1974 Honda CB550 Four test ride by JR

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
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ความคิดเห็น • 74

  • @PongbyAtari
    @PongbyAtari 4 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    I'm going to be 59 in a few weeks these bikes you folks save really bring back so many great memories. It really warms my heart to see you preserving motorcycle history thanks for all you do.

    • @phoenixarizona8441
      @phoenixarizona8441 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'll take a older sport bike over a newer one any day

  • @recyclebills
    @recyclebills 4 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    My first bike was a brand new 1974 CB550 Four. Put it through hell, best motorcycle I ever owned, faster than CB750s on top end, smoothest engine of any motorcycle ever made. It would turn 11,500 RPM stock before floating the valves, after some modifications, bigger cam, and heavier valve springs it floated valves at 14,500 RPM. And I was 18 years old and fool enough to wind it out.
    Wish I still had it.

  • @jimfitzsimmons9897
    @jimfitzsimmons9897 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I learned to ride on a 73 CB350F. Really enjoyed that bike. This brings back memories.

    • @ericrouse6458
      @ericrouse6458 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have 3 a 74k/ 75SS & 76K My Favorite bike to ride around.

  • @paulgrogan8032
    @paulgrogan8032 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Wow...I cant illustrate how rare it is to find one of these this minty fresh where even the cocktail shaker mufflers are there and mint👏👏👏

  • @OccultEngineering
    @OccultEngineering 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Right on ☺️👌 my very first bike (at 15 years old) was a '78 cb550k with the 4 into 4 pipes. Really miss that beast!

  • @johnkendall6962
    @johnkendall6962 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I owned a new one in 1976 Great bike and because I weighted 135 socking wet I had the same performance as my friends bigger CB 750s I sold it in 1979 when I was getting married. In hind sight I should have kept the bike and ditched the marriage. Live and learn.

  • @rpm2dayg648
    @rpm2dayg648 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Orange 1974 with a Hooker reverse cone megaphone 4 into one header. Logged over 40k miles camping all over California and Oregon in the 70's. Great first bike.

  • @vivjames1357
    @vivjames1357 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Believe it was either a 78 or 79 year 550 four supersport that I had the pleasure of owning around 1986, absolutely amazing bike, so balanced in every aspect for the time, having also owned a number of cb750 fours during my youth also, I definitely consider the 550 four, far better than the 750, in every aspect, from performance to handling, it was just far more refined imo, the only issue I encountered, as it was my daily commuter vehicle, come rain or shine, was terrible misfires during wet weather, I finally tracked down the issue, to water collecting in the recess of the heads, around the sparkplugs, my 1986 fix for this was to fit old car coil rubber sleeves onto the ht leads, thereby directing the water running down the ht leads, out past the plug areas of the heads, and solving the misfires caused by the arching, so if anyone encounters such an issue, that's one way to solve it, it's great to see these amazing machines from my past, being cared for and restored 😀

  • @daveco1270
    @daveco1270 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Great bike. Those handlebars are ridiculous though. Gotta love the 70's... those are the handlebar version of bell bottom pants. Luckily it's an easy fix. : ) I bought a 1975 Honda CB750K so I could teach myself motorcycle maintenance. I've been having a blast with that bike...and I've learned a lot. Honda's are easy to work on and the parts are easily available.

  • @mindspinn311
    @mindspinn311 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I love it even with the high bars. I’d ride this every day if I owned it!

  • @huskypoop4917
    @huskypoop4917 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    that's one of the sweetist 550 s we ever seen it looks brand new

  • @floorwall247
    @floorwall247 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Makes me so excited to get my great grandfather's up and running. Hardly any work needed too

  • @jimmyguenza3767
    @jimmyguenza3767 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Hey Ken you are sounding alot like someone we all know ....... i mean this as a compliment sinserely !
    Way to go Jr. !!!!

  • @kk2into194
    @kk2into194 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    That exhaust note is FIRE!!!!!

  • @noahlindsey5100
    @noahlindsey5100 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Pure Honda quality right there!😎👍🇺🇸

  • @AJ-ec5dg
    @AJ-ec5dg 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Literally just bought that exact bike, color and all. Mines a ‘75

  • @Johnnywhamo
    @Johnnywhamo 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This was the first bike I ever owned....next was 1979 RD 400 Daytona Special ..BIG difference:)
    Just the same that 550 was a great bike....until I took into the side of a car doing about 50mph.

  • @bigrobnz
    @bigrobnz 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    my brother"s first bike was a 550/4....back in the 70"s.......always an under-rated bike because of it"s big brother.......

  • @tommybritton9273
    @tommybritton9273 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nice bike guys 👍and some beautiful scenery up there where you're at..

  • @jbkstafford
    @jbkstafford 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Best bike I had was a 74 550/4. Bought in 1979 to replace a CB350 and had for a few years before responsibilities meant those days were behind me. But still love these Hondas. I'd love to pick one up again but the prices here in Australia are huge.

  • @MetalOxy
    @MetalOxy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Awesome bike, great work. Thanks for the video!

  • @rasmichael
    @rasmichael 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Ah! That was the last bike I owned. Mine had a four-in-one exhaust though.

