Post by: Murf on February 13, 2026, 12:09:23 AM
Can anyone tell me the dimensions of the brake side spacer on the rear wheel, 1975 K1 550.
I am just putting the rear wheel back on and don’t seem to be able to find it, it isn’t lost as such but just seems to be evading me at the moment. It’s the only bit I have misplaced so far during my build.
I will have another look tomorrow then will make one if I cant find it. The length is the main thing I need, the outside diameter would be useful.
If no one has the dimensions I will be able to work them out, but it would be good to have the original dimensions to work to as then I know it is right.
Thanks.
Post by: mickwinf on February 13, 2026, 10:29:45 AM
Post by: Oddjob on February 13, 2026, 12:31:27 PM
Post by: Murf on February 13, 2026, 01:36:46 PM
Thank
Hi Oddjob thanks for the info, fortunately I have got a lathe and just happen to have a piece of SS bar that should be long enough so will be able to make one.
However I did look on CMSNL to see if their parts diagrams had any dimensions, they didn’t but I did notice that the wheel spacer was in the region of £59 and were out of stock, so your friend could be a life and money saver for someone.
Post by: DomP on February 13, 2026, 02:44:51 PM
Post by: Oddjob on February 13, 2026, 07:51:19 PM
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 13, 2026, 07:57:00 PM
If you PM me I can send his direct contact details.
Sadly left this site due to being the subject of indirect bullying.
Post by: Murf on February 13, 2026, 11:38:50 PM
I have now found the spacer, it was in with my CBX stuff. It looks like a spacer that is used on the lower rear engine mount, I sort of remember seeing it on the bench a while ago and wondering why a CBX part was out so put it on the CBX shelf.
So all good you might think, well no, I thought it would be an aluminium spacer that I could just polish up, but it is just a plated steel one that is rusty. So I am still going to make one but at least I have the original to copy now. I am going to use aluminium which should be fine. I will post a photo.
As you say the early 550 is basically the 500 with a 550 engine, I mostly use the 500 parts manual in Ash’s drop box as a guide when assembling things, except the engine.
Thanks for all the responses
Post by: Oddjob on February 14, 2026, 12:16:37 AM
Post by: DomP on February 14, 2026, 08:11:16 AM
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 14, 2026, 10:00:22 AM
Didn't know you had a CBX as well Murf. Jealous now. Keep promising myself that if I get some money together someday and it's not earmarked for the house I'll treat myself to a red CBX. Not the prolink type though, never really liked those. Fancy a CBX550 as well.
Exactly the same thoughts over here Ken. The red CBX was (and still is) so cool. The 550F2 CBX was the same but a lot cheaper although I still couldn't afford one when they were new!
Post by: Bryanj on February 14, 2026, 07:16:57 PM
Post by: Murf on February 18, 2026, 12:33:19 AM
Yes I am lucky enough to have a 1979 CBX Z Super sport the original twin shock type, mine is a silver one, I understand what you are saying about the candy red ones, it is a beautiful colour for a motorbike and looks great on the CBX, I like to think of the silver ones as less common and more elegant than the red 😂. There were only the two colours although you have probably seen some black ones as well, the black was for the A model which came out slightly later and was detuned to sub 100 BHP for the German market.
I decided I wanted one and got mine as a stripped to the last nut and bolt inc the engine basket case in 2003. It’s a common tale, it had been stripped down 15 years earlier by the seller with the intention of rebuilding it which never happened. Fortunately over the years he had been buying parts for the rebuild and these came with it. It took me about 18 months to rebuild it, I had the frame painted and did a nice job of the rebuild, it’s a beautiful thing and a nice bike to ride. Engine is smooth with plenty of torque, standard brakes are crap and suspension very 70s.
It’s lucky to have survived as another person had made an offer on it which was excepted but he then lowered his offer, this pissed the seller off, I found out it was for sale and offered the full amount. I got to know the guy that had made the offer via the CBX community and that he just wanted it to sell as parts. He dropped a bollox by being greedy because there was some expensive new parts with it.
If you decide to get one, join a CBX club first, The CBX Enthusiasts club is very active. good bikes at realistic prices do come up within the two CBX clubs and that’s the best place to buy one from.
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 18, 2026, 01:20:05 PM
Post by: Oddjob on February 18, 2026, 05:20:37 PM
I presume yours has the vacuum petrol tap mod?
Post by: AshimotoK0 on February 19, 2026, 07:08:50 AM
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on February 19, 2026, 08:22:38 AM
…Bike Magazine once 'Careful with that CBX Eugene'.
I was an avid reader of Bike in the 70s and 80s but I don’t remember this.
Defeated my Google search as well
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Post by: AshimotoK0 on February 19, 2026, 08:46:16 AM
…Bike Magazine once 'Careful with that CBX Eugene'.
I was an avid reader of Bike in the 70s and 80s but I don’t remember this.
Defeated my Google search as well
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It was probably a comment from Mark Williams ... or may have been in another Magazine ... just sticks in my mind from the hippy days Steve. :)
Post by: K2-K6 on February 19, 2026, 09:17:43 AM
Fitted with CD autochanger, quite a few family owned, many predating his birth :) to be found in his stack cassettes.
His mates are mystified as to lack of connectivity, but it sounds fabulous in there though.
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 19, 2026, 09:42:48 AM
It was fitted with an 8 Track Tape Cassette, only tape I had was "Back to Front" by Gilbert O'Sullivan with Clair on the playlist.
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 19, 2026, 09:44:16 AM
One for the Floyd fans out there ...that I read in, I think, Bike Magazine once 'Careful with that CBX Eugene'. Only old ex-hippes will get that :D. Laverda Dave is going to remind us of a magazine restoration of a CBX1000 where they ended up with loads of glass bead media in the finished engine.
