Topic: So I got into a semi - bad accident with my 1978 CB750

[Mr Freeze]

Hey everyone. Last night I was riding home in Philadelphia on wet roads (it starting raining when I was out) and there was a oil slick from a car coming from the off ramp on I-76 East. There was a mini van crashed about an 1/8 up the road and I was driving slow because of the wet conditions. I slowed down to pass the van and as soon as my tires hit the oil slick it was all over from there. I fishtailed to the right, then to the left before the bike went down at about 25-30 m.p.h. Luckily I was able to kick the bike from away from me and escaped without suffering any serious injuries other than a sore left shoulder.

The damage to the bike isn't the worst, but there's a lot to sort out. The handlebars and gas tank are toast. The master cylinder cap got scraped down and so did brake lever and throttle grip. The headlight, bucket, and aftermarket right bracket all broke, the left side turn signals are done. The points cover is smashed as well. The right shocks' spring got pretty gouged up. I also had an oil pressure gauge installed and the brass NPT fitting got cracked and was leaking oil when I tried to restart it so I couldn't drive it home.

Thankfully, the engine (freshly rebuilt) and the new exhaust (Cycle X Tri-Y) did not suffer any damage.

Anyways, after all this I'm waiting on an insurance adjuster to come take a look at it,  but there's obviously some parts that I need to source that will be used. Everything else is aftermarket or still made so I can get it new.

I need the following used parts and wanted to put the word out to my follow SOHC 4 members that I'm looking for:

A new gas tank - a 77-78 K or 77-78 F Supersport tank
Points cover
Headlight bucket
Master cylinder cap

[Mr Freeze]

Here's some pictures.

[Schnell]

The important part is you, glad you're okay!

[Mr Freeze]

[Stev-o]

Sorry to hear, glad you are ok.  You can rebuild it, no prob. 

[seanbarney41]

That #$%* sucks but it is good that you are ok.    ...I have this tank.  How about $80 shipped?






just a couple dents

[70CB750]

Very glad you are ok!

[cheftuskey121]

Sorry to hear brother very glad you are alive awake and functioning though. Obviously way more important than anything. Please make sure to double check your engine mounting points. After my accident I though my my engine was ok except for the stator cover, and it turned out both rear engine mounting flanges (where the rear engine hangers go) cracked all the way through, leaving me to get new cases. Good luck with your insurance, I was fortunate with mine and they aren't all bad all them time.

[Mr Freeze]

I'm happy I'm alive and well too! Luckily the bike went down on the right side so the stator looks alright. I'll check over the engine mounts again before the adjuster comes. I think the handlebars and foot peg saved it from any damage, which is good.

[rocs]

Glad you are ok. You have bigger balls than I do. I cant imagine driving on i76 when conditions are dry let alone wet.

Best of luck

[evanphi]

Most importantly, you are here to tell the story!

Be happy your alternator cover is OK... I just cracked mine on the weekend, and replacements are expensive!

[Ravie]

Is the headlight bucket for the 77-78's different than the earlier ones in any way?  I've an extra one from my 75. Needs painted but isn't cracked.

[flybox1]

Glad you came out on the winning side of the crash. 
awesome forum members here to help you sort it out.

[750K]

Good you came out of it in one piece and it was lower speed when it happened, looks like the damage will all be fixable. If it was me I wouldn't make an ins. claim, around here they'd try and write off the bike or the deductible would be more than the cost of replacement parts.

Have a good look at your front end, make sure the triple trees are straight and not cracked. Look close at the steering stops on the neck tube and bottom triple and you'll get a good idea of how much force the front end might have taken as it hit the ground.

I should have a spare points cover for you from a 77-78k, I'll look for it if you want it. It's in a box in the garage I'm pretty sure.

[BobbyR]

Once you have the bike back together you may want to get a set of case guards. Mine have come in handy on tip overs. While they won't protect the shock bolt or the handlebars, they do protect the lower parts very well.   

[RJ CB450]

Once you have the bike back together you may want to get a set of case guards. Mine have come in handy on tip overs. While they won't protect the shock bolt or the handlebars, they do protect the lower parts very well.   

Any sliders that can work?  Bike was a bit of a custom, surely there has to be something on the market that can work in it's stead?

[Mr Freeze]

Hey guys, thanks for all your support! As far as insurance goes I setup my policy to have a declared value on the bike rather than a blue book value, so that gives me up to a specified amount that they will cover for damage. Luckily the new parts will be way under that number.

Anyways. I didn't take a picture of the rear tire, but it got chewed up by the road pretty good, so I've added that into the damage list. I had a Bridgestone S11 Spitfire on there, but I'm maybe looking for something different in the 130/90/17 size that fits the Comstar rim. Thinking of Avon Road Riders if I can find one.

I still have to closely inspect the trees, but the front end didn't seem to suffer any damage at all. The handlebars I found out didn't bend as musch as they slipped/ rolled back in the clamps.

Ravie - I might be interested in the headlight bucket that you have, the year doesn't really matter to me. I'm not going for a period perfect bike as you can tell. Otherwise my only option is maybe to go with repro piece or used off Ebay.

750K - I know the points covers are the same for all SOHC years, as long as it's not dented that'd be alright.

I talked to the insurance adjuster today and looks like I can track down a tank and have my painter redo the same job he did on the original tank so that's cool.

I keep you guys updated one the progress everything once the rebuild process starts. I miss my riding bike dearly already! I just got done doing a top rebuild and installing a rebuilt 78 Supersport Front end with new exhaust. You can't plan for these things though and I'm glad I didn't get hurt and that I can fix this stuff pretty easily.

[Thamuz]

Glad you came out so well.  that's a gorgeous paintjob and glad it is going to be redone.

good luck on the rebuild!

[Ravie]

Apparently tapatalk won't let me send pictures in a PM.

Here's the bucket. Needs love but no cracks at all.




Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk

[bluezboy]

Yes, I'm glad  you were able to walk away from it. You'll have her back together in no time!

[78whiteorbs]

Pretty sure I have a cap you can have for shipping. Sweet paisley theme. How was that done?

[Duke McDukiedook]

Glad to hear you are OK.
But, from my experience I would have been better off not trying to claim insurance money on my bike.
Having to jump through all the hoops when they filed for a salvage title was a complete nightmare.
Luckily in my case I had a title for an old frame and engine I used on another bike or I wouldn't have been able to title it at all after I fixed the bike.
The $900 check they gave me for the bike was not worth all the salvage hassle.
If you have a collision policy that might make it worth it.
 

[SohRon]

So glad you came out of the wreck in one piece. That bike will be good as new in no time at all, I'm sure!

[Mr Freeze]

Pretty sure I have a cap you can have for shipping. Sweet paisley theme. How was that done?

The paisley decals we're made up by a friend at 123stickers.com. It's a black & white print that I had and they separated the colors so that the white sections wouldn't print on clear vinyl. So what you're left with is a solid decal in black and clear and allows the paint underneath to come through.

[Mr Freeze]

Glad to hear you are OK.
But, from my experience I would have been better off not trying to claim insurance money on my bike.
Having to jump through all the hoops when they filed for a salvage title was a complete nightmare.
Luckily in my case I had a title for an old frame and engine I used on another bike or I wouldn't have been able to title it at all after I fixed the bike.
The $900 check they gave me for the bike was not worth all the salvage hassle.
If you have a collision policy that might make it worth it.
 

What I have through Progressive is an "Agreed Value" for collision. All the new parts won't cost me even close to what the "agreed value" I placed on the bike was so I should be good. It cost a little more, but for a bike this old it's really not that expensive for a whole year.