1974 Honda CB550K
My history and experiences with this bike.
I’ve got a lot of history
with this bike
While I didn’t buy this bike new, I’ve owned it most of it’s life. I was planning to marry my high school sweetheart in 1976. I was also looking to sell my ’62 Chevy II drag car.
Long story short, the only person interested in my drag car wanted to trade a nearly new 1974 CB550 for it. The bike was in the Boss Maroon color, and after my history of riding beater Harleys, was as smooth as silk.
I mostly rode the bike solo, but on several occasions my wife and I took day trips on the bike. In 1980, shortly after buying the CBX, the 550 got a new life set up as a drag bike.
I don’t remember all the details, but one day at the Honda dealer, we were talking about what I would do with the 550 now that I had another bike. The factory rep suggested we drag race it. He said that Honda had used the 550’s as test bikes when designing the Turbo 500 and that it would easily spin up to 12000 rpm.
The rep got us the proper cam shaft, we punched the bike out to 605cc, and it got a new paint job and lettering. I was in the process of restoring a 1967 Chevelle and had some extra Aqua Marine paint.
While the bike wasn’t exceptionally quick compared to the 1200cc Kawasaki bikes we raced against, it was definitely a crowd pleaser, and we had lots of fun racing it for 2 or 3 years.
After that, I put it back to mostly stock, and my wife gave it a go learning to ride a motorbike. We soon had a couple of children, my wife developed some health problems, and in 1988 the bike went to live in my father’s 4 car garage.
That’s where it stayed until 2017. In 2016 I lost my wife, and had my first cancer diagnosis. Thinking I might not have a whole lot of time left, I decided to get it back into running & riding condition.
Now when it went into the garage, I never expected it to sit for 29 years, and it was not put away well. So needless to say, the gas tank and the carbs were a mess when I started getting it back into road worth condition. I guess you could say it was just a typical “barn find” bike.
I went initially did the bare minimum to get the bike on the road. Cleaned and lined the gas tank, rebuilt the carbs, new battery, new tires, oil change & tune up.
It was a very stressful time and the wind therapy I got by having the bike back on the road was very much needed. I couldn’t believe I had spent so much time away from riding!
Maintenance
01/01/2017 — 11797 miles — Sitting since fall of 1988
05/16/2017 — 11797 miles — First ride
05/17/2017 — 11800 miles — Oil & Filter — Walmart Tech II 10w-40
05/21/2017 — 12000 miles — New Shinko 712 tires front & rear
06/24/2017 — 13800 miles — Oil & Filter — Walmart Tech II 10w-40
10/04/2017 — 15750 miles — Shinko 712 Rear Tire
02/19/2018 — 15800 miles — Oil & Filter — Valvoline 10w-40 4 Stroke Oil
03/08/2018 — 16000 miles — New Battery — Xtreme Conventional 12N12A-4A-1
04/12/2019 — 18000 miles — Oil & Filter — Valvoline 20w-50 4 Stroke Oil
06/23/2019 — 19250 miles — Replace rear brake shoes
09/02/2019 — 20650 miles — Oil & Filter — Rotella 15w40 T4
09/07/2019 — 20900 miles — Rebuild front caliper
09/07/2019 — 20900 miles — New fork seals
09/07/2019 — 20900 miles — New valve cover gasket, new pucks
11/01/2019 — 23024 miles — Oil & Filter — Rotella 15w40 T4
11/21/2019 — 23150 miles — 1977 Rocker Cover & Valve Adjust
04/13/2020 — 24915 miles — Rear tire – Shinko Tour Master
04/19/2020 — 24980 miles — Oil & Filter — Rotella 15w40 T4
06/17/2020 — 26500 miles — Oil — Rotella 15w40 T4
10/21/2020 — 28650 miles — Oil & Filter — Rotella 15w40 T4
03/29/2021 — 29275 miles — Valve adjust
05/24/2021 — 29700 miles — New battery (WalMart ES12AA)
07/25/2021 — 30100 miles — Oil — Rotella 15w40 T4
09/11/2021 — 30300 miles — Fixed oil leak, new o-rings on oil filter housing.
