing more that the shop manual and this forum to guide you.

[Kevin400F]

If you have the space, or even if you don't, keep it as a fun project to learn various maintenance operations.  Just think how much fun it would be for you and your girlfriend to ride up to a local bike night on your two vintage Hondas.

(Of course, she'll get all the attention, so as long as you can handle the pressure.....go for it!)

Kevin

[hyde7278]

Id say post what you think you have to do to it and why to see if anyone can steer you in the right direction on how big of a deal each thing is and then decide. For the most part these bikes are pretty simple, theres not many special tools you will need other then a set of basic sockets and wrenches that can be picked up at sears or harbor freight for a small amount and the knowledge you will gain will be priceless. There are many people on here who would be more then glad to give advice and lend a hand if your close enough. So I say keep it.

[ScottCB550]

if u wnat to sell the 550 let me know...I took on one that is quite a project and my first build...my buddy is looking for one

[bsobolik]

I do mean "fix up" not "restore." A friend of mine spent 2 years on a bare metal restoration of an Jaguar E-type. I'm not interested in creating a museum piece...

I don't know what the problem is. It seems to ride well, but it is only getting 25MPG or so and it leaks oil visibly on the top of the cylinder head on the left side. It is very noisy, but I think a lot of that is because the muffler is rusted out. I talked to a neighbor of my brother's who sells old bikes and bike parts. He said I probably needed a top-end rebuild because the bike has almost 30k miles on it. I don't think the previous owner maintained it very well. The oil in it was filthy. Who knows how long it was in there. The bolt that holds the oil filter cover on was so rusty and stripped that I had to use a crazy bolt removing thing I got at NAPA to get it out. (Irwin makes it - works well.)

(I'd be more uncomfortable if I was with my girlfriend and a bunch of bikers and I got more attention than she did.)

[faux fiddy]

I do mean "fix up" not "restore." A friend of mine spent 2 years on a bare metal restoration of an Jaguar E-type. I'm not interested in creating a museum piece...
(I'd be more uncomfortable if I was with my girlfriend and a bunch of bikers and I got more attention than she did.)

Looks like there is some really nice patina on that one.

[redlined24]

Did you buy that 750 I'n Bloomington? It's a nice clean bike if it's the one I know

[bsobolik]

I did! The 550 was in Linton.

[redlined24]

Nice! I saw the 550 on craigslist when it was for sale, I also have a 750 and just picked up a 550 a few weeks ago, good combo of bikes  haha

[bsobolik]

We should go for a ride down 446 sometime...

[MoMo]

Keep it and get it running well, you'll have a blast riding with your girlfriend.  It will not cost that much to get it running well and it looks like a good foundation...my .02...Larry