Topic: CB750K3 value

[63falcondriver]

I have decided I am going to sell my CB750k. It is a 1973 model that I have had for many years. It is all original as far as I know (I got it used) and is in roadworthy condition.
I used to live in Michigan but now that I live in Georgia on a dirt road, I find I just don't use the bike enough to make it worth keeping insured and licensed. It is presently tagged and insured and roadworthy.

A few details about the bike. As far as I know this bike has been stored inside its entire life. The tank, side covers and headlight housing are in red oxide primer. It was that way when I got it and I planned to paint it but never did. I have the original emblems, etc in a box.

the seat is good, it has a Plexifairing 3 on it. The bike starts runs and stops like it should. All the gears work and there are no mechanical issues that I'm aware of. There are a few electrical gremlins but they don't affect operation so I never eradicated them. ie, the indicator lights don't work for the most part. (neutral light, that sort of thing)
All the lights and turn signals work, the horn blows, electric and kick starter both work, brake lights work, brakes work properly, speedometer and tach both work, charging system functions normally.

This bike has LESS THAN 20,000 MILES.

I don't detail my stuff so the bike is currently not pretty, especially with the primer paint job, lol. However, there is very little or no rust on it. I'm sure if someone was willing to put elbow grease into it, it would look very nice.

My question to you experts is what should I reasonably expect to get out of this bike? I know there is  a market out there for this type of bike but I just have absolutely no clue as to what I should ask for it.
Keep in mind that this bike is not  a show piece but can be mounted up and ridden right now. It does not need anything to be roadworthy.
I'm in my mid fifties now, my kids are all gone to college and I'm just trying to simplify my life.

Note: I do want to sell this bike so don't expect to try for the absolute maximum dollar amount and wind up keeping it for two years. But I also don't want to sell it for $2000 if it's worth $3,500.
Thanks for your input. (I think I was a member of this forum a number of years ago but couldn't find my login info)

[ekpent]

If it does not currently run and go down the road in a safe manner. dirty and in primer without good stock exhaust pipes and airbox etc than probably in my area $600.00 - $1,000. Stock pipes add some more, running etc.. Title is a big deal also.
   A picture is worth a thousand words so when you get a few more posts put some on along with a ride report. Right now by the sounds of it not near the 2-3K range yet..

[63falcondriver]

I'm not saying it's worth two or three thousand. I made it clear (I thought) that I had no idea as to the value.
I also thought I made it clear the bike is perfectly roadworthy and is stock. That to me means it has the original exhaust and airbox (which it does)
I realize pics would be useful but thought the textual description would be a place to start.

[ekpent]

Back off man-Can't read your mind. Talk a few more posts till you reach the required minimum than post some pics so we can see the beast. Welcome to the forum and our free appraisals 

[Tews19]

Ekpent is correct. In my area maybe 1k. Depends if you get a young hipster wanting to hack the #$%* out of it and call it a One Off Custom Café! If the paint were factory you would be able to get more. Prettiness matters at times and those willing to pay top dollar like the original from factory look. Pics would help and we could get a better idea. Of course geogoraphy plays a pertinent role when coming up with a selling price. In Cali, rumors have spread like wild fire of beat up, ratty CB's being sold for a small fortune due to the fact that Yoshimura maker may have once farted on the now rotted seat that the mice ate while making a home out of the airbox in a guys storage unit for 25 yrs...

[63falcondriver]

Sorry if my post in response to ekpent came across harsh. Didn't mean it to. I realize that appraising something without seeing it is difficult. Just looking for a ballpark guess as I am not in touch with the market at all for this bike. I got this machine by default and not because I particularly wanted this particular model. I do like classic vehicles and just put my 1963 Falcon back on the road today after it has been stored the last two years.
Is a roadworthy bike this size really worth only $1000? Seems like it would be worth more than that just as transportation but like I said, I don't really know...

[ekpent]

Keep talking a little more Falcon and I think it may be 5 posts or so you can put up some pictures unless your more savvy computer wise than I. No offense taken here, looking forward to some pictures, you may have a diamond in the rough. 20,000 miles is low but to be honest I have some 750's up here in Michigan with less just because they get laid up in winters and people move on and let them be. Plus so far are original pipes which adds 500+ , and its a runner.