03/04/2022 — 31300 miles — Dunlop Trailmax Mission tire rear
03/07/2022 — 31400 miles — Dunlop Trailmax Mission tire front
03/15/2022 — 31500 miles — Oil & Filter — Rotella 15w40 T4
03/21/2022 — 31650 miles — Valve adjust
03/21/2022 — 31650 miles — Balance carbs
03/21/2022 — 31650 miles — LED headlight & instrument bulbs
03/21/2022 — 31650 miles — New clutch and brake levers
03/28/2022 — 31800 miles — Wash and re-oil K&N pod air filters
05/16/2022 — 32239 miles — New NGK D7EA spark plugs
08/31/2022 — 32957 miles — Fix valve cover oil leak (helicoil)
09/01/2022 — 33020 miles — New exhaust gaskets @ head, paint header while removed.
09/05/2022 — 33120 miles — Oil & Filter — Valveoline 10w40
09/05/2022 — 33120 miles — Valve adjust
12/17/2022 — 34072 miles — Rebuild master cylinder
12/17/2022 — 34072 miles — New front brake pads
12/24/2022 — 34072 miles — Clean & rebuild carbs
12/25/2022 — 34072 miles — Install stock air filter box
12/30/2022 — 34072 miles — New stock air cleaner
01/02/2023 — 34072 miles — New oil pressure sensor
02/24/2023 — 34350 miles — Install drag race chain
05/14/2023 — 35160 miles — Oil & Filter — Rotella 15w40 T4
05/15/2023 — 35160 miles — Valve adjust
05/18/2024 — 36750 miles — Oil & Filter — Rotella 15w40 T4
05/18/2024 — 36750 miles — New battery (Rural King 12A-A)
Fuel
Date Fuel Miles MPG Odometer
04/08/2019 - 2.840 - xxx.x - xx.xx - 17816
04/12/2019 - 3.011 - 149.0 - 49.65 - 17965
04/23/2019 - 2.565 - 104.7 - 40.81 - 18069.7
05/01/2019 - 1.975 - 085.3 - 43.19 - 18155.0
05/06/2019 - 2.334 - 104.3 - 44.69 - 18259.3
05/19/2019 - 5.216 - 239.5 - 45.92 - 18498.8
05/28/2019 - 3.085 - 145.8 - 47.26 - 18644.6
05/31/2019 - 3.019 - 143.1 - 47.39 - 18787.7
06/07/2019 - 4.394 - 210.5 - 47.91 - 18998.2
06/11/2019 - 2.140 - 094.9 - 44.34 - 19093.1
06/25/2019 - 4.398 - 239.4 - 54.43 - 19332.5
06/26/2019 - 2.838 - 134.0 - 47.21 - 19466.5
07/12/2019 - 3.031 - 136.1 - 44.90 - 19602.6
07/15/2019 - 2.883 - 144.3 - 50.05 - 19746.9
07/19/2019 - 4.924 - 230.7 - 46.85 - 19977.6
07/26/2019 - 4.593 - 217.7 - 47.39 - 20195.3
08/11/2019 - 1.871 - 086.7 - 46.34 - 20282.0
08/21/2019 - 2.930 - 145.3 - 49.59 - 20427.3
08/27/2019 - 2.893 - 133.7 - 46.22 - 20561.0
09/02/2019 - 1.877 - 090.5 - 48.22 - 20651.5
09/04/2019 - 2.951 - 143.4 - 48.59 - 20794.9
09/07/2019 - 3.752 - 177.5 - 47.31 - 20972.4
09/09/2019 - 4.136 - 161.7 - 39.09 - 21134.1
09/11/2019 - 2.247 - 111.2 - 49.49 - 21245.3
09/12/2019 - 2.714 - 140.4 - 51.73 - 21385.7
09/14/2019 - 1.541 - 070.2 - 45.55 - 21455.9
09/16/2019 - 2.202 - 108.5 - 49.27 - 21564.4
09/22/2019 - 5.290 - 251.3 - 47.50 - 21815.7
09/25/2019 - 2.742 - 136.4 - 49.74 - 21952.1
09/26/2019 - 2.745 - 134.2 - 48.89 - 22086.3
