Definitely not a 74. At least the motor is not. The motor is a 72-73. Even at that the cylinder head looks all wrong for a 550. Help me out guys! What's all wrong here? And the fork gaiters indicate an earlier model as well.
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
The top picture looks like it's all 73 (K) to me, apart from the chrome headlamp ears. Maybe it was first titled in 74 and that's where the confusion comes from.
The second picture was a 74 tank and side covers but retains early style carbs and head cover.
BTW, anyone know the master cylinder size on a 550 with stock single disk?
The tank is off a 74. This one has the frame stamped as 7/74. The chambers are shorter but the silencers are incorporated directly onto the stinger. I understand that these chambers have the stinger inserted into the rearmost cone several inches.
As I understand design, the rearmost cone reflects back the pressure pulse toward the cylinder, the shorter the cone the quicker the travel time, thus operating at a higher RPM
Top pic, colours are 73 K except for chrome ears, headlamp and clocks.
Early engine with late 72/early 73 high top carbs.
2nd pic late tank and panels (Candy Rose GT550A?) with one pod filter fitted (which will cause weak running especially with a 3-1 spannie) and lots of bits missing!!
Fork gaiters on the J were 13 serrations, K were 8, after that no gaiters.
Just enjoy what you have and if it runs OK, then it's fine.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.