Looks nice ... if you like 'em

[AshimotoK0]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB550-four-1978-Honda-CB-550f-like-CB400-CB500-four-/122127332600?hash=item1c6f5b34f8:g:aGAAAOSwAPlXgpzv

[Nurse Julie]

Don't believe everything you read Ash. I went to see this bike a couple of months ago, as just up the road from here. It was a non runner with no MOT then. The chap selling it got totally f****d off with Trigger crawling all over it explaining to him what bits were not correct. I did try very hard to buy the bike, at a lot lower price than advertised as the bike was not as advertised but got nowhere. He then removed it from sale and has now put the price UP by another £300. I would post a copy of the correspondence I had back from the chap but, not the done thing on an open forum. I will show it you when you come down next.

[Chris400F]

Presumably that's why the Seller Notes say ".... carburettors need overhaul, bike will need commissioning after many years in storage".
Sounds like he has now done the work but not changed that bit of the listing.
Still looks nice though.

[Nurse Julie]

Yes Chris, in the photo it does look very nice and that is why I went to try and buy it. In my mind, it has the makings of a nice bike but would need a huge amount of fettling and for the price the chap is asking, I felt it just wasn't worth it.

[Sgt.Pinback]

Cant believe its possible to find a better one.

[Nurse Julie]

Trust me, you can

[hairygit]

I like it! But then I truly believe the 750F1 was the best looking 750 Honda ever turned out. The price does seem steep though, especially as the chances are with low mileage and long term storage that beautifully designed exhaust system will probably self destruct from the inside out within a couple of thousand hard miles, and they seem even harder to find than 750F1 exhausts. If it was half the price I'd consider it.

[Nurse Julie]

  Yes Hairy, half the price is about it's worth (possibly a tad more on a good day) But, lets hope someone buys it and enjoys riding it

[Trigger]

I remember doing a full engineers report on that bike. The seller found it unacceptable to remove the tank or panels 

[masonmart]

If it's running really well now and the mileage is genuine, etc., then it may be a snip at a lower offer. I quite like that model.

[Trigger]

Cross my palm with gold and I can send you a engineers report on what I was allowed to inspect

[Sgt.Pinback]

I would realy like to know what´s wrong with that beauty that I cant see.

[Nurse Julie]

When I first set eyes on the bike, I thought the chap was having a joke. The engine had been power washed and all the paint was flaking off. There were numerous oil leaks visible from gaskets.The frame had a number of places where the paint had 'worn' off or had chips visible. The wheels were quite rusty in places as were the down pipes. The bike had the wrong tyres fitted. The bike was also a non runner with no MOT at the time. It was advertised as being good enough to win any bike show and would be worthy of a place in a museum, that's why I thought the chap was taking the p*ss when I saw it. Good thing I had only travelled 10 miles to see it as I was very disappointed with what I was looking at. 'Show winner' definitely not, 'good enough for a museum' - no way. The bike had been advertised for quite a while before I viewed it and I have no doubt other people had been to view it and none of them had bought it either. Yes, it has the makings of a nice bike but not at anywhere near that sort of money IMHO.

[masonmart]

Just goes to show how misleading pictures can be? I'm going to look for one to use as a road bike but definitely not that one then.

[Nurse Julie]

It's a shame really because the chap that's selling it is actually a very nice man, he's in to Kawasaki's and he is very knowledgeable about them but I'm 100% certain he didn't overhaul the carbs on the CB550 four himself, he was completely horrified by the thought of working on a bank of four 😃😃😃