CB550 K0 #449

[Kelly E]

I thought I would put up some picures of the 74' 550 build that I just finished. I've had it for 3 years but worked on other bikes for a year in the middle of the project. Here's some motor shots.

[Kelly E]

The motor going into the frame.

[Kelly E]

The rear sets I made from the stock peg mounts and a set of 82' V45 Sabre foot peg mounts. I cut 150mm out of the middle of the back fender after I removed the mount. Then welded back to the mount with the taillight wiring tunnel intact. For the seat I modified the stock base so it still uses the hinge and seat lock. A shop did the foam and the seat cover. We went with Hagon shocks and installed needle bearings in the swingarm.

[Kelly E]

Then we finished up the rear lights and moved on to the front end. We assembled it and got the fork brace and front fender attached. We used Progressive brand springs and tapered roller bearing in the steering head. The front fender got 230mm cut out of the middle with the seam under the fork brace.

[Kelly E]

Then it was time for the headlight bucket and getting everything plugged into the new wiring harness. Time for the gauges.

[Kelly E]

Now the front end is finished up with the controls mounted.

[Kelly E]

Just waiting on the mirrors and need to sort out the jetting.

[Johnwebley]

Good work.

Very nicely done.
How does she ride?

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[Kelly E]

Good work.

Very nicely done.
How does she ride?

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

I haven't really ridden it yet, just around the shop. Still waiting on some new jets.

[Oddjob]

Not being critical or anything but the clocks look wrong, I thought they were supposed to be green faced

[Trigger]

Very dark green on the K0. Light green on the K2/F1 

[Kelly E]

Not being critical or anything but the clocks look wrong, I thought they were supposed to be green faced

They are the original gauges, it is a very early 550. It was built in 8/73', it is why I didn't cut anything on the frame. I took all of the front end apart. I don't think the gauges had ever been off before. The gauges are Nippon Denso.

[Oddjob]

That's my point. Blue faced gauges didn't start to appear until the 550F2 and 550K3 in 1977 approx. All the early ones had green faced gauges. I personally prefer the blue faced ones and maybe a previous owner did when they appeared and changed them.

[Kelly E]

Cool, thanks. Whatever the case I like the blue gauges and they both work.

[Oddjob]

I love the way they look at night. Might not be original but who cares,  if you like them that’s all that matters