Topic: So why did you choose a Honda SOHC4?

[Vatch]

1. Cheap to buy
2. Cheap parts
3. Parts are still available from Honda (Try THAT with any other 30-year old machine)
4. Reliable as hell
5. Easy to work on

What he said.  Oh, and I like to rebuild and balance carbs 

[dusterdude]

1. Cheap to buy
2. Cheap parts
3. Parts are still available from Honda (Try THAT with any other 30-year old machine)
4. Reliable as hell
5. Easy to work on

yea right

What he said.  Oh, and I like to rebuild and balance carbs 

[Bob Wessner]

What he said.  Oh, and I like to rebuild and balance carbs 

Liar. 

[tsp37]

When I was 18 I bought my first motorcycle, a shiny new '82 Custom 250.  After four months of riding, it became junk after a van and I tried to occupy the same place in space simultaneously.  Twenty three years later, a local paper had an ad for the same bike, "needs work".  My wife, of all people, encouraged me to look into it and I arranged to see the bike on the upcoming Saturday.  Unfortunately, by Friday the bike had sold.  During the prior week I had spent some time on the 'net looking for pictures of the model (try www.motorera.com) and I found the '82 650 Nighthawk.  This, thought I, is what a motorcycle should look like.  Within a few months I found one in Ohio in great shape, though perhaps a touch expensive.  I got it, had to work on the alternator and carbs, and I've logged almost 6000 happy miles since.  Now I have to replace the original tires.

I have had a blast on my bike but I don't have the experience with other bikes to know that this is the best, but I am glad to cheer for the home team. I bought mine based on visual appeal and trust in Honda.  My next bike will be a 2004 ST1300.  I like to think that someone is storing the bike for me deep in his garage while it depreciates.

I been a lurker here since the old 650 board suddenly died and I have enjoyed the company. I recognize several names from that board.  Since I have finally taken the time to register, you may have to put up with me again in the near future.

Steve in Tennessee

[RCS1956]

In 1971, a friend got a Yamaha 175 Enduro. So, I had to do the same, and got a 1972 Yamaha Enduro, mostlty trail bike, but I rode it mostly on the street.Two years later, another friend got a Norton 750 Commando, and told me of all the road trips we could go on.
I got a used Honda 350 Twin in 1974, with only 3,000 miles on it. I rode that bike 20,000 more miles, with no more maintenance than changining the oil, plugs, and points. And I learned to do it all myself, because it was so easy. I visited the motorcycle shop so often, I asked if they needed any help there. That gave me the job of assembeliing the incoming bikes. I loved the 750's, they looked so classic, top of the line. When the 1977's came in, they were changed, updated, and....well,... just different. That's when I decided to get one of the last 1976 models still on the floor. I got an employee discount on the last one, no one else wanted it because it had a shipping scuff on the front fender. I've had that bike for thirty years and it has never let me down, except for a flat tire once. 1976 was the last year of the "originals", but the engine kept on going. It's the most reliable motor vehicle I've ever had.

[bill440cars]

      To answer Bob's question about draftees, I volunteered but, could have been a draftee easily in 1966.

       Bought my 1st Honda CB in 68' while in the AirForce in Japan. It was a 66' CB72. Bought my next Honda about 10yrs later, it was a 71' SL350. Didn't get my 1st SOHCfour until about 3yrs ago and it was a 76' CB400F and the rest just followed. I like the look (even though I want to modify them), the ride (even though I want to change the forks and shocks), the way they run (even though I want to build up the motor)  and the parts availability, so far. When I settle on a brand or model of something, I'd rather fight than switch.  Later on, Bill

[aptech77]

Love the 400F's lines. It also can be made into a fast little machine!

