Topic: Hey, your bike is on fire!!!

[crp_iii]

So I picked up the CB 750 I got on E-bay today.  I think I got a good deal for $520.  I put it up on a hitch rack so the rear wheel is trailing on the ground and the front wheel is locked in place. I towed my CB350 home this way for 1000 miles without any issues. I made sure it was in nuetral but it felt like the front brake was dragging a bit and there no pressure when you squeeze the lever, so I think OK it is frozen a little. I pay and pull away half way home a guy behind me starts honking and waiving at me so I roll down my window as he pulls next to me an says "Hey, your bike is on fire!"

So I pull into a parking lot and hop out.  The rear brake dust seal is merrily burning and dripping melted plastic on to the Road.  I grab a rag out of my Jeep and smother the 3 inch high  flame.  I sit there irritated for a few minutes because I did not bring any tools.  I look under the seat with great hopes only to find a lone screw driver. I call my wife who is shopping nearby and get a ride to home depot where I get a set of wrenches to pull of the caliper.  I get it off and whe wheel spins more easily.  When I got home the disk was still hot and after a closer look the bracket is bent so it was rubbing to.

The data plate is missing, the frame and the engine do not have the same serial number so I will do a little research to figure out exactly what I have accuired.  Expect questions in the tech forum, I really appreceate all the help as a rookie mechanic.

It was listed a a 1977 CB 750 F.

[seaweb11]

I wanted photos of the fire

Engine and frame numbers will not match. They will be in the ball park though.

[Tim.]

The plate is missing from the frame?  That's not a great sign.  You might need to buy a frame for the serial number to register the bike.  Any paperwork with it or is this a parts bike?

[crp_iii]

I got a bill of sale.  It came from an estate sale. The serial number is still stamped on the neck.  There was an old registration under the seat as well.

The frame and the serial number are both from '77 acording to the tables on this site.

The fire was unimpressive.  I am happy the break fluid did not catch. 

[csendker]

It's not the end of the world, but also not a good sign the plate is gone.  It probably makes sense to be sure you can legally own the bike before you put a ton of work/sweat/money into it.  I don't know what the rules are in Ohio, but here in NYS it's only the frame number that counts with the DMV.  Try to get the frame numer ran through to see if it's clean (not reported stolen or currently registered).  If you know any cops, they can run it, or maybe the DMV will do it direct ("I'm THINKING of buying a bike, honest..."). 

If it's clean, then check with the DMV if a Bill of Sale is sufficient or do you need a God's honest Title (NYS answer for a 1977: Yes, you need a title or the DMV will make your life terribly, terribly miserable).  If you need a title and only have a bill of sale, you can either brave the DMV (I think I'd rather have a root canal) or use a title service (ex: http://www.its-titles.com./ ).

Best of luck, it looks like a good find!

[dusterdude]

all you need is the number stamped into the frame,the plate is for info only,the stamped number is the legal number.