The wife's CB550F2

[Yoshi823]

This was back in 1985.My modified 750F2 alongside the wife's 550F2 and my XL185SA.

This was on the Isle of Wight in 1997.Alongside is my Exup.

(Sorry about the picture quality-it was scanned from a photo)

I know that the seat is non-standard but the missus could get her feet down a lot easier with this seat on there.
It had the twin disc setup from my old green/black F1,Boyer-Bransden PAI, phospher bronze swing arm bushes,Koni shocks rebuilt by Banks up in Peterborough,taper roller head race bearings,Renolds 530 chain, 550K3 front mudguard as well as a Cibie Z beam headlight (from my 750F2) with a 60/55 H4 bulb (the Stanley H4 from the 550K3 also fits) which made for safer riding at night.
I had managed to buy one of the very rare Sankei silencer units...probably one of the last.The original had collapsed insides.So when I got the new one I soaked the insides with old engine oil.

From what I have been told by the present owner it is still going well.

[MIKE550/4]

looks good, I have the same bike, in fact apart from the seat very simular

finishing off my k3 and will be doing some work on this one

[Yoshi823]

I must admit that the 550F2 always drew a good crowd wherever it was parked. The paintwork was all original on this bike,as were the sidepanels.
When I was using a cheap 550F1 as a commuter bike instead of using the 750F2 special, when I needed bits for my workbike,I always put the new bits on the F2, with the older F2 bits put on the F1.

Looks like there is a slight dent just by the 'Honda' badge on the tank...or is that just the way the photo is taken?

[MIKE550/4]

must be the light there is no dent, bikes in pretty good nick,

[SteveD CB500K0]

Here's mine.

[MIKE550/4]

Very nice steve, how many bikes you actually own 

[SteveD CB500K0]

Only about 6/7 but I have a barn with another 20-odd that I look after for a mate. He's the one with the K0 and the various cafe racers (Rickman, Seeley, Phil Read Rep etc)

The 550 is his actually, but I get tired of typing "here's one that belongs to a mate of mine" 

[Yoshi823]

Another view of the wife's 550F2...

[Yoshi823]

Her pride & joy...back in the '80s...

[Yoshi823]

The missus still riding her 550F2 in 1997...

[Yoshi823]

'Mummy...when i'm older I want to ride a motorbike too...'

[Yoshi823]

Found a decent view from the front nearside...


Now that the missus has seen the bike on here she's beginning to miss the bike.

[UK Pete]

Nice looking bike there Tim, do you think she will get another
Pete

[Yoshi823]

Not unless I pay for it Peter...

She had a bit of an upset with this bike. We pulled up outside after being out for the evening. She thought that the sidestand was down & started to lean the bike over, expecting to feel the stand touch down...except it didn't. In the ensuing crunch the engine bars caught the kerb stone but in trying to hold the bike up from going right over she did her back in. This is what put her off the bike. But under normal circumstances she was fine with it...


This was on the Mayday Run in 1999, the last time that she rode the bike on the run.
She also got to ride the 550F2 around Brands Hatch during the 'Festival of 1000 Bikes' on a demo lap, something that she had never done before or since.

There's something about seeing girls riding bikes....

[UK Pete]

Yep I like girls that ride
is that a  nice red gpz zx to the right of the picture?
Pete