Topic: Went and looked at a parts bike tonight

[750K]

I checked out a parts bike tonight, 77 cb750k. Pretty rough to say the least, I was hoping for a salvageable amount of parts.

The bad:
Motor locked up and missing parts at the points mech, clutch, starter and the three screws for the field coil were missing making me think not much is left behind the stator cover. A lot of the motor, side and center stand had been chromed but all the chrome is rusted or flaking off. Looks like its been siting outside along time, torn seat, no controls or gauges or side covers, front brake lines and caliper are missing. Fuse box, reg/rec etc are gone. No papers for the frame.

The good:
Tank is salvageable, not very rusty inside at all. I've cleaned worse, needs a paint job. Seat pan is nice, carbs and airbox are complete. Has decent condition Lester mags, 19" front with a nice rotor and 16" rear. All wheel mounting hardware brake hub and sprocket carrier is there. Triple trees and forks are decent enough. Might be able to salvage some of the misc nuts and bolts etc.

Basically I'm interested in the wheels and carbs, maybe the tank. What are a set of Lester's worth? I've checked eBay and see the odd front listed at 250-275 with no hardware. The owner is interested in the 72 cb750 project/parts bike I have and wants to make me an offer but I have to take the 77 basket case as well lol. The 72 I have isn't much to look at, no papers, no tank and side covers, clocks, seat, fenders and signals. Wheels are clean, carbs and airbox are complete, motor spins but needs a rebuild and condition is unknown. It does have a decent unicorn top triple, has the stock 4-4 pipes but the mufflers are rotted out. Header pipes are nice, it's a defiant project.

I figure if I can get 200-300 for mine and walk away with the Lester's and carbs plus whatever I can save off his it might be worth it, any idea on what the mags are going for?

[Powderman]

Sounds like it was someone else's parts bike and now it's just a picked apart skeleton and not worth anything as a parts bike (that's what you want him to believe). The Lester's are sought after but IMO the 16" is worthless to me. I don't know what you are trading or what condition it is in to say what's a fair swap. If you want $300 for yours tell him you want $500 but you'll take $300 plus his donor scrap.

[750K]

Sounds like it was someone else's parts bike and now it's just a picked apart skeleton and not worth anything as a parts bike. The Lester's are sought after but IMO the 16" is worthless to me.

Hats pretty much how I look at it, I went to suss it out and ended up saying I wasn't interested in it. He wants to buy my 72 parts bike but I have to take the 77 basket case lol. Just curious about the value of the Lester's, I'd either clean them up and sell them locally (some chopper guy would probably snap them up locally) or tuck them away for a future bike and I might be able to use the odd thing. Otherwise it's off to the scrapper or free pile for the rest.

[seanbarney41]

nice, clean set of Lester's 19" front, 18" rear is $800 ballpark, the 16" rear drops that down to around $3-400 imo.

[750K]

Thanks Sean, it's a pity it's not an 18 rear. I had my hopes up but no luck, he's going to try and come look at my roller of a 72 this weekend. There's a chance I'm going to buy a different bike off of him with the 72 as part of the deal and I'll end up the 77 most likely, kind of a shame it was left outside for so long. At one point somebody spent some time and money chroming the engine covers, valve cover, swing arm, kick and side stand, top triple & bar clamps. Probably looked half decent at one time.

[Stev-o]

Bikes that have sit outside for years are worthless to me. There are better parts out there.

[750K]

I agree stev-o, the wheels might be he only thing worth holding on to lol. I tried to walk away from it but it might have to be part of the bigger deal, he just wants it gone. Tried to give it to me the other night and I still said no.

[754]

It had lesters and you said no?
 Sounds like no truck, and no storage .

[750K]

If I had an 18" rear frank I would have been back the next morning with my van. I'm trying not to hoard junk in the garage lol. Taking the rest of it was a deal breaker just to get a 19" & 16" Lester, looks like it will end up at my place regardless. I've already got a clean set of aluminum 750 Hondamatic wheels so the Lester's will not go on my 77 anytime soon.