On Machines – Machiine

Honda CB 550 Motorcycle Build

In 2019 I purchased a Honda CB550 motorcycle. The year on the front plate is 1974. Which happens to be the first year the CB550…

Adventure

Unearthing the history of a 1974 Honda CB550

Hints of the story behind a Honda CB550 that is what it shouldn’t be. When I went to look at a cb550 after it caught…

On Machines

Tuning a Honda CB550 carburetor with pods

Here’s how I tuned my 1974 Honda CB550 motorcycle with pods. My bike came with pods when I purchased it. I will share the full…

On Machines

Do 29 inch wheels fit a 2009-2013 Subaru Forester? 265 70R15

Sadly, no they do not… stock. The largest wheel that will fit a 2009-2013 Subaru Forester is 28″ in diameter. If you own a 2014…

Adventure

Installing Flatout Suspension on a 2009-2013 Subaru Forester SH

Flatout Suspension GR Lite

This past weekend I installed the Flatout Suspension’s GR-Lite coil overs and Rallitek spacers. They arrived packaged in the box. There were a couple things…

Adventure

Do 15 inch Method 502 wheels fit a 2009-2013 Subaru Forester 2.5XT?

Yes! The 09-13 Subaru Forester 2.5XT has bigger front brakes than the non-turbo Forester. So I was unsure if they would fit. Method’s website say…

Adventure

09-13 Subaru Forester XT – The start of an adventure vehicle

I’d been considering setting up an adventure vehicle to access the backcountry roads for ski touring. A 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT sat stored at our…

On Machines

Off-roading terms and definitions

Often confused and misused – Here is a list of the most common off-road terms and definitions for your reading pleasure. Off-road \ ˈȯf-ˈrōd \…

Essays

Honda CB500/550 and the soul of Honda 1971-1978

In 1974, Cycle World Senior Editor D. Randy Riggs prepares to launch the Honda CB550 at the now defunct Orange County International Speedway

Recently I’ve become fascinated by the story of Honda’s CB500 and CB550, having recently acquired one. Read reviews and road tests of either bike and…

Essays