Topic: 1977/1978 CB's are cool 2!

[Terry in Australia]

That's some excellent observational skills you've got there Pat, but I don't think it's an F3 thing either, maybe it was a pre-production model? Cheers, Terry.

[Wobbly]

The K8 and F3 were only offered in North America. You are looking at the German specs model--and it came like that.

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb750f2-super-sport-germany_model14692/partslist/F15.html#results

[Stev-o]

 I might dip my toe into the F pool again sometime...

GASP!  Say it isn't so, Terry?  You may then have to go back and delete all those posts bad mouthing the F bikes!

[Wobbly]

I do have another F2 frame, engine and forks in my garage, so who knows?

You will lose money again. I see how you "cloned" an F2 before, having little to work with, and turning that "little" into a beautiful bike again. That is something to be proud of. I admire that. Seriously.

I like the early K-bikes too. But they were simply before my time--I am 56. So, when I turned 16, the 76 CB750F1 was my first bike. And that is where my attachment to these bikes comes from--they represent my youth. We cannot restore our youth, but I just love to see bikes restored from that time. Unfortunately, I never had your skills, and I abused my body for such a long time, that I am grateful that I still can ride while the daily routine becomes a challenge. Sorry for drifting off, but I just want people to know here that I have great respect for those who save and  preserve yet another of these beautiful bikes.

[Desert-SOHC]

Weathers been awesome and I've been riding her to the shop everyday........after the change to 150cc's of 10w Belray fork oil it rides MUCH smoother at high speed.   

[Terry in Australia]

 I might dip my toe into the F pool again sometime...

GASP!  Say it isn't so, Terry?  You may then have to go back and delete all those posts bad mouthing the F bikes!

Yep, sorry for scaring you Steve, I've been drinking heavily and mixing up my prescription drugs, so pay no attention to my rambling, as much as I actually do like the F2/3 (and have never said anything really bad about them, apart from pointing out their weaknesses) I can't see one in my immediate future.

Interestingly enough, Wobbly and I may well be brothers from a different mother. We're both Military men, we're the same age, and like Wobbly, my first CB750 was a shiny new (old stock) CB750F0 that I got for a good price in 1978. My next CB750 I bought was a K1 that I bought from an old school friend in 1981 and I wish I'd never sold it, hence my continued love for early "K" bikes. Since then I've probably had 20 or so CB750's, they're very hard to get out of your system.

[cb650PK]

Weathers been awesome and I've been riding her to the shop everyday........after the change to 150cc's of 10w Belray fork oil it rides MUCH smoother at high speed.   

What were you running before? ATF? Stock springs or Progressive?

[Desert-SOHC]

Weathers been awesome and I've been riding her to the shop everyday........after the change to 150cc's of 10w Belray fork oil it rides MUCH smoother at high speed.   

What were you running before? ATF? Stock springs or Progressive?

155cc's of ATF as the service manual suggested. My front end is completely stock for now. I'm planning on single stage springs and emulators in the future.

[700504]

Felt compelled to post my 78 here, I've only had 76 and prior until I picked up this one last October. Took 6 month's for it to finally grow on me, now I love it.

[flybox1]

Nice....IIRC, you are in WA.  where?

[700504]

Nice....IIRC, you are in WA.  where?

Oly

[flybox1]

Nice....IIRC, you are in WA.  where?

Oly

It's the Water! 

[700504]

Nice....IIRC, you are in WA.  where?

Oly

It's the Water! 

It certainly is my friend.

[HondaMan]

I always thought the K7/8 made good commuter bikes, because they narrowed and lowered the saddle and added the hi-idle PD choke for the lean-burn engines. This lets you fire it up and by the time it is backed out of the garage, you can ride off with the choke still engaged, and not stumble at the first stop sign - and the plugs last the longest of all of these bikes. If you adjust the earlier carbs to do this (a la the K0-K2), the result in commuter service is short sparkplug life from a too-rich low RPM range, below 2000 RPM. Today, if the valve guides are changed to bronze instead of the OEM cast iron, these engines can last a long, long time, like the earlier ones - especially if you also install the modern rubber pucks under the rocker towers while you're in there, to preclude their typical oil weeps.

[strynboen]

yes both 750 and 550 have it and it and  idel adjusting in the choke knob....it gives a smoother ride..spec at cold starts..just pull and turn to Lock it..like on old cars..... strange my cbx dont have that..there the choke is only.. choke..

[700504]

I always thought the K7/8 made good commuter bikes, because they narrowed and lowered the saddle and added the hi-idle PD choke for the lean-burn engines. This lets you fire it up and by the time it is backed out of the garage, you can ride off with the choke still engaged, and not stumble at the first stop sign - and the plugs last the longest of all of these bikes. If you adjust the earlier carbs to do this (a la the K0-K2), the result in commuter service is short sparkplug life from a too-rich low RPM range, below 2000 RPM. Today, if the valve guides are changed to bronze instead of the OEM cast iron, these engines can last a long, long time, like the earlier ones - especially if you also install the modern rubber pucks under the rocker towers while you're in there, to preclude their typical oil weeps.

I had a weird aversion these models at first, mostly because they didn't have the 'old style flair' of the 69-76's and the more complex and finicky carbs. But after riding mine (pictured above with paint-less tank) a good 2,000 miles since October; I've fallen in love with the feel and the well running engine. This is the first cb I've purchased and not had to rebuild the engine right off the bat. As a side note; I don't know what they did with the k7/k8, maybe it's the 17 rear wheel mixed with different gearing, the seat and tank, but this bike corners absolutely stunningly when compared to my 73 and 74 (both of which have brand new shocks and cb650 front ends).