09/28/2019 - 1.995 - 096.4 - 48.32 - 22182.7
09/29/2019 - 3.112 - 144.2 - 46.34 - 22326.9
10/04/2019 - 5.202 - 240.5 - 46.23 - 22567.4
10/20/2019 - 6.786 - 290.4 - 42.79 - 22857.8
10/23/2019 - 2.438 - 101.5 - 41.63 - 22959.3
11/22/2019 - 4.679 - 217.4 - 46.46 23176.7
12/08/2019 - 3.821 - 167.9 - 43.94 - 23344.6
12/23/2019 - 2.264 - 089.2 - 39.40 - 23433.8
01/14/2020 - 2.787 - 116.6 - 41.84 - 23550.4
02/03/2020 - 2.926 - 121.0 - 41.35 - 23671.4
03/01/2020 - 2.388 - 093.5 - 39.15 - 23764.9
03/05/2020 - 1.959 - 081.9 - 41.80 - 23846.8
03/13/2020 - 7.025 - 298.2 - 42.45 - 24145.0
03/29/2020 - 5.332 - 218.7 - 41.02 - 24363.7
04/03/2020 - 2.784 - 118.3 - 42.49 - 24482.0
04/06/2020 - 1.653 - 069.6 - 42.11 - 24551.6
04/06/2020 - 2.648 - 120.7 - 45.58 - 24672.3
04/07/2020 - 2.101 - 085.6 - 40.74 - 24757.9
04/12/2020 - 3.084 - 127.2 - 41.25 - 24885.1
04/19/2020 - 2.225 - 090.7 - 40.76 - 24975.8
04/20/2020 - 2.703 - 117.7 - 43.54 - 25093.5
04/20/2020 - 1.815 - 080.2 - 44.18 - 25173.7
04/24/2020 - 3.102 - 123.5 - 39.81 - 25297.2
05/02/2020 - 3.163 - 130.1 - 41.13 - 25427.3
05/06/2020 - 3.148 - 131.3 - 41.71 - 25558.6
05/17/2020 - 2.919 - 119.2 - 40.83 - 25677.8
05/22/2020 - 3.222 - 133.7 - 41.50 - 25811.5
06/04/2020 - 3.450 - 156.9 - 45.48 - 25968.4
06/06/2020 - 3.274 - 153.0 - 46.73 - 26121.4
06/10/2020 - 3.254 - 152.1 - 46.74 - 26273.5
06/14/2020 - 3.095 - 139.3 - 45.00 - 26412.8
06/19/2020 - 3.000 - 143.2 - 47.73 - 26556.0
06/22/2020 - 2.617 - 128.6 - 49.14 - 26684.6
06/24/2020 - 1.479 - 071.3 - 48.21 - 26755.9
06/24/2020 - 1.464 - 076.7 - 52.39 - 26832.6
06/24/2020 - 1.308 - 064.1 - 49.01 - 26896.7
06/25/2020 - 1.819 - 091.1 - 50.08 - 26987.8
06/25/2020 - 2.268 - 114.1 - 50.31 - 27101.9
06/27/2020 - 2.426 - 105.2 - 43.36 - 27207.1
07/05/2020 - 2.834 - 131.4 - 46.37 - 27338.5
07/07/2020 - 3.143 - 151.3 - 48.14 - 27489.8
07/10/2020 - 2.978 - 139.1 - 46.71 - 27628.9
07/31/2020 - 2.898 - 126.1 - 43.51 - 27755.0
08/14/2020 - 1.757 - 070.9 - 40.35 - 27825.9
08/22/2020 - 3.049 - 142.7 - 46.80 - 27968.6
09/09/2020 - 1.826 - 076.0 - 41.62 - 28044.6
09/20/2020 - 3.000 - 128.5 - 42.83 - 28173.1
09/26/2020 - 4.777 - 205.0 - 42.91 - 28378.1
10/08/2020 - 3.453 - 140.7 - 40.75 - 28518.8
10/21/2020 - 3.199 - 131.3 - 41.04 - 28650.1
10/31/2020 - 2.601 - 107.0 - 41.14 - 28757.1
11/07/2020 - 3.051 - 123.8 - 40.58 - 28880.9
11/13/2020 - 0.742 - 027.5 - 37.06 - 28908.4
01/04/2021 - 3.046 - 115.0 - 37.75 - 29023.4
03/12/2021 - 3.972 - 148.9 - 37.49 - 29172.3
03/29/2021 - 2.899 - 113.5 - 39.15 - 29285.8
04/09/2021 - 2.521 - 106.6 - 42.28 - 29392.4
04/19/2021 - 2.981 - 117.1 - 39.28 - 29509.5
05/24/2021 - 2.538 - 206.6 - 81.40 - 29716.1
06/20/2021 - 3.275 - 155.9 - 47.60 - 29872.0
07/09/2021 - 3.260 - 150.9 - 46.29 - 30022.9
