The fuel tank held 3.7 US gallons (14 liters) and on some later models of the CB550K and all models of the CB550F featured a filler that lurked under a key locked flap on top of the tank. Wheels were 19” x 3.25” front and 18” x 3.75” rear and the wheelbase was a comfortably long 55.3in./1,405mm. This relatively low seat height combined with the modest weight (wet weight of 423lb/192kg for the CB550K and slightly less for the “Super Sports” CB550F) made this an attractive motorcycle for newer riders as well as for those looking for a lively and fun road bike. The seat was set at a height of 31.7” (805mm) making this a good choice for those of us who are not 6′ plus. Brakes of the CB550 were a single caliper single 11” disc at the front and a drum at the rear. The 35mm front forks were a telescopic free valve type whilst at the rear were twin shocks with adjustable pre-load. It was a stiff frame well engineered for the weight and power of the bike and contributed greatly to the bike’s handling. The frame of the CB550 was a steel cradle type with twin down-tubes. As this engine was significantly lighter than that of the CB750 the handling of the CB550 was livelier, and it was a much easier bike to ride. The clutch slipping bug of the CB500 was also fixed in the CB550. That five speed transmission remedied the gear change problems of the CB500 and was nice and crisp to use. This engine was mounted transversely in the frame and made as a unit with the five speed transmission. 8 valves) and a single overhead camshaft. The engine was a typical Honda in-line four cylinder with single valves (i.e. The engine’s compression ratio was 9:1 which means it preferred the leaded “super grade” gasoline of the time. The engine breathed through four 22mm Keihin carburettors in typical Honda style. in.) lifting its power to 50 hp at 8,000rpm with torque of 30.4 lbf.ft at 7,500rpm. The engine of the CB550 was the same power plant as fitted to the CB500 but with its capacity increased to 544cc (33.2 cu. The CB550 was in some respects a “bug fix” model descended from its predecessor the CB500 and made to not only improve on power but to remedy the technical faults that had dogged the CB500. The Honda CB550 was introduced in 1974 and remained in production for five short years until 1978. We might describe the Honda CB550 as Honda’s “Goldilocks bike” – the CB750 was too big and powerful for many, the smaller bikes such as the CB360 and CB400 were too small (and the CB360 was not particularly stable as you got it up into its top speed range). It did not have the awe-inspiring power of the legendary CB750, but it had a stiffer frame and was a lighter and more nimble motorcycle. The Honda CB550 was probably the best balanced Honda of the seventies.
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