Topic: New Member! Which CB to buy?

[ascanio1]

Hello Franky,

Thanks for the "500" advice. I heard this before... hmmm... interesting... Anyone else on this forum has any comments about the 500 Vs 750 for day to day use? I am used to riding a Laverda SF1000 (3 cylinders) and it is rather cumbersome. That's why I was looking at the CB750.

Is there a big difference between the 500/750? Does anyone own both?

The help and support which I received here is more than what I expected and I will gladly help out anyone from this forum as a sign of appreciation.

I will gladly help you so PM me in private and I'll look into the matter. I know goobike very well. Honda Benly and Honda 3 gear 4 stroke 50cc are plenty here in Tokyo.

If I will not brake any forum rule I could also point you to a motorbike forum for foreigners in Japan. Amongst the members there are crazy nut-heads who are organizing a coast to coast race on 4 stroke 50cc mopeds... you might want to fly over for the fun!

Tommaso

[calj737]

Biggest differences in 500/750 are oil tank and weight. The 500/550 are lighter and more "nimble" feeling bikes. That is not to say the 750 is lumbering or inappropriate for your use. If ridden side by side, you'd feel the difference pretty quickly.

Both are great bikes and platforms for daily riders. Might be worth the investigation from a price point to discover a 500/550 in Japan compared to the cost of a 750.

[ascanio1]

In Japan I am finding that there is no price difference between the 500/550/750 models.
Value seems to be influenced more by the condition rather than the engine size.

That's why I'm leaning towards the 750 which - I presume - will be worth more in the US where I will return to live soon (I plan in taking the bike back with me).

Any comments? Advice?

[ascanio1]

Super Sport Vs Standard

I have come across these bikes:
http://www.goobike.com/bike/stock_8502526B30140613002/
http://www.goobike.com/bike/stock_8400124B30111102002/
http://www.goobike.com/bike/stock_8201123B20120627001/
http://www.goobike.com/bike/stock_8400796B30131226002/
http://www.goobike.com/bike/stock_8500069B30140412002/

They are referred to as "Super Sport" here in Japan. Were they imported into the US too?
Are they worth more, the same or less?

Thanks.

[ekpent]

They are generally worth less here but it really is a personnel preference and of course overall condition. Excellent preserved stock F models can still fetch a good price . Both the F0 AND F1 as well as the upgraded F2 and F3 each had just a two year run.

[Stev-o]

I have both 550 and 750's.  I generally ride the 550 around town, I like the heavier, more solid feeling 750 on the highway, especially when getting blasted by the "air wake" of a big truck. 
The 750 is iconic, get that first and add a 550 later.  Trust me, pizzino.

[ascanio1]

The 750 is iconic, get that first and add a 550 later.  Trust me, pizzino.

Thanks! Will do.
I'll go for the 750 first.

[ascanio1]

They are generally worth less here but it really is a personnel preference and of course overall condition. Excellent preserved stock F models can still fetch a good price . Both the F0 AND F1 as well as the upgraded F2 and F3 each had just a two year run.

In the previous post, Stev-o, recommends to go for the "icon" model first (between 500 vs 750). I guess the same applies also between the "Super Sport" and the standard... I think that I should go for the standard, first.

[ekpent]

They are generally worth less here but it really is a personnel preference and of course overall condition. Excellent preserved stock F models can still fetch a good price . Both the F0 AND F1 as well as the upgraded F2 and F3 each had just a two year run.

In the previous post, Stev-o, recommends to go for the "icon" model first (between 500 vs 750). I guess the same applies also between the "Super Sport" and the standard... I think that I should go for the standard, first.

Little better parts availability and aftermarket support on the earlier K model bikes also.

[Franky]

Great! Thanks! And yes, the helpfullness of the guys on this forum is just wonderful :-)
I agree that both the 750 and 550 are great bikes, and that a chiche between them is just a matter of personal preference. You go for some testrides on both and you'll figure out what you like the best.

I'll PM you for more on the export business and the forum you mention.

[Bankerdanny]

If you look at the VIN tags you will see that the 550 and 750 Super Sport models are 550F and 750F. The SOHC 750F's say Super Sport on the tank and 750Four on the side covers.

The later DOHC 750F says 750F Super Sport on the side covers. Eventually Honda got away from the Super Sport name altogether, but it still uses the F designation somewhere in the model name for most of its sport bikes.

[ascanio1]

@ bankerdanny,

Thanks, yes. I verified it: sometimes the "super sport" logo is missing but the F is always somewhere in the name. To be honest I prefer the standard tail... it has grown into an icon. The original look is what first enticed me and I think that perhaps I should follow the advice to start with a pre '78 CB750 and then move on, either to a 500/550 or an F/super sport.

@ all,
Thanks for the great help and support... I love forums where common passions foster complete strangers' interests together. You have all been really  helpful and I appreciate the fact that the advice which I received here helped me to avoid making a few beginner's mistakes.

