Topic: '75 CB550 CAFE RACER, what is one worth?

[Bad_Jason]

Hi, I'm sorry if this has been covered before but I am wondering what a CB550 goes for ($$$) in todays market.

I have the opportunity to buy one and it appears to be in good shape.  He's an enthusiast and this particular bike has been his daily driver over the summer.

I read the FAQs on what to look for when buying a CB550 and the bike seems to check out clean.

He's asking $1500.  Is this reasonable even if the bike isn't a total 10?  Let's say the bike is a 7 (on a scale from 1 to 10), what then would it be worth?  Is $1500/US too much money to spend period on a CB550?

What do they usually go for?  I'm in Los Angeles, BTW.

Also, when it comes town to maintenance and the things that come long with repairing a CB550 when they do break, are they expensive to maintain and find parts for?

I searched google and spent some time going through this great website, but I haven't came up with the exact answers I have been looking for.

Thanks a lot for everything!   Any help on the subject would help me immensely!

Regards,
J. Wood

[ChrisR]

AS El Huero says it's difficult to put a value on the 550s - depends on local conditions a lot. They are relatively cheap to run with all parts fairly freely available except for the side panels, mudguards (fenders) and seats which might be difficult to find at a reasonable price. Make sure the bike has these in good condition - check the rear fender under the seat for rust. For $1500 I'd expect the bike to be missing nothing and ready to hit the road with only routine maintenance needed.
Good luck and look forward to seeing it if you do go for it.

[ChrisR]

Just noticed you say the bike's been 'cafe'd, in which case I'd check it over very carefully to make sure everything functions as it should. It takes a lot of work to make a good cafe like some of the machines on this site and to some people 'cafe'd is another way of saying 'bodged'. Good luck.

[74cb750]

Well as a guide,
my 1976 cb550 stock w low miles
$2,100.oo in NH, usa

[jnel500]

Hey Jason
I know the bike you are talking about, looks pretty decent. Some aesthetic items may or may not be to your tastes (no fenders, dust covers/fork gaitors, exposed battery?). It looks to be modified well, for $1500 it better move like a top. The Los Angeles market has some extremely bloated prices for cb's but many chances do come along. I run a 500 and a 550 and love em both (both were purchased very cheap over the course of 1 year hunting in Los Angeles). However, neither was of the visual character of the 550 you speak of. Though that is why I bought them, so I could have my own spin on them. If it runs great, it already looks good, and you got the cash, you won't regret it. Plus, in LA and on ebay you can get anything you need cheap. As an added bonus, if it has a title it is already light years ahead of many bikes sold in our area.

Best of Luck
Joe

[Ted Nomura]

I bought my 1975 CB550K about 5 years ago for $150 (yes, $150. It was a two-bike deal for $200, the other was a 1981 CM200 which I consider to be worth one-third) and it was totally stock except for the pipes, which was a black four-into-one system. The paint was faded from sun and the seat cover needed to be replaced, which I bought from J.C. Whitney for $20 on sale back then. Left side cover had a crack so I bought a replacement from ebay for $20, including shipping. I also installed my spare cafe racer bikini fairing I got from J.C. Whitney for $30 five years ago.

I got a 1971 CB500 for free but it was missing side covers and had another four-into-one system. I'm saving my money to buy a stock four-into-four system for this one.

Good CB550 is certainly worth $1500 if it's totally stock, other than that, I think less than $1000 is reasonable. I've seen plenty of good CB550s for that price range, or less. If you can't find a good replacement side covers from ebay for reasonable price, you can still get the reproduction ones which is less brittle for about $20 each from J.C. Whitney or others.

[acidjzaz]

ummm I think the price depends on what part of the country you are in .... i always hear people getting bikes for free.. but up here i .  they go from $700-$2500 depending on the condition and the mods

 as far as the maintenance .. I can always find parts for my bike .. but you will just have to make sure you have a mechanic near you who will actually work on a 1970's bike ... if you are not doing most of the work yourself...

[elcid]

This is funny because I am in LA & my friend is selling a cb550 that is cafe style for $1500 & I think it is a bit high. I wonder if same bike. He bought it for $1700!! It is all black with clubman bars & mini turn signals. The rest is pretty clean as far as I can remember when first seeing it. The exhaust is not stock either. So essentially it is a clean cb550 but not stock. Also when he was riding it, he had to have the gas cap open otherwise the bike wouldn't work! For that price it should have been perfect. So I am going to look at it in a few days but again I think $1500 is a bit high for a clean & well running NON stock bike. What do you think is fair price??