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Author Topic: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!  (Read 1034 times)

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Offline WR_Engineer

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Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« on: July 22, 2015, 11:16:23 AM »
Hey all, I am looking at a bike on Craigslist, but have no idea what I am doing. I was wondering if you someone could check out the link below and tell me what you think? The bike odometer states it has 39k miles, but I was thinking about doing an engine rebuild anyway. Any advice about what I should do would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/5134680229.html
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Offline flybox1

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2015, 11:27:38 AM »
I would buy that bike in a heartbeat.  Well worth the price.
I'd also know it might be a challenge to title it, no matter what the owner says.  (Search vermont title process here on the forum)
Next, id buy Mark Paris'(Hondaman) book....
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline flybox1

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2015, 11:30:25 AM »
everything you need to know about restoring and putting one of these bikes back on the road is in Hondamans book.
that, a shop manual(downloadable free from this site), and this forum will be all you need to get that one back on the road in tip top shape.
budget $1500 -$5000 in resto fees, depending on how far you want to go.  (engine goodies can add up fast  ;D )
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline WR_Engineer

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2015, 11:47:53 AM »
Flybox, thank you so much for the response and advice! I am currently a grad student,so getting this into good working order for the least amount I can would be of top priority for me!
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Offline flybox1

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2015, 11:55:57 AM »
you're welcome, and welcome to the forum.
Hondaman's book should be your first purchase.  It made my rebuild an enjoyable process.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,65293.0.html
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline ekpent

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2015, 01:55:44 PM »
See it sold "to the first person who looked at it" according to the add, was that you ?
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Offline WR_Engineer

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2015, 02:14:40 PM »
Well darn. Nope.
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Offline flybox1

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2015, 02:20:14 PM »
With these bikes, good deals don't last long.
Be prepared with the cash, and transportation.
Call first. Be there first.

Good luck in your bike hunting....
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline WR_Engineer

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2015, 02:24:58 PM »
Well, how about this one? And thanks again for all the help so far!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/5132992000.html
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Offline WR_Engineer

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2015, 02:26:24 PM »
and is there a big difference between a '71 and '74?
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Offline Duke McDukiedook

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2015, 02:37:33 PM »
These have to be stolen or someone desperately needs money in San Jose.
Buy it if you can.
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"Well, Mr. Carpetbagger. We got somethin' in this territory called the Missouri boat ride."   Josey Wales

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Offline WR_Engineer

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #11 on: July 22, 2015, 04:24:56 PM »
thank you DukieDukenDuke for the response. Last question, I would like to have council between these two:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/5134167081.html

and

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/5132992000.html

again, thank you all so much for the help!
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Offline flybox1

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #12 on: July 22, 2015, 04:26:05 PM »
Only the first 74xx bikes are considered 'rare' and you'd be hard pressed to find a junker going for less than a semesters tuition.
Other than these^^, and being very general, you have 3 other groups:
The 1970-1976 (K0-K6)
The 76-'78 F bikes (F0-F3)
...and the 77-78 (K7/K8) bikes
Many parts can be interchanged between groups, others cannot.
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline flybox1

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2015, 04:28:26 PM »
id get the 2-fer, and use both bikes to make one good one.
and hope that original K4 exhaust isnt rusted out  ;)
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2015, 04:31:24 PM »
I've never seen so many cheap bikes in CA before!  Buy that '71!!
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'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline ekpent

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2015, 04:37:54 PM »
Quote from: Stev-o on July 22, 2015, 04:31:24 PM
I've never seen so many cheap bikes in CA before!  Buy that '71!!
We need to move our base of operations West Steve !!
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Offline flybox1

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #16 on: July 22, 2015, 04:47:04 PM »
Quote from: ekpent on July 22, 2015, 04:37:54 PM
Quote from: Stev-o on July 22, 2015, 04:31:24 PM
I've never seen so many cheap stolen bikes in CA before!  Buy that '71!!
We need to move our base of operations West Steve !!
i'm sure Carpy has already picked them up  ::)
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #17 on: July 22, 2015, 06:37:34 PM »
Quote from: Stev-o on July 22, 2015, 04:31:24 PM
I've never seen so many cheap bikes in CA before!  Buy that '71!!

They are usually not that cheap but we are talking about Nor Cal in this thread. Much lower prices than So Cal!!
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

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2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline faux fiddy

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #18 on: July 22, 2015, 10:01:46 PM »
Quote from: flybox1 on July 22, 2015, 04:28:26 PM
id get the 2-fer, and use both bikes to make one good one.
and hope that original K4 exhaust isnt rusted out  ;)

+1  I have been grateful in having my future café bike  [parts bike]  for something I'm riding. I'd have been off the road for weeks this year waiting for the items to show up on e-bay at a reasonable price, if at all.  Strange how it has been picked as much as it has.
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Offline faux fiddy

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Re: Need help! Looking into buying my first bike, and know nothing!
« Reply #19 on: July 22, 2015, 11:29:21 PM »
That does look like the same seller.  Always ask about other stuff, but those are deals for that area.
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