Topic: '72 CB500 Should I buy it? UPDATE: bought a 71 Mach 111 instead!

[KayOne]

Hey guys, relative newbee here, but I have been lurking for a couple of years. I have a '71 CB750 restoration in progress and picked up a near mint '79 CB750F this spring for my rider/beater.

I have stumbled upon a 1972 CB 500(6/1972 build) with approximately 30000miles on it. Hasn't been run for 20 years but the engine is free and has been garage stored. Owner toured the bike extensively and installed a fairing/hard bag kit. Because of this it is missing the headlight shell, fork ears, front and rear signal lights.  Side covers are missing but I see David Silver Spares has repros so no biggy there. Tank is mint (stored in basement) although it was repainted red. The exhaust rotted out within 2 years according to the owner and it has a really nice 4 into 1 that have never seen before.

I'm not scared off by the mileage as the owner has had bikes since he was 14 and always maintained them (my buddy is his next door neighbor of 58 years).

My question is should I pick it up? I like to restore bikes
close to their original state (except for a few upgrades like alloy wheels and modern ignition). All chrome is very good but the back wheel is a Harley. I honestly don't need another bike but this would be such an easy restore, problem is I would be lucky to get $2500 for it finished.

I can probably pick it up for $500. Should I do it?

[brooze72]

If it is an easy restore I don't see a problem, as long as you are willing to do the work & have time/space.
Alternatively. let me know where it is and I will take care of the problem

[Bankerdanny]

Why would a $2,500 selling price be a problem? What would your total expense be? $1,000 - $1,200?

If it's mostly a cosmetic restoration and you could fix and turn it in a few months without spendng hours on rebuilding the bike, isn't a 108-150% return for a few weekend's work worthwhile?

[Mo]

I'd buy it.

[WrenchMonkey]

Asking a bunch of motorcycle guys if you should buy another bike is kinda like asking a crack head if they want another hit!


So, is it home yet?

[Stev-o]

Asking a bunch of motorcycle guys if you should buy another bike is kinda like asking a crack head if they want another hit!

HA!  Wanna 'nother hit!!

[MoMo]

Paint, side covers, rear wheel, entire headlight, turn signals, tires and tubes, battery, oil, plugs, points-add all that to your original cost, and you still don't have the stock exhaust. Then figure is it worth it...Larry

[TwoTired]

So, you are buying it to flip and make profit?  Time better spent else where, I expect.

 It doesn't run and is missing lots of parts you want and you are still willing to spend $500 on it?  You willing to put $1000-$1500 or more into it including your labor?

Be aware that there is no tensioner on the primary chain.  And, worn chains have been known to grind into the case, right where an oil galley is.
Engine out and split the case to replace the primary chain.  But, you can inspect it by just removing the oil pan.

[alacrity]

It's a very slippery slope.
That $500 seems like a great deal.
And then... you find out who you are.
Like: are you a "it's fine, it's ugly, it runs, I'm done" kind of guy?  Maybe you're fully done, safely and reliably rolling for another 1500-2000 or so depending one what you can actually do with your hands (don't add what you labor time is worth here).
Or
Are you a, "I'm picky, I want it cool and nice and something to be proud of" kind of guy?  If so, put $4-5000 aside now, because you will cook through it pretty quickly. And at the end you could have a gorgeous little motorcycle that will turn heads and on the open market be worth 50-60% what you have into it.

Feel free to ask me how I know this.  ;-)

[KayOne]

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.

 As some of the more realistic members here pointed out I would have spent too much $ on a bike I really would only fix and flip and lose money on....so, to satisfy the rest of the members that pointed out you can never have too many bikes I bought a 1971 Kawasaki 500 Mach 111 triple for $500 instead. Now I can restore a bike for my growing collection of the 70's bike that I love.

It is mostly complete and has only 10000 miles. Needs signal lights and a new seat pan, rims and tires.  If I want to go all out it will need some chroming and of course paint. The pipes have no holes with some surface rust but are no too bad at all....all the oil dripping from the smoker really preserved them! I am going to clean the carbs and throw in a battery and get it running for now. I really need to finish my K1 so this will be next in line.

