Topic: 77 CB750F First time builder chick

[Bee Joenz]

Sean: good concerns.  A CB750 is a heavy beast.  That said, I have seen many women taking on Harley Sportsters as their first bikes.  IF it is her first bike, a more modern running bike would be a better option with this one on the back burner -- or a lighter 550.

I wonder IF this is the builder's first ride.  There are a couple of dirt bikes in the yard where she has set up shop.  She seems mechanically inclined and unafraid to get her hands dirty.  There's something telling me that this is not her first rodeo.  This might just be the first bike she has undertaken to re-build. 

I'm hoping she's in it to win it.

Oh I can assure you I am very in it to win in.  Although those concerns are valid I think what it comes down to is the fact I shouldn't rush this build just to get it on the road and gawd damn it I don't have the patience to wait to be riding. Ps I am a first time rider too

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

There are lots of good, lighter bikes to cut your teeth on.  Get something you can grow with.  If you are in Ventura, you will be doing some highway riding, so you may look for a modern bike with around 350-500cc.  A higher cc bike will be less buzzy at freeway speed.  A used Ninja 250 would even work well.

[Retro Rocket]

There are lots of good, lighter bikes to cut your teeth on.  Get something you can grow with.  If you are in Ventura, you will be doing some highway riding, so you may look for a modern bike with around 350-500cc.  A higher cc bike will be less buzzy at freeway speed.  A used Ninja 250 would even work well.

Don, I'm not a big person, been around 145 pounds most of my life, even smaller when i bought my first 750 at 16...   I actually had a older friend ride it home for me as I didn't yet have a permit to ride it, I found a new estate being built with no homes in it, rode it round for about 30 minutes to get a feel for the balance of the bike, how good the brakes were and off I went, never looked back...

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I agree.  And for a smaller rider like Bee here, I think she will have less issues stopping.  The issue for her is that she gets some seat time NOW, while she is building this bike, so when it's ready she can handle it easier.

[Stev-o]

Welcome Bee.    +1 buy a running 350 to learn and ride on, then you won't be rushing to get the project bike on the road. 

Installed a air box in a dress?!  We have a saying 'round here, pics or it didn't happen!

[goldarrow]

Yeah you gotta have 2 bikes, at least, one for project and one for rider.  Consider a cb550 if you don't want to learn on modern bikes.   I live by 405/118/5 freeways and I commute to Oxnard on my 550 daily, plenty of power to keep up with traffics.

[HondaMan]

Bee, my 2 cents' worth:
1. Your voltage regulator appears to be broken off. PM me your address and I'll send you one of my spares.
The rest of the wiring so far appears to be misrouted and maybe a little skinned up, not certain death.
2. Look closely at the clips that hold the fuses: if they are corroded or a dark chocolate color, they won't work (that's the old chromate coating, peeling off). When this happens, they heat up the fuse ends and melt the fuses when used. You can get a new NOS clone from Partsnmore.com, or I make a more modern style unit that uses modern automotive (ATC) fuses.
3. If you install slightly shorter rear shocks, like I did for the bike on the cover of my book, the bike becomes far more manageable. We used shocks intended for the CB550 (12.5" long) and slid the front forks up about 1/2" in the triple trees, and the owner, with his 26" inseam, could get both feet flat on the ground. I also installed a 110-90 rear tire, which is 9% smaller diameter than stock, to help.
4. Chances are, the brake hoses are cracked from age. When you replace them, install the hard-cover type found at www.Z1Enterprises.com (among others) that are made by Goodrich. They increase the stopping power noticeably on these bikes. Keep in mind, "terrible brakes" here is a comparison to 1990+ brakes with highly-sintered pucks with 2x pressure magnifiers and cast-steel discs (that rust), and remember that nearly 1,200,000 SOHC4 bikes were made and ridden with these brakes for decades: it's sort of a relative thing! If you're going racing, yeah, then go get some Brembos for it...

[mrbreeze]

Hi Bee, welcome to the world of SOHC. I have got to agree with these guys that you should try to get a bit of a smaller bike to learn on and ride around until you can get through building up the 750 (which looks to be a great deal for free by the way!!). I know a gal up here north of you (Oakdale) that looks to be about your size. She owns and rides a 400 four with no problems. I don't know how long she has been riding. Anyways the 750 is gonna be a lot of bike on your plate if you are new to riding and as it seems...you are really itching at the bit to ride ASAP. You may get the urge to cut corners on doing things properly but if you start out with a smaller bike that is already road worthy you can take your time (and $$) doing the 750 more to your liking.
I did want to say one thing about cleaning the tank. Spend the money and get a gallon of prep & etch....you won't be sorry. If you do...let me know and I can walk you through it step by step. If done properly it leaves a coating that will not let it flash rust. I did one last summer with the vinegar and while it did work...I ended up doing it over in the prep & etch. Happy wrenching & motoring.

[Bee Joenz]

There are lots of good, lighter bikes to cut your teeth on.  Get something you can grow with.  If you are in Ventura, you will be doing some highway riding, so you may look for a modern bike with around 350-500cc.  A higher cc bike will be less buzzy at freeway speed.  A used Ninja 250 would even work well.

