Topic: Re: Found a CB750 yesterday....It runs!

[jneuf]

Stumbled across a bike with a for sale sign on it in a back lane yesterday. Almost didn't recognize what it was with the Shoei bags and huge fairing on it, but the 4-4 pipes gave it away!

Went in for a bit of a closer inspection and low and behold, it's a '74 cb750 with under 10,000 original kms on it (or under 6000 miles for my american friends). Gave it a quick look, but didn't want to poke around too long as it was on private property...looks to be in great shape. Original pipes with no rust, side covers are in great shape with no cracks (one missing emblem), tank had one ding that had been covered with some bondo which was now cracking and flaking off, but aside from that it looked great. Didn't kick it over to see if the engine was seized or not, but I did move the choke arm on the carbs and that moved as freely as the one does on my daily rider 400f.

Just called the guy, and he drove it into his garage 20 years ago and the only time he's touched it since was taking it back out of his garage a few days ago to make some space for something else. He doesn't want to leave it outside, so he's dumping it. Price is what I would call really cheap, so I'm going back to give it a further inspection later this evening.

It's been a little while since I've gone to look at a 750...Can someone give me the run down of the things I should be checking for??

Thanks folks!

(No thread like this is complete without pics...so here are a couple cell phone shots)

[70CB750]

If it's cheap as you say, I would get it right away.

To check - make sure it turns over with the kick pedal, you could even bring a battery and try to start it, but I would just get it, the gasoline in it is now ressembling honey, carburetors need cleaning, who knows how are the plugs, better to take it home and do a tune up before you start it up.

[Schnell]

Bring a battery to try to start it. Of course it won't, so the price will be cheaper.
With a battery, you can check the electrics - light, blinkers, horn, etc.

[flybox1]

with a good battery, do electrics work?
oil leaks from any of the gasket ares?
motor/starter turn over?
drop a carb bowl and have a look?

its all fixable with the right amount of $ in your wallet and time on your hands
really depends on how much $ the bike costs to begin with.

[drones76]

Looks like a nice specimen.

Typical stuff for a 20 year sitter. 

Does the engine turn over?  That is really the only thing in question.  And even if it does not, it will probably break free with some soaking.

Everything else will have to be done:
Clean/de-rust the tank and fuel system.
Rebuild the calipers and master cylinder
Replace most if not all rubber on the bike including tires, brake lines and fuel lines.
Clean the carbs
Rebuild the forks
Clean and test every electrical connection and component
Replace cables
New battery

Some deal breakers, depending on price:
Is the tank leaking?
Bent wheel(s)?
Can you remove the fairing and convert back to standard? (headlight etc.)
Anything electrical look fried?
Bent/cracked frame?

[jneuf]

Thanks for the input guys. Guy said I could take it off his hands for $300...which to me is a no brainer. I have a serious space issue though....so it's a matter of whether or not I can shuffle stuff around in my garage to make it fit.

I'll make a list based on the comments above though for things to check out tonight.

After being blown around on the highway yesterday on my 400f, I was thinking a bigger bike might be nicer to have on hand...and a few hours later I found this!

[drones76]

And where are you located?  Go there with $200 cash in one pocket and another $100 in the other.   

I would grab that in a heartbeat for $300.  Assuming title is in order.

[Schnell]

With a title, forget about dickering. Give him the $300! And try to keep a straight face.

[jneuf]

Not concerned about a title. I've bought a cb750 here before with just a bill of sale and got the title within 30 minutes of going to my local insurance place. So I'm good there...

A nice 750 might even cause me to dump my other 400f project...but then again, I do love to hoard motorcycles and parts...so you never know.

[754]

Say it doesn't run, it would be sorta high for parts.. But..but.. Being stored inside if the chrome and aluminum is not weathered, it is worth a bit more and easier to sell stuff.
 But this looks like it should run. And has title so. Its probably well worth it.. .
 You may even get the battery to work if it snot cracked and you trickle charge.. Not a big deal, but the old ones were tough, and it would be free.
  Looks to me , like you could be riding it in a week....good luck

[andy750]

Are you located in Canada? Only reason I ask is because the speedo is in km. If you are in the US then it may have been swapped out at some point?

