Honda CB550

CB550
	Honda CB550K
Manufacturer	Honda
Production	1974–1978
Predecessor	Honda CB500
Successor	Honda CB650
Class	standard motorcycle
Engine	544 cc (33.2 cu in) air-cooled 8-valve SOHC transverse four
Bore / stroke	58.5 mm × 50.6 mm (2.30 in × 1.99 in)
Compression ratio	9.0:1
Top speed	109 mph (175 km/h)
Power	50 bhp (37 kW) @ 8,500 rpm
Torque	26.04 lbf⋅ft (35.31 N⋅m) 7,000 rpm
Ignition type	battery and ignition coil
Transmission	5-speed manual, chain final drive
Suspension	Front: 35 mm telescopic forks; Rear: Twin shocks with adjustable pre-load
Brakes	single single-caliper front disc, rear drum
Tires	Front: 3.25 x 19 in; Rear: 3.75 x 18 in
Rake, trail	Rake: 64°, trail: 105 mm
Seat height	805 mm (31.7 in)
Weight	198 kg (437 lb) (dry); 455 lb (206 kg) (wet)
Fuel capacity	14 L (3.1 imp gal; 3.7 US gal)
Fuel consumption	5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg‑imp (40 mpg‑US)

The Honda CB550 is a 544 cc (33.2 cu in) standard motorcycle made by Honda from 1974 to 1978. It has a four-cylinder SOHC air-cooled wet sump engine. The first version, the CB550K, was a development of the earlier CB500, and like its predecessor, had four exhaust pipes, four silencers and wire-spoked wheels.

Model development

Compared to Honda's 1969 dry sump CB750, both the CB500 and the CB550 were much smaller and lighter. The CB550K shared some visual similarities with the CB750, and it fitted into Honda's four-cylinder range as its mid-capacity bike.

From 1975 to 1977, a second version of the CB550 was offered, the CB550F "Super Sport".^[1] The CB550K and CB550F were sold alongside each other, sharing a similar engine, instruments, lights, wheels, brakes, and frame. The CB550F has a lighter four-into-one exhaust, slightly flatter handlebars, and a different fuel tank without chrome trim. The CB550F is part of the Honda Super Sport range, along with the CB400F, an CB750F. The F (aka F1) was succeeded by the F2, which had an additional flash decal on the fuel tank and deletion of the fork gaiters.

Both CB550F and CB550K models had a drum rear brake and a single front disc brake, although each fork slider had a bracket for a brake caliper. The CB550K went through some minor iterations, the last being the CB550K4. Closely derived from the earlier CB500, the CB550's engine was the largest factory boring of this cylinder block; and when the CB550 was replaced in 1979 by the broadly similar Honda CB650, a completely new engine design was necessary.

Cycle Test magazine recorded a 0 to 1⁄4 mi (0.00 to 0.40 km) time of 14.47 seconds at 93.36 mph (150.25 km/h) in a September 1975 test of the CB550F Super Sport.^[2] The engine output was 50 bhp (37 kW) at 8,000 rpm and 26.04 lbf⋅ft (35.31 N⋅m) torque at 7,500 rpm, with a curb weight of 455 lb (206 kg) and average fuel consumption of 5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg_‑imp (40 mpg_‑US).^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Williams, Greg (November–December 2015). "Stuck in the Middle: The 1977 Honda CB550K". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Honda CB550F Super Sport", Cycle Test, pp. 51–56, September 1975