Hello from London

[MrBaklava]

Today I picked up my first motorcycle for the road. A 1978 CB550k.

I found an old advert on Facebook marketplace, naff photos, no details in the ad. I thought it would be worth sending a quick message with an offer (the ad was 16 weeks old) - now here we are.

The condition is beautiful. It has 11 former keepers, and 37k on the clocks, which I think might be a lot for a bike? who knows.

The plan is to service it, change a few bits such as the massive indicators, and huge caravan-esque rear light, get a smaller metal numberplate. I initially wanted to turn this into a brat style bike, but I have fallen in love with it's originality. It also helped that I spotted a bike online that manages to keep the original features of the guards and seat, whilst tidying it up the rear end.

I'll work on it over the next couple of months - aiming to have my license by March.
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[MrBaklava]

And here is the bike that made me stop in my tracks, and decide to retain the original seat, avoid chopping the frame and go for some more subtle modifications.

The image quality is poor, but can anyone advise on the handlebars used here?

[Rozabikes Tim]

Welcome. Nice starting point whatever you end up doing with it.  Crying out for standard 4 pipe set up if left standard.

[Orcade-Ian]

Welcome to the forum Mr Baklava,
As Tim just said, you have a great starting point - the large rear lamp and indicators are USA spec.  The bars on the 750 you've pictured are what we used to call ACE bars if that helps.  Some like originality, some like modified - it's your choice!

Ian

[Nurse Julie]

Welcome to the forum.

[Bryanj]

Sorry but big indicators and rear light were standard on uk k3

[MrBaklava]

Thank you for the welcome.

The green bike I posted appears to have a shorter saddle than my 550. I've also seen a few CB550s on the net that have a saddle that's shorter than mine.

Does anyone know if the 550k saddle was longer than others?

[Johnny4428]

Hi and welcome to forum, nice basis for a project bike, be it restore or convert into some other style of bike. Already had twin disc mod too with larger master cylinder. Don’t think these had gaiters originally, unless the us one did.

[philward]

Hi and welcome. Hope you enjoy the forum. On that 750, not sure how that steel front fork stantion cover (instead of standard rubber gaiters) - between lower fork yoke and lower fork, would work on the 750 forks? as they would surely foul the mudguards stay/lower fork? And the back suspension/mudguard clearance surely can't work?

[Orcade-Ian]

Thanks Bryan,
See every day's a school day!  Spent a longtime in detention!  Well I prefer 'em too!

Ian

[Matt_Harrington]

Welcome. Nice looking 550 - from what I can see.....

[Laverdaroo]

Have alook at Revival Cycles website, they do some great stuff and look similar to the set on that.

[SumpMagnet]

I don;t think steel covers would work ...but I have used neoprene fork gaiters, available in all sorts of colours that look similar to that. Flat cylindrical gaiters with no ridges.

worked well.