Topic: CB750 K1 project 2

[Dunk]

Well here goes round two... I got my other K1 restoration done (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=125385.0) and now my girl wants one. She didn't care for all the time I spent on "that old piece of junk" and was adamant that my little 750 was so much slower than her 1300 cruiser. Well, now that it's done and she has spent all summer trying to keep up with me I've got orders to build her a CB750, or as she says "I need a real bike". 

This was my first K1, I went down on it years ago in a tank slapper. No fun! This is what is looked like previously...



Then:


And here we are now:









And hopefully next year it'll look just like this but red...



Don't really have a plan, just started breaking it down and wrenching on it. Sandblaster battery box and some small bits today and started getting swing arm torn down as well as took a few bits off the engine. Once I'm through screwing around easing into this I'll do the frame and engine first. Last time around I did the engine last and dropped it into a fully assembled bike, this time I intend to do the bare frame over the already done engine trick and go from there.

Aside from that I'm just working on collecting parts I'll need and making sure whatever I need next is on hand and ready. I have orders to make it shorter than my bike as she is not comfortable not being able to put both feet flat on the ground on mine. I don't understand the big deal about that but whatever, maybe slightly shorter shocks and a little shorter foam in the seat will do the trick. Don't want to go crazy and get into handling or stability issues.

Time to plug along and see where this one takes me...

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Are you sure the frame is straight?

[70CB750]

I have a set of lowering blocks you can have for postage.

[Dunk]

Are you sure the frame is straight?

At this moment, no. Nothing looked out of whack when assembled or while pulling it apart, no broken welds, crushed or obviously bent tubes, etc. so I am cautiously optimistic. There was a thread here recently about a fellow in Canada being denied inspection permit for a bent/misaligned frame and in that thread several people outlined ways to check. There are of course other threads here too. In any event I will be checking the frame before investing too much time in it and depending on if I find anything misaligned either repair myself or have a shop straighten it if I am unable to do so.

I have a set of lowering blocks you can have for postage.

Thanks Prokop, I may take you up on that offer.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Not to be pessimistic. I would just check to make sure before you get in too far. It will give you peace of mind.

[Dunk]

Took a closer look at the frame, it is indeed tweaked a bit. The head seems pretty straight to center line of swingarm and front mounts but this was a quick and dirty just rigging a setup to check. The right rear of the frame up high where the fender mounts is high so at the very least something in the rear is twisted. Not sure how to fix that, I was hoping for at worst the head being tweaked a little to either side which may be easier to straighten. Looking for a local shop that can measure accurately and straighten to see what exactly I'm working with and will try to get get real measurements on this myself so I'm not going in blind to a shop.

Will check with a local bike yard to see if they have any K1 frames and keep my eyes on Craigslist in case that route may be cheaper. I'd prefer to keep the frame and engine together if this is repairable and doesn't cost a fortune to straighten. Either way I'll proceed with the engine and other parts as I'll need all that regardless.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Sorry to hear about the frame, but better to know now and fix it than have handling/safety issues later after full assembly.