Topic: 1971 K1

[GUTS]

Here is the 1971 K1 that I purchased and showed in the introduction forum. It's an early '71 hasn't been started in 6 or 7 years and it seems to have the correct features(except for the 16" back wheel and the rear shocks)like single cut edge on the front fender, silver dished front brake cup cap, correct switch houses, painted tank decal, HM300 marked pipes. The fellow I bought it from said it's supposed to be all original including paint although the paint is so nice I still question it's originality even though the bottom of the tank shows no signs of masking or repaint. The bike has 37,000 miles, the frame number is 1058348 and the engine number is 1056703. I have restored a few bikes in the last few years but this is the nicest survivor I have ever come across so the only thing I am going to do to it is disassemble the front wheel and re-plate the spokes and buy new rear rim and spokes and get rid of the 16" setup, go through the carbs(the gas tank is nice inside)fuel lines and the brakes, especially the front system and ride it. The pipes and seat are in amazing shape too.







still has the little rubber thingys between the fins.

[70CB750]

Would be a shame to loose the patina on this one, nice bike.

[Brantley]

That front wheel might have already been rebuilt once. Never seen DID stamp on the side of the rim on a factory wheel. I did order a rim from a Honda dealer in 2001 (ish) that was stamped like that. Are those decals on the tank or painted stripes? Nice find.

[dhall57]

Nice looks like you have a few other toys in the background also

[GUTS]

The toys in the background aren't mine, I'm keeping this one in a friends garage because I have no room at home, 13 Kawasaki's live there and I don't want them to gang up on it. This is the first Honda I've ever owned, I wasn't looking for it and it just kind of showed up and I kept it. I'm hoping you guys can point out what's original to the bike and what isn't since I still bleed green and need some guidance.

[ekpent]

As noted the front rim is a modern replacement with the stamping on the side. The other non original would be the sidecover jewels should be red and not orange. Stripes on tank should not be painted if factory.  Heck of a nice looking bike, looks like it was cared for well, congrats.

[GUTS]

I have read that the early 71's had painted stripes and the later had decals so I thought it was correct.

[guitarkev66]

Yes some of the early K1 tanks had hand panted stripes. But your stripe doesn't look quite right.  Beautiful bike!!!!

[Kevin D]

It is a beauty for sure. Very nice.

The master cylinder was black and has faded to silver.

supposed to be all original

Rear shocks not original.... But, if you are going to ride it much, you probably don't want originals.
Engine number is generally a bit higher than frame. My one and only 11/70 K1 has frame 1067xxx, engine E1068xxx. I have never studied the production numbers but that's 9000 bikes for one month! Sounds like a lot to me. I believe the K1's were the most plentiful. I'll have to see if I can find those production numbers here somewhere.

Think I see a Norton and a Trail 70 back behind the Polaris... Where are the Kaws?

Gorgeous K1

[ekpent]

Yes some of the early K1 tanks had hand panted stripes. But your stripe doesn't look quite right.  Beautiful bike!!!!

I did not know that- good info.

[Johnie]

Agreed...nice find indeed. If you want to take it back to OEM you might want to get rid of the locking gas cap latch and get the OEM thumb latch. The tach cable holder should be on the outside horn screw which is why the cable is hitting the bottom of the tank. Looks like the bike is missing the left rear chrome handle which is used to put the bike on the center stand. Much better than grabbing the bottom of the seat to lift. That handle attaches to the top shock bolt and the blinker bolt. You will get plenty of envious looks on that bike. Welcome to the board...

[Stev-o]

Nice find.   +1, front rim looks to be replaced, I would buy a matching DID rim for the rear.  Do it right, replace all the spokes with stainless. 

13 Kaws?!  Any Z's or H's?   You have me beat, I only have 2, but want a third.   

[GUTS]

Nice find.   +1, front rim looks to be replaced, I would buy a matching DID rim for the rear.  Do it right, replace all the spokes with stainless. 

13 Kaws?!  Any Z's or H's?   You have me beat, I only have 2, but want a third.

I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you.    I guess I could go to the non-SOHC section and post a few pics. My first restoration is in the 2014 Nov. Dec. issue of Motorcycle Classics Magazine, it's a Kawasaki of course.

