CBX550 Restoration Project - SV650.org

mister c · 12-12-14, 07:25 AM

People have been showing an interest in my CBX550 project, so I will start this thread to show what I'm up to.

The year was about 1990 & my 1st big bike was Honda's CBX550. I had been a massive 2 stroke fan & had been riding X7's GT380s etc, so this was my introduction to inline 4s. I loved the shape of it & also the speed, but, unfortunately, couldn't afford to keep it. I sold it 6 months later & ended up with a cheap & cheerful CB250RS to go to work on.
Every time I saw a CBX, I always thought "one day, I'll get another one of those". Well, 25 years later I saw an advert for, not 1, but 2 550's for £650, been stood in a yard for over 5 years. I couldn't resist & offered £400 for them both. To my surprise they accepted, so i made the 300 mile round trip & picked them up. Boy, were they in a state, but I had decided that I would restore the unfaired & use the faired one as a donor bike.

Also in the deal was this little lot.

So, 1st things 1st, it was time to start the strip down. I was dreading it because 33 years of abuse didn't bode well on the nuts & bolts. Unbelievably every nut, bolt & washer came off without any problems at all.
So, I had a frame, loads of bolts, an engine, 2 wheels & an exhaust in bits. I sent the frame away for powder coating at Rtro Coatings near Crewe & what a fantastic job they did with it too. Every screw hole (except 1 that he missed) was covered before blasting & coating. It came back like new.

At the same time I sent off all of the nuts & bolts to be zinc plated. I now know that they should have been nickel, but it's too late now.

Next installment will be about the rebuild.

maviczap · 12-12-14, 07:41 AM

One of the sweetest handling bikes i ever had and i even liked those inboard discs even though they were a pain to work on.

Apart from the dreaded camchain problem which caused me to sell mine, it was one of my favourite bikes I've ever owned.

Good job i didnt see that ad Col, i would have been very tempted

mister c · 12-12-14, 12:27 PM

I've just sold the other one mav. Went for 200 quid

maviczap · 12-12-14, 12:47 PM

Dang, still its a good job you're too far away Col, otherwise I might have bought that one!

Did you keep the better one, was there more wrong with the faired one?

Or was it a case of too many projects?

Jayneflakes · 12-12-14, 01:20 PM

Ooh, I am all excited already. Good show Mr C, jolly good show indeed.

I await the updates with anticipation.

mister c · 12-12-14, 08:45 PM

Here's part 2 while the missus is watching Emmeroid Farm.
So, I had the frame back from the powder coaters & my assortment of bolts from the platers, I thought it was time to start cleaning & painting stuff.
The brakes were in a right state, but after a good old session with a mini grinder & wire brush attachment, they came up quite well.
I also found some high temp paint that virtually matched the colour of the brake covers

i cleaned up the swingarm & gave it a coat of silver paint & started to rebuild the ProLink suspension arms. The suspension bushes were completely shot, but, luckily the "donor's" were ok, so were knicked as you can't buy them anymore.

All fitted & greased up. New springs & rear shock painted up.

I also cleaned up the exhaust system. i was amazed after a lot of elbow grease, time, Autosol & wire wool at how well it came up.

So, with the rear wheel cleaned, brake covers sorted, swing arm & suspension sorted I put it all back together. I also cleaned the rear mudgaurd with some Auto Glym plastic polish, what wonderful stuff that is

. As you can see in this picture, I'd also cleaned & painted the front wheel as well in anticipation of doing the front end

maviczap · 12-12-14, 09:18 PM

Pretty good going already Col.

I don't think many will have the OEM exhausts, mine rotted through the back on the RH side near the footrest hanger after less than 6 months if I remember correctly. It was replaced under warranty and I kept it as new in the loft until I sold the bike

I fitted the Motad one you've got

andrewsmith · 12-12-14, 09:57 PM

It's good to see this written up Col

squirrel_hunter · 13-12-14, 12:59 AM

Liking this, keep the updates coming.

Also that exhaust looks like new, how long, and what process did you follow if someone were looking to repeat that finish?

BanannaMan · 13-12-14, 04:20 AM

Looking good!
I like the odd enclosed disc set up, although I wonder if it wasn't as much for the cafe racer look rather than for water protection
Either way it looks great after painting!! And gives the bike a distinctive look.

