Help with a CB 550 nighthawk

Just brought a Honda 1983 Cb 550 nighthawk for a 100 dallors today it was sitting in a barn (needs a lot of work). So the problem with the CB 550 is the rear wheel well not turn so was thinking the bake was locked up, but went i put it up on the center kick stand the tire well move a little (not much) and the drive shaft move too so it leave the trans is lock up. By the way the motor well turn by hand.

17,409 miles on it.

So i pulled the clutch cover and pulled the clutch out out too see if it well turn then and found neutral on the motorcycle the center of the clutch spins freely but the rear well not turn. any i thoughts let me know.. first time owning a honda..

I know these is a kawasaki but maybe someone on here maybe knows the problem.. i brought it because it was 100 dallors and they say its rare to model.

Whoa... :blink: She's a beauty... :blink: :pinch: :whistle:

that tail light fits the kz tail pretty good IMO and they been gettin 30 bucks on ebay for the lens so you did good for 100.00


nighthawk taillight on my KZ
Gutted housing and installed Integrated LED

yeah lol.. she a little rough i started to clean it up a lot of shit on the bike. from the roof of the barn.

Nice on the tail light. I just put a cb 900 tail light on my Kawasaki that my buddy had sitting around in the garage.

jeffecor wrote: Nice on the tail light. I just put a cb 900 tail light on my Kawasaki that my buddy had sitting around in the garage.

I was leavin the bone Yard and founf the taillight assy laying on the ground by the exit the dude said 15.00 so i bought it didnt realize these are hard to find bikes and a replacement lens non existant lol

I dont know much about em but should be a fun project

well these Nighthawks has hydraulic valve adjuster system maintains so not shimming and the same hp as my Kawasaki

good luck
i guess anything can be repaired
if you want to

Never got to work on one but I was always a sucker for this version,used to call them a poor mans z1r! :laugh:

Check your brake shoes and see if they delaminated. that will couse it to bind and not let the rear wheel turn. Had the same issue on my KZ when I got it after sitting outside for 15+ years.

wireman wrote: Never got to work on one but I was always a sucker for this version,used to call them a poor mans z1r! :laugh:

Attachment nighthawk.jpg not found

Hhahahaa, just like my 76' Ford LTD is a poor mans Caddy.

Not the most optimistic reply and probably not what you want to hear, but if that was mine I'd be parting it out. Make a few hundred bucks to put towards something that's not such a disaster.