Don, I'm not a big person, been around 145 pounds most of my life, even smaller when i bought my first 750 at 16...   I actually had a older friend ride it home for me as I didn't yet have a permit to ride it, I found a new estate being built with no homes in it, rode it round for about 30 minutes to get a feel for the balance of the bike, how good the brakes were and off I went, never looked back...

I agree.  And for a smaller rider like Bee here, I think she will have less issues stopping.  The issue for her is that she gets some seat time NOW, while she is building this bike, so when it's ready she can handle it easier.

Yeah you gotta have 2 bikes, at least, one for project and one for rider.  Consider a cb550 if you don't want to learn on modern bikes.   I live by 405/118/5 freeways and I commute to Oxnard on my 550 daily, plenty of power to keep up with traffics.

Hi Bee, welcome to the world of SOHC. I have got to agree with these guys that you should try to get a bit of a smaller bike to learn on and ride around until you can get through building up the 750 (which looks to be a great deal for free by the way!!). I know a gal up here north of you (Oakdale) that looks to be about your size. She owns and rides a 400 four with no problems. I don't know how long she has been riding. Anyways the 750 is gonna be a lot of bike on your plate if you are new to riding and as it seems...you are really itching at the bit to ride ASAP. You may get the urge to cut corners on doing things properly but if you start out with a smaller bike that is already road worthy you can take your time (and $$) doing the 750 more to your liking.
I did want to say one thing about cleaning the tank. Spend the money and get a gallon of prep & etch....you won't be sorry. If you do...let me know and I can walk you through it step by step. If done properly it leaves a coating that will not let it flash rust. I did one last summer with the vinegar and while it did work...I ended up doing it over in the prep & etch. Happy wrenching & motoring.

I appreciate you guys thinking I'm so tiny but I'm 145 and six feet tall - I can put my feet just about flat on both sides. I do however completey agree with the seat time now and building the 750 up properly.

mrbreeze: I have looked in the prep & etch... I've actually have looked into just about every suggestion for derusting the tank hah and think that will be my next move - I'll pm you when I start on that again!

[70CB750]

Welcome!

To add to your ever growing list of To-Dos; it is not a bad idea to take off the oil pan if there is anything in there that should not be and also check the oil pump screen for collected debris - before you put new oil in it.

Good luck with your project 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

There are lots of good, lighter bikes to cut your teeth on.  Get something you can grow with.  If you are in Ventura, you will be doing some highway riding, so you may look for a modern bike with around 350-500cc.  A higher cc bike will be less buzzy at freeway speed.  A used Ninja 250 would even work well.

Don, I'm not a big person, been around 145 pounds most of my life, even smaller when i bought my first 750 at 16...   I actually had a older friend ride it home for me as I didn't yet have a permit to ride it, I found a new estate being built with no homes in it, rode it round for about 30 minutes to get a feel for the balance of the bike, how good the brakes were and off I went, never looked back...

I agree.  And for a smaller rider like Bee here, I think she will have less issues stopping.  The issue for her is that she gets some seat time NOW, while she is building this bike, so when it's ready she can handle it easier.

Yeah you gotta have 2 bikes, at least, one for project and one for rider.  Consider a cb550 if you don't want to learn on modern bikes.   I live by 405/118/5 freeways and I commute to Oxnard on my 550 daily, plenty of power to keep up with traffics.

Hi Bee, welcome to the world of SOHC. I have got to agree with these guys that you should try to get a bit of a smaller bike to learn on and ride around until you can get through building up the 750 (which looks to be a great deal for free by the way!!). I know a gal up here north of you (Oakdale) that looks to be about your size. She owns and rides a 400 four with no problems. I don't know how long she has been riding. Anyways the 750 is gonna be a lot of bike on your plate if you are new to riding and as it seems...you are really itching at the bit to ride ASAP. You may get the urge to cut corners on doing things properly but if you start out with a smaller bike that is already road worthy you can take your time (and $$) doing the 750 more to your liking.
I did want to say one thing about cleaning the tank. Spend the money and get a gallon of prep & etch....you won't be sorry. If you do...let me know and I can walk you through it step by step. If done properly it leaves a coating that will not let it flash rust. I did one last summer with the vinegar and while it did work...I ended up doing it over in the prep & etch. Happy wrenching & motoring.

I appreciate you guys thinking I'm so tiny but I'm 145 and six feet tall - I can put my feet just about flat on both sides. I do however completey agree with the seat time now and building the 750 up properly.

mrbreeze: I have looked in the prep & etch... I've actually have looked into just about every suggestion for derusting the tank hah and think that will be my next move - I'll pm you when I start on that again!

Hahahaha! Ok, Amazon Lady!!   Unlike most people, you look smaller in your photo.  I do like your overall strategy.  I think that de-rusting the tank is a good call just to preserve it for now.  That said, a smaller bike is great to learn on since it will be easier to manage.  If I am riding canyon roads with tight hairpins and quick transitions, I prefer to ride my 550.  If the turns are higher speed sweepers and more freeway speed roads, I prefer the 750 (since it has an 836 motor).  As you get more seat time, you will find it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. 

Although a 550 would be a good learner bike, you may want to opt for a cheap more modern bike (something turn-key, safe and ready to ride) to save your budget for the 750 build while you get seat time.

As for the 750, you can take your time figuring out what you want aesthetically -- restoration, restomod, café, tracker, brat, whatever.  Just go system by system -- getting it safe and reliable.  You will likely have questions, and the forum WILL have answers.