Author Topic: 1976 CB550F new member  (Read 461 times)

Offline Towsejames

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1976 CB550F new member
« on: April 01, 2026, 08:26:36 AM »
Hi, I’m James from Hull East Yorkshire.

I’ve just took delivery of my 1976 Honda CB550F. My dad used to own one and I love the way they look.

I’ve got a few jobs to do on the bike and a few bits I need to work out - I’m currently waiting for my logbook before I can get it registered as historic and insure it. (Assuming all is well)

The bike is a runner with lots of bits that need tweaking - I actually thought I’d bought a 550K but reading the frame number it turns out it’s actually a 550F with K tank and side panels. I actually really like the 550K style though. Bike is fitted with a Laser 4into1 exhaust and looks like it has the F bars with rear grab handles removed.

I’ve got a few issues with missing parts which I need to investigate and track down but I’ll take it one step at a time - I’ve had the bike running and all sounds okay at the moment.

My biggest issue is the kick start lever hitting the rear brake lever making it unusable at the moment.

Thanks for the welcome.


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Offline Laverda Dave

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2026, 09:53:29 AM »
Welcome to the forum James and for getting yourself a project.
The issue of a lazy kickstart has been covered previously, here's a link to the thread:
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,29348.msg281554.html#msg281554
Others maybe along soon with some more advice.
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'The Flying Banana'
1982 Laverda 120 Jota
2020 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
1990 Honda VFR400R NC30

Offline Nurse Julie

  • 1977 CB550/4 Mongrel Brat. 1974 UK 500/4 K1. Honda CD250u.
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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2026, 09:58:34 AM »
Welcome to the forum James.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Orcade-Ian

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2026, 04:48:08 PM »
Hi James,
Welcome to this wonderful forum - lots of great advice and ideas for sourcing parts - many of us have been where you are with a bike and me, literally I'm from 'Ull too.  I have a 76 reg 550F1 and a few others from Honda.  My mate, also from Hull bought a new 550 F2 back in the day from Hull Motorcycle Centre in Witham (salesman was Stuart Myers, who I went to school with but sadly no longer with us.)

Ian

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2026, 05:21:03 PM »
Welcome to the sohc community James.
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline Towsejames

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2026, 06:14:47 PM »
Hi James,
Welcome to this wonderful forum - lots of great advice and ideas for sourcing parts - many of us have been where you are with a bike and me, literally I'm from 'Ull too.  I have a 76 reg 550F1 and a few others from Honda.  My mate, also from Hull bought a new 550 F2 back in the day from Hull Motorcycle Centre in Witham (salesman was Stuart Myers, who I went to school with but sadly no longer with us.)

Ian
Wow thanks for the welcome! And so close by!

Would you have any photos of your bike, some nice close ups of the rear brake pedal lever around where the rear brake lamp switch is and the set up for reference? This could be really handy.

Thanks in advance


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Offline Orcade-Ian

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2026, 06:38:09 PM »
Hi James,
From Hull, not IN Hull, we are on the West Mainland of the Orkney Isles (so about 550 miles away by coincidence) but yes, I will get a few pics of what you need - will have to be tomorrow though - a few bikes need moving as always!

Ian

Offline Orcade-Ian

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2026, 06:45:33 PM »
Me again,
Just found a couple of general pics of right hand side, not specifically taken to show the set up but if you zoom in you might just see how it all goes.

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They should be expandable if you click them, then zoom in.

Ian

Offline Orcade-Ian

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2026, 09:24:48 AM »
A few better pics (hopefully). Not too easy to see everything - lots of black bits in the way!

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Hope this helps,
Ian
« Last Edit: April 02, 2026, 09:28:02 AM by Orcade-Ian »

Offline Athame57

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2026, 10:39:18 AM »
Welcome here James!  ;D
I brake for animals!
1978 CB400F2 called Elen.

Offline Oddjob

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2026, 01:29:58 PM »
That all looks to be ok. Not a K model, that’s all off the F model and yours looks to be an F1. It should have green faces on the clocks. The F2 and the K3 both had blue faces.

There is a possibility the lever has been bent in the past, any damage on the underside of where your foot would push down? I do have a NOS one left if it is.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline Towsejames

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2026, 09:54:52 PM »


Ahh so here is mine. A lot more grubby I know. The kick start lever looks to have a shorter length where it pinches to the shaft?


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Offline Towsejames

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2026, 09:55:17 PM »
And my brake switch is fitted incorrectly I believe?


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Offline Towsejames

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2026, 10:38:20 PM »
Thanks for photos, muchly appreciated. My foot peg also looks different, yours is bolted to where mine has nothing there and tucks up out of the way to use the kickstart I see, and mine is in a different position all together?.


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Offline Oddjob

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Re: 1976 CB550F new member
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2026, 01:24:20 AM »
500 kickstart and footrest. No wonder it is causing problems.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.