Author Topic: New guy looking for advice for direction of CB550 project(Mods,plz move to proj) (Read 3475 times)

lakeguy · « **on:** November 21, 2011, 03:37:11 PM »

Hey all. FNG here looking for advice.

I recently picked up an apparently all stock 75 CB550 from a buddy at work for $300. Was not running and sat out for several years. It took me a couple hours to get it squared away and in running condition. Runs great now and only appears to really need a new head gasket and battery.

Now heres where I need the advice. Since this bike appears to be all original(to me anyways, with the exception of the paint and missing the right side batt. cover) would I be better off going down the restoration route or the cafe/rat type route?. The main intention may be to sell the bike when its done. I'm not really sure though. It definitely wouldnt be a daily rider though because I already have an 05 Triumph Sprint for that.

Just basically looking for suggestions/ideas on which route to take. Thanks.

scunny · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:40:21 PM »

looks like you have most of the important bits, my vote is keep it original.

Toxic · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:49:25 PM »

if you are thinking of selling it like you mentioned, then stock will be worth more and will appeal to a wider range of buyers

Rigid · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:50:00 PM »

Interesting question, I have been pondering that myself with a 550 I have coming up for its turn in the shop. My experience is the light cafe bikes bring significantly more at resale than the stockers. Some numbers would be $1800 for a nice stock bike, $2600 for a cafe seat, clubmans, and 4-1 exhaust. I have always gone the cafe route but am wondering if the stocker market is coming up enough to justify a light restoration. Recover the seat, new original paint and decals, cleaned up and running good. The problem has always been for me it costs more to fix up a stock bike and they bring less on resale. It seems like the more bits and pieces I strip off a bike, the more it is worth. My customs are a testiment to that theory that has proven itself 16 times now. They sell for $3400-5000 and I take as much as I can off of them. I only add back what the customer needs or wants for their individual taste, or state laws. The other situation I see is the cafe that has had too much done to it and potential buyers may or may not step up with the cash to cover the investment the seller has made in "performance" modifications. It has to look good, AND perform good, for really top money. Bottom line, if classic bike buyers don't want them all chopped into cafe bikes, they will need to produce the cash that a cafe will bring. TMI and fire at will......... BTW, those bags would look absolutely sick painted to match a stock restoration.

mono · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:53:52 PM »

whatever you do, if you replace the pipes let me know. i just got a '75 550 over the summer and my pipes were in rough shape. I'd like to keep mine all stock, so if you're looking to sell i call dibs!

looks good though - honestly it's a hard decision. a "factory" color will run you ~$150 if you want to spray it yourself - there's a thread on here fora guy who sells the vintage honda colors in spray cans that would work well. then you'll need new stickers for the tank - ~$80. a new side cover will run you about $40.

i've already put in about 100 hours on my restore, but mine looked way rustier than yours (i don't see rust on yours? may be photo quality). taking everything apart, sandblasting it, repainting, cleaning, polishing, blah blah blah.

it would be quicker and probably cheaper in the end to cafe' it out.

if you're looking to resell, near-mint stock bikes around here (i'm from OH) of the 550/750 go for around $2000, but i'm talking NEAR MINT. no dents, perfect chrome, no leaks, all tuned up, and low miles.

there was a guy right over the border in MI selling a MINTY orange 550 for $2300 a few months ago, but that thing looked like he just pulled it out of the crate.

to get yours back to that shape you won't ever get your $$ out of it if you're looking to flip it.

lakeguy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:06:11 PM »

Thanks for all the advice so far guys. Its much appreciated.

Part of me thinks that if I go thru all the work to restore it, I wont want to sell it. Which may or may not be such a bad thing. I could give it to my son when he turns 16. I think that bike restored would be a chick magnet for a 16 year old

I think Im more or less into it for just the project aspect of it. Money would probably be secondary. I have the next 3 months off from work, so I will have plenty of time to work on it. I can go either direction though. Part of me wants to see it restored back to that beautiful orange and part of me wants this blacked out mean looking bike for cruising around town.

mono · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:10:12 PM »

good luck! wow i wish *I* had 3 mos off work to work on my bike lol - it would have to be "with pay" of course.

but seriously - if you have any questions this is the place for answers. i've only been a member here a whort while and the people on this forum have proven an amazing source of knowledge. invaluable.

and of course if you choose to switch out those pipes give me a shout. ha!

thanks!
Dean

lakeguy · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:13:40 PM »

Quote from: mono on November 21, 2011, 04:10:12 PM

good luck! wow i wish *I* had 3 mos off work to work on my bike lol - it would have to be "with pay" of course.

but seriously - if you have any questions this is the place for answers. i've only been a member here a whort while and the people on this forum have proven an amazing source of knowledge. invaluable.

and of course if you choose to switch out those pipes give me a shout. ha!

thanks!
Dean

It is paid

Secondly and maybe slightly off topic but since it is my thread, whats the deal with the original exhaust?. Seems like there is some interest in them?. Is OEM near impossible to find now? And just out of curiousity, what type of $ do they go for in good shape. Just curious is all.

ekpent · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:27:12 PM »

Is your soon to be 16 year old riding a dirt bike yet to learn the ropes.?? As for the stock exhaust just look at how many bikes still have them and do the math,more people looking than available units.Will add to the value of your machine if they are good. As far as resale goes every dollar that goes into it is a dollar less that you will make. If you only paid $300.00 and actually had it going in two hours than maybe a super good detail and clean-up may put you where you want to be for a profit margin without a big outlay of cash,time and labor and let someone else take it to the next level and spend the big dollars. Just a thought.

mono · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:28:51 PM »

from everything I've seen, a new 4-piece factory-style exhaust is like $800 to $900 bucks... hold on i was just looking on ebay again....

here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Honda-Exhaust-System-71-73-CB500K-74-76-CB550K-Honda-Mufflers-Pipes-q60-/270855663856?hash=item3f104170f0&item=270855663856&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

it's SICK. so, that said - if anyone else knows any inside info on cheaper-than-this stock pipes, please scream.

