Topic: Picked up a 1970 K0, I think

[adsVA83]

So I don't post a whole lot here, mainly to ask questions when I get in a bind with something I don't know.  I did a complete restoration on a 74 B750, it's almost complete, just waiting on paint on the tank and side covers.  Anyway, I'm familiar with the Sandcast and how rare they are, parts are hard to find etc, but I really don't know that much about the earlier models.

Fast forward to tonight.  I found a CB750 on craigslist that didn't have much information (not even the year, just pictures on the ad) but the price was right, so off I go to check it out.  I get there and the lady tells me it is a 1970.  I ask if she has the title, because the tank is definitely not a 1970 model, it was from the later bikes with the black area painted in the middle of the stripes.  Sure enough, the title says 1970 on it.  By the motor number, I knew  it wasn't original to the bike because the number was WAY higher than the VIN on the neck.

Long story short, I bought it and got it home to check the VIN.  I looked up the VIN and it appears to be a K0 model (CB7501010850).  The motor appears to be from a K5 though being 2396499.  My question is, what were the parts to look for that were specific to the K0 model??  I know it's a hodge podge of parts right now, I just want to be able to tell what is original and what isn't.

[754]

Cable pull carbs, sharp fender ends front fender, smooth airbox, gray caliper, painted. Headlite esrs, louvered sidecovers, ducktail seat, short plastic chainguard., black kill switch, blacktop rear shocks, different front lower legs.. Show us a pic..

[adsVA83]

I'll get a picture when the sun comes up in the morning.  Judging by what you said, the frame may be the only thing K0 about the bike.  I don't think it has any of those items you mentioned at all.

[Stev-o]

Although sand cast technically refers to the engine (manufacturing process) that frame with title may be quite valuable to the right person that possibly has an engine in that number range.
Post some pics

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[Swoop]

Looks to me like it may be a restamped number?  Font does not seem right to me. Not too many KO parts on it either.
Steve

[ekpent]

The engine numbers if a 75 does match all the bodywork like the paint color,turn signals etc.

[754]

Looks like someone used a 70 frame with reggie, and put almost a whole. 75 model onto it.

 Question for you, when tying down the bike..why not just use 2 tiedowns , from the handlebars to the boxcorners ?

[Stev-o]

Looks in pretty good shape.  Try to start it yet?

[Tews19]

Nice find!

[ekpent]

Just went out and checked my 74 frame stamp and see it has a slash mark between the CB750 and the numbers like this CB750 - XXXXXXX. The pictured bike does not have the slash,numbers just run altogether. Hmmm. Will have to check my K0 and other earlier bikes down at the shop next time to see if they have that slash or hyphen mark,or one of you guys take a peek. Maybe it is a restamp ??  I take it the metal ID plate on the other side is gone ?

 PS-Nick since your up and at'em go check your 71 frame vin for a slash mark.

[754]

Check the brake pedal side,see if there is a pedal stop bracket welded to the frame.
 I thought the numbers looked ok..minus the - issue..look at the crater in the weld above it. Typical of the welds on the early frames.

[adsVA83]

It doesn't have a metal ID plate on the other side like my '74 has, it has a sticker with that info that looks similar to the ID plate, but not the riveted plate.

As far as only using 2 straps from the corner.  I just bought the truck and the previous owner put a bedliner in it and didn't cut out holes for the anchor points in the corners.  Lets just say I had to try and improvise with tying it down.

The bike does start and run, kick start only at this point.  I need to do some diagnosing the starter problem.

Wouldn't they have to grind down the old stamped numbers on the neck, if they were to try and stamp new ones in their place??  It looks to me like some have said, it's a '70 frame with the rest of the bike looking to be all later parts.

[dhall57]

Eric my KO is CB750-103xxxx

[ekpent]

Think that slash in the vin is a major deal. Here are a couple pics scrounged off of E-bay of a couple of K0 frames. Maybe somebody has one without the slash around here ?? Note those sloppy welds on the bottom picture,as Frank mentioned on the early bikes.

[754]

The 75 brakepedal will have a height adjustment.. And a bracket and bolt welded go the frame to adjust pedal height. Early frames did not have that....can you look..
 If the frame is not factory stamped it could still be a replacement frame, that was then stamped.

[754]

That frame ending in757... Look at the unevenness in those numbers. And the slash mark tilting down.

[adsVA83]

All great info.  In the end, I don't want to eventually sell something to someone and mis-represent what it is.  I don't want to sell someone a frame titled as a 70 when it in fact may be a replacement.