[HondaMan]

I always thought the K7/8 made good commuter bikes, because they narrowed and lowered the saddle and added the hi-idle PD choke for the lean-burn engines. This lets you fire it up and by the time it is backed out of the garage, you can ride off with the choke still engaged, and not stumble at the first stop sign - and the plugs last the longest of all of these bikes. If you adjust the earlier carbs to do this (a la the K0-K2), the result in commuter service is short sparkplug life from a too-rich low RPM range, below 2000 RPM. Today, if the valve guides are changed to bronze instead of the OEM cast iron, these engines can last a long, long time, like the earlier ones - especially if you also install the modern rubber pucks under the rocker towers while you're in there, to preclude their typical oil weeps.

I had a weird aversion these models at first, mostly because they didn't have the 'old style flair' of the 69-76's and the more complex and finicky carbs. But after riding mine (pictured above with paint-less tank) a good 2,000 miles since October; I've fallen in love with the feel and the well running engine. This is the first cb I've purchased and not had to rebuild the engine right off the bat. As a side note; I don't know what they did with the k7/k8, maybe it's the 17 rear wheel mixed with different gearing, the seat and tank, but this bike corners absolutely stunningly when compared to my 73 and 74 (both of which have brand new shocks and cb650 front ends).

One of the things different in the suspension was the swingarm pivot system. Honda used an INTERFERENCE FIT of the phenolic bushings against the collar, and until it wore out (about 10k miles), it felt like a better-handling bike. Rebuilding with proper bronze bushings and clearances in the older ones makes them even better.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, there's no evidence to the claim that the later 750's were better handlers than the (way better looking) early models, but I understand that it's easy to "fall in love" with a particular bike, no matter how fugly it might be. Case in point is my BMW R1100GS.

To some it's one of the ugliest motorcycles that God ever shovelled gears into, but after spending a few months in the saddle, I love it. Just like the average F/K7/8 owner, I can't see the bike while I'm riding it, and it functions so well, I can ignore the eye bleeding fugliness as I quickly back away from it after a ride.

Hmmnnnn, I wonder if fat chicks really are as good in the sack as my old platoon sergeant used to say.......... ?

   

[Wobbly]

Hmmnnnn, I wonder if fat chicks really are as good in the sack as my old platoon sergeant used to say.......... ?

Don't even go there....

I understand that it's easy to "fall in love" with a particular bike, no matter how fugly it might be. Case in point is my BMW R1100GS.

I can't stand the looks of the GS bikes either--but they blow me on the passes any which way they like. Not sure if fat chicks would work the same way.

[700504]

Yeah, there's no evidence to the claim that the later 750's were better handlers than the (way better looking) early models, but I understand that it's easy to "fall in love" with a particular bike, no matter how fugly it might be. Case in point is my BMW R1100GS.

To some it's one of the ugliest motorcycles that God ever shovelled gears into, but after spending a few months in the saddle, I love it. Just like the average F/K7/8 owner, I can't see the bike while I'm riding it, and it functions so well, I can ignore the eye bleeding fugliness as I quickly back away from it after a ride.

Hmmnnnn, I wonder if fat chicks really are as good in the sack as my old platoon sergeant used to say.......... ?

The thing for me is that I'll go for a good ride, or even just coming home from work. Then I'll pull in the garage and sit down with a beer and just look the bike that I just rode. All the while dissecting it in my mind and convincing myself that it does, in fact, look quite good. Maybe it's beer-goggles, I don't know.

[700504]

I had a weird aversion these models at first, mostly because they didn't have the 'old style flair' of the 69-76's and the more complex and finicky carbs. But after riding mine (pictured above with paint-less tank) a good 2,000 miles since October; I've fallen in love with the feel and the well running engine. This is the first cb I've purchased and not had to rebuild the engine right off the bat. As a side note; I don't know what they did with the k7/k8, maybe it's the 17 rear wheel mixed with different gearing, the seat and tank, but this bike corners absolutely stunningly when compared to my 73 and 74 (both of which have brand new shocks and cb650 front ends).
[/quote]

One of the things different in the suspension was the swingarm pivot system. Honda used an INTERFERENCE FIT of the phenolic bushings against the collar, and until it wore out (about 10k miles), it felt like a better-handling bike. Rebuilding with proper bronze bushings and clearances in the older ones makes them even better.
[/quote]


Thanks for the helpful advice!!

[AintNoEasyWay]

I'm a younger guy who actually prefers the look of the later models, although I love the earlier rides as well.

Perhaps I have yet to develop the wisdom & discernment of you older men. Perhaps I never will develop it...

[madmtnmotors]

I actually prefer the look of the later models, although I love the earlier rides as well.
Perhaps I have yet to develop the wisdom & discernment of you older men. Perhaps I never will develop it...

I hope I never do...

[Stev-o]

I actually prefer the look of the later models, although I love the earlier rides as well.
Perhaps I have yet to develop the wisdom & discernment of you older men. Perhaps I never will develop it...

I hope I never do...

Great pic Wilbur...we need to all pitch in and get you some leathers! I got $25....

[HondaMan]

I actually prefer the look of the later models, although I love the earlier rides as well.
Perhaps I have yet to develop the wisdom & discernment of you older men. Perhaps I never will develop it...

I hope I never do...

Now, that's some pretty good ridin' skills when you can get far enough forward on a K7/8 to hold the front down!