Hello and a big thanks to eBay (maybe !)

[fazer1k]

Hi everyone,

Got carried away on eBay last week and am now a proud owner of a 1978 CB550K3, one year older that the one I bought back in 1979 !

Some work to do, starting with the front brake to get it through the MOT - they were never that good but this one is awful, the back brake is much more powerful which says it all really 

Now on the lookout for an original 4 into 4 system to replace the 4 into 1 Micron, guess it could take a while.....

It also unusually has comstar wheels which I think may have come from CB650, but only has the original single front disc, still need to figure this out and perhaps return it to stock sometime in the future.

Cheers,

Ian

[SteveD CB500K0]

I saw that one.

I liked the paintwork!

It doesn't look like a 550 disc so it's possible that the front wheel and disk both come from a donor bike.
It could have been a Superdream (?)
I can't think of another Honda with comstars and one disk (Bryan?)

Why don't you ask the PO - get his details from the V5C before the guy sends it off!

[SteveD CB500K0]

The CB650Z had twin disks (thanks Google...)

So he may have left one of them off (?)

And that's a 500/550 caliper (the 650 calipers were completely different)

[fazer1k]

The CB650Z had twin disks (thanks Google...)

So he may have left one of them off (?)

And that's a 500/550 caliper (the 650 calipers were completely different)

Thanks for the info Steve.

Yes, definitely a 550 caliper and hopefully a 650 wheel with one disk left off as I have just ordered a pattern 650 disk from Wemoto. Will let you know if my gamble paid off, otherwise it could be on eBay next week !

The paintwork was not as good as expected, has a few minor marks, at least no dents and the side panels are in good shape.

[SteveD CB500K0]

It was a good price so I wouldn't be too disappointed.

[Bryanj]

There is one thing you will be dissapointed about and that is the exhaust which has been unobtainium for many years---early 550 and 500 no problem but K3!!!!!!.

It also is the same year as your old one--it just sat in a crate somewhere for a time before it was registered.

Doubt the disc is the problem, it would normally need a caliper/ master cyl overhaul

[andy120t]

Good luck!  Can you post us a piccie to look at.

[fazer1k]

Hopefully a picture will appear....

I guess a reasonable second hand 4/4 exhaust may appear on eBay at some stage, perhaps in the US. David Silver list a 4 into 1 Motad system, anyone tried one of these, are they road legal and good quality ?

The front disc is badly scored, really bad, will try a new disc/pad combination and if neccessary overhaul the rest of it. Priority for me is to get a new MoT and some miles in before the end of the season....

[pae]

Welcome, like the pic, looks nice, comstarts make it look so different. You've certainly got a good starting point if you're going to work on one.

Phil

[Bryanj]

Motad is good quality, decent chrome (but the pipes will "blue" as its the same as all aftermarket systems and only single skin) and quiet as standard to satisfy any MOT man, but possible not youe ears!!

Fitted many of them in years gone :- HINT fit it all up BEFORE tightening anything and fit new exhaust port gaskets.

Marshall Deeptone has a more "sporty" rasp to the note but make sure you get the correct system for your bike as the silencer mountings vary in the centre stand stop

[matthewmosse]

I've had Motad exhausts, sound just fine, last ok. I have a rotten set of cb550/k3 pipes and at one stage I hope to either make or commision some to the pattern of them. At some point I'll find the time but bending the thinwall pipe in exhausts may be a difficulty. Don't hold your breath on me getting round to it before the oe manufacturer decides some new ones would be worth their time to make up. cb650 comstars fit with some fettling as I recall - not too mutch messing and look quite smart. Removing a disk is easy enough and cb400/250 parts I think swap over wheel wise. I'd geuss the rear wheels brake lining broke up or cracked leading a po to swap over to comstars rather then re line the brake drum which is genrally considered a specialist job though I've managed to pull this job off

[MIKE550/4]

hi

i am restoring a k3, bike i got was all but original, exhausts ( 4 into 4 ) looked good on outside but inside like dust, i have asked about in various places to get a 4 into 4 replacement with no joy,

there was a set that came up on e bay about 6 months ago some guy had bought new years ago and never fitted, went if i recall for about 650, i am going the down the route as 4 into 1, will be seeking advice from guys on here about the carbs though , not sure if they will need altering at all  ie float height any other settings at all  that will need changed 

i also have a f2 ( daves old bike on here ) which has a nice marshall on it

keep in touch i will be following this one , pics are good to

mike

[matthewmosse]

Motad claim the jetting shouldn't need to be altred to suit their pipes but bear in mind it will probably be tailored to suit cb550's in a generic manner and the k3 as far as I know was jetted leaner by a tad than most other 550's hence better fuel economy apparently. my k3 was fitted with a motad neta system but was fitted by previous owner - doubt he'd done the jets, it was a pig to start from cold at times and when I got it wouldn't start from hot but that was down to the state of the engine more than likely - all the pistons were missing their top rings and by the state of the piston crowns the missing rings had all rattled their way out of the exhaust after chewing the head up. Amasingly that bike still ran fine bar the starting issues even getting to an indicated 110mph. After fitting 'new' pistons the engine ran for miles without problems before dropping a valve. None of this was cos of the pipes but does show how tough these motors are. If I recall correctly I actually found a scabby head with near shot cam bearings and got a few more years from that motor before the camshaft snapped in protest. Even then it still got home under it's own power.