1977 honda cb550 - 11,745 original miles - Premium!

Beautiful original bike - bought from an estate sale. The bike has been garaged since 1988. You'll note on some of the photos the seat looks old and missing pieces - the seat has all new hardware and has been redone by very reputable shop here in Billings. You can see the new seat on the other photos. I own several CB550K's - and went through this bike from top to bottom this winter (2015). It is a clean. well-maintained vintage motorcycle ready to be a daily driver. or to customize anyway you see fit. I have a set of cafe bars to go with it if you are so inclined - that was my original intent - but the motorcycle was in such pristine condition I just couldn't bring myself to start chopping fenders. etc. Clean Montana title. Many upgrades and replacements. including: new tires/tubes; new seat; new battery; new wheel bearings; new air cleaner; rebuilt front brake master cylinder; rebuilt front brake caliper; new pads and brakes shoes all around; new original stock points (very difficult to find - $100 each!); electronic ignition; cleaned and rebuilt carbs; synched carbs; set timing; new oil filter; dropped oil pan and cleaned internal screen; many new seals. Ran this bike for 500 miles. then dropped oil pan again. no shavings or other problems - runs Honda 20w-50. This bike has the original - IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND - four-into-four exhaust. and comes with three extra exhaust pipes for parts/extra. Also comes with cafe style handlebars. This bike runs amazing well. and is safe and very road-worthy. A note about the electronic ignition - this bike has an incredibly easy to maintain ignition system - it utilizes the stock points. but reduces the spark to nil. so once the timing is set. you never have to worry about it again. As a bonus. because of the configuration. if for some reason the electronic ignition were to fail. you can unplug two wires and it reverts right back to the points. This is literally the most ingenious electronic ignition system I've ever seen for a vintage bike. This was purchased and installed new in 2015. I have EXTENSIVE experience with '77 CB550Ks. and so I did everything needed to have this bike up and running in perfect and safe condition. This bike is tuned perfectly and runs incredibly well - idles spot on. and steady power throughout the entire throttle range. This motorcycle has always been garaged. I've been buying vintage bikes for a long time - and it's rare to find an original unrestored/modified bike in this good of shape. The value on this motorcycle will ONLY increase. I look at these old vintage bikes as an investment that you can also enjoy! Needless to say. this motorcycle is in amazing condition for the age. The tedious work has all been done on this bike. My first priority is always safety and reliability - and I've rebuilt a few of these. so it's perfect as is for a daily driver. or is a blank canvas ready to be restored or customized in any manner. I can give you any tips you need on converting this over to cafe-bike - most of the parts are already there. so the cost would be minimal. Or just enjoy it as it is - pretty rare to see one of these still running strong almost four decades!I work on these vintage bikes all the time -- this bike is cherry. The only reason I'm letting it go is that I have five other motorcycles and am just running out of garage space and time to keep this motorcycle. It should be ridden. not stored. I'm hoping to find a good home for this beauty - someone who appreciates this incredibly engineered piece of history. I have an assortment of extra parts that will go with the bike as well -- highway bars. rear rack. etc. - it's in such good shape I couldn't bring myself to cafe it out or do any modification. So you have a great. clean slate to let your imagination run wild. I don't have time to run all the bikes in my garage. so I need to let one go. Text or call me at 696-1570. or email me. and I'll get back with you. The asking price is less than I have into the bike - not even considering shop hours - the major work has all been completed so it's ready to ride. restore or customize as you see fit!!On Apr-25-15 at 21:21:48 PDT. seller added the following information:Update 4/25/2015 - Wow! Thanks for all the messages - I'm glad to see such interest. I'm going to do my best to make a blanket response to ALL the messages - I have added photos addressing each question:First - yes. this bike runs well right now. Idles perfectly steady at about 1. 00 rpms -- no surging. The motorcycle shifts smoothly - powerband is exactly as it should be. Sounds very nice through the factory pipes - low rumble - revs crisply right through the redline in every gear. Not sure of top speed - but definitely will do the ton :-)That said - this is a VINTAGE bike - if you're looking for brand new - go to a dealer. Obviously. you need to choke this bike and let it warm up properly. Electric start and kick start both work fine - all the gauge lights. turn signals. brake lights. head lights. etc. work just fine. Battery is new (Fall 2014). Engine cases are in remarkable shape - very clean and shiny still. Other questions:Photos of inside of the tank - no rust - was cleaned during rehab - always kept full w/ non-ethanol gasoline (gotta love Montana!)Photo of tank itself - no dents - some minor scratching. small blemishes. etc. as would be expected from a 40-year-old bike - paint is glossy and in great condition over whole tank - pin-stripes are in great condition. Has some patina - but does NOT need a repaint. Again - this is a VINTAGE motorcycle - it is not in showroom condition. it is 40-years-old - but for a VINTAGE unrestored motorcycle it is in great condition. Photo of drag bar included with this auction. Run the exact same bars on my main 1977 CB550K - fits perfectly - no need to change cables. I run these bars with bar-end mirrors - looks amazing. Close-ups of the pipes from the rear. both left and right. Photo of the seat - the seat pan is NOT new - it is the original from the bike - it has a weld near the rear hinge where I had it repaired. The upholstery and foam brand new. The silver trim around the seat is original/vintage. Details of small rust hole on #3 pipe (barely visible. about the width of a fingernail)Larger rust hole at the base of the #1 pipe -- does not affect functionality at all. which is why I have not swapped these out w/ the spares. Neither holes are visible unless you are looking directly up from underneath the bike. or at the inside-face of the #3 pipe. Again - this is a VINTAGE bike - the photographs show exactly what it looks like - the close-ups show areas on the pipes where it has rusted. If the pipes were in pristine condition I would be asking at least double this price - so please adjust your expectations to a vintage machine. It is in great shape. Photos of the three extra pipes that are included. w/ close-ups on the #1 (spare) pipe that could be used to replace the pipe with the larger hole on the end. The whole is not visible. and does not affect performance. I purchased the spare pipes as a back-up. as I like the four-into-four exhaust. Very rare. Shipping is buyer's responsibility. I am happy to recommend shippers I have used with great results. I am happy to coordinate with the driver/shipper and provide any reasonable assistance with shipping the bike. I won't pallet it. or drive it for a hundred miles to a pick-up spot. I will do whatever I can to help get the bike to you at the most reasonable price. I've never had need to pallet or drain fluid with the dozen or so bikes I've bought and sold on ebay. so some of you are maybe overthinking it a bit :-)Haul Bikes are my favorite transit company so far. and they are running a special this month. Any other questions feel free to message me - if these photos and remarks don't answer your specific question(s) then message me again and I can send close-up photos. etc of any part of the bike you want to see more detail on. I have to PM those - I am at my limit for photos w/ this listing. On Apr-26-15 at 17:44:22 PDT. seller added the following information:Please note - item is for sale locally so auction may end early if local buyer meets advertised price.