Pick it up this Sunday. Don't disown me, I still have 2 SOHC's!

[MoMo]

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.

 As some of the more realistic members here pointed out I would have spent too much $ on a bike I really would only fix and flip and lose money on....so, to satisfy the rest of the members that pointed out you can never have too many bikes I bought a 1971 Kawasaki 500 Mach 111 triple for $500 instead. Now I can restore a bike for my growing collection of the 70's bike that I love.

It is mostly complete and has only 10000 miles. Needs signal lights and a new seat pan, rims and tires.  If I want to go all out it will need some chroming and of course paint. The pipes have no holes with some surface rust but are no too bad at all....all the oil dripping from the smoker really preserved them! I am going to clean the carbs and throw in a battery and get it running for now. I really need to finish my K1 so this will be next in line.

Pick it up this Sunday. Don't disown me, I still have 2 SOHC's!

Seems like a wise choice.  For a collection I would rather have the Mach 3 over the 500(is that heresy?).  As a rider, hands down the Honda is a better choice...Larry

[Stev-o]

Good buy!  I love the H1's, was looking for one but found a Z1 instead. 

Start a thread in the "other bikes" section.   Congrats.

[KayOne]

Thanks guys. I'm really stoked. Did some research and the signal lights are correct and  repro seats are available. I bought it off the son of the original owner and being younger he doesn't have much knowledge about old bikes. I will start a new thread as you suggest and also a thread on my K1 but I can't figure  out how to post pics or video. I would love to post a first start up vid of the H1....just as it sits now, all beaten up but with the carbs cleaned and a battery thrown in.

[LesterPiglet]

Start a free photobucket.com account and upload to there and share the links.
I'm a die-hard triple fan also too as well. 

[oldbob]

Are you a, "I'm picky, I want it cool and nice and something to be proud of" kind of guy?  If so, put $4-5000 aside now, because you will cook through it pretty quickly. And at the end you could have a gorgeous little motorcycle that will turn heads and on the open market be worth 50-60% what you have into it.

So true.

Bob

[Geeto67]

pics or it didn't happen.

[KayOne]

As my post says, pick it up Sunday.

[KayOne]

Hey guys, big day today, picked up the H1. I wish everyday could be this much fun! My first time posting pics to a forum, here goes nothing!

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/a555/kayone71/rightfront500_zpsb90a016e.jpg[/IMG][/URL]




 The neighbor came over and encouraged me to try to start it. The fuel lines were rock hard so I didn't want to butcher the petcock or carbs, a cup of gas circa 1996 was in the tank so I thought what the heck, dilute it with fresh 91. Put a litre of oil in the oil tank, wired up a remote battery (H1's take a tiny battery), turned on the ignition and you could hear the capacitor discharge ignition buzzing! The throttle cable was seized and the enrichment circuit cable broken. The neighbor egged me on so we started kicking, gas was flooding out of the middle carb but it fired a bit on the third kick. He kept ramming the seized throttle cable until he had it operational. I wouldn't have done that but since it wasn't his bike.... In 20 minutes we had the bike running decent!!!! You would not believe the amount of smoke this thing can generate!
Last post here, I will start another thread in OTHER BIKES.

[Stev-o]

Congrats

[HondaMan]

I'd be interested to know, after you've worked on it a bit, if it is one of those that had the rear wheel offset 1/2" to one side? Those frames were built so fast that Kawi never even checked 'em. That bike was $999 new in the shops in 1970/71, when the 750 was selling at $1695.

[Deltarider]

 

if it is one of those that had the rear wheel offset 1/2" to one side?

Going crabwise you mean? That must have been fun with all that power. 

[reddyvv]

You lucky devil - finding an original unmolested example for any price!! I would strongly advise you not to try running it again without premix until you clean out the oil tank, pump, all the oil lines, bleed it and verify that it's pumping oil. If those oil lines were gummed up you would have seized the bike and be kicking yourself for a long time!! Gotta be gentle on those old beasts that have been asleep for a while 

[Dream750]

Congrats on your Kawasaki H1 score.
 
