Topic: Hello from the Upper Midwest

[Buckskin Bandit]

Hi all. This is my story on how I ended up with a '73 500 four. 

Early this year, I was looking for a good starter motorcycle, and I had my heart set on getting a Honda Rebel.  I was watching craigslist like a hawk, and one day (sometime in June) this add with three motorcycles for sale came up. All three were going for $700.  The ad claimed "the two Honda's run."  Yeah right. 

Turns out they had sat for three years (according to the owner), and only needed their carbs cleaned.  Well my brother went to go look at them (with my money) and ended up bringing them home.  He promised me that he'd have the 500 going for me within three weeks. He worked on it and got the carbs all cleaned, and a new battery in it.  When we finally started to crank the motor in hopes that it would start- oil started squirting out of the head gasket.   

I ended up finding a Suzuki GZ250, and resigned myself to a long and full restoration of my Honda.  That will start when I finish my Law Enforcement training next summer, and actually start getting real paychecks. (I'm a full-time college student right now and can't afford many parts). 

By now you might be wondering what the other two bikes are, so one is a 76 750 four, and the other is a Jawa CZ two stroke bike.  I sold both of them to my brother to fund my Suzuki.

There it is folks, that's how I ended up with my 500 four.  It has an extended fork and small ape-hangers (8 to 10 inch I think), as well as a custom seat and hard saddle bags.  The seat was ripped and soggy, so I tore it all apart and recovered it, as well as putting new foam in it.  I do have pics of that, and will post them when I get that figured out.

Thanks for listening to my long story!

[0Dogg]

Well I'm new, too...but, "Welcome!"

[754]

Welcome aboard.. Might be worth pulling the head on the 500,  and seeing how bad or good it is..

[70CB750]

Welcome! 

Nice story.

Any details on the CZ?  CZ was my first bike ever, no surprise there since I am CZ myself, LOL.

[Buckskin Bandit]

Thanks all for the kind welcome! The plan is to do a fairly thorough overhaul of the motor, so I would guess that would include pulling the head?    My brother is my mechanic, and he'll do the motor work for me. I plan on trying to do the rest of the restoration myself 

The CZ is from the 1970's, the last digit of the year on the vin is missing, and I can't remember what year my brother finally decided it was. '75? Its a 173 cc (I think), and the motor is froze. It looks like it was dropped, broken clutch lever, dented tank, etc. Of all of them, it needs the most work. But it's a neat little bike!
 

[70CB750]

I see

The original looked something like this:




Buddy of mine had one.

[Stev-o]

Welcome from Texas.   The Rebel is a good beginner bike but the CB500 is much better. 

[Buckskin Bandit]

I see

The original looked something like this:




Buddy of mine had one.

Yep, That's close. 

Welcome from Texas.   The Rebel is a good beginner bike but the CB500 is much better. 

Thanks! I can't wait to get my 500 on the road!

[Buckskin Bandit]

Wow! I figured out how to attach pics! lol Here's the 750.. and The 500 is the one I'm sitting on. (also my profile picture)