12-12-14, 07:25 AM	#1
mister c Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posts: 2,317	CBX550 Restoration Project People have been showing an interest in my CBX550 project, so I will start this thread to show what I'm up to. The year was about 1990 & my 1st big bike was Honda's CBX550. I had been a massive 2 stroke fan & had been riding X7's GT380s etc, so this was my introduction to inline 4s. I loved the shape of it & also the speed, but, unfortunately, couldn't afford to keep it. I sold it 6 months later & ended up with a cheap & cheerful CB250RS to go to work on. Every time I saw a CBX, I always thought "one day, I'll get another one of those". Well, 25 years later I saw an advert for, not 1, but 2 550's for £650, been stood in a yard for over 5 years. I couldn't resist & offered £400 for them both. To my surprise they accepted, so i made the 300 mile round trip & picked them up. Boy, were they in a state, but I had decided that I would restore the unfaired & use the faired one as a donor bike. Also in the deal was this little lot. So, 1st things 1st, it was time to start the strip down. I was dreading it because 33 years of abuse didn't bode well on the nuts & bolts. Unbelievably every nut, bolt & washer came off without any problems at all. So, I had a frame, loads of bolts, an engine, 2 wheels & an exhaust in bits. I sent the frame away for powder coating at Rtro Coatings near Crewe & what a fantastic job they did with it too. Every screw hole (except 1 that he missed) was covered before blasting & coating. It came back like new. At the same time I sent off all of the nuts & bolts to be zinc plated. I now know that they should have been nickel, but it's too late now. Next installment will be about the rebuild. __________________ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/croozenooze/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/colin.hughes.1213?ref=tn_tnmn Yoo Toob https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjG...eMWUx4Ud2dK-yA Last edited by mister c; 13-12-14 at 05:19 AM.

12-12-14, 07:41 AM	#2
maviczap Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,096	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project One of the sweetest handling bikes i ever had and i even liked those inboard discs even though they were a pain to work on. Apart from the dreaded camchain problem which caused me to sell mine, it was one of my favourite bikes I've ever owned. Good job i didnt see that ad Col, i would have been very tempted __________________ We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Make everyday count RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius

12-12-14, 12:27 PM	#3
mister c Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posts: 2,317	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project I've just sold the other one mav. Went for 200 quid __________________ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/croozenooze/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/colin.hughes.1213?ref=tn_tnmn Yoo Toob https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjG...eMWUx4Ud2dK-yA

12-12-14, 12:47 PM	#4
maviczap Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,096	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project Dang, still its a good job you're too far away Col, otherwise I might have bought that one! Did you keep the better one, was there more wrong with the faired one? Or was it a case of too many projects? __________________ We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Make everyday count RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius

12-12-14, 08:45 PM	#6
mister c Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Crewe, Cheshire Posts: 2,317	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project Here's part 2 while the missus is watching Emmeroid Farm. So, I had the frame back from the powder coaters & my assortment of bolts from the platers, I thought it was time to start cleaning & painting stuff. The brakes were in a right state, but after a good old session with a mini grinder & wire brush attachment, they came up quite well. I also found some high temp paint that virtually matched the colour of the brake covers i cleaned up the swingarm & gave it a coat of silver paint & started to rebuild the ProLink suspension arms. The suspension bushes were completely shot, but, luckily the "donor's" were ok, so were knicked as you can't buy them anymore. All fitted & greased up. New springs & rear shock painted up. I also cleaned up the exhaust system. i was amazed after a lot of elbow grease, time, Autosol & wire wool at how well it came up. So, with the rear wheel cleaned, brake covers sorted, swing arm & suspension sorted I put it all back together. I also cleaned the rear mudgaurd with some Auto Glym plastic polish, what wonderful stuff that is . As you can see in this picture, I'd also cleaned & painted the front wheel as well in anticipation of doing the front end __________________ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/croozenooze/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/colin.hughes.1213?ref=tn_tnmn Yoo Toob https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjG...eMWUx4Ud2dK-yA Last edited by mister c; 12-12-14 at 08:47 PM.

12-12-14, 09:18 PM	#7
maviczap Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,096	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project Pretty good going already Col. I don't think many will have the OEM exhausts, mine rotted through the back on the RH side near the footrest hanger after less than 6 months if I remember correctly. It was replaced under warranty and I kept it as new in the loft until I sold the bike I fitted the Motad one you've got __________________ We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Make everyday count RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius

12-12-14, 09:57 PM	#8
andrewsmith Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Just south of salad dodging country Posts: 7,750	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project It's good to see this written up Col __________________ RIP Reeder 20/07/1988 - 21/03/2012. Always missed squire!!! Every year we meet old friends, gain some new ones, lose old ones and you always remember them all. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

13-12-14, 12:59 AM	#9
squirrel_hunter Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sunny Swindon Posts: 3,570	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project Liking this, keep the updates coming. Also that exhaust looks like new, how long, and what process did you follow if someone were looking to repeat that finish? __________________ "A little enthusiastic?" May I add here, GG is awesome and I think I am in love with Stretchie...he rocks my world! SH2 \| 2MA \| GROM \| YSR

13-12-14, 04:20 AM	#10
BanannaMan Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Appalachia Posts: 419	Re: CBX550 Restoration Project Looking good! I like the odd enclosed disc set up, although I wonder if it wasn't as much for the cafe racer look rather than for water protection Either way it looks great after painting!! And gives the bike a distinctive look. __________________ ...Bill *"The Mountains are calling and I must go"* Last edited by BanannaMan; 13-12-14 at 04:22 AM.

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