[Stev-o]

Sounds like a solid $1200 - 1500 bike.   Cleaning it up with a pro, stock paint and good tires could add a grand to your value, maybe more if you fix your electrics. 

Here's one near you that hasn't sold at $1200. Yours look better?


http://knoxville.craigslist.org/mcy/4583237033.html

[brooze72]

Seems like you already have some kind of price in mind (more than 1 & less than 3 I'm reading), at least it runs & has a title.   Why don't you clean it up a bit & throw it on CL for $2K & see what bites? Or troll your local CL & see what something similar is selling for?

[63falcondriver]

Well, I don't know that mine looks better. But it is currently road worthy unlike the one in the ad. As you guys are well aware, "needs carb work" can mean just about anything but indicates it's not ready to hop on and go down the road.

[63falcondriver]

Seems like you already have some kind of price in mind (more than 1 & less than 3 I'm reading), at least it runs & has a title.   Why don't you clean it up a bit & throw it on CL for $2K & see what bites? Or troll your local CL & see what something similar is selling for?

Well, I did some research in this area on motorcycles in general and the only running bikes less than $1000 are basically sub 100cc. Anything larger in that price range was a "project" bike. So I think a running bike of any vintage that is ready to go down the road is worth over $1000. That's where that number came from.
As far as the top end of the market for a bike like mine, I really don't know. If I did, I wouldn't have asked, I would have just written up an ad and posted it for sale.

I do know I am not going to do anything beyond clean it up a bit. ie, not going to paint it, fix the electrical gremlns, etc. I will just sell it as it is with disclosures. I enjoy riding it, just don't do enough of it to make it worth having. I know I'll miss it, but I've decided to part with it.

[goldarrow]

Well you now have enough posts to put up pics...

Just throw it up on feebay and see how much it goes for.  Let the market decide what's it worth, rather than trying to get the price you have in mind that no one wants to pay....

But wait, eBay will want pics of your bike too

Oh well....

[Stev-o]

Well, I don't know that mine looks better. But it is currently road worthy unlike the one in the ad.

But does yours "come with a bike worth of spare parts"?

Like they say, a bikes value is want someone is willing to pay for it. 

[MiGhost]

Cosmetics will have a fair amount to do with value. If there is a lot of clean up, and detail work that would need to be done. That would factor in to what it will be worth.

Based on your description alone. It sounds like a basic titled runner needing a good cosmetic makeover. However you did not mention anything about any maintenance work done on the bike, and highlighted some common problems with older bikes.

Your description also leaves a long list of suspect mechanical issuses. If you could not be bothered to fix the neutral light. How could you be bothered to fix more important items. Anyone with experience will tell you easily that the bike will need much more than a simple freshening up. This all increases the investment, and reduces the value.
 
I am not trying to knock you. Just giving a buyers perspective.
I know it may not be what you want to hear, but I think $1k is a bit optimistic.
In the end. It will be whoever has the money that will determine what the value is to them.

[PeWe]

Today is OEM look what we want over here. It cost a lot to fix the paint job to OEM std with proper emblems. Upon that 4-4 exhaust system.
I give my CB750 a new life going back the years. New tank, sidecovers with correct paint + all details to purchase from Yamiya750 cost a lot. Now waiting for new 4-4.... WOW!!
Only an insane person will do that or a SOHC fanatic taking the bike back to life will do that.
CB750 with everything in nice condition including the 4-4 is really special. 

It's cheaper to buy a restored and complete bike in nice condition for $6000 -10.000US

There are much better bikes less the cost to restore a CB750 with almost double amount of hp and max 10 years old. Like Yamaha XJR1300 + this  http://www.xjr-tuning.com/artikel/1651/Tuning-Kit-Yamaha-XJR.html

But I like my CB750 I have owned for +35 years!

