Topic: '73 or '78 CB 750, or Both?

[the_automat]

Howdy.  I'm new here but have been reading several old threads and have been impressed with how cool and knowledgeable folks are in these forums.  With that, I'm excited to take part in the community.  I've only been riding street bikes for about a year and a half and I'm not a great mechanic but I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay somebody to do what I could enjoy learning to do for myself.  Right now I have a Suzuki C90 Boulevard and I love it.  Ride it all the time, just took her to St Louis to catch a Cardinals game a couple of weekends ago, over 1300 miles over three nights.  Wore my ass out but had a blast, rain and all.  She's a Cadillac and honestly probably a little more bike than I really need, at 5'9" and 160#...but I'm attached.  Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to pick up my next project.  Something for in town.  Winter project.  I want to make it somewhat café racer inspired.  The dude has a complete '73 CB 750 with the engine locked up and also a '78 CB 750 that's a complete basket case.  Multiple baskets actually, nothing's intact, but he said the crank would turn.  '78 has no title and that's a little scary to me.  '73 is titled... Anyway, I can pretty much afford one or the other, but probably not both.  Maybe I can get him to come down and I can pick up the pair, but I'm not sure.  Any advice?  How interchangeable are parts between these years?  My gut says go with the '73 and just rebuild the engine - but if you have an opinion and you read this between now and tomorrow afternoon, give me a holler.  Thanks.

[flybox1]

Hand him a $300 junk removal invoice and load them up 

If you do get both bikes, and try to make one, its doable. But it isnt going to be fast or cheap.
Anything is possible...with shop space, few months or 12, and a few grand in the bank...
So, in this case, the cheaper the bikes the better, and IIWM, i'd have at least another $3k do dump in.

[flybox1]

go get this one instead! rims alone are worth it...
http://fortsmith.craigslist.org/mcy/4068122767.html

[the_automat]

Man, I know.  That's a beautiful bike.  If I had the funds I'd be on it.  But really...I want a project, so maybe it's better this way.

[Johnie]

Welcome to the forum...you will get different ideas from the guys here...go with your instincts and get the 1973 CB750K with title. It is all there and worth more than the 78. The basket case...who knows what is missing. Unless you plan to part the basket case out or have some extra cash to stick into that 78...I would stick with the K3. One trick a lot of guys find successfull is a 50/50 mixture of acetone and tranny fluid in the cylinders. Let is sit for a while...like weeks if you can. Sometimes you can free them up and get them running with nothing more than that 50/50 mixture. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Good luck and send some pics when you can.

[flybox1]

All of these bikes are projects, really. 
offer $1500, i bet he'll take it...go get it!
sell the lesters for $1000 or more, and use that coin to 'refresh' this bike with some nice spoke rims, wheels, paint, and a new seat.  while all thats getting done, you can completely go through the bike making sure all systems are operating....project done.  you'll be riding by Christmas, and only out $500 
and it'll still feel like a project! 

[the_automat]

Flybox, that's not a bad plan.  He's had that craigslist ad up for weeks, I think, asking $1900.  Or maybe it just seems like weeks because I spend a few hours a day on craigslist?  Anyway, that's more start up capital than I have to throw around right now unfortunately.

Johnie, I'll definitely try the ATF/acetone mix if I land the bike. 

[Don R]

A parts bike can be very valuable. Saved me a bunch of $$$. but I got a couple of real junkers for hauling them away.

[ekpent]

Earlier K bikes are easier to find parts for than 77-78K or 75-78 F's. Be nice to find a snotty looking runner though for a start.

[Johnie]

Yah, if you get the K3 we can run you through the 50/50 acetone deal. And I have to say this so you do not get ahead of yourself...once the mixture is in there do not use the bolt under the points cover to try and free the motor up. You will break that off as it is not made for high torque. Enough said...good luck and let us know how you come out.

[wvshooter]

It all depends... How much is being asked for the bikes? What is their exact condition? Etc, etc, etc...

Depending on Texas law a bike without a title might be a parts bike no matter what condition it's in.

[the_automat]

the '78, no title:

[the_automat]

Here's the K3:

[the_automat]

I'm definitely going with the K3 for $350.  If he'll sell the pair for $500 then I think I'd do it, but I'm not sure he's ready to sell it at that price.

[Stev-o]

First off welcome from Lake Travis.  Just get the K3, don't bite off more than necessary. You'll need the extra cash for parts for the 73. 
+1 on Johnies ATF trick, I did it on my K7.

[ekpent]

If the exhaust pipes are in good condition and no rot holes on the 73 you have already made your money back at $350.00.

[Johnie]

Eric you beat me to it. Those are original exhaust pipes on there and since Honda stopped making them a few years ago they are hard to find and are costly. If those are in decent shape you already made your money back. Check the bottoms to see if they are full of holes. You never know, the original owner maybe replaced them years ago. That K3 looks real nice...almost to nice to cafe. If the side covers are missing you can find those. Keep us informed on the sale and good luck with it.

[thelowmax]

Having learned that a bike with no title can often be like a 400 pound paperweight, I would get the 73. Also, there's a lot more options with these more common bikes thank the 77/78 K's. On the other hand, I have several of each and prefer the style of the later models.

[the_automat]

Alright and woo-hoo.  Picked up my new girlfriend yesterday - opted for the K3.  She's a pretty foxy old gal, thanks Craigslist.  Previous owner said he put Marvel Mystery Oil in the spark-plug holes about a week ago, so I guess I'm gonna let it sit for another week or two and see what will break loose.  Go out there ever so often and rock it back in forth in gear like the deranged man-child I am.  Or should I try and suck the MMO out with a shop-vac and put in some acetone with tranny fluid?  I reckon the Marvel is detergenty enough for the job?  I guess I oughta start a re-build thread as well, once I get to dig in.  Thanks again for all the insight.  Makes the process a bit less intimidating.

[Vinhead1957]

MMO is great by itself!   

[Stev-o]

Congrats.  Your new girlfriend?? 

I used the Acetone/ATF on my K7 to free it up.

[the_automat]

You know, a MILF.  A motorcycle I'd like to fix.

[lucky]

I would want the 78.
There is always a way to get the bike registered.
Just register it as a custom build.

[the_automat]

Well Lucky, if I can get ahold of a flux capacitor, maybe I'll go back and get the '78.  But for now I've got the '73. 

[Tews19]

Congrats on the K3!

MILF>>>>>>>> I love that phrase..