Topic: 1975 CB550. Lexington, KY. What have I done?!?

[BestSellingAuthor]

Hey all!  I will try not to be my usual long winded self out of the gate, but this is my introduction.

I'm in Lexington, KY. My wife rocks, and allows me to stay home and take care of my two lil girls...nearly 5 and 2. At 39, they are about to be the death of me. Whew! Prior to the girls, I was a musician with piddly jobs on occasion. I spent many years on the road, often full-time. When I got married I stayed in Lexington, rarely on a road trip. I'm also interested in vintage Seiko divers and chronographs. Something else I don't have the time for. So, after not being on a bike for 20 years (and little to no wrenching skills...but eagerness), I decided to add to the list of interests I won't have time for!

Anyway...here I am today. About 60 days ago I decided I wanted a bike and after looking at the KZ, XS, and GT...this forum landed me on the CB and Tapatalk is much cleaner now. I have spent time reading here and watching Craigslist. I found the bike below (seller's photos), a 1975 CB550. The guy wanted $1800. I got it for $1200. It seemed fair, from what I have read. Running, though needs some tuning. 16k miles. I found out it came with several hundred dollars if OEM Honda parts as well as a set of four, HM323 pipes...in the box.

I love this and similar forums. However, I rarely post. (I feel silly dressing up at Halloween too!) I hope to use and post on this forum, hence my first ever introduction. More immediately, I wish to learn more about these pipes. I understand them to be "sought after". I simply hope to maximize my situation (meaning they will most likely be put up for sale) yet still give someone a good deal that they are happy with. Thoughts? ...and thanks in advance, it's good to be here! I have learned quite a bit and hope to see this through with the knowledge I can find here!

Welp...long winded after all. Sorry...



Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[BestSellingAuthor]

Oh yeah. I was initially going after a "brat"/cafe build but after getting this bike I confused myself and thought about a restoration. In the end I feel I may go the original route, hence the thought of selling the pipes. Here is my "inspiration".



Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[BestSellingAuthor]

I may need to start a thread as this noob is gonna need all the help he can get!  I have not yet as my bike and it's evolution will hardly compare to the amazing builds I have seen on here. Until I do, does anyone have any tip/tricks for getting the wiring OUT of handlebars so I can TRY to proceed with this swap?

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[bender01]

Welcome,
  You have been gifted with a nearly stock bike!!  Keep it that way and watch the heads turn.
  Ben

[Jay Ace]

Hey man! Good to see someone else from these parts.
That is a super nice find! Did you pick it up locally?

[BestSellingAuthor]

@Ben...I am a bit torn as to what to do, as this bike seems to be a reasonable example. I plan on changing the bars, cleaning, and tuning to ride when the weather turns. Then, take it from there.

@Ace...Thanks. I'm new to the CB game, but it does seem like a good start. Especially since I don't need a basketcase, considering my absolute inexperience! I found this in Louisville, on Craigslist. Are you in Lexington too?


Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[Jay Ace]

Complete motorcycle noob here and yea I'm in Lexington. I usually lurk in Masterson Station area.

[toytuff]

Welcome to the madness!

I did enjoy this oxymoron:

I'm also interested in vintage Seiko divers and chronographs. Something else I don't have the time for

tt

[BestSellingAuthor]

@Ace...cool!  I'm in Hamburg. Easy on the interstate. Of course, we can hang out and not know how to help with each other's bike!  HA!

@tt...beautiful! I didn't even notice that!

Anyone with a "recipe" for pulling these wires outta my handlebars? I s'pose I will start a "build" thread.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[mono]

You have to unhook the wires from inside the headlight bucket and then you can remove the handlebar controls. 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[BestSellingAuthor]

@mono...thanks so much!  I already, on the advice if my uncle (old skool Harley guy w/ some wrenching experience) *ahem* cut the wires just behind the controls. So, I am trying to pull them out from the bottom. Ugh! And now I get to learn to rebuild the controls since I did this. Eh...it looks like it might drive me nuts, but a good learning experience. I'll check out the headlamp. Thanks again!

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[Greggo]

That's a pretty nice bike to start cutting up, but it is yours to do with as you please I guess.  The pipes, and that nice tank are probably the most valuable stock parts if you're trying to offset your costs, and the restoration community would surely appreciate a crack at them  

[BestSellingAuthor]

@Greggo...thanks! The tank is a re-paint. There is one bad run in it, otherwise it looks great. Anything I might do would be easily reversible. Either way, I think I may sell the pips that are on it first. Three of them look nice at my first glance, while one is rusted through. Selling the three, might afford me a useable/"disposable" exhaust to use until I decide. When that time comes, or when I sell the new set, I would like to offer them to the forum members. Having no real idea of their worth, based on so many different numbers I have read, I hope to simply make both parties happy. Thanks for reading!


Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[toytuff]

Welcome,
  You have been gifted with a nearly stock bike!!  Keep it that way and watch the heads turn.
  Ben

What he said!

You'll have more fun, more looks and conversation at every stop. Did I mention more value?

tt

[bender01]

The left control is made from unabtanium. To bad you cut it.

[Jay Ace]

@Ace...cool!  I'm in Hamburg. Easy on the interstate. Of course, we can hang out and not know how to help with each other's bike!  HA!

I'm all down for not helping 

[BestSellingAuthor]

@tt...I am only changing the bars at present. The pipes are only to have some money to put back into. LED lights seem cool. Past that. Nothing now, if ever. I won't be cutting it up, so to say...no matter!

@bender...I didn't realize cutting the wires broke it. Some nightmarish handling and soldering, it did create. If I can't, I will find someone that can.

@Ace...wanna rebuild some controls?

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[mono]

if all you did was snip the wires, you can rebuild the controls.  if you look inside them, many of the wires are connected with loops contacts and screws, so i think you can easily repair the broken wires.  or, they're easy enough to resolder if you're dexterous enough to tie your own shoes.

as with anything, TAKE YOUR TIME.   like bender said, some of these parts are absolutely impossible to find, so you want to be delicate just in case you need it later.   it's fun getting it all apart, but i'm telling you from experience, be very meticulous during your teardown.  get a manual, and BAG AND LABEL every frigging nut and bolt.  it made my experience go pretty smoothly, and i learned a ton.

sorry about the caps, but those are SERIOUS points.      

[Jay Ace]

@Ace...wanna rebuild some controls?

You know I'm completely new to this too right? 
Soldering is not that hard though so if there is anything to work with you should be able to figure it out.
I'm down to help out with basics but rely on me to help with major electrical or mechanical things.

Let me know man. My bike is just sitting and waiting on paint and bunch of parts so I can't work on it.

[BestSellingAuthor]

@mono...that's good to hear. I started a "help me" thread here
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=115967.0 . 
It seems the consensus is that I ruined it. While I trust the experience here, it seems that they could be fixed. Is it worth the $30 in supplies to give it a shot?  Sure. I have and am. Truth is, I suck at soldering. I will make several more attempts. Is it worth $100 for a bike mechanic put back together and stuff in the bars. Absolutely, in my opinion, so that may be next. Of course, Garystratos found some new ones for $70/ea.  That extra $40 more is worth it. So...
@Ace...I started a "help" thread here. Several pages in, and I only have the bars off. Yeah...I know what I'm doing!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=115967.0
Where are you having your paint done? I know a quite a few locally.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[Jay Ace]

Where are you having your paint done? I know a quite a few locally.

Buddy of mine's dad. I just don't have enough strength in me to hand it off to a stranger lol.
If he doesn't come through, I'll do it myself. Yea I don't trust others with my #$%* haha

[mono]

i've noticed that some of us overreact slightly to certain things.   that said, it's generally those people who also know exactly how to fix things in the dark with one hand.  

if you've got people who can do it right the 1st time, definitely use those resources!  watch and learn.  but as you will find (as we have all found), labor is free, and the skills and knowledge that you accumulate from wrenching on things yourself is very gratifying    'cause when she's all done you can say "yeah... *I* did that."

[tonevault]

I'm on board with the "Keep what you've got" philosophy, but that's just my two cents.  I just bought my CB750, and will be keeping it as original as possible.

Note about soldering:  There's nothing to it!  The simple rules are:

1) Cheap old-school soldering iron works as good as anything.   Just let it heat up for a few minutes.
2) Heat the WIRE and  the CONNECTORS, NOT the solder.  Once the pieces are hot, then touch the solder to them...it will melt right in. 
3) A shiny surface implies a good solder joint.  A dull surface implies a less-than-good solder joint.
4) Use shrink tube to seal, but make sure to slide the shrink tube on the wire BEFORE you connect the wire ends.  (Trust me, I've learned this a few times.)  Once the connection is made, slide the shrink tube over the connection, and heat to shrink. 

Biggest mistake people make is heating the solder!  Simply doesn't work.  Heat the parts, then add the solder.

I really should make a YouTube video about soldering.

Good luck with it all!

Greg Ernst
Long Beach, CA

[CafeDawg]

Thought this might help.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80532.0
+1 on bagging and tagging everything and lots of pics the rest of the info is here just use the search button and look in FAQ, as people have been down these roads before.
Respect
CD