[kslrr]

Same reason as others. It chose me.  Prior to the CB350F, I had a CB175 twin.  It was fun, reliable and easy to work on.  But it was time to move up to something bigger, but not too big.  Well, I found this '72 CB350F that was already cafe'd with a sweet set of custom 4-1 black chrome pipes, low bars and fibre glass fearing and tail piece.  I fell in love with the sound and new that I could do allot with it.  I paid $350 for it (I think) in 1980 (I think) and have had a great time ever since.  I honed my skills by doing all of my own maintenance, even a complete overhaul of the engine back in '86.  Since then it has become a project bike for my ideas for electrical and induction systems.  I did not work on it for 15 years, but since I have found this site, I am inspired to continue.

[Rocking-M]

Well, a work out partner had a 72 750k2 and I wanted a bike too. I was 18 and found a 73 SL350 (bought it in 76, wish I'd kept it too).
After riding it about 2 months I found out about a good buy on a 71 750k1 (yep I wanted a bigger bike). Got it and rode it a bit over a year putting over 30k on it in that time. It parted my company not to long after I got married. But I was still smitten with the 750 bug.

Since then I have owned a 78 750. I was hit on it while going through a green light. I'm going along thinking I hope this car
stops. It didn't. A new college girl who evidently had never been to the big city of Raleigh turned left into me because she said the left turn lane sign meant she could. Her bumper stopping on my left hand lower case. Slammed me on the bars and the back lash sent me flying. I landed in the street on my feet. A fellow jumped out of his car and hobbled over on a broke leg to ask me how I was.
I said, "I think I'm alright, give me a second". He had been hit the week before. Anyway, I fixed the  78 after convincing the State Farm Insurance guy that all the damages were not that expensive to fix compared to a pain and suffering law suit. I don't really know why I sold the 78, must have been to pay some school bills or something. Or maybe it was the 77 X1/9 Fiat we bought which started the Fiat addiction.

Then came the 81 750. I traded a strip canoe I had built for that one. Sold it about 17 years ago. I sorta liked the DOHC but still wanted another SOHC. Then about 3 weeks ago I saw an add on line for one in West Virginia. The wife said "why don't you get it".
Some men are lucky that way. (Been married to one woman for 29 years) Now I have the 77 750F2. I plan to  hold on to it.

[techy5025]

Back in 1969, a friend and I (he on a Triumph and me on a Honda Dream) stopped
by the local dealer to look at dirt bikes. What's this....."oh" he said "that's the new
CB750...why don't you ride it."  Wow, sounds just like a car engine....had to have one.

Turns out they were really backordered so I found one in the local rag that a guy's wife
decided he didn't need....two months old.  It's the one on the left in my avatar.

Here's a pic of it sitting in my kitchen in Oct. 1970...was off to Thailand and needed to
get it inside. 

Jim

[GraveRobber]

My 71 CB 750 chose me, sort of. I was working delivering pizza in 1982 and my manager (married) was fooling around on the side with a young girl and I knew it. He knew that I knew. He wanted some help moving stuff at his house one day. In his garage is this 750 sort of chopper. I commented on how I liked it. He told me that it didn't run, the engine was sized. Then he asked me if I would like it. How much I ask. For free he says, wink, wink. Sizing the moment I called everybody I knew until I found somebody to borrow a truck from. Spent the next 3 months working on it till it ran again. Rode it till about 1988 when it was stolen.  Watched for it for the next 3 years till I stumbled upon the remains in a junk yard. See my avatar. Helped my father buy a 74 CB 750 in about 1985, which is now mine. I/we have owned that bike since it was just an old bike not a classic.

[Sam Green Racing]

I found this forum just over a year ago while searching Google for info on CR750 racing machines.

Quite a few members will know that I don't personaly own a SOHC4, so how did I end up on here ?