- Dean

Rigid · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:30:20 PM »

Quote from: ekpent on November 21, 2011, 04:27:12 PM

Is your soon to be 16 year old riding a dirt bike yet to learn the ropes.?? As for the stock exhaust just look at how many bikes still have them and do the math,more people looking than available units.Will add to the value of your machine if they are good. As far as resale goes every dollar that goes into it is a dollar less that you will make. If you only paid $300.00 and actually had it going in two hours than maybe a super good detail and clean-up may put you where you want to be for a profit margin without a big outlay of cash,time and labor and let someone else take it to the next level and spend the big dollars. Just a thought.

yep.

mono · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:32:08 PM »

haha, listen to these guys. you don't even need to clean it - i'll give you $400 for it.

lakeguy · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:33:17 PM »

Quote from: ekpent on November 21, 2011, 04:27:12 PM

Is your soon to be 16 year old riding a dirt bike yet to learn the ropes.?? As for the stock exhaust just look at how many bikes still have them and do the math,more people looking than available units.Will add to the value of your machine if they are good. As far as resale goes every dollar that goes into it is a dollar less that you will make. If you only paid $300.00 and actually had it going in two hours than maybe a super good detail and clean-up may put you where you want to be for a profit margin without a big outlay of cash,time and labor and let someone else take it to the next level and spend the big dollars. Just a thought.

He wont be 16 for a few more years but yes he rides dirt. MSF class will be the first thing he does before he rides on the street.

I do like your train of thinking though. Seems like with the low initial cost and considering it does run I could probably flip it for a decent amount if I just fixed the paint and the few other details that need attending to. I have had great luck in the past using electrolysis to clean most of the chrome. It's cheap to do and the results usually look really good

The exhaust seems to be in great shape. No real rust to speak of but there is a small ding in the left upper can, no cracking/chipping of the chrome there however

Rigid · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:38:27 PM »

What I would call a light restoration. Most bang for the buck, it even makes people happy to get an affordable bike that looks good. Everybody is happy.

Stev-o · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2011, 06:17:54 PM »

I would clean clean clean it and paint tank and side covers, then I've it a major tune. Then come spring you could flip it for $1500-2000,but I bet you'll want to keep it. And it is appreciating...

lakeguy · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2011, 11:45:20 AM »

Not sure if this should get moved to "projects" because I guess this is where this thread is headed anyways(Feel free to move it over Mods). I did a quick clean up job today to get a better idea of what I'm looking at. It was cold and rainy, so I made it really quick.

Nice repair job

Tews19 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:18:56 PM »

Get some steel wool 000... That will clean up the chrome really well.

lakeguy · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2011, 02:03:37 PM »

Quote from: Tews19 on November 22, 2011, 01:18:56 PM

Get some steel wool 000... That will clean up the chrome really well.

Thats what I'm planning to do for some of the chrome. I have the front fender currently sitting in a homemade electrolysis bath right now. Will post some before and after pics shortly

lakeguy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2011, 02:25:46 PM »

Before:

During:

4 hours later:

Chrome is entirely gone here:

Tews19 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2011, 02:34:20 PM »

You can get the same results from the steel wool application. ( at least I have)Get some nvr Dull from eagle one as well.

brandEn · « **Reply #20 on:** November 22, 2011, 02:48:06 PM »

Score on the 550. If that was my bike I would tear it down and repaint all the black bits, replace all the bearings, carb rebuild, rebuild the brakes, rebuild the top end, rebuild forks, new shocks, new tires and paint. Call it good. Keep her stockish though. Couple mods like new bars, signals, and rear light. Thats if I was keeping it.

mono · « **Reply #21 on:** November 22, 2011, 03:16:47 PM »

dayum - that looks good. if i had known that i would not have sandblasted the inside of my rear fender.

do you have a link for that electrolytic bath? i'd like to try it. seems less physically invasive than steel wool, and would get all the microscopic rust the scrubbing will not.

lakeguy · « **Reply #22 on:** November 22, 2011, 03:30:33 PM »

Quote from: mono on November 22, 2011, 03:16:47 PM

dayum - that looks good. if i had known that i would not have sandblasted the inside of my rear fender.

do you have a link for that electrolytic bath? i'd like to try it. seems less physically invasive than steel wool, and would get all the microscopic rust the scrubbing will not.

http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tools/Electrolysis.htm

grcamna2 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 22, 2011, 04:12:02 PM »

Give a partial Restoration to that old girl & decide what you want to do next...someone may offer you $ along the way !

mono · « **Reply #24 on:** November 24, 2011, 08:11:06 AM »

i'm giving this electrolytic bath a try tonight or tomorrow on my pipes. when my downstairs neighbors moved out, they left a plastic kiddie pool. glad i didn't cut it up and trash it yet! WIN.

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Author Topic: New guy looking for advice for direction of CB550 project(Mods,plz move to proj) (Read 3475 times)