  • @owenjones506
    @owenjones506 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have built a couple of these , the biggest problem with them is that hydrodrive chain connecting the crank to the gear box can chew through through he oil feed at the bottom of the crank causing it to lack feed to the crank shaft , so be aware , apart from that they are amazing bike !

  • @MarkJosephMalimban
    @MarkJosephMalimban หลายเดือนก่อน

    that's a Badass Bike, man! Love it!

  • @slidersgliders5516
    @slidersgliders5516 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love that old bike . I have a few Honda trail 90,s

  • @jamesnasium4688
    @jamesnasium4688 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice Job, JR. !!

  • @korbendallas9317
    @korbendallas9317 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Man o man, She's a beaut.
    I love the color

  • @pbmachines972
    @pbmachines972 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    That thing’s killer👌

  • @54macdog
    @54macdog 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great bike; great test.

  • @bryanrose4850
    @bryanrose4850 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    1974 my birth year cool bike

  • @seather863
    @seather863 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nice everyday driver right there.

  • @andrewwoodward6560
    @andrewwoodward6560 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really want a Honda four, someday . ✌️

  • @limel6214
    @limel6214 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    jus pulled one of these out of my grandpas garage as well as a cb350

  • @manelew7482
    @manelew7482 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    So fresh, So clean.
    😁🤙

  • @garrettparker8223
    @garrettparker8223 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice bike

  • @jamesfinch1859
    @jamesfinch1859 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a 74 with 74k starts up with a hit of the button fun bike

  • @gregm1621
    @gregm1621 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Absolutely beautiful!!!!

  • @carlgilmore9821
    @carlgilmore9821 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It's even still got the annoying turn signal buzzer! That was the first thing I took off my 74 CB750K4. May still have the damn thing somewhere in my shop.

  • @billwood1372
    @billwood1372 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Got to put the stock bars back on it would look way better

  • @HULKMAN3280
    @HULKMAN3280 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice !

  • @ropeyzkittlez9703
    @ropeyzkittlez9703 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    is that what those yellow marks are? was wondering thought maybe a used set of carbs now i know theyve never even been touched lol

  • @ImranKhanae
    @ImranKhanae ปีที่แล้ว

    Gorgeous ♥

  • @a1081042
    @a1081042 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember when those were new.

  • @Mr.M1STER
    @Mr.M1STER 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    That's a beautiful area you live in. The bike is beautiful too although I am not a fan of the handlebars.

  • @miniaturemachinist6098
    @miniaturemachinist6098 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Original cb's look so much better than cafe races, it's nice to see a video of one that hasn't been mutilated by the cafe fad.

    • @ecirlos4902
      @ecirlos4902 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I agree. Can’t understand why this beauties are modified to cafe racer. They destroy a legend.

  • @LifeWithJake802
    @LifeWithJake802 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What tye of gas are you running? And what do I do if it keeps bogging out when i go to ride after about 5mins

  • @happytimesagain3458
    @happytimesagain3458 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great bike Showing!!! You should do more and let your Dad go on Vacation!!

  • @davidefland1985
    @davidefland1985 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The pblm with the old SOHC 750 fours were concentric carbs. It was slow to pick up. I bought an early 80’s 750 it had DOHC and constant volocity carbs. Much faster instant response.

  • @H24-o9v
    @H24-o9v 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The year I was born.

  • @kk2into194
    @kk2into194 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Dig that Kawi green hog in the back round.

  • @guramann
    @guramann 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    very good!!
    Where are you made this mirror?

  • @chelsea.comedy
    @chelsea.comedy 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm considering a 1976 Honda cb500f, do you know if there's much difference?

  • @chui1976
    @chui1976 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That is Koji Kabuto's bike in Mazinger Z anime

  • @RAF122s
    @RAF122s 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    This still for sale and how much if so? Thanks! David

  • @Soundsantara
    @Soundsantara 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice bike. Clean engine. Btw this is recorded at high frame rate right. 120fps at least I guess. What camera man btw?

  • @robsonfranciscogalvao5627
    @robsonfranciscogalvao5627 ปีที่แล้ว

    Beautifull. .motorcycle. ..showww

  • @dago_0730
    @dago_0730 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Whoever swapped the stock handlebars with these should be trialed and sent to jail

  • @JacobWalker-v9d
    @JacobWalker-v9d 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    How much u want for it

  • @normstaley9799
    @normstaley9799 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    not that it matters but the fuel shut off is not original

  • @DanhNguyen-xq5tk
    @DanhNguyen-xq5tk 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good for Cafe Racer project bike....

  • @korymanuel6759
    @korymanuel6759 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    First

  • @paulrollitt585
    @paulrollitt585 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sure it's not a 500 honda

  • @lublyfyu
    @lublyfyu 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    So strange

  • @onetakeadventureswithjoeld4679
    @onetakeadventureswithjoeld4679 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    BAD ASS ! In the day , My ride th-cam.com/video/hiniqCC6Q5E/w-d-xo.html

  • @MrMonty414
    @MrMonty414 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Shorts, t shirt and sneakers.
    Lost me in the first minute.

    • @KaplanCycles
      @KaplanCycles  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      be happy to lose you forever, we wont miss you a bit lol

  • @bobmcbob9603
    @bobmcbob9603 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice bike