It all started back in 1998 when I was taking part in a sprint meeting with my helper Ian who had brought along his brother Chris.
Also taking part was an American guy by the name of Tripp Noble on a CR750 replica.
Tripp won his class and Chris was so impressed he said he would like a bike like that.
When I told him that it was only a modified street bike, he asked me if I would help him to build one.
At the back end of 01 he had found a runner for £450 and had ordered all the parts to do the conversion to racer.
The bike was completed in May of 02 and the rest of the year was spent sorting the bike and teaching Chris how to ride it
(he forgot to tell me he was not a biker)
The club he joined, the National Sprint Association run sprints at 2 venues in the north and 4 in the south of England.
|n 03, Chris set new strip records at the two northern venues, Elvington near York and East Kirkby in Lincolnshire and took the northern sprint championship for his class.
In 04 he did the same, breaking his own records several times, he was awarded the championship again and the clubs most improved rider title.
Last year we took the bike to the southern meetings as well, taking in Tempsford in Cambridgeshire, Santa Pod in Bedfordshire, Weston Zoyland in sommerset and Smeartharpe in Devon and with records at the last three, he took the southern championship
as well  as the northern title.
This year has started well with three wins, the third being yesterday at Tempsford where Chris smashed 3/4 of a seconed off his own
record.
With a new 836 race motor sitting in the wings, 07 should be prity interesting.

Not sure why I am on this forum,.......perhaps I just like you guys

Sam.

[mrbreeze]

Good story Sam!!! Glad you're here!!!! Hey.....so why don't you have a 750? You should start looking one up....if not to ride,maybe just to build....like a project or something.So...are ya' about ready for some football?Its coming up quick!(and so is the price and availability of SOHC's!!!!)

[nippon]

My first ride on a brand new SOHC was 1972 as a four year old boy with my uncle (he was a Honda dealer).
I have burned my left leg on the exhaust because my feet were too short to reach the foot pegs,..i have the scar until yet.
The SOHC infection has been started. My whole life, i love the sturdy and pudgy compact design of the bike,
especially the pudgy exhaust system with the legendary sound.
A couple of years ago, i sold my restored K2, a big failure.
Now, i'm back. At the moment, I'm restoring a K1 which i never will sell.

my sold K2


my new K1


nippon

[mrbreeze]

Just sort of (read that half-assed) reread this post and would like to say a few things.First off...cheers and a 1/2 to groovie ghoulie for stepping up to what you're doing.Willing to swap stories with ya' anytime dude!!!! Bob....yeah.... I think you're right....that dude is a liar!!!!(about the carbs)
I never had a Honda SOHC till 2000 but had  2 Kawi's back in the 80's-90's.Gotta say.....they are a breed of their own.I rode a bunch of different Brit,Italian,Jap bikes growing up.Its a no brainer that I now have a SOHC but did(and still do) like the old Nortons,Vincents...stuff like that.I would have a Harley but only if I built it myself.I can't stand this off the shelf Harley #$%* or any of these crotch rocket sport bike turds but wouldn't mind taking my time(2-3 plus years) building up an old panhead bobber.I'm happy to bide my time with my 750 but there ain't no law that says you can't have 2 bikes (OR MORE......YEAH!!!!)

[GeoffT]

Have to be honest and say I bought mine for the same reason that Sir Edmund Hilary climbed Mt. Everest.

 

[Buber]

