🗺️ The Ultimate Shakedown: A Ride to Morgan County and a Lesson in Small Change

The successful maintenance and optimization work done in June 2017 wasn’t just for fun; it was preparation for a crucial mission. My father grew up in Southeastern Ohio and still owned a 122-acre farm in Morgan County. With him gone, the task of tending to the property, including paying the annual property taxes, had fallen to me. What better way to fulfill that obligation than to ride the newly optimized 1974 CB550 straight to the county seat, McConnelsville?

This trip was the ultimate shakedown—the final exam to prove the bike was truly ready for the open road.

🛣️ The Route: A Test of Every Component

The journey from home to McConnelsville was a perfect blend of high-speed cruising and technical, winding backroads, testing every modification we had just made.

The Initial Cruising: SR 4 and SR 56

I started by heading north on Ohio SR 4 before picking up Ohio SR 56 South toward Circleville. This initial stretch was crucial for validating the gearing correction. The change of the front sprocket back to stock geometry performed flawlessly. Instead of the engine buzzing uncomfortably at highway speeds, the CB550 settled into a relaxed, lower RPM cruise. The vibration was minimized, and the engine felt efficient and unstressed, which was exactly the goal for the long haul.

The Highway Grind: U.S. Route 22 East

From Circleville, I picked up U.S. Route 22 East. This section was all about rider comfort. Here, the minimal National Cycle “Fly Screen” proved its worth. It subtly deflected the bulk of the wind blast off my chest, saving me the neck and shoulder strain that accumulates quickly at higher speeds. Likewise, the re-baffled RC header was a blessing; the tone was present but subdued, allowing me to hear the engine and traffic without the fatigue of a constant sonic assault.

The Technical Twisties: SR 37, 555, and 78

The real test came as the route became more technical, taking Ohio SR 37 which eventually intersects with the famous Ohio 555, or “The Triple Nickel,” area before joining Ohio SR 78 and heading into McConnelsville. These roads demand stable suspension and confident handling.

This is where the persistent work on the fork seals—the “Third Time’s A Charm” fix—paid off. The front end was firm, responsive, and soaked up the bumps without wallowing or leaking. With the forks holding oil, the bike felt predictable and sure-footed, giving me the confidence needed to enjoy the technical corners that characterize Southeastern Ohio riding.

đź’° McConnelsville: The Parking Meter Dilemma

After the long ride, pulling into McConnelsville felt like a victory. The bike had run perfectly, the modifications had worked as planned, and the mission of paying the property taxes was close at hand.

However, the modern realities of small-town errands quickly intruded on my motorcycling bliss. I pulled up to the courthouse only to be confronted by a bank of operational parking meters.

  • The Problem: As a rule, I rarely carry cash or change with me, relying on cards or mobile payments. Staring at the coin slots, I realized I didn’t have a single bit of change necessary to pay the meter.
  • The Resolution: I wasn’t about to leave the bike unattended and risk a ticket, nor was I going to panic and search for a store to break a twenty. Instead, I employed a classic bit of resourceful motorcycling ingenuity: I simply meandered around the adjacent streets, searching for a parking space that already had time left on its meter. Success! I found a spot with enough minutes to handle the tax office transaction.

      • Taxes were paid, the mission was accomplished, and the CB550 never missed a beat.

      đź“ť Conclusion: Mission Accomplished

      The run to Morgan County was more than just an errand; it was the definitive test for a classic motorcycle revived after three decades. Every change we made—the gearing, the exhaust, the screen, and especially the persistent fork seal replacement—contributed directly to a safe, comfortable, and successful journey.

      The bike performed flawlessly, proving its reliability on both the straight highway runs and the demanding backroads. It’s now fully ready for any adventure. And I learned a valuable, though small, lesson: always keep a few quarters in the bottom of the tank bag for the unexpected parking meter.