Topic: My 1976 CB550F blew up. [with photos]

[heffay]

i doubt i'll ever know what really happened!

which might be a good thing... i'd probably stop riding if i knew all the variables.

[jorwesflow]

Yours is truely "blown/burnt -up". Man, I hate it for you. I will assume there is no insurance, so if you decide to replace - do post and let us know. I would for one donate parts or funds to help the replace. I don't offer to help folks too lazy to help themselves or who just plain abuse/tear their stuff out of neglect and abuse - yours is some real bad luck and you had put time into it -

Gordon

i did have full comprehensive coverage, but it was for a declared value of what I paid for it (less than $1k), not adding in the $1500 extra I put into it with parts, supplies, etc... so the claim check does not even really come close to compensating me. i should have updated my policy with a higher declared value after all the work i put in, but i figured i could have done that next season.

anyhow, thanks for the offer to help! i'll be looking around this winter for something. not sure if i'll go with a 550 again, or a 750. we'll see

[heffay]

i'll be looking around this winter for something. not sure if i'll go with a 550 again, or a 750. we'll see

Ever considered a little one?  I've ridden them all and I prefer the 350f and 400f, mostly based off of handling characteristics and you just don't see them as much.  If its not your every day ride, having a baby four is a lot of fun.

[RRRToolSolutions]

I would recommend you doing a CB750 for sure. Parts are widely available and cheap. I will say of all my restorations, the 750 Honda was hands-down the easiest to find parts for. There are more pages of CB750 Honda parts on eBay and others than any other motorcycle I've been involved with. I do have lots of parts left too.

Another reason for this choice is your satisfaction and resale if you ever did want to re-bike. You can have a 67 horse 70's bike or a 90~100 horse monster as time goes by. Find one of my designed frame kits and you can easily build in stages -

Keep us posted. Gordon

[nixonwylie9]

Im sorry to see those pics.  I know how much work goes into these bikes,  its a heartbreaker to see it go up in flames, so keep your head up and get another one going and remember the good memories you had on it.

[Terry in Australia]

I would recommend you doing a CB750 for sure. Parts are widely available and cheap. I will say of all my restorations, the 750 Honda was hands-down the easiest to find parts for. There are more pages of CB750 Honda parts on eBay and others than any other motorcycle I've been involved with. I do have lots of parts left too.

Another reason for this choice is your satisfaction and resale if you ever did want to re-bike. You can have a 67 horse 70's bike or a 90~100 horse monster as time goes by. Find one of my designed frame kits and you can easily build in stages -

Keep us posted. Gordon

+1. I'm a CB750 nut anyway, but I restored a CB350F (great little bike, but I'm too big and heavy for little bikes) back to factory original and finding parts for it was a nightmare. The CB750 on the other hand is a brilliant bike with excellent OEM parts availability, and plenty of after-market and race parts around too. Cheeers, Terry.