OK Honda CB750 Experts. I need your opinion of a 1972 Honda CB750 K2 that I found for sale. It has an interesting story behind it, that maybe “could be true”.
Supposedly, this Honda CB750 K2, when shipped to the original selling dealership, was like no other.
When the crate was opened, this bike was found to be green, a K1 color. Also, it had a 4 into 1 exhaust with a Honda emblem on it (see pics), a 21” front rim and tire, an 18” DID alloy rear wheel, stainless steel spokes, drilled disk rotor, as well as some other “non-stock-items”
It is stated that Honda contacted the dealer, and wanted the bike back due to the fact that it was an R&D bike, not intended for sale. But subsequently allowed the owner of the bike to keep it.
The vin# and engine# are 1972 numbers.
The attached e-mails are from Chris, the current owner, and Tim, his father owned the Honda shop where the bike was originally sold. Tim took over the dealership in 1975.
The bike is being sold with a bunch of parts. I don’t have a list, but I have pictures of the parts being offered with the sale.
Attached are pictures of the bike as it sits now, note the exhaust is the stock 4 to 4. The bike looks to be in excellent condition. Also pictures of the parts that go with the bike and two pictures of the bike with the 4 into 1 exhaust.
Sorry for being so long winded. Can this all be true? An R&D CB750? What could this be worth with the parts being offered?
Thanks for your help and opinions. If any other information is needed or questions answered, please ask.
E-Mail 1:
Dear Tim,
Thanks for the information you shared with me on the phone regarding my 1972 CB750K2. I will FAX you a copy of the DMV paperwork (one page) that I have. I'll also copy the original owner's insurance card with his name on it. I think this is "John" that you were referring to.
I bought the bike about 2 months ago from a fellow named Pat Dunn who is the shop manager at Barnett Clutches in Ventura. He had only had it
about a month after obtaining it from John who Dunn said he has known for years. He said John is about 80 years old now and that John was the original owner. It was Dunn who told me this was a R D bike and gave me the DMV form that I will FAX to you. He asked me to not contact John as he did not want him to know he had sold the bike (I'm guessing it was given to Dunn at a very good price or gifted).
I have honored that request, but would like to know more about the bike. I don't know what, if anything, that John may have changed.
I would very much appreciate you putting in writing--email is fine--what you discussed with me about it really being a R D bike, that normally those bikes were destroyed and not sold, that it was green when sold, had those odd turn signal lens, 4 into 1 exhaust, and any other recollections or information that you recall about how Rice Honda obtained the bike, sold it, etc. This is the only way I know of to sort of document that this bike really was a R D bike that came this way and not just some cobbled together CB750. It makes the bike more interesting as it is unique.
Also, if you know, what type of things would Honda have been playing with on a bike like this to call it a R D bike?
I attached a couple photos of the bike and the rear turn signal lens, tail light lens, and front fender that was on it.
Here is a list of some of the "different" things I noticed about the bike compared to a stock CB750K2.
1. The bike is green which was a K1 color, and from what I have
researched, not used on K2's.
2. It has a 21" chrome front wheel rather than standard 19".
3. It has a DID alloy 18" rear wheel rather than the standard steel
wheel.
4. Spokes are stainless steel.
5. Disk rotor is drilled.
6. Rear turn signal lens had the centers cut out and red lenses installed. You said you recalled these. I have these, but put stock lens on.
7. The red tail light lens similarly had pieces cut out and replaced with amber pieces.
8. It has a K1 rear fender and tail light on it, but also came with the whole K2 rear fender (among many extra parts).
9. The photo shows the bike with a stock front fender which actually clears the 21" tire! But it had another chrome fender with some
makeshift brackets to fit the larger wheel. The nuts and bolts on this fender still have the yellow paint dabbed on them.
10. It has a 4 into 1 header with a metal "Honda" emblem screwed into
the muffler. It did not come with the original mufflers. Also the header clamps at the head are smooth chrome, not the original finned clamps.
Pat Dunn thought it had some engine modifications too such as a lightened crank and modified cam, but he had no proof of that. He said it was simply his understanding that had been done. It also has a complete Dyna electronic ignition system that Dunn said he installed about 12 years ago for John.
There are many spares that Dunn thought had come with the bike originally including two 19" front wheel assemblies, a complete engine
and gearbox less the crankcase halves, a spare bank of carbs, two sets of sprockets, a couple oil filter housings, air box, oil tank, electric
starter motor, a couple brake calipers, spare instruments, rear fender assembly, extra turn signals, swing arm, a couple chain guards, and
much more. All parts are used and generally in good condition, except for the front wheels which are pretty rusty. Dunn was under the impression that most of these spares came with the bike when John bought it. Do you think all these parts were sold with the bike?
By the way, the bike looks great, runs fine, and gets compliments whenever I ride it.
Thanks, Tim, for your time. I really appreciate it!
Chris
E-Mail 2:
Dear Chris:
I was formerly a second generation Honda motorcycle dealer. My father ran the dealership from 1962 until he passed away in 1980. I started working at the dealership full time in 1975. The purpose of this letter is to explain what I know about the above motorcycle.
Late in the 1980s or early 1990s I had a visit from John Mushegan. He told me that he had bought this motorcycle from my father in 1972. According to his account this motorcycle was shipped to our dealership in error. It was used by Honda Research and Development and not intended for retail sale. It is an industry standard practice to crush (destroy) R&D models as they are not DOT approved for sale in the United States. Honda attempted to retrieve the motorcycle from our dealership after the mistake was realized, but it had already been sold to Mr. Mushegan, so he was allowed to keep it.
The point of Mr. Mushegan's visit to me was that he needed a statement of facts signed by me for the Department of Motor Vehicles as to the origin of this motorcycle. I assumed that the vehicle identification number was inconsistent with similar Honda CB750s of this year.
He had very specific language that he needed on the statement of facts for the DMV. I was happy to help this customer by signing the document he needed so that he could complete his DMV paperwork. Although I had no way of verifying the accuracy of his story, I could see no harm in signing the document. It sounded exactly what the DMV might require to register a bike with an irregular VIN.
I do remember the motorcycle, as he rode it into our La Puente dealership for me to see it. The distinctive features of the motorcycle that I remember were:
1) The green color,
2) The four into one exhaust
3) The DID alloy rear wheel
4) The taillight and turn signal lenses were stock red with round
amber inserts in the middle of the lenses.
I hope this helps "clear the air". Good luck with your classic Honda.
Sincerely,-Tim Rice
Former Owner,
Rice Honda Sea Doo
Vin# 2055720
CB750E-2063662
