Honda CB550/4

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L.B
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Honda CB550/4

Post by L.B »

Long story short,Im helping a mate at work rebuild his old chick magnet lol....
Just a bog stock rebuild,looking forward to it but hard finding the time.....
Anyone with hints or tips for parts or info/web sites etc would be appreciated.
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JonW
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by JonW »

Plenty of "/4" forums I think... My BIL rebuilt some kind of /4 a few years back and he said that David Silver Spares was a great place for those bikes. I used to use them for my Hondas back in the 90s as they had masses of NOS parts cheap, but I've not used them recently.
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vmxwinn
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by vmxwinn »

Try sohc owners club. I have had a few 550's. great little bikes. Pretty fun and decent handling.
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This old RZ
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by This old RZ »

The Honda CBs are probably the largest group of classic bikes in the world, there everywhere, in every city of every country. Every publication I come across has shops dedicated to the bikes, you should have no trouble with virtual anything regarding these old classics.

Motorcycle mechanics magazine If I remember correctly has had several articles on the 550, you'd have to go online and verify that. I definitely have that magazine..but Id have to locate it, If I find it I'll let you know what issue and anything it may state regarding special interest outside of the ordinary.
But like I said Honda virtually invented the current 1-4 design with that series of machines, there is no shortage of resources worldwide, The only problems if any , from what I've read about AUS is the shipping from other countries, but it couldn't be that bad or there would be no economy there at all without reasonable trade. Just a simple GOOGLE search should provide you with everything

Those old Hondas are great...don't tell me ..but that dammed thing probably has sat for 20-30 years and all you did was change the fluids and plugs $ clean carbs and it started up and purred like a kitten. :smt005 I've seen so many like that 40 year old Hondas, dammed things start right up and are bulletproof and last forever
HAPPY 30th YAMAHA YVPS 350 1983-2013. DONT OVER THINK IT , JUST BUILD IT AND BE JUST AS FAST AND RELIABLE
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aaronmvrider
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by aaronmvrider »

send him away and build your projects....
1 x 4mm stroker rz 375cc 1983
1 x 7mm stroker rz 443cc 1984 (under construction)
1 x rz 500
1 x mv agusta 1000
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JonW
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by JonW »

aaronmvrider wrote:send him away and build your projects....
To be honest, that really is the best advice on this thread... :smt023
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

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L.B
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by L.B »

Ta vmxwinn for the info.
This old rz,i hope your right & it doesnt need much to get it going & lol,yes it has sat since 1983 in a shed. At least it is complete so should be pretty straight forward.......(just jinxed mrself lol)
Aaron i felt same way but the owner is a tops old guy on my crew plus he has health issues so i feel pretty good about being able to give him some smiles on his "old chick magnet" :-)
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JonW
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by JonW »

For the right reasons I guess, but it will slow your own projects down... been there, doing that... er...
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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Zedixe13
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by Zedixe13 »

A few years ago I bought a 550 that sat under a tree for 10 years , I changed the carbs ramp for a spare one I had , taped the holed exhausts , plugged a car battery , added some gas in a bottle and it fired right there .
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busa1300
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by busa1300 »

I put this 74 together for a guy at work. He had the bike for 17 years, but quit riding it about 12-13 years ago....and sat since now. Turned it into a cafe style bike. First generation 750 rotors and calipers (bigger rotors and brake pads), header, K&N filters, rejetted, tires, chain, and on and on..... this pic was just before it was painted....
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L.B
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by L.B »

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Swing arm bushes machined out of oil cintered bronze,bastard to find this matterial!
Same material will go into rz pv bushes.....
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JonW
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by JonW »

Ohh now that's nice Jason!
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com
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L.B
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by L.B »

Hey thanks Jon,its funny how it all comes back after awhile lol.
Busa1300,if I had my way,thats what Id do to it,I like that cafe' style.
RuZty
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by RuZty »

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L.B
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Re: Honda CB550/4

Post by L.B »

Wow Ruzty thats nice,I really like that style.
Been slowly plugging away at this bloody thing....
Forks done,
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