My Honda CB550 Bike Restoration Project

Should have put the stock pipes on it if you wanted it quieter. It drops the volume, but the bass component is still there. :D
 
@Spectre. I never even thought to check the bore and stroke sizes. That would explain it. Due to the wonderful condition of this machine I am thinking I am going to try to keep it fairly stock or at least as equipped. The PO (who has owned it since new) had added a backrest/luggage rack, large windshield, crash bars and the Alphabet Headers.

Only concern I have is that so far I have really been enjoying medium distance riding and am looking forward to putting some serious miles on, but the CM450 is a bit limited on the highway. 65 is ok, but to run 75 I can let it rev easy to 7k in 5th and have plenty of pull or by shifting to 6th I can get the r's down to 5k, but then it is very boggy and I have the throttle wrapped to keep it there. Solution: run at 65. This is all fine, it was only a starter bike, but I had been leaning toward the next one being bigger to cruise easier.

Anyone have much experience running a CB550 on the hwy? I didn't put any real speed on it when I test rode it as it still has the original 1976 tires. I have made up a new rule about not trusting tires older than me. Now I will be storing it for the winter, putting tires on and titling it all before I know how it is to ride.
 
shoe007, got any pictures that you can post? (Create a new thread so you don't hijack this one, please.)

Also, the top speed of the CB550F was 87mph, back when it was new. So you decide whether that's safe enough for Wisconsin drivers. :)

Minor updates: added a wimpy chrome horn and bought a brown seat cover to replace the ugly slab of marine vinyl held on with loose screws from my PO. I'll be getting the tank painted later this week, hopefully.
 
https://pic.armedcats.net/b/bl/blaro/2010/10/17/DSC00092_-_Copy.JPG
https://pic.armedcats.net/b/bl/blaro/2010/10/17/DSC00094_-_Copy.JPG

Fresh from the painters.
 
Nice paintwork there! A big improvement over the flat-black paint-job that came with the bike :D. But aren't you, like, in England right now? Did you like ship them over or something?
 
No, my mother picked it up from the paint shop and took some pics for me. I'll be finishing it up when I'm back in the States at the end of November. All that's left to do is to get the seat cover and tank on, then some minor stuff (rear turn signals, adjust clutch cable, working gauges, make sure it doesn't explode, etc).
 
No, my mother picked it up from the paint shop and took some pics for me. I'll be finishing it up when I'm back in the States at the end of November. All that's left to do is to get the seat cover and tank on, then some minor stuff (rear turn signals, adjust clutch cable, working gauges, make sure it doesn't explode, etc).

Actually your mother couldn't resist; she already finished putting the bike together and is currently riding it around your neighbourhood as we speak.

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Wait. I thought you were in Blighty?
 
Awesome! :clap:
 
And Then, This Happened, Part II:

https://pic.armedcats.net/b/bl/blaro/2011/01/31/DSC_1122.JPG
https://pic.armedcats.net/b/bl/blaro/2011/01/31/DSC_1127.JPG
https://pic.armedcats.net/b/bl/blaro/2011/01/31/DSC_1129.JPG
https://pic.armedcats.net/b/bl/blaro/2011/01/31/DSC_1128.JPG
https://pic.armedcats.net/b/bl/blaro/2011/01/31/DSC_1131.JPG

My buddy Keqing came over and took some shots of it in my driveway. There's not much left to do actually: I gotta adjust the valves, and rebuild the non-working gauges properly this time as the securing ring came apart (as you can tell in one of the pics). And one of the cheapo badges got cracked, so I ordered another one that needs painting. So, uh, there's that.

I'll most likely be back in the States in March.
 
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That's hot
 
The red and black says "I like to engage in speedy riding" yet the seat says "but in a dignified way."

The whole persona of the bike is very VERY interesting, very unique. It is like your personality in steel and rubber.
 
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