Good morning from West Berkshire

[kurienp]

Thank you all for your inputs. Here are some pics that I downloaded and put into an album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/8fsnV8AKStrHdN6y8

I was primarily looking at
- the colour - which looks original (maybe repainted, but original colours)
- the dials - again, look original
- the carbs and the engine - engine has been rebored, new pistons.  It has had a new clutch plate , chain and sprockets (from David Silver ... who else!)

I like ones in green or red, but not a deal breaker.

[Nurse Julie]

My first question would be why has it had a rebore and new pistons at only 10,000 miles?
Yes, it's a USA import.

[kurienp]

agree. But as I am not planning to hoon about on it and if the work has been done to a good standard, anything else I need to watch out for?  I am planning to go and listen to the engine. It is a way bit far away ... but willing to travel for a good bike. If I don't go and look, will never get to know.

Anyone selling a red 500/4 or a 550/4?

[Nurse Julie]

The 500/4 never came in red. The CB550 F1 comes in orange and the F2 comes in a dark Metallic red. But, I would still want to know why the bike needed a rebore 🤔🤔🤔🤔 Is there proof that the bike has only done 10,000 miles?. It could be a 60,000 mile bike with just another speedo fitted.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Imho any bike that has only done 10k miles in around 50 years has only averaged 200 miles a year so plenty of scope for corroded bores might be it's the mileage covered since restoration .
More likely it done probably  decades of no miles so all that standing will have taken its toll on the bores.

If it runs okay & the price is right I would discount the recorded mileage and judge it on condition.

[Bryanj]

Those are not clocks from 72, faces in far too good a condition, definately a K0 with several K0 only features, would need to see seat lock, rear light and multi block connectors under lh side panel for more details.
Depends a lot on asking price

[Nurse Julie]

Those are not clocks from 72, faces in far too good a condition, definately a K0 with several K0 only features, would need to see seat lock, rear light and multi block connectors under lh side panel for more details.
Depends a lot on asking price

I can see the seat lock Bryan, it's the correct K0 type. Maybe the clocks have had new faces.

[Trigger]

Defiantly had a respray as the tank strips are too close to the badges 
You must look past the bling and make sure it has all it's correct parts fitted.

[kurienp]

Defiantly had a respray as the tank strips are too close to the badges 
You must look past the bling and make sure it has all it's correct parts fitted.

Wow! Amazed at the depth of knowledge on here!

What will be a good price to pay for a bike in this condition? The current asking price is 6.5 k. High in my opinion. 

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[Trigger]

Price depends on how good it is. You can not go from pictures as, i can make myself stunning in a picture but, i am one ugly barsteward 

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1971-honda-cb-5004-nPP95n?bsft_aaid=a5ce63ed-6419-48b8-adb6-8692f74daf04&bsft_eid=0eb71092-f06a-4366-821c-eaf920e7faa5&utm_campaign=targeted-sell-motorcycle-21-04-23&utm_source=blueshift&utm_medium=email&utm_content=sell-saturday-email-22-04-23&bsft_clkid=41f418cb-640f-4077-9211-e17b1f6198ce&bsft_uid=7aa14b49-b967-44ce-a87f-fa192e89e8c4&bsft_mid=4776c13b-66e7-4075-84c8-5da46d9fe911&bsft_mime_type=html&bsft_ek=2023-04-21T07%3A31%3A40Z&bsft_lx=12&bsft_tv=18

[kurienp]

Price depends on how good it is. You can not go from pictures as, i can make myself stunning in a picture but, i am one ugly barsteward 

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1971-honda-cb-5004-nPP95n?bsft_aaid=a5ce63ed-6419-48b8-adb6-8692f74daf04&bsft_eid=0eb71092-f06a-4366-821c-eaf920e7faa5&utm_campaign=targeted-sell-motorcycle-21-04-23&utm_source=blueshift&utm_medium=email&utm_content=sell-saturday-email-22-04-23&bsft_clkid=41f418cb-640f-4077-9211-e17b1f6198ce&bsft_uid=7aa14b49-b967-44ce-a87f-fa192e89e8c4&bsft_mid=4776c13b-66e7-4075-84c8-5da46d9fe911&bsft_mime_type=html&bsft_ek=2023-04-21T07%3A31%3A40Z&bsft_lx=12&bsft_tv=18

Oh wow! Compared to that, this looks like a steal.

Again, the key is, what do I want it for - as a bike to just use a few times a year, in which case anything will do (but then 6.5 is expensive), or look at it as an appreciating classic? In case of the latter, it makes sense to pay money to get something original-ish.

I am more in the former camp.

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[kurienp]

Looking for my early morning fix - found this excellent resource on here that I had missed out on earlier ! - http://www.sohc4.com/cb550/cb500/ and http://www.sohc4.com/cb550/cb550/

Now to sneak some time into reading between work today 

[Nurse Julie]

Looking for my early morning fix - found this excellent resource on here that I had missed out on earlier ! - http://www.sohc4.com/cb550/cb500/ and http://www.sohc4.com/cb550/cb550/

Now to sneak some time into reading between work today 

Yes, good info but, that is only relevant to USA models (which is OK for you as you're looking at a USA model). But the info is totally incorrect for the rest of the world models, including UK models.

[kurienp]

thank you ... that is good to know - and after my morning coffee, only now realised that, that is a different domain - sohc versus sohc4.

Any similar site for UK models? There are some good concourse type models which look attractive at a better price than the link Trigger posted on earlier.  Decisions decisions decisions ...

[Nurse Julie]

No, info on UK model CBSOHC/4's is sparce to say the least. You will learn more from owners of UK models on this forum than you ever will do from the Internet.
Yes, SOHC4.net is very closely linked to the UK Forum. Most of us belong to both.