Teds new project a CB500 K1 mostly version 0.5 circa 1972.

[Oddjob]

But as its a US bike not a UK one originality relies on paperwork and others memory

Well as we never officially got the 550K1/2 there should be no memories of them unless you're from Europe or the states that is.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

But as its a US bike not a UK one originality relies on paperwork and others memory

Well as we never officially got the 550K1/2 there should be no memories of them unless you're from Europe or the states that is.

Were there not Grey Imports back then?

[Oddjob]

Not of those Ted, never saw one until imports from the states began in earnest. I think it was a case of the 550F was out and there were still stocks of the 500 so why bother importing essentially the same bike

[DomP]

I kept a bike indoors once for the winter, it was when I was actually rebuilding the 500 I'm doing again now. It had never been run, in the spring when I was getting ready to get it ready for the road I checked the oil only to find it was full of water, clearly condensation was running down the insides of the cases and collecting in the sump, me kicking the bike over ever week or so had just mixed it all up like mayonnaise. I ended up taking the engine completely apart again just to clean it out of all the cracks and crevices, luckily I was still in the trade then so the gaskets were cheap. No damage or rust in the engine but bloody annoying even so.

Keep that in mind.

Stuck the dehumidifier on in my garage tonight!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I kept a bike indoors once for the winter, it was when I was actually rebuilding the 500 I'm doing again now. It had never been run, in the spring when I was getting ready to get it ready for the road I checked the oil only to find it was full of water, clearly condensation was running down the insides of the cases and collecting in the sump, me kicking the bike over ever week or so had just mixed it all up like mayonnaise. I ended up taking the engine completely apart again just to clean it out of all the cracks and crevices, luckily I was still in the trade then so the gaskets were cheap. No damage or rust in the engine but bloody annoying even so.

Keep that in mind.

Stuck the dehumidifier on in my garage tonight!

You might need to bypass the meter Dom - I've not used mine since energy costs gazumped.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I kept a bike indoors once for the winter, it was when I was actually rebuilding the 500 I'm doing again now. It had never been run, in the spring when I was getting ready to get it ready for the road I checked the oil only to find it was full of water, clearly condensation was running down the insides of the cases and collecting in the sump, me kicking the bike over ever week or so had just mixed it all up like mayonnaise. I ended up taking the engine completely apart again just to clean it out of all the cracks and crevices, luckily I was still in the trade then so the gaskets were cheap. No damage or rust in the engine but bloody annoying even so.

Keep that in mind.

Tip: You need to keep the central heating on overnight to avoid the condensation Ken.

I'm toying with the idea of one of those wardrobe tube type heaters under my bike ramp - trouble is it would need a floor to ceiling curtain round it as well. 

[Oddjob]

It was in a small shed which is actually part of the house, however the door to it opened onto a small atrium, covered over but on the other side was another small shed which was built to be what we Northerners call the Coal Hole, so even though the house had central heating this part did not. In fact it didn't even have any plugs in, just a single light, the coal hole didn't even have that. It's all gone now, I extended the kitchen to include the coal hole and the atrium, the shed which was built as a sort of storage room by the builders is now the Utility Room, has the washer and the dryer in there and another sink for soaking clothes etc along with a very large upright freezer and a very large upright fridge along with a lot of extra cupboards. The door now opens into the enlarged kitchen and the opening in the side of the house now has a door in it which opens into my bike garage.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

That's stretching the definition of indoors Ken if it was really in the Cole Hole extension!❄️❄️❄️

[Oddjob]

No it was in what’s now the utility room Ted, the coal hole was far too small.

[AshimotoK0]

That's stretching the definition of indoors Ken if it was really in the Cole Hole extension!❄️❄️❄️

Hmmm Cole ... do you hide Alen Milleyard and Sam in there too Ken 

[Oddjob]

Now he should be locked away in a dark hole and the key thrown away.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Caught my biggest ever pike at Pode Hole on 31st December 2003.

Its a word association thing!

teds pike by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[andy120t]

...don't tell 'em Pike...

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

As Wendy is away this week I took my wheel hubs to CWC for them to rebuild to my specification - looks like it will be the end of January or early February before they are done.

I've been trying to paint the chain guard finding the ambient air temperature not condusive to rattle can painting in my unheated  garage -  bike work has now effectively ground to a halt until spring.

My seat has had a new cover but the metal base has surface corrosion on the edges where the clips have scratched the paint.
The seat foam does not look great where the holes are - you can see the foam degredation. Never been one for upholstery - my local guy Stan Chilton died a few years ago he fitted the new roof on our R129 a decade or more ago - he would have done a quality job.

I will post some pics of the seat for advice as what to do about it - if anything - as a teenager I would have just brush painted it with Hammerite but somehow that does not cut it for me today.
 

[Johnny4428]

Ted I had my K3 seat stripped and redone with new foam, cover and base blasted and powder coated. When the seat was stripped it was found to have a split on both sides of the seat pan due to flexing over the years. That alone for me made it worthwhile having it professionally done. The problem with the deteriorating foam is it can end up getting into the intake. Cant block the holes either they are there for a purpose.