[63falcondriver]

Thanks for all the replies thus far. I will try to get some pictures in the next day or two.
I didn't fix the neutral light because it isn't important to me and isn't a safety issue. I can find neutral fine without it. Other than the electrical issues, there is no other needed mechanical work on the bike. As stated, the machine has less than 20,000 miles on it so it's not like a bunch of stuff is worn out. In the past I have replaced the battery a couple times, adjusted the valves, adjusted the chain as required, changed the oil and filter and put different tires on it. I added the plexifairing and a set of soft sided nylon saddle bags.

The bike I owned previous to this one was a Honda CX500. I sold that when we had kids and went a number of years without a bike. Don't know if I'll ever have another one but doubt it at this time. I had one accident back in the 1980's when I hit a deer. Had a Yamaha XS650 at that time. I wasn't injured but my passenger was. I put that bike back on the road with a truckload of replacement parts. My wife doesn't like to ride that much anymore and that was the most common usage when she and I used to head out for a 100 mile dinner cruise. I have other interests now that take my time and the bike isn't one of them.

[Jim Harris]

If it runs and has the original pipes and mufflers in good condition, but needs paint, decals, detailing and misc stuff I'm thinking you are between $1500 and $2000.

[Jim Harris]

Here's an example of a $1500 bike we purchased from a guy in Ohio.

[dhall57]

 I have other interests now that take my time and the bike isn't one of them.
[/quote]
Just my 2 c's 63 but unless your needing some quick cash for what ever reason why not just hold on to your CB750 you've had for many years. It can't cost you much for insurance every month on one bike and then when you get the urge to jump on it and get some wind in your face and take off down the road the ole girl will be there for you. I think you might wish you had held on to it after it's gone.

[754]

If you add a good body set , ie, tanks sidecovers, in original paint, and have good seat and pipes, the value goes way up. There was a boss maroon body set on here, for 500
 But its 1974 color i believe.
 Anyway if the bike was clean with good originsl paint body parts, pies seat bars, instruments, motor clean, not corroded, chrome in nice shape, i would be asking 2000- 3200.
 Depends a bit on where you live though.

[MCRider]

Thanks for all the replies thus far. I will try to get some pictures in the next day or two.
I didn't fix the neutral light because it isn't important to me and isn't a safety issue. I can find neutral fine without it. Other than the electrical issues, there is no other needed mechanical work on the bike. As stated, the machine has less than 20,000 miles on it so it's not like a bunch of stuff is worn out. In the past I have replaced the battery a couple times, adjusted the valves, adjusted the chain as required, changed the oil and filter and put different tires on it. I added the plexifairing and a set of soft sided nylon saddle bags.

The bike I owned previous to this one was a Honda CX500. I sold that when we had kids and went a number of years without a bike. Don't know if I'll ever have another one but doubt it at this time. I had one accident back in the 1980's when I hit a deer. Had a Yamaha XS650 at that time. I wasn't injured but my passenger was. I put that bike back on the road with a truckload of replacement parts. My wife doesn't like to ride that much anymore and that was the most common usage when she and I used to head out for a 100 mile dinner cruise. I have other interests now that take my time and the bike isn't one of them.

Low mileage is not so much a sellingpoint anymore as the real question is the age. When the bikes were 15 years old, AND low mileage, well that was good. But now that they are 40+ years old, time takes the toll.  How old are the tires? 5 years or more they need to be replaced. The wheel bearings are shot from condensation cycles (age) not mileage.  The cables are corroded not from use but from age. etc.  The swingarm bushings are likely seized not from use, but from non-use and age. The world of CB collecting has changed, low mileage isn't the selling point it used  to be.

[dhall57]

Not a K3 but a 750 K6 even has Harley rear wheel just like mine except the owner is running pods and does not have the factory HM341 pipes. Factory antares red paint still looks very nice. Not sure about his 10 hp claim over factory though I would say if had a set of 341's on it and a factory air box it would be worth his asking price.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/4620916397.html

[Tews19]

D HALL  there is a reason the bike has been listed for almost a month.... I love the eBay comment!

[Stev-o]

D HALL  there is a reason the bike has been listed for almost a month....

+1. "Needs carb adj, kinda poppy"!