Topic: Going to buy this 1975 Honda CB750 K5, anything I should be aware of before I buy it?

[Stev-o]

I'll offer you a tidbit of advice; never barter over the phone.

Really??  I wouldnt have many bikes if I took your advice!

[flybox1]

The seat is a poorly done re-cover.
Looks a little wet near the #4 head gasket....
Pipe wrap looks new    Hiding something?...check the pipe ends. 
If they're rotted....back away slowly, or earmark another $400+ for new pipes 

How well does it cold-start.
Idle sound smooth?  Any color to the exhaust after it fully warms up?

$3k is a bit high 

What would you pay?


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regardless if the pipes are good or not....$2000-2500.
If I were buying and shipping, i'd take the bike w OEM exhaust for $2500 instead.

[Johnie]

I sold this K3 to a member for $3,000 in May this year. He was happy and I was happy to get it to a member who loved these bikes as much as all of us. I had documented everything I updated on the bike and he paid to ship it to CA. You may want to post in the "wanted" section of this board. You will find straight up answers on what you are buying and none of the fast talk you get on CL and others.

[Gene]

I sold this K3 to a member for $3,000 in May this year. He was happy and I was happy to get it to a member who loved these bikes as much as all of us. I had documented everything I updated on the bike and he paid to ship it to CA. You may want to post in the "wanted" section of this board. You will find straight up answers on what you are buying and none of the fast talk you get on CL and others.

And here's another thing, Tag, when you buy from a respected member of this forum, you know you're not getting a lipsticked-pig. Other sellers can be unscrupulous - not all - but some.  Not saying that guy and that bike are a rip-off, may not be. But would he answer the phone if you had an issue after you bought it?

[Stev-o]

The seat is a poorly done re-cover.
Looks a little wet near the #4 head gasket....
Pipe wrap looks new    Hiding something?...check the pipe ends. 
If they're rotted....back away slowly, or earmark another $400+ for new pipes 

How well does it cold-start.
Idle sound smooth?  Any color to the exhaust after it fully warms up?

$3k is a bit high 

What would you pay?


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regardless if the pipes are good or not....$2000-2500.
If I were buying and shipping, i'd take the bike w OEM exhaust for $2500 instead.

+1....I like that bike better.  Offer him $2350!

[Tagzard]

I sold this K3 to a member for $3,000 in May this year. He was happy and I was happy to get it to a member who loved these bikes as much as all of us. I had documented everything I updated on the bike and he paid to ship it to CA. You may want to post in the "wanted" section of this board. You will find straight up answers on what you are buying and none of the fast talk you get on CL and others.

You sold it on this forum? Do people regularly post here to sell bikes?


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[Johnie]

Yes, I sold it on this forum. I wanted to give members first chance so posted it in the "for sale" section along with the project thread on that K3. And if you look close at Gene's avatar it might look familiar. I really did not want to deal with  some of the CL tire kickers. Hold off a year and I will sell you my K1...that is next in line after I get this CB550 done.

[Tagzard]

Yes, I sold it on this forum. I wanted to give members first chance so posted it in the "for sale" section along with the project thread on that K3. And if you look close at Gene's avatar it might look familiar. I really did not want to deal with  some of the CL tire kickers. Hold off a year and I will sell you my K1...that is next in line after I get this CB550 done.

I might just post a wanted ad right now. Looking for a bike to get asap, so I can tinker with it so it's ready to ride in the spring


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[Stev-o]

Yes, I sold it on this forum. I wanted to give members first chance so posted it in the "for sale" section along with the project thread on that K3. And if you look close at Gene's avatar it might look familiar. I really did not want to deal with  some of the CL tire kickers. Hold off a year and I will sell you my K1...that is next in line after I get this CB550 done.

No, wait! I want to buy it so I don't have to restore my K1 that's been settin in the Barcave for 3 years waiting its turn!

[Stev-o]

I sold this K3 to a member for $3,000 in May this year. He was happy and I was happy to get it to a member who loved these bikes as much as all of us. I had documented everything I updated on the bike and he paid to ship it to CA. You may want to post in the "wanted" section of this board. You will find straight up answers on what you are buying and none of the fast talk you get on CL and others.

Do people regularly post here to sell bikes?

Yes, they do....


http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,162754.0.html

[Johnie]

You will find there is an unspoken trust and honesty to this forum brought about by the members. It is a good place to be...

[Tagzard]

I sold this K3 to a member for $3,000 in May this year. He was happy and I was happy to get it to a member who loved these bikes as much as all of us. I had documented everything I updated on the bike and he paid to ship it to CA. You may want to post in the "wanted" section of this board. You will find straight up answers on what you are buying and none of the fast talk you get on CL and others.

Do people regularly post here to sell bikes?

Yes, they do....


http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,162754.0.html

I'll check it out


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[Tagzard]

You will find there is an unspoken trust and honesty to this forum brought about by the members. It is a good place to be...

How is the shipping process usually done? I live in Logan Square Chicago and I assume most bikes here are from California or the summer coastal areas.