Sorry to bring bad news Ash but it was Bob Berry's CBX. He was the then editor of a bike magazine I can no longer remember suffice to say it's no longer published. The engine was vapour blasted and beads remained in hidden places only to be flushed out by hot engine oil. A very expensive rebuild first time round and even more expensive second time around.
Anyway.....Pink Floyd, whilst they are no longer going if you get the chance go and see Australian Pink Floyd.
They are touring the UK this year and are absolutely fantastic, you will not be disappointed.
I want to see some photos of Murf's CBX😎.
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 19, 2026, 09:48:26 AM
https://youtu.be/UH4ZIsWy4SE?si=ZTZrzMlZof_WnpbN
It does sound a bit like a Laverda Jota👍
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 19, 2026, 09:52:41 AM
I went with my brother, the audience was a sea of ladies with blue rinse hair do's, there was virtually no one under the age of 65. The isles were awash with Zimmer frames. Fantastic music with film backdrops from the era plus the proper animation when they did "Another brick in the wall".
One of the best live acts I have been to, narrowly beaten by Meat Loaf at NEC Birmingham.
Post by: AshimotoK0 on February 19, 2026, 10:22:24 AM
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on February 19, 2026, 11:08:46 AM
There were quite a few “kids” (those in their 30s - like my kids).
To continue the thread hijack, my kids bought me the Wish You Were Here vinyl for my birthday in January. I had to break the 80s hifi out of the attic to play it.
The record deck (affectionately known as “The Rega”) is now connected to my wireless Sonos system and gets used regularly.
Sadly the old A&R Cambridge suffered 20+ years in the loft and sounded ok but cosmetically was destroyed (presumably by the heat cycles)
I must also (sadly) report that neither the Tannoys nor the Dynaudio speakers can match the sound of the Sonos
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Post by: Laverda Dave on February 19, 2026, 11:18:56 AM
We went to see the APF at the Glasgow SSC a couple of years ago. They played the Royal Albert Hall as well but the tickets were stupidly expensive. We went by train to Glasgow, stayed one night at the Premier Inn and went to the SSC and it was still cheaper than going to the Albert Hall!
Anyway, Where's the photos of the CBX......
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 19, 2026, 12:21:57 PM
I settled for a direct drive Pioneer turntable, dual motor, separate one for the pick up.
I built up my Cyrus system over several years starting with Pre-Amp, Power Amp CD Player, before adding individual power supplies & Bi-Amping. Downsized the speakers to more compact Bose Acoustimass 5.
Sadly only use it a couple of times a year, I just can't bring myself to part with it.
When Wendy was out back in the 1990s I broke several ornaments that fell off the shelves from the vibration caused by my then huge Mission floor stander speakers that could handle the 100 Watts per channel output.
No wonder I now have dual heating aids.😄
Post by: taysidedragon on February 19, 2026, 12:57:26 PM
I've seen Aus Floyd about 5 times, they put on a fantastic show, will definitely go again. 👍
Post by: AshimotoK0 on February 19, 2026, 01:29:57 PM
80s hifi out of the attic to play it.
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Similar here Steve ... had to dig in loft and also buy a Sansui record deck to play my newly acquired 1968 pressing of the Beatles White Album on.
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 19, 2026, 03:10:34 PM
Post by: AshimotoK0 on February 20, 2026, 09:43:22 AM
Sorry it's off topic, I fancied a Pink Triangle turntable , just too expensive for me at the time.
I settled for a direct drive Pioneer turntable, dual motor, separate one for the pick up.
I built up my Cyrus system over several years starting with Pre-Amp, Power Amp CD Player, before adding individual power supplies & Bi-Amping. Downsized the speakers to more compact Bose Acoustimass 5.
Sadly only use it a couple of times a year, I just can't bring myself to part with it.
When Wendy was out back in the 1990s I broke several ornaments that fell off the shelves from the vibration caused by my then huge Mission floor stander speakers that could handle the 100 Watts per channel output.
No wonder I now have dual heating aids.😄
Betcha these weren't played on anything as esoteric Ted. Probably a Dansette ! ;D ..... I just had to buy them though because of the cover photo's featuring 'our' bikes !
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Post by: Murf on March 07, 2026, 01:34:25 PM
If you can work on the CBX then you are half way there, it is very difficult to find anyone who will work on a CBX and of course very expensive. I am not sure how owners that can’t do their own stuff go on really, but that applies to most classic bikes I guess.
In terms of difficulty I think my 550 has been a more challenging rebuild that the CBX was, I guess I was lucky with the CBX because although it was in bits it was actually in ok condition. The 550 on the other hand was on the road but a pile of poo. I think if you can keep a 550 the road then you can keep a CBX on the road. But whatever you do don’t buy a bad CBX.
I have got a write up about the CBX rebuild John Whatt did on Bob Curries CBX that went disastrous wrong. Not once does it ever mention about the bead blasting, but that is what obviously what happened. It got rebuilt again by someone but failed again before the guys at SEP reluctantly took on the job of rebuilding it correctly. I believe John Whatt stood by his word and paid for the repairs. I believe one side of the Honda exhausts I have on my bike came from the stuff he sold to raise the cash.
I have seen photos of the inside of a couple more CBX engines that have been grit blasted, what a mess they are totally stuffed and basically scrap. It seems the grit embeds itself in the aluminium of the crankcases and comes out when the oil and cases get hot. Around 10 to 30 mins seems to be the life of the engine.
Post by: Bryanj on March 07, 2026, 02:16:48 PM
Post by: Murf on March 10, 2026, 11:41:59 PM
Post by: Bryanj on March 11, 2026, 07:09:17 AM