Topic: preserve or restore

[bikebodger]

just picked up this 76 750f ,one owner 11k been stood since 1984.freed the brakes etc sorted carbs & it runs great.now the chrome has weathered but the paint is original.its fitted with a rickman 3/4 cafe racer fairing ,ace bars & alloy rims .its covered with stickers from the IOM TT  races from 76 to 84.i have sourced a new screen but i am torn between going the full hog on the bike or just replacing the worse bits & preserving the rest.what do you reckon

[LesterPiglet]

Ride it and replace what you need.
I'm glad to see someone else calls them "ace bars". 

[Bru-tom]

sweet looking bike! nice when it has a story to it dunnit? 

WHat do you want with the bike? does is require a full resto in your opinion or would you be happy to sort out the few niggles you have with the rusted bits? I mean, if she runs well, and you enjoy riding her, then enjoy her until you decide what to do. The only problem with my 550 i bought, i wasnt able to ride her for a year!  then again, she never ran too well before i tore into her anyway

[Bru-tom]

Ride it and replace what you need.
I'm glad to see someone else calls them "ace bars". 

what are ace bars? like clubmans? the pics are small...

[LesterPiglet]

Clubmans. Probably because they were used for cafe racers at the Ace Cafe.

[Bru-tom]

Clubmans. Probably because they were used for cafe racers at the Ace Bar.

Aye, put some on my wheels and they're clinker! (get with the lingo huh? )

speaking of the Ace, have you seen the BBC program on the Glory Days of British Motorcycles?

https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fprogrammes%2Fb03fv7sl&ei=MGnxUpOdFfD07Aaj_YGYCw&usg=AFQjCNER9W3DZYjUKKy4v-Qhfn6L063a3A&sig2=_FTv_3fqmz_S7esdP9YTNQ&bvm=bv.60444564,d.ZGU?

its quite good...

sorry for the jack OP

[greenjeans]

If you ever plan on selling it, don't do anything to it other than a good cleaning.  Clean and wax the crap out of that paint.  You can clean each exposed bolt a few at a time - makes a huge difference.  The chrome will clean up pretty good with 000 steel wool and WD-40 as a lube, followed by some chrome polish.   The market is definitely enamored with unrestored bikes at this point in time.   10 years ago, restored bikes were getting better money.  Looks pretty good from those photos - nice find.

[Geeto67]

That fairing with the decals is so cool I can't stand it. If you harm that by removing the decals or repainting the fairing the motorcycle gods will not forgive you.

[MoMo]

That fairing with the decals is so cool I can't stand it. If you harm that by removing the decals or repainting the fairing the motorcycle gods will not forgive you.

have to second that....you will have dire consequences if you alter that fairing ...Larry

[Stev-o]

Very cool....except for that Dunlop mud flap on the back.

[cb650PK]

That bike has been to IOM tt 8 times in the row. It has great period mods. There is nothing in my mind that can make it cooler then it is now. I like it a lot.

[thirsty 1]

That fairing with the decals is so cool I can't stand it. If you harm that by removing the decals or repainting the fairing the motorcycle gods will not forgive you.

have to second that....you will have dire consequences if you alter that fairing ...Larry

+3 on that..

[flybox1]

That fairing with the decals is so cool I can't stand it. If you harm that by removing the decals or repainting the fairing the motorcycle gods will not forgive you.

have to second that....you will have dire consequences if you alter that fairing ...Larry

+3 on that..

+4
Stickerbomb fairing is too cool.  Get.the history behind as many of them as you can.
Preserve and ride it....

[bikebodger]

thats sorted it for me its preserve,i have found a used but better condition front mudguard as it has lost most of its chrome,i can source some nicer springs for the shocks.the rest will clean up.as for the mudflap i agree but have you seen the mike hailwood sticker on it,a crime to remove that.i will have to replace the tyres they are new but been stood since 84 so are rock solid,they are like runflat tyres even without air they support the bike,i will ride most things but they have to go.got it running,now i am tidying the birds nest of wires behind the fairing,the first owner did a good job on some items but should have got an electrician to sort the wires.i have never seen as many short wires joined with twists insulated by an air gap HAHA

[ozpacman]

"as for the mudflap i agree but have you seen the mike hailwood sticker on it,a crime to remove that"

I'd be removing that mudflap very carefully and putting it on the bar room wall.  Mike 'the bike' Hailwood - no greater racer ever in my humble opinion.  RIP Mike.

Russ.

[LesterPiglet]

speaking of the Ace, have you seen the BBC program on the Glory Days of British Motorcycles?

https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fprogrammes%2Fb03fv7sl&ei=MGnxUpOdFfD07Aaj_YGYCw&usg=AFQjCNER9W3DZYjUKKy4v-Qhfn6L063a3A&sig2=_FTv_3fqmz_S7esdP9YTNQ&bvm=bv.60444564,d.ZGU?

its quite good...

sorry for the jack OP

Just watched it on youtube. Very enjoyable.

[Bankerdanny]

Ride it and replace what you need.
I'm glad to see someone else calls them "ace bars". 

Me too Lester. When I first bought a set for my Enfield in 2006 that's what they called them, I didn't even know there was another name until I started hanging around here in 2011.

I think I would leave that bike be. It has character than can only be earned over time, not added contemporaneously with bolt on parts from Dime City or other modern purveyers of cafe stuff. I guaranty you many more compliments will come your way if you leave it be than if you restored it to as-new condition or did a modern cafe look.

[Bru-tom]

Just watched it on youtube. Very enjoyable.

awesome