I kind of thought the paint on the K1 was a little too nice for 44 year old paint. I'm pretty sure the silver cup cap is correct for the early '71 but would the master cylinder be silver too(like the K0)or black with the silver cap? One can only wonder what happened to the original wheels I will put new rims and spokes on front and back(I've done a lot of wheel lacing in the last year or so and I actually don't mind it). The electrics all work, blinkers, brake lights, headlight, horn, and starter. It turns over fine but I think the starter may need rebuild/replace because it draws down very hard and warms up the battery cables when I turn the starter over. I am also going to clean all the starting system connections. It seems to have good compression but I will put a gauge to it soon. Overall I think it's a pretty nice motorcycle and I am looking forward to riding it since I have never ridden a Honda CB750. Before you guys tell me how snappy it is remember I had an H2 when I was a teen and still ride an H2 and a few Z1's so it has a couple of hard acts to follow. When I take the carbs off is there a trick so I don't have to force anything or break plastic? Can I take the aircleaner out first?, the rubber carb boots are like black rocks and it looks like it is going to be a bear to get the carbs out.

[ekpent]

Easy to remove the whole air cleaner box, bottom first than top with two bolts on the frame tabs. Use a heat gun and warm up the rubber intakes/manifolds well to soften before removing the carb bank with a wiggling up and down motion while you pull. I would advise to wear good gloves to avoid a busted knuckle when they pop loose 

[Stev-o]

13 Kaws?!  Any Z's or H's?   

I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you.  

Well, I dont want to know that bad!

My first restoration is in the 2014 Nov. Dec. issue of Motorcycle Classics Magazine

The B8?

[Kevin D]

Before you guys tell me how snappy it is remember I had an H2 when I was a teen and still ride an H2 and a few Z1's so it has a couple of hard acts to follow.

I could match up evenly with my pals H1 500s, but when the H2 and Z1 came around it was a different story.
Zero to illegal is still plenty quick.

[GUTS]

13 Kaws?!  Any Z's or H's?   

I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you.  

Well, I dont want to know that bad!

My first restoration is in the 2014 Nov. Dec. issue of Motorcycle Classics Magazine

The B8?

Yup!

[David B]

Fantastic find, what a great bike!  You did well. You did well finding the guys on this site too. Lots of good people here more than willing to help.

Tell your buddy that's a great looking Commando too. 

[Stev-o]

13 Kaws?!  Any Z's or H's?   

I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you.  

Well, I dont want to know that bad!

My first restoration is in the 2014 Nov. Dec. issue of Motorcycle Classics Magazine

The B8?

Yup!

So, you must be Jeff.  That was a great article, enjoyed reading it.

Back to the K1:  if the carb boots are rock hard, consider replacing them, it will make replacing the carbs much easier.

The 750 has adequate power, bored to 836, makes it a lot more fun! But, you didnt buy this bike for speed, it has the vintage cool factor, I think you will like it.

Where did you find it?


BTW, here's my Z1/H1 thread....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=120360.750

[GUTS]

Yup, I am going to buy new boots right away. I bought it from a fellow that lives in Harlingen Texas. In fact if you looked at the H2 build thread I linked in my post in the open section(I tried to post it in the other bikes section)it shows a guy that puts a picture of his 750 Honda up to show me and I got ahold of him about three months later and traded him three rifles for it.

[Retro Rocket]

The other non original would be the sidecover jewels should be red and not orange.

Quote from Hondaman...

What a BEAUTIFUL K1! That's an excellent example of a New Factory K1 (hence the yellow side diamonds).

[ekpent]

The other non original would be the sidecover jewels should be red and not orange.

Quote from Hondaman...

What a BEAUTIFUL K1! That's an excellent example of a New Factory K1 (hence the yellow side diamonds).

I don't see where Hondaman commented on this thread and have never seen an orange diamond on a K1 but learned one thing maybe on paint already and may be getting more schooling on early K1's. Be a little more convincing though if both wings were pointed in the correct direction. Is this on on the left backwards ?

[GUTS]

The other non original would be the sidecover jewels should be red and not orange.

Quote from Hondaman...

What a BEAUTIFUL K1! That's an excellent example of a New Factory K1 (hence the yellow side diamonds).

I don't see where Hondaman commented on this thread and have never seen an orange diamond on a K1 but learned one thing maybe on paint already and may be getting more schooling on early K1's. Be a little more convincing though if both wings were pointed in the correct direction. Is this on on the left backwards ?

You are correct Sir! I just went and looked and the bird is backwards, it has been changed.

[Retro Rocket]

The other non original would be the sidecover jewels should be red and not orange.

Quote from Hondaman...

What a BEAUTIFUL K1! That's an excellent example of a New Factory K1 (hence the yellow side diamonds).

I don't see where Hondaman commented on this thread and have never seen an orange diamond on a K1 but learned one thing maybe on paint already and may be getting more schooling on early K1's. Be a little more convincing though if both wings were pointed in the correct direction. Is this on on the left backwards ?

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=145049.msg1650458#msg1650458

 

[Raul CB750K1]

It could be a camera thing but the paint doesn't look original to me. Mine tends more to red, to Candy. The tank stripe, at least in my K1 (feb. 1971) is a decal.

Apart from that, the rest is enough to make it a great find.