Well, that was my girlfirend (wife's now) fault! I had a bike since i could have a license - funny story, so I will tell. At that time in Poland (1989 or something) we had a galloping inflation. So one day my father comes and says "I got this extra premium money, so we need to spend it fast on something, so they don't go off value", and there were those BIG (so the thinking was) 350cc 2 stroke CZ (Czech bike). My brother got his first, and then me. Then, when I came back from my army service (did it in Cambodia with UN) my girl says - " so you have some saved money, lets buy a REAL bike", and a local guy had this few bikes from germany, and this CB 650 just looked right. I never really liked those plasticky gizmos, neither "ape hangers" with your legs so high, that the jewels will get cold! So CB 650 it was. I had it till 1995, when we married and our fist daughter appeared. And (sorry for being long) I must tell you this story too! I said to myself that if I'm to own a bike, it must be parked in my house. Since (we're still talking Poland in 90's) just married people simply don't buy houses (they usually have flats IF THEY ARE LUCKY), i sold it to my cousin for a "family price". Yes, there was a little sob, since when I'm going to have a house, and enough money over to buy a bike? Oh well, that was my farewell, i was becoming a real father, head of the family. And then, 3 years later, after securing a better job and buying a BEAUTIFULLY placed house (200 yrds from border of National Mountain Park, paid it off this Jan), my cousin calls "do you want to buy a bike for a family price?" Well, OF COURSE! And so i went some time in April, about 300 miles from my house, we just pulled MINE CB from wintering in a garage, fought a bit to get it started, I waved my hand, and went home. And of course ride was smooth as a silk! So i have it since (I then found the mailing list, and become a member, it was 1998), but since i was working on the cruise ships to pay of the house, only now i returned for good. Truth to be said, I treated my bike rather bad, it even spent one winter outside, just under the tarpaulin (imagine that one day a wind blast flipped it over! standing on the main stand! my lovely mountains...), when i came back from the ship for a month I would fire it and ride along, and then back to shed for another 6 months. But now it really needs a proper overhaul, but I found another one in Germany for a mere 600 U$, only 30.000 km, and starter clutch problem. After long discussion with the previous owner how long it will take me to split the cases, etc ( i knew better already) I took the forum's advice and did it in 3 hours! And here I'm now with my fantastic, never-let-me-down bike, and even my wife is doing a bike license now! But she says that CB is too heavy for her. She rides it though!
And just this weekend we had in my area a major HD meet - y'know, i feels kinda sorry for this guys. It seems that vast majority of them just bought them because 1. they had money, 2. they wanted to show off, 3. they wanted to belong to some kind of group. I just love to ride a motorcycle on my winding roads, and if it does the job for 1/100 of the price of the HD, then what the hell? And those classic looks.... It is very often when i park my bike in the town (and there are more and more bikes nowadays) people will look at mine CB 650. It's just CLASSIC. And yes, i do like to stand out of the crowd a bit as well

So, a bit long, but, hey, that's the story! And you know what? I don't think I will buy a different bike. Unless i win the lottery and don't need to worry about the maintenance

Best Regards from Poland!

[JSGAuto]

Reliability, those classic lines, and easy to work on!

[andy750]

In 1991 I was 20 years old (and a fairly new rider) and came to America for the first time to work at summer camp in NY state with the idea of driving across country Easy Rider style on a motorcycle. I looked in the Used Bike Guide in the UK at all the different bikes and found the CB750 to be cheap and reliable - two key factors for a student! I came to NY state and bought a stock 1976 CB750 (original blue, original 4-4 exhaust) that had been stored for 10 years - looked liked brand new but every bolt was siezed! After camp drove my gilfriend to Cape Cod and discovered leaky carbs -fuel pouring out one -found the local Honda dealer at Weymouth, MA who said best thing to do was tap with screwdriver which I did and it worked -next stop NY city and rode down Broadway and up 5th Avenue. Left g/f in NY city and picked up brother at Newark and headed for Gettysburg and south to Blue Ridge mountains and Tennessee. Got to Knoxville, TN and back wheel with rusty spokes collapsed (had heard the pinging sound of spokes snapping all way from NY city but couldt work out what the noise was!). Met a friendly couple who gave me a job (tree surgeon) to pay for wheel rebuild. After 4 days (now on own), set off for Ozark mountains and into Oklahoma -got as far as the Grand Canyon before turning back over the Rockies and through Kanasa to Missouri where I sold the bike for $400 (had bought for $800 back then). 7000 miles, 3 weeks. Over the next 15 years I would buy 4 more CB750s (still have 3 of them) and have driven all over (Europe, America, Mexico). Still think they are cheap and reliable :-) (well cheap to buy but Ive spent a lot more rebuilding and fixing!!).

cheers
Andy in Boston

[Bob Wessner]

Still think they are cheap and reliable :-) (well cheap to buy but Ive spent a lot more rebuilding and fixing!!).

A bit like having kids, doesn't cost all that much up front, but to raise them.. 

