Have had mine for 37 years now. Bought it from a gentleman who came to South Africa from England, to assist with setting up a nuclear power station in Cape Town in the early '80's. Being from the UK, the speedo is calibrated in mph. The previous owner took it around the track on the Isle of Man. The bike now has just over 50000 miles on the clock. It will never be sold. Japanese engineering is unbeatable when it comes to motorcycles. Mine is completely original and the motor has never been opened. Problems in the time I've had it? 2 clutch cables, one accelerator cable, a blown sealed beam headlight and a worn ignition switch.

I had a 1973 CB500 four for 12 years and 60,000 miles. Out of the many bikes I have owned it was one of my favorites. In 1974 I did a 9300 mile trip around the US on it.

Out of all the motorbikes I had, this model is the one that I wish I still had! 🤗

I like when they look like this. So many chopped up cafe racers for sale around me and they just look awful. I've been slowly rebuilding my 550 for last 6 years. I hope this is the year it gets back on the road.

Thank you for bringing back happy memories. I bought my blue 550f2 new in 1978 for £1,049. It was a lovely bike.

Thanks Jon for a great video. My very 1st bike was a 76 CB 550F Super Sport , red in color with a 4 into 1 Kerker back in 1980. Loved it for a couple of years until I sold it to buy a 79 CB 900F. 40 years later I would love to have both of them back in my garage.

My 74 CB550 is so reliable, starts up every time

the big bikes are the attention getters.but many forget the midsize bikes were better all round for daily riding in most situations.& where the manafacturers learned the refinements that would show up in the bigger bikes a few years later.nice review jon.

My first motorcycle was a cb400f super sport similar to this. Brings back some great memories.

Gotta love those 70's UJMs. My first road bike was a brand spanking new 1978 Kawasaki 650 Custom. I've had CB750's, hard bags and trunk touring Kawasaki bikes, KZ1000"s and Harleys in the last 45 years. But old school UJMs are the essence of motorcycling.

Oh how i miss my '71 CB350, But I REALLY miss my '75 550 four! What a great bike!

Brings back so many memories. Had a orange one, half fearing, open exhaust pipe, and low clubman handles. Only competitors were 380 RD Yamaha and 650 Kawasaki. Maybe i was too young at 18 to own this bike.

I had that same bike in the same color as my primary transportation in high school and beyond. Great bike, great memories!

Jon That muffler is an aftermarket slip on by Kerker. They definitely had a great sound. Yes the 550 is an excellent riding bike and the power to weight ratio is great too.

love the format of this review. a bit of a backstory, then the exhaust, then a ride! thanks

Really liking your channel Jon. Keep doing what your doing and watch the Subs grow.

Wow! This one is a beauty. Such a classic. I want one! 🙂

Nice review! I have one that exact color ready to be brought back to life!

Hey Jon , my 1st bike was a red 1976 CB 550F SS, in my very early 20s. Now 40 years later with a sorted past of other bikes, I just picked up a 1975 CB 550F SS, low mileage, Orange metallic, overall not in too bad of shape. Just gonna give it some well deserved love, bringing it back to original condition and adding a few more miles along the way. Thanks for the videos.

I owned this very same bike and color. In 1978 at the age of 18 I took off on a solo two month inner circle tour of the USA.. From Ohio to Colorado, then to New Mexico and Arizona... across Texas and back up to Ohio! Took my tent, sleeping bag, hatchet and takedown bow and arrow... LOL Oh man those were the days/ Bike ran flawless and I only needed to lube the chain.

Had the same bike back in 1980, a 3 yr old 550 four supersport in the same colour, it didn't enjoy corners like my GT250, didn't want to stop if the front disc got wet, the rear drum steel lining cracked up, a design fault( saw a few in breakers with the same fault) would just crack a ton two up, 97mph solo. Loved the low end torque though, would pull from 25mph in 5th. Loved the thing

Gosh I find everything about this motorcycle just stunning. I’m into the cruiser/ cafe racer looks and honestly I’d love for this bike to be my very first as I continue to get more experience into riding motorcycles! Such a beautiful piece of history🏍️🙌🏻

My second bike was the F2 version of this. I wish I still had it.

Great video Jon!

I had a 74 CB550K and it was a great bike. I was living in the Northeast Georgia Mountains area and had wonderful times riding it on all those mountains roads. Used to ride all the roads leading to Deal's Gap in North Carolina. All those roads in the NE Georgia mountains , North Carolina and Tennessee area some of the best riding areas to ride that CB550 I had. Will say it will do over a 100mph with no problems.

My dad has owned his since he bought it brand new, such a beautiful bike

I drove a CB400F in 1977-78 but crashed it. Got another in 83 but didn't like it anymore as I had an 82 CB900F. Sold it. Now 41 years later got a 77 550 k since 400F's are too expensive.. Can't wait to see how I like it.. (Needs carb clean and stuff)

I've always said that the cb550 is the best Japanese bike of the era. Much better handling than the 750

Having owned both a 750 k2 and a 550 supersport I couldn't agree with you more. The 550 was a much better bike.👍

I guessed PA and then I saw the road sign! I spent some time riding there this last summer, I really liked riding in that state!

Very nice Motorcycle. Wish i HAD one in 1975. MY ride then was a RD 350 2 stroke screamer Orange. But I LOVED That Wonderful Bike ALSO. Thanks again for the Ride AND Great INFO. Take care. 🏍 ENJOY 😎

I bought a 1976 CB550 in the '90s and rode it into 2010, great bike! I had enough of the ethylene fuel fouling the carbs and sold it to a friend. Just as non-ethylene became available. I wish I had it back. He still has it...