[ekpent]

Here is what Frank-754 wants you to check down by the rear brake pedal. The little bracket with the adjuster bolt. Sorry we are so nit picky,just trying to solve a little mystery. The bike overall looks very nice and well cared for.

[Johnie]

Seems that something has been messed with on that number. My KO, K1, K3 & K4 all have the CB750 - XXXXX

[adsVA83]

It does have the bracket and bolt to adjust the rear brake pedal.

[Tews19]

Funky vin stamp is right. But looking at the bike, if you plan to keep I wouldnt worry about it. The tank side covers and gauges all look great. Contact the person you got it from to find out any info you can

[Swoop]

Definitely a restamp .....IMHO....look at the 0's....round instead of oblong.....not mentioning the dash mark.

Steve

[Johnie]

So what number is on the title? Does it match the frame or engine number?

[adsVA83]

The title matches the frame number and is called out as 1970 on the title.  Something I just thought of.  I recently had a CB750 with a title that matched the number on the motor, it did not match the number on the frame.  I did some research and found out some states on motorcycles back then titled bikes per the motor, not the frame.  Such was the case with some of the old Harley's, they only had numbers on the motor and not the frame so that's how some states continued to title them until year 19xx, not sure the exact year.  Problem is, other states wouldn't register/transfer a title that didn't match the VIN on the frame, so those bikes titled per the motor had issues when trying to transfer to another state.

Is it possible this title was originally married to a motor with this VIN, someone from a state that titled them only by frame numbers bought it and had issues getting it transferred, so they re-stamped the VIN in the neck??

[Johnie]

In WI back in the day all the bike were titled by the engine number. All my 750's are titled by the engine number.

[Tews19]

Spot on Johine, same here for my 550's and 750's... However when I went to apply for a bonded title for my old silver K1 I requested the title have the frame vin on it.... MN bikes I bought had both vins on the title.

[ekpent]

Is it possible this title was originally married to a motor with this VIN, someone from a state that titled them only by frame numbers bought it and had issues getting it transferred, so they re-stamped the VIN in the neck??
[/quote]
I would bet that someone had a bike and someone had a title and they did what they had to do to make it road legal in a state where titles were hard to get. By the looks of it the 75 that you have may well be a complete bike with its original engine. Good questions to ask the person you bought it from.

[adsVA83]

From talking to the person I bought it from, they didn't know a lot about motorcycles in general.  They bought this bike in 2000 to learn to ride on exactly as it sits.

[ekpent]

Not trying to scare you but have you looked into any of the laws about altered vin numbers.Could be an issue if you were to try and sell it someday. Technically it could be considered a felony. Here is a starter thread but plenty more out on the web.  http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Number=3348956

[Johnie]

I would see if you can find out who they bought it from in 2000. Just tell them you want to get a history of the bike. If you can find them they may like to hear what your plans are for it and you can maybe find out what the deal was on the VIN.

[Stev-o]

Chances are you will not find out the history.  Personally, I would not be concerned as long as you have a bill of sale and you did nothing wrong.
,at not be a bad idea to do a VIN search to confirm it is not stolen and give you peace of mind.

[ekpent]

The title may not come back as hot but it was not altered,the bike or frame  would be the item in question if indeed it was altered to match.
  Just out of curiosity what is the issue date on the title and was it in the name of the person you bought the bike from ?

[adsVA83]

The issue date was in 2005 and the names on the title were that of the married couple that I bought it from.  So, they bought it in '05 and went to the BMV, had the title transferred to their names.  I'm almost certain if you buy a vehicle ant take the title to the BMV to have it transferred to your name as the new owner, that they run the VIN to check for any issues before you get your new title.  This couple did that in 2005, and they were obviously able to get a clean title.

[RSchaefer]

But in any case it's an early frame due to the rear brake adjust and you can see the grease fittings on the swingarm.

[754]

I think its a later frame, looks like it has helmet hook decals, near the rearfender mount..top rear of frame..

[ekpent]

But in any case it's an early frame due to the rear brake adjust and you can see the grease fittings on the swingarm.

Do not believe that the K0 frames had that brake adjust tab and bolt and my 74 frame has those same grease zerk fittings on the swingarm. Here is a random shot from my K0 of that area.

[Johnie]

Sounds to me like you are in the clear as far as the title goes. Get it transferred to your name and have fun with it.