[byidesign]

Started out on a cb350, then got a cm400t, and
   commuted with it, until my job change turned
     into an interstate commute{scary..........}
      so I tried a few models, and the 82cb650sc
        fit the best.......
            that was 140k ago ......
             still runs great, so Why change...........
                      Bruce

                I  Did go find another cm400t for
                    an around town play toy..............

[larsenken]

my first ride was on the tank of a Honda SL75. Dad kept moving up the ranks, CB350 and then the CB550K. What a sweet bike. Now he has maybe gone too far and bought a Goldwing. I have not passed the sohc stage yet and do not plan to anytime soon.

[Dave K]

I was riding another famous 500cc two stroke triple back in 1970. That darn bike was ALWAYS broke. in 2000 miles it ate 3 sets of pistons, a CDI unit and on the last trip I was on, it messed up it's clutch release. Before that bike, I was on a 175 Bridgestone Hurricane Scrambler that never let me down. I was so sick of that triple, I almost gave it away(swore I never ride that brand again and I haven't either!) and went right out and bought my K3. I still have it, it still looks like new and has never, ever let me down since I bought it in 1973. It now only has about 46,000 miles on it and all I have done is routine maintenance. Yes, I have changed the wheel bearings, triple tree bearings and swing arm bushings, along with chains, sprockets, tires and brakes. It is sooo reliable. I can still remember the summer of 1969 and hearing my first Honda 750.

[Dave Wyatt]

I was between bikes at the time, having sold my Electraglide 4 years earlier.  We were busy racing a Jr. Dragster with my youngest and I was itching to get back into drag racing myself.  One day at work I was checking out a bulletin board and saw a CB750A for sale.  I had always thought one would make a great dragbike, so I went to check it out.  I found a very original Hondamatic with 6K actual miles on it, that had been sitting for a number of years.  A deal was struck and we litteraly drug it into the bed of my truck since the front brakes had seized.

A few dollars and alittle time later, it was up and running.  I rode it a while on the street hoping to work out a few carburation bugs and ended up selling it for whjat I had in it.  Afterwards I kicked myself for letting it go, but I kept tabs on it.  A few years later I had the chance to buy it back for what I had sold it for, so I did.  It only had about 500 more miles on it!  I'm still riding it on the street and have yet to make a pass down the strip with it.  Maybe someday.

[cmorgan47]

so a few years ago, a neighbor and close friend cam across an 81 cm450 with a blown engine for free and asked if i wanted to go in on the costs of getting it roadworthy.  this was my introduction to repair and, for that matter, riding to any degree.  we bought a new engine for a few hundred and within a couple of weeks had everything dialed in fairly well.

the next summer, he came across a running cb400f(the one you've read and answered so many questions about here) for $800, and not having the cash himself, again asked if i wanted to go in on it.  of course, i was all for it as we'd now have two similar bikes to swap back and forth.  immediately i fell for the four even though it was running like crap within a month of the purchase.  well it was nearly winter so it sat. 

when this spring rolled around, his girlfriend had taken an interest in riding and, for various reasons, she was given the twin and i kept the four....the twin was already a daily rider, which she needed, and i felt i could get the four back in order (thanks again for all the help).  plus, the four was dead sexy.

so i worked on it for a month or so, and as you can see from recent posts it's running great.  i'm more in love with it than ever, both because of the ride and maybe moreso because the knowledge that i will one day have about motorcycle maintanence and repair will have come from working on this bike.  i love it.  even more so now that i've started to cafe it out.

at any rate, this long story leads up to last night, and a great bit of personal satisfaction for me.  he pulled up on the twin and we went for a ride.  the first red light we came to, he gave me "the look."  as the cross-traffic light turned yellow, both our engines were racing.  they turned red and i started to tuck in behind the controls.  green light, and the four ate his lunch.  walked him off the line, and every gear put me further ahead.  we were "racing to the speed limit," but any debate over who has the faster bike is now academic.  by the time we made it to the bar, he was already talking about how his suzuki 650 could still take me.