Saying that its a bargain for $300 with intact 4-4 pipes, the hard bags look very god etc etc

[Bankerdanny]

I believe that style Vetter used the stock headlight ring (the SS on my Goldwing uses a ring that came with the fairing, so the stock ring for the shell still attached to the bike is long gone.

If the PO did a neat job of wring up the fairing, converting to naked should not be that hard. However, that is a big if.

[jneuf]

Yup, I'm in Canada, hence the KM markings on the speedo.

When I had a 750 awhile ago, I was actually looking for a set of hard shoei cases for it, and they were tough to come by...of any hard style bag made for these bikes, those are by far and away my favourite. So that makes me pretty excited...Also, I didn't look at it that closely, but I could've sworn this fairing used the stock headlight ring, and front turn signals. But I can't say I'm 100% sure on that.

Heading there after work today with a battery, cash, and some hope the engine isn't seized.

[Frankensteins Bride]

Nice find! And for $300 in Canada? I'd pay it and run!

I also just switched from a 440 (Kawasaki) to my 750. It's like riding a truck compared to a bumper car. Haven't got on the highway yet though.

Awaiting your update now. 

[Bankerdanny]

Yes, those should be the stock front turn signals.

[Schnell]

Sell the fairing and the bags, and you'll get the bike for free.

[AramirCR]

That looks like a no brainer, and bt the looks of it, quite whole.
Just check it the engine turns and a battery/tester to check for short circuits.
Oil is gonna be ruined, and gas probably all thick and evaporated.
Check the dent in the tank, and overall, for rust in the frame or engine...
But $300, damn, that's cheap xD

[Tews19]

Buy! If the person paid to have all body work painted to match, it most likely was be beaten. Buy buy buy.

[Bankerdanny]

Schnell, I'm assuming you have never tried to sell an old Vetter. I oove mine on my GL1000, but most guys end up throwing them away or getting $25-$50 at best.

The bags might have some value though.

[Schnell]

The previous owner of my K5 sold the Vetter fairing that was on it for $75 on Craigslist.

[Stev-o]

Go get it.....now!

[Vincent P]

I would say go for it too.

On a side note, I'm looking to put a set of hard bags on mine like the ones picuted (funny mine is almost the identical colour); if you pick it up post some additional pictures.

[Schnell]

Where abouts in Canada?

[Stev-o]

Where abouts in Canada?

And what's his phone number?!

[jneuf]

Okay, so I just got back. I called the guy before I left, and he said he was still at work but said I was more than welcome to go give it an inspection and call him back later. The bike is awesome...NO rust in the tank, no dodgy wiring (the vetter was obviously installed by someone who knew what they were doing), carbs move freely..etc...the bike has basically zero rust anywhere. Frame appeared perfect...Turns out the title, etc. was in the fairing, so I know that's there. Turns out the bike is a '75, not a '74 (build date of 10/74)...I THINK the original colour was flake apricot red, but I'm not 100% sure.

I dropped the bowls on carbs 1 & 4 (off topic rant: why on earth couldn't Honda use that clip design to remove the bowls on other SOHC4 bikes as well..??) and oddly enough #4 still had fuel in it that had not varnished. #1 had a tiny bit of sludge, nothing that 3 minutes of elbow grease couldn't take care of.

My only concern...and perhaps someone here can put my mind at ease...the bike was in gear and at first I couldn't get it into neutral. Moved the kicker a bit with my foot and I could feel the bike lurch forward...perfect, it's not seized. However, after that, I was able to pop the bike into neutral and kick it over easily. Only problem is it seemed almost too easy to kick over...I checked to make sure all the spark plugs were in, and they were....but it just seemed strange. Any ideas on why that might be?