This may be useful info: http://www.kawtriple.com/mraxl/

[Geeto67]

You would not believe the amount of smoke this thing can generate!

your crank seals are toast. The motor is going to need to come apart and the crank rebuilt. It's just good common sense on these bikes anway if you intend to ride them in the manner kawasaki intended.

[MoMo]

[ if you intend to ride them in the manner kawasaki intended.
[/quote]



You mean a foul handling beast intended to maim riders   ...Larry

[Stev-o]

[ if you intend to ride them in the manner kawasaki intended.

You mean a foul handling beast intended to maim riders   ...Larry
[/quote]

Hey hey hey....you talking about Kawasaki?  My Z resembles that remark!

[MoMo]

[ if you intend to ride them in the manner kawasaki intended.

You mean a foul handling beast intended to maim riders   ...Larry

Hey hey hey....you talking about Kawasaki?  My Z resembles that remark!
[/quote]


Most Kawis from that day resemble that remark

[KayOne]

Thanks guys, I HAVE to get work on the 750 K1. I took the cautionary advice from rototiller and others and spent the day cleaning it up a bit, draining fluids, removing the remnants of the crash bar. Had a good look over, needs a clutch cover (two of four screw bosses missing). The PO lent the bike to his brother and he had a tank slapper, hence the incorrect front signals and repainted tank. All in all though I think it was a good find.

Checked the oil pump and it is operational. The compression was 135/135/140 cold. Spec is 142. I will be going through the engine though.

Leaning on the side stand, looking from the side/rear, with the huge distributor housing with the coil and plug wires coming out, the bike looks absolutely SLEAZY...I love it!

Last post. I will start a thread after the K1 gets some attention.

[scottly]

You would not believe the amount of smoke this thing can generate!

your crank seals are toast.

How did you come to this conclusion? Smoke means the two-smoker is getting plenty of oil. Bad crank seals leads to poor running and low compression, especially at low speeds. Rusty, crusty crank needle bearings, on the other hand, will result in expensive repairs in a very short time....

[Geeto67]

You would not believe the amount of smoke this thing can generate!

your crank seals are toast.

How did you come to this conclusion? Smoke means the two-smoker is getting plenty of oil. Bad crank seals leads to poor running and low compression, especially at low speeds. Rusty, crusty crank needle bearings, on the other hand, will result in expensive repairs in a very short time....

I came to that conclusion byt owning (and usually grenading) 7 kawasaki triples, two T500s, and an RD 400 over my riding lifespan.

A two stroke should smoke, but it shouldn't be offensive. my suzuki's when properly tuned barely put out any smoke at all.

Anytime someone is "surprised" at how much smoke a two stroke kawi triple makes it is because the crank seals are shot and the motor is sumping oil from the tranny and burning it. If the seals are good It should be a light fog, not spraying for misquitoes. 

[Geeto67]

When the crank seals went on my 73 it smoked heavy out all three pipes. Why, because the thing you call a tranny seal doesn't and probably never did. Sure it sucks air also if you lose the outer ones.

I guess our definition of "offensive" is different. Plus how do you beat on an h1 while standing in the driveway? Neither of us were there, so how about we just agree to recommend the seals be replaced anyway because it is the smart thing to do with a triple of unknown and possibly dubious mechanical condition.

Castor oil is a laxative. I don't run it because I don't need to crap that bad by breathing it in. Modern synthetic 2stroke oils are low smoke too and you don't have to look for a rest stop.

[ekpent]

Early Kawasaki 500's had a factory recall for excessive smoking because of the oil pump. Some were fixed and sure some were not. They (2-strokers) will smoke heavily till they get down the road for awhile.  Crank attention is wise though if these bikes have sat for years.

[Geeto67]

yeah....I've owned cars that smoke more.

[Stev-o]

yeah....I've owned cars that smoke more.

[MoMo]

My Suzie S32 smoked like crazy when it first started after sitting for who knows how long.  Once the oil residue burned out of the pipes it runs and smokes normally(a pack a day )...Larry