Topic: i want to get the right bike - opinions?

[Buffo]

i have a chance to get a 1979 cb750 Dohc for a reasonable price. Well, i was told that it's a Dohc. I was going to get a Sohc bike but this one kinda popped up while i was looking for a good Sohc cb750. Do any of you have any advice you could give me on this bike in relation to a Sohc. If you would take into consideration that both bikes are in the same condition. my goal is to turn one of them into a cafe racer. i have been looking for info on the 1979 cb750 on the web but have come up kinda short and this seems to be my best resorce for such information.

Thanks for the help

Don

[Bobby]

Well, I don't know how much advice this will be but here you go...  The SOHC's have a distinct charm amoung motorcycle enthusiasts.  Pure simple machines from a bygone era.  Although Honda set the precedent for in-line fours back in '69, Kawasaki dropped a bomb with the 1973 DOHC Z-1 900cc.  Honda waited until '79 to produce a DOHC.

 It really comes down to this:

Is the machine safe?
Is the machine road ready?
Does it fit into your budget?

While a bunch of us cling to our pre '78 Honda CB750's, any 25 year old bike is vintage/classic and may need constant attention.  No plug-and-play be any old machine.  That being said, take it for a ride and if you feel a kindred spirit, buy it.  I always have.       

[SteveD CB500F]

You've got to admit, the early DOHC bikes certainly looked the part. My favourite was the '79 CB900FZ (in the UK anyway). I lusted after one when I was at Uni but stuck with my trusty old 500/4.  Mostly they go dirt cheap on eBay - they're generally poorly maintained with crap paint.  One day I'll find a minter and might buy it (or maybe the '86 VFR ??)  Oh well, I can't ride all my bikes now, let alone buying any more.

A better place to start for a Cafe Racer is a SOHC - you can do more with them.

[Wingmonk]

Hiya Don

 Yep, you came to the right place...welcome!

 Well, I do have a 79 DOHC CB750K and a 78 SOHC CB750K8 and they are totally different machines. I like both!
The DOHC is about one third faster or more, has a much longer wheelbase and was built for speed. In the high altitudes I live in this thing really almost develops too much power.

Both are fun machines but the SOHC has something about it that I am not sure how to explain. I prefer the SOHC.
I have four machines and only one has a name. My SOHC is called Kate as its a K8.

Whatever you decide you will have a great time. But hear this..you found a SOHC website. That should be an important clue.   Bob in Colorado

[Harry]

I had a CBX550F DOHC. Very nice bike. Fast, efficient & modern. No emotions, though. I hurried up & sold it and bought a CB500F SOHC. Heavier, slower and old fashioned. I pat the fuel tank and I swear it purrs, and that makes me smile. The best switch I ever made.  You gotta ride them both and then let your heart choose for you.

[Uncle Ernie]

I actually had the occasional person "really into bikes" make fun of me on my 400. One time a girl on a Guzzi V50 had pity in her eyes.  But you know, that bike is like Rosie, my 15 lb Bitsa; you gotta wonder how they got all that heart in such a small package.
Run what ya brung. If you buy and hate it- sell it. That's how you learn what you like.

[Bob Wessner]

Obviously we, as members of this forum, have a bias towards these old SOHC bikes, but it still reminds me of a popular book "The Soul Of A New Machine" about computers. Sort of the opposite, maybe we need one about these bikes titled "The Soul of the Old Machines."

[MRieck]

The May issue of Performance Bikes has a kick ass DOHC750 that the owner restored as a Freddie Spencer Replica. The only thing I didn't like about the bike was the use of reinforced vinyl tubing with AN fittings to connect the 2 oil coolers- unexplainable. That is the look I'd go for.

[Lumbee]

...another thing to ask yourself...are u just gonna ride it, or do you want to wrench on it?  If you want to wrench go with a SOHC hands down.  Theres tons of support and parts readily available.  Thats not to say if you just want to ride you shouldn't go with an SOHC.  A solid SOHC will get u as many miles as a DOHC (if not more).