Topic: New member here. Need input on bike

[toecutter]

Hey guys.
I was given this website because of some BMW riders that were concerned about my sanity.
Here's why.....
For  a few years now I have owned Beemers but have always wanted to build a "Madmax" type cafe racer.  I've been bugging this guy in town about his KZ650 that sits in his front yard but he won't sell.

Then this guy shows up with an ad on the company bulleting board for two Hondas.  One was a CB900 and the other was for a little CB550.  I went to look at the little bike cause it was cheap.  Expecting a basket case what I found was literally on of these "sat in a barn for 16 years" bikes with 2500 original miles.

I actually got the thing to fire when I got it home.

So what do the BMW guys have to do with it?  I showed them a picture on my usual website (www.f650.com) with my plans to add clubman bars and new shocks and was positively lambasted  http://www.f650.com/forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=147558 about my plans.  So I have decided to leave the motorcycle as a standard, get it running, sell the geeky sissybar and fairing to any one of you guys who wants is, and bring it to The Slimy Crud Run or some other events in the area just as it is.

Write back with any opinions and enjoy the links for the pictures.
 
 

[Bob Wessner]

Toecutter,

I hope you don't mind, went to the site and snagged the picture of the 550 to play with the levels to get a better look. Sorry to say, I agree with the posted replies, don't hack that up, restore it, a great find in that condition and low mileage. Sorry, that may not be what you wanted to hear.

[Uncle Ernie]

Somebody asked the exact same question a couple days ago. I think it's just a couple lines down from this; "stock or custom?" I think.
Basically, do what you want as long as you ride it. I get a lot of s**t from some folks for taking the big-ass fenders off my Indian. Sue me- I like it. On the other hand, I've had two before this one...   OK- changing my mind here; I vote to run it stock for a while so you can get to know it. You may love it and not really want any changes. After a while, you may wish it did more of this or that and want to change something, but you won't know until you ride it a while.
On the other hand, you can do some killer stuff with old airheads.
Got to thinking while looking at that site that everyone sure talks a lot~ I've owned Beemers all my life; maybe that's why I talk too much.

[Japbikemike]

Lose the fairing, KEEP THE SISSY BAR!!!!
Ancient Mayan's would worship that thing to bring bountiful harvests and provide many sons.

[Tim.]

You can modify your bike without killing it.  You don't need to cut it up and destroy the stock parts to make it special.

Get another seat pan and do a solo seat, put an aftermarket 4 into 1 header on it, some clubmans, maybe an early CB750 tank...  Keep the stock bits on the shelf.  I'm thinking about doing the same to my 1976 CB550F that I just finished making totally stock.

Here is a pic of one of my all-time favorite CB550's for inspiration.  Rob Lloyd's bike with a CB750 tank.  I bought a CB750 tank because of these pics with the thought of putting it on my CB550F... one day!

Check out his other bikes - might give you some ideas for that nice CB550 you have!

http://www.bikepics.com/members/roblloyd/

[Serge]

Hi, my cb 1978f have the same kind of fairing. I looked into taking it out but apparently for this it needs another headlight and blinker mounts ...     - serge

[Paul]

  your BMW friends put you onto this site (Dedicated to the restoration and up-keep of old Honda 4's) to ask opinions about taking it apart !! .
The bike seems good enough to keep as standard if thats what you want.
If you are not intersted in the make of your "Mad max" machine then sell this one to someone who wants a Honda 550/4 and try 'n get another type without a preservation order....then again, it depends on how much you paid or can make.
If that's too much then...I'd personally change it the way I'd like and keep the stock parts on a shelf.

[toecutter]

I appreciate it Paul,

The bike stays with me.  I now fully recognize the historical significance of the bike and changing it would not be a cool thing to do.  As far as restoration, all she needs is some elbow grease on the on the engine corrosion and some carb cleaning along with a new battery and she'll be good to go.

The fairing goes.
The sissy bar goes.
The crash bars go.

Everything else stays the way it is.  See you guys at the next Slimy Crud Run.

[Sterling2]

 Your references to the Slimey Crud Run and your BMW friends has me curious. Where are you located ?

[toecutter]

I'm located near Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.  I'm a member of the Madison BMW Club and love Euro bikes but have a bad fetish for anything old.....especially Japanese standards.  My first choice for a project bike was a KZ650.

[Sterling2]

 Got it.  I'm about 150 miles straight south of you in Sterling, Illinois.  I'm also a BMW rider.  I take alot of rides into southwest Wisconsin for the great roads. Will look for you at the fall Crud run if not sooner.