07/30/2021 - 2.429 - 101.9 - 41.95 - 30124.8
08/22/2021 - 3.208 - 154.0 - 48.00 - 30278.8
09/13/2021 - 2.939 - 117.1 - 39.84 - 30395.9
09/27/2021 - 4.282 - 172.1 - 40.19 - 30568.0
10/01/2021 - 4.105 - 170.0 - 41.41 - 30738.0
10/26/2021 - 4.169 - 178.3 - 42.77 - 30916.3
11/06/2021 - 1.772 - 069.1 - 38.99 - 30985.4
11/08/2021 - 2.598 - 106.0 - 40.80 - 31091.4
11/30/2021 - 3.421 - 132.7 - 38.79 - 31224.1
03/05/2022 - 2.482 - 095.1 - 38.36 - 31319.2
03/14/2022 - 3.112 - 114.2 - 36.70 - 31433.4
03/16/2022 - 3.234 - 122.1 - 37.76 - 31555.5
03/21/2022 - 3.282 - 126.5 - 38.54 - 31682.0
03/29/2022 - 3.179 - 126.8 - 39.89 - 31808.8
04/05/2022 - 3.150 - 120.4 - 38.22 - 31929.2
04/23/2022 - 3.690 - 134.9 - 36.56 - 32064.1
05/16/2022 - 4.645 - 174.9 - 37.65 - 32239.0
05/22/2022 - 2.810 - 093.9 - 33.42 - 32332.9
06/13/2022 - 2.981 - 115.7 - 38.81 - 32448.6
06/15/2022 - 3.169 - 139.6 - 44.05 - 32588.2
06/19/2022 - 2.993 - 132.9 - 44.40 - 32721.1
07/09/2022 - 2.962 - 127.4 - 43.01 - 32848.5
08/31/2022 - 2.754 - 109.3 - 39.69 - 32957.8
09/04/2022 - 3.257 - 133.9 - 41.11 - 33091.7
09/18/2022 - 2.764 - 114.9 - 41.57 - 33206.6
10/03/2022 - 3.192 - 122.4 - 38.35 - 33329.0
10/11/2022 - 6.069 - 235.1 - 38.74 - 33564.1
10/14/2022 - 3.085 - 122.5 - 39.71 - 33686.6
10/31/2022 - 1.278 - 044.0 - 34.42 - 33730.6
11/07/2022 - 3.214 - 122.9 - 38.24 - 33853.5
11/09/2022 - 3.098 - 119.3 - 38.51 - 33972.8
01/03/2023 - 3.324 - 118.8 - 34.74 - 34091.6
02/12/2023 - 3.119 - 110.3 - 35.36 - 34201.9
02/26/2023 - 4.079 - 181.4 - 44.47 - 34383.3
02/28/2023 - 1.811 - 066.2 - 36.55 - 34449.5
04/09/2023 - 5.208 - 203.3 - 39.04 - 34652.8
04/13/2023 - 2.113 - 082.0 - 38.80 - 34734.8
04/16/2023 - 2.085 - 079.9 - 38.32 - 34814.7
04/20/2023 - 2.770 - 091.5 - 33.03 - 34906.2
05/03/2023 - 4.260 - 155.1 - 36.41 - 35061.3
05/15/2023 - 2.845 - 111.7 - 39.26 - 35173.0
06/03/2023 - 3.740 - 143.0 - 38.24 - 35316.0
06/28/2023 - 4.984 - 191.6 - 38.44 - 35507.6
07/26/2023 - 6.282 - 239.9 - 38.19 - 35747.5
09/11/2023 - 2.629 - 091.9 - 34.96 - 35839.4
10/04/2023 - 7.402 - 274.1 - 37.03 - 36113.5
10/11/2023 - 1.728 - 064.0 - 37.04 - 36177.5
11/05/2023 - 4.171 - 159.8 - 38.31 - 36337.3
02/27/2024 - 6.027 - 238.5 - 39.57 - 36575.8
05/12/2024 - 2.812 - 099.8 - 35.50 - 36675.6
05/20/2024 - 2.403 - 090.8 - 37.79 - 36766.4
06/01/2024 - 2.690 - 102.1 - 37.96 - 36868.5
09/26/2024 - 3.014 - 112.4 - 37.29 - 36980.9
02/02/2025 - 5.000 - 192.1 - 38.40 - 37173.0
03/04/2025 - 2.419 - 095.6 - 39.52 - 37268.6
03/19/2025 - 2.890 - 108.4 - 37.51 - 37377.0
03/28/2025 - 2.526 - 091.8 - 36.34 - 37468.8
06/12/2025 - 4.974 - 205.1 - 41.23 - 37673.9
06/15/2025 - 2.697 - 098.7 - 36.60 - 37772.6
06/19/2025 - 3.044 - 113.8 - 37.39 - 37886.4