Author Topic: 1975 cb550k survivor  (Read 4057 times)

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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #25 on: May 17, 2019, 10:44:20 PM »
Gotta love it when a bike cooperates this well.  Its just a little gem and has been nothing but a pleasure to work on so far, despite a couple challenges.  Just goes to show how good we could all have it, in a world without idiotic previous owners.  Everything I have inspected on this bike appears t o be untouched.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Erny

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #26 on: May 18, 2019, 01:35:15 AM »
Sean, big congrats to your bike!
I have exactly the same recently. That green is really special one ;)

CB750K K7 USA model (1977)
CB550K1 USA model (1975)

Offline BRG-BIRD

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #27 on: May 18, 2019, 07:43:28 PM »
Really nice write up and very good looking 500 :)
“You are either on something or onto something.” The Comman Man

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #28 on: May 19, 2019, 12:59:47 AM »
Thanks guys...it is a 550 though...not that they are very different.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline rb550four

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #29 on: May 19, 2019, 06:42:29 AM »
  Ain't nothing wrong  being a 550, always been my favorite.  It's getting really hard to find them in that condition anymore, no rust, seat rot or faded paint... and unmolested.......almost like buying her new. Great find!
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
  550 Snowbike -Somebody had to do it.
  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #30 on: May 19, 2019, 07:00:25 AM »
Thanks for stopping by, RB.  You are definitely THE 550 guy.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #31 on: May 19, 2019, 07:16:26 AM »
The candy jade green paint is in such good shape, too.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #32 on: May 19, 2019, 11:02:31 AM »
I have not even cleaned or polished the bodywork yet.  I will certainly try to post some quality "golden hour" pics when I do.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline BRG-BIRD

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #33 on: May 19, 2019, 06:06:45 PM »
Oops, my bad! Sorry :)
“You are either on something or onto something.” The Comman Man

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #34 on: May 20, 2019, 07:39:45 AM »
Nice score Sean!   I'm a 750 guy that loves 'the middleweights" too.

That looks like one Eric would have picked, how'd you find before him?!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #35 on: May 20, 2019, 09:29:56 AM »
Heh heh, Facebook market place tends to bypass various old curmudgeon buyers.  Ordinarily, that would include me too.  But I got people looking out.  Plus, Eric don't got much love for the little bikes.
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Offline Tews19

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #36 on: May 21, 2019, 06:53:12 AM »
Wow! Impressive survivor there and she cleaned up really fast!!!!!! What's the plan now Sean?
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #37 on: May 21, 2019, 09:43:11 AM »
I want to enjoy some riding, take it to a couple shows, then sell.  I got a lot more 750s that need the space!  Also, it is not finished yet.  I need to find a number 1 323 pipe and a grab rail, and some other small parts.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Stev-o

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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #39 on: June 28, 2019, 09:19:51 PM »
So...i grabbed a number 1 pipe off ebay.  It's not in great shape, but the baffle was intact (or so I thought).  I had a welder friend braze up some damage with silicon bronze.  Then I noticed the baffle was very neatly drilled.  So still sounding like a thumper single :-[    only wasted $60, and $60 More for the brazing
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #40 on: June 28, 2019, 09:39:01 PM »
I went ahead and mounted the new pipe anyway.  Splashed out for some rather approximate repro exhaust collars sold by 4 into 1.
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #41 on: June 28, 2019, 09:52:15 PM »
Sooo, I guess I better fix the front brake.  The master cylinder was totally packed with a substance that resembled, err, well,   mud?  So I bolted up a working spare.  Found the bottom brake line clogged with a similar substance.  Stabbed a long wire through and got it to squirt across the shop, then flushed the lines clear with brake cleaner.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #42 on: June 28, 2019, 10:10:12 PM »
I really want to rebuild the master cylinder that came with the bike, as the anodized finish is in close to the best condition I have seen.  I bought a Honda oem kit and carefully installed it, but so far the master cylinder won't build pressure.  So back to the trusty spare.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Shtonecb500

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #43 on: June 29, 2019, 09:09:53 AM »
Yeah!  I really feel like Michigan is one of the best places in the world to be finding these old bikes.  They just keep turning up.  Really happy I get the chance to save another one.

they really are endless here
73/74'' CB500/550 resto-mod - sold
75' 750f 91' cbr f2 swap cafe - mock up
74' 750 chopper hardtail - complete - sold
74' CB750/836kit - Black mix & match - daily rider - always tweaking
71' cb500 K0 survivor - complete
71' K1 - CANDY GOLD/BROWN Winton kit - in process

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #44 on: June 29, 2019, 03:11:04 PM »
Yeah!  I really feel like Michigan is one of the best places in the world to be finding these old bikes.  They just keep turning up.  Really happy I get the chance to save another one.

they really are endless here
my buddy who found this bike for me, just scored a 1948 norton...just unbelievable
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline jdip16

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #45 on: September 30, 2019, 06:25:13 AM »
Any luck with the master cylinder?

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Offline RAFster122s

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #46 on: September 30, 2019, 08:18:22 AM »
Just saw this...very nice find and good luck sorting out the brakes. 
Too bad about the MC...
David
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #47 on: September 30, 2019, 09:27:22 AM »
Yeah, I tore the mc back down again, found nothing amiss, put it back together, and now it works.  So that is cool.  Actually the first time I have successfully rebuilt an mc.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1975 cb550k survivor
« Reply #48 on: October 02, 2019, 02:27:32 PM »
Actually the first time I have successfully rebuilt an mc.

You are better than me.  I just go the re-pop route on the CB's and the Kawasakis...
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........