The year of the bike

[BigAlan]

So I have a 550F registered 27/09/1976 with the frame and engine numbers matching the V5 but the frame "should" start CB550F2 but actually starts CB550F1 and the V5 indicates it should be red.

Talk about confused.

Alan

[hairygit]

Could well be an F1, some were sold and registered quite a while after being made. Date of registration is not a reliable guide to exact model, frame and engine numbers are the defining factor of actual age

[Trigger]

So I have a 550F registered 27/09/1976 with the frame and engine numbers matching the V5 but the frame "should" start CB550F2 but actually starts CB550F1 and the V5 indicates it should be red.

Talk about confused.

Alan

If the VIN number starts with CB550F1...... it is a F1. The colour could of been changed on the V5. The V5 says date of registration 27/09/1976, it could of been sitting in a dealers for a couple of months and would of taken upto six months to arrive from Japan. This would estimate a build date of about the first couple of months in 1976. I would say that it is a F1. 

[BigAlan]

Then most defiantly it's a F1 as that's what's all over it.

It has had a colour change as you can see the side panels have not been done well, red is not the original colour but in fact blue, so blue it will be.

Thanks
Alan

[hairygit]

No, we can't see the colour change as you haven't posted a picture of it!:))

[Trigger]

Forgot to mention that the chrome ears are different from the F1 to F2.

[BigAlan]

Forgot to mention that the chrome ears are different from the F1 to F2.

Say what? Chrome ears? What on earth are they?

Alan

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Headlight shell brackets
Bitsa

[BigAlan]

Ah right, I need to check this, it's in one of the boxes of bits I have.

Alan

[Trigger]

F1 ear's have gaiters so there is a rim for these to fit to. The F2 never had gaiters so, a different ear. And indicator stems.

[BigAlan]

F1 ear's have gaiters so there is a rim for these to fit to. The F2 never had gaiters so, a different ear. And indicator stems.

Got them, defiantly a F1 then.

Alan

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Sorted it now then?
Cheers
Bitsa