Topic: 1977 CB 750K Cafe restoration or full restoration

[bcavanaugh]

I have a 1977 Honda CB 750K that I bought and was thinking of doing a full restoration. The idea of a full restoration was itching at my brain but I have been searching for the stock parts to this bike. What do people think I should do? Should I throw a lot of money into doing a full restoration or turn it into a cafe racer? The bike has 49,000 miles on it and does not have the stock exhaust or seat.

[harisuluv]

Without pictures it is difficult to say. However from what you said it probably wouldn't make as much sense financially to do a full restoration

The 77-78 bikes don't seem to command as high of a price as an earlier K but y out can still dump about as much money into em. 

[bollingball]

Cafe that thing and send me all the parts you take off. I will pay shipping 
If the seat still has the oem pan you can re-foam and cover it The pipes new will run over $1200 and it is hard to find good used ones. If the front fender is good don't chop it up I will trade you one. you can still get new double stay ones but not single stay.
Ken

[MoMo]

Without pictures it is difficult to say. However from what you said it probably wouldn't make as much sense financially to do a full restoration

The 77-78 bikes don't seem to command as high of a price as an earlier K but y out can still dump about as much money into em. 

 I'd have to agree with that. A full restoration would probably require putting more money into the bike than what it would be worth.  I have a 77 that I plan on doing a restomod-mostly stock but with my personal touches. my .066...Larry

[Frankensteins Bride]

Although seeing a nice stock restoration would be lovely, trying to get parts for our years is like pulling teeth! Sadly I'm going to vote that you custom/cafe/mod it just to save your head o hair from being pulled out! I think with these years, unless you find a really nice survivor, restoration just doesn't make sense.

[Stev-o]

Hey Bride - sorry, but have to disagree with you. I have a K7 & K8 and have been able to find any part I have looked for. I've even offered to doanate a part for your project.

b - did you get the pics of the exhaust?

+1 for resto-mod, seems to make the most sense and is what I have planned for my K7. [the K8 is bone stock]

[Frankensteins Bride]

LOL that was kinda my point though. If it wasn't for the fine members of this forum, I would be dead in the water! Trying to get parts outside of the forum is nasty. I just think it's very cost prohibitative. Mind you I don't know what shape his bike is in. Mine was beaten. If one was in much better shape, I'd go for a restoration.

[bcavanaugh]

If I can find a decent set of pipes and an oem seat for the year then Im going to do a full resto. Steve I never got the pictures of the exhaust. If I can get those then you will probably make up my mind on the full rest. If I can't find the oem exhaust and seat then I might just do a full resto.

[Bankerdanny]

The last couple of years of the 750 just don't carry the value of the earlier bikes. I am an advocate of keeping complete and clean original bikes clean and original.

But if your bike is missing lots of pieces or just not in very good shape you would never get back the cost of a full resto on a '77-'78K, so I would just build the bike you want.

[bcavanaugh]

I believe it will be cheaper and easier to build a cafe for my first bike build. I believe I will go that route and hopefully get my hands on an earlier 750 for a full restoration.