Nice cool bike, I have a cx500 1978 which I guess was the successor to the cb550 and I love riding that, I guess it was ahead of it's time (water cooled, shaft drive, tubeless tyres) and a love hate thing with it's styling, where as the cb550 still looks super cool today. Still the CX makes as much bhp as the cb550 and because I had a couple back in the late 70's and early 80's it's the bike I am most fond of, as it reminds me of my early days riding motorbikes.

Jon My 75 550f is the same color w/48k miles and runs well.The stock muffler alway`s rusts out. I welded a long Dunstall muffler to it which looks closer to the original.Rear shocks were hopeless and replaced w/progressive as was the rear sprocket 37t and replaced w/what came stock on the standard k bikes 34t.Back in the day when it was a dailey driver an oil-cooler was added and a better seat which helped on 500 mile days sitting at 5500 rpm.simple lock nut and screw for valve adj and another lock nut for the cam chain adjuster needed regular attention and of course the points. Ended up using transistors to lighten the current load on the points as they alway`s pitted more than i wanted to play with.Now its just a summer afternoon ride down memory lane that can be started easily with one push by hand on the kickstarter...! BTW...If the owner gets tired of break squeal try chamfering the leading edge of the pad, it worked for me.

I need to finish building mine. This one has me missing mine. Really enjoyed this. Thank you

The '75 CB550F Super Sport is capable of putting in some serious miles. Have completed three Iron Butt Association Saddle Sore 1000s, riding a 1000 miles in less than 24 hours, and a Saddle Sore 2000, riding 2000 miles in less than 48 hours on mine. For those not acquainted with the IBA, you have to prove you rode the miles through receipts, photos, and sometimes other requirements depending on the ride.

Thank you for a great video. I still have my '75 Super Sport in flake sunrise orange. I purchased the bike new while in high school and put over 60,000 miles on her. She hasn't run in 30 years but I'm gearing up for a full frame off restoration in the next few years. By the way that's not the stock silencer on your bike. Thanks again.

I own a 1978 Honda 550 K. I love this bike, and I , too , favorite over the CB750.

Wow that looks like the one I owned for several years. Are you in the Rochester, NY area? Great bike and I wish I did not have to sell it but moved to TX and everything had to go. Still regret it to this day. Thanks for the video!

I had one 40 years ago in exactly that colour here in the UK, ran it on Metzlers back then, what tyres are you running on? That sound and visual set up brought back so many great memories. I loved that bike.

Back in the day, Cycle Magazine did an upgrade feature on the CB550F. The title said it all…”The Gentleman’s Express”. I’ve owned a CB750K and a final year CB750F3. The K did have twitchy handling even after steering head and swingarm bearing upgrades. The F is a paragon of stability In comparison. It’s still a hundred pounds heavier than a 550 and carries the weight higher though.

Great content. Be nice to see a gl1000 on your channel

Love it !

I am restoring and reassembling an abandoned '75 cb550f SS. I also have a '78 and '71. On those bikes, the lower engine support bolt that the rider foot pegs also attach to is threaded on both ends. This '75 parts bike seems to have a hex bolt head on the left side of that bolt - not threaded. I looked the part up on the CMS parts site and sure enough it shows the lower engine support bolt having a hex head on one side. Can you confirm on your cb550f?

My exact bike years back.. should have kept it!!

Yes I agree 😀😎

Nice bike, the cb550 super sport biggest rival, was the z650 from Kawasaki, simular formula, great middle weight bike

so emooth..handsome color..and trust worthy honda build..

I bought a 550four from a man in 1981. The bike was in an accident, but with some welding and comon sense, I fixed it up pretty nice. I was 18 yrs old back then. The exhaust pipes were like snake curved, 4 in 1. I think the 550four was the only bike with such an exhaust system. You don’t see this often on youtube. Finally I found this video sir.! My question; is your exhaust system on the bike original like it was from the manufacturer.? Thanks in advance for your answer.! Greetings from the Dutch Caribbean.

That’s why I have 3 of them 😎😎😎😎

I REALLY wish I had kept mine.

My favorite motorcycle of a time. And truth tell is a better bike than the 750 Just my opinion

How do they match up power wise ? Is it a huge difference Given the less powerful one is 50lbs lighter

I had one exactly like that. Exhaust pipe rotted out. So I fabricated a Cherry Bomb to replace it. Best motorcycle I've ever had. I wish I still had it. I had it up 120mph.

Is this exhaust a true equal length header ?

Both bikes are similar, 550 is lighter so it may handle just a bit better. But the 750 has more power and is more comfortable at highway speeds. I think 550 is better platform for customization because it doesn't have the external oil tank. Also I've seen guys use 550 swing arm on 750s to be able to go up a tire size. I prefer the power of the 750, but wish it didn't have the external oil reservoir.

I owned both at the same time. I could not daily daily the 750 but could the 550.

So what makes it a "Super Sport" is the 4 into 1?

I had one same color the tail pipe is not stock

Compare it against the Suzuki 550?

The only thing I remember about the CB550 is that it was heavy.

There was also a CB350FOUR AND A CB450FOUR

CB 400/4 was nicer to ride than the 550 Iv had both , Iv had the CB750f2 sohc and that handled like a pogo stick .

They were cool but that’s way after the 750 changed everything

Wtf I had a nice CB 550 was nothing compared to CB 750 keep your smaller brother you got it wrong big CB better