[jerry h]

Hi,

I have memories of my father taking my brother and I for rides: my brother in front (on the tank) and I behind... no helmets either! It was the 1970's and we were all much less concerned with safety. It was a CB750 with a four in one exhaust (probably aftermarket) and I always loved this bike.

I'm guessing you don't have any pictures of your dad's bike???    If so, it would be cool to get that exact year/color etc, whatever it was.

If you don't, no worries, any CB750 is a fun time machine back to the 70's.

[ascanio1]

@ Jerry,

Wow, yes, that's a really cool idea! Unfortunately I can't remember colour and model but I'm definitely going to look it up!

I remember seeing some photos of him with my mum in Libya and Tunisia, for a 700km bike ride... I also remember that he traded it for the new Laverda 1000 3C which came out in 1973. So the Honda must have been an early model.

Great idea! Thanks!
 

[lucky]

Hi ascanio1
Besides loving my two CB's (360 & 550), I'm also quite a nut for small 50 cc 4-stroke mopeds... I know, can't help it :-) Some are almost only available in Japan and prices are very reasonable. Maybe we could figure something out with you shipping some bikes from Japan to Denmark? Something like this: Buy a few bikes on http://www.goobike.com, lightly dissasemble, put in crate, ship to Denmark via a shipping agent I have contact to in Tokyo. We can PM the details if you'd like to help me out.

Best of luck with seeking out a CB. My two cent in that matter is, that I like the 550 the best. They handle easier and still have good power. I find the 750's somewhat heavy.

The CB750's were introduced into the US at the same time the US freeway system was built.
So a long range heavy cruiser was needed and at that time there were not as many gas stations. Between Tucson and Phoenix (125 miles) there were no gas stations along the freeway. So the bike needed to go 125 miles if possible on one tank of gas.

[ascanio1]

@ Steve-o,

Thanks for the link to the bike in Richmond.

I had seen that one during my recent research on eBay and Craigslist (*). In fact I have found some 24 CB750 from K0 to K7 in different conditions and at different prices.

I am trying to understand which I should buy (if any). I am not familiar with the CBs and so I'm looking at replacement parts specialists websites to find out which parts are more expensive or harder to get so that I can't evaluate properly a bike's price/condition.

The member "Phoenix" gave me the best link: http://honda750expert.com/ from which I've learned to distinguish the various K series and now I'm starting to understand which bike is more or less original... but I still have difficulty understanding the value of each bike because I don't know if a place that may need replacing is expensive or rare.

For example: is it is more expensive to replace an exhaust or the carburetors for a similarly priced K5 (one in Cincinnati and one in Denver at the same price)? Is it harder to find instruments for a k3 or the tank cap for a k1? And so on...

I'm now trying to learn from specialist parts websites... but it's really a huge amount of info to digest!

Any help is very welcome!


(*)
BTW, does anyone have a better shortcut to search craigslist nationwide? I add "site:craigslist.org" after the search query on google but I can't refine by year or private/dealer/all. And by using this method I pick up a lot of generic hits for a whole city area and I then have to sift through that list.
Does any one know a good method to search craigslist Nationwide?

[Stev-o]

Stock exhaust for the early CB's is most likely the hardest/most expensive part to replace. 
All other parts can be easily found, at least here in the States, either here or on eBay.  Some parts are still available from Honda, Partzilla or David Silver Spares (US & UK).


https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB750K2-FOUR-1972/



Here is the search I like to use:

https://www.google.com/cse?cx=008732268318596706411:nhtd4cwl5xu&q=1971%20cb750&oq=1971%20cb750&gs_l=partner.3...11351.26853.0.27387.10.8.0.2.2.0.230.1289.0j7j1.8.0.gsnos%2Cn%3D13...0.15999j100141207j11..1ac.1.25.partner..4.6.797.7PddSfKNQ7M#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=1971%20cb750&gsc.page=1


https://boise.craigslist.org/mcy/4617084454.html

[ascanio1]

Stock exhaust for the early CB's is most likely the hardest/most expensive part to replace. 
All other parts can be easily found, at least here in the States, either here or on eBay.  Some parts are still available from Honda, Partzilla or David Silver Spares (US & UK).

Thanks!

https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB750K2-FOUR-1972/

This is another very useful link! It will help a lot! Thanks!

Here is the search I like to use:
https://www.google.com/cse?cx=008732268318596706411:nhtd4cwl5xu&q=1971%20cb750&oq=1971%20cb750&gs_l=partner.3...11351.26853.0.27387.10.8.0.2.2.0.230.1289.0j7j1.8.0.gsnos%2Cn%3D13...0.15999j100141207j11..1ac.1.25.partner..4.6.797.7PddSfKNQ7M#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=1971%20cb750&gsc.page=1

What's the query which you use? What do you type into the google query box?

https://boise.craigslist.org/mcy/4617084454.html

Thanks again!

[Stev-o]

I typed in "1971 CB750"

[ascanio1]

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread and therefore made it possible for me to own an orange CB750 K3.