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[Gene]

You will find there is an unspoken trust and honesty to this forum brought about by the members. It is a good place to be...

How is the shipping process usually done? I live in Logan Square Chicago and I assume most bikes here are from California or the summer coastal areas.


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I live in So Cal and I bought that bike from Johnie in WI.  P.S. - I used to live in Pilsen in Chicago - so I know your area.

Shipping:  Do some research, read reviews, and, at some point, trust a shipper enough to schedule a pick-up from the seller.  I bought Johnie's bike because I knew he could be trusted and once it got here I could put some gas in it and go for a ride. I found a shipper that had good reviews, a reasonable delivery schedule, and was in-the-middle price-wise (I don't trust anyone too cheap). See if they're flexible re: contacting the seller and you. This is important. There could be fees charged if the seller isn't available at the scheduled time to pick up the bike. Etc. etc. etc.

There are a lot of different options in buying:  Buy as cheap as you can and fix it up from the bottom; buy a running bike for what seems reasonable and fix what you have to to get it going and when you have to in order to keep it going; buy a done-bike ready to ride "out-of-the-box" and keep it maintained.  I've done 2 of the 3 and the bike I bought from this forum was the 3rd.  I don't care much about having the bike look new - mine are workhorses - but that bike was restored far better than I have the time or energy for.

If you just need to ride right now - buy something cheap and ready to go.  THEN take your time and look for the bike you really want.  It took me about a year to decide I really wanted a 750 and I waited.  Once I saw a forum member selling one, who I knew did good work, I made the jump.

Don't be impatient, but don't sleep too much on it either.

Last word from me on this: I bought a bike off eBay, and a bike off CL. I "overpaid" for both (I was willing to pay it, btw) BUT if I had the wisdom of this forum to guide me at the time, I would have waited and gotten what I wanted, which I did - eventually. You are doing the right thing here. Study first, ride later.

[Don R]

 It's difficult to properly price one without looking at it, hearing it and talking to the seller, one that needs carbs cleaned, wheel bearings, tires, brake work, a fresh battery, tank cleaned, etc can cost another $1K or more after you get it.
 The newest ones are 40 years old now and a lot of stuff can happen.

[Tagzard]

You will find there is an unspoken trust and honesty to this forum brought about by the members. It is a good place to be...

How is the shipping process usually done? I live in Logan Square Chicago and I assume most bikes here are from California or the summer coastal areas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I live in So Cal and I bought that bike from Johnie in WI.  P.S. - I used to live in Pilsen in Chicago - so I know your area.

Shipping:  Do some research, read reviews, and, at some point, trust a shipper enough to schedule a pick-up from the seller.  I bought Johnie's bike because I knew he could be trusted and once it got here I could put some gas in it and go for a ride. I found a shipper that had good reviews, a reasonable delivery schedule, and was in-the-middle price-wise (I don't trust anyone too cheap). See if they're flexible re: contacting the seller and you. This is important. There could be fees charged if the seller isn't available at the scheduled time to pick up the bike. Etc. etc. etc.

There are a lot of different options in buying:  Buy as cheap as you can and fix it up from the bottom; buy a running bike for what seems reasonable and fix what you have to to get it going and when you have to in order to keep it going; buy a done-bike ready to ride "out-of-the-box" and keep it maintained.  I've done 2 of the 3 and the bike I bought from this forum was the 3rd.  I don't care much about having the bike look new - mine are workhorses - but that bike was restored far better than I have the time or energy for.

If you just need to ride right now - buy something cheap and ready to go.  THEN take your time and look for the bike you really want.  It took me about a year to decide I really wanted a 750 and I waited.  Once I saw a forum member selling one, who I knew did good work, I made the jump.

Don't be impatient, but don't sleep too much on it either.

Last word from me on this: I bought a bike off eBay, and a bike off CL. I "overpaid" for both (I was willing to pay it, btw) BUT if I had the wisdom of this forum to guide me at the time, I would have waited and gotten what I wanted, which I did - eventually. You are doing the right thing here. Study first, ride later.

Chicago represent!!!! Yeah man thanks for all the advice, I've been researching on bikes for quite a while now and decided I want a few CBs. I'm definitely glad I came here before buying off guys on Craigslist because I would be so pissed finding out I over paid. How much do you think is reasonable for shipping something out here to Chi?


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[Gene]

If shipping from the West coast to Chicago, you can pay between $400 - $1000.00.  Be aware of the options the shipper offers.  They may strap the bike between two cars on an open auto transport trailer.  If you want inside only transport, that'll cost more.  If you want it crated, that'll cost more.

The less you pay the longer it will take - generally.  Now, I've only done this once and my cost was +/- $700 fully insured, it took about 14 days.  I may have paid a little more than I needed to but I also chose a company that had a brick-and-mortar presence close to me in case we needed to chat about something.

Find a shipper you believe you can trust.  There are some recommendations on this site as well, though I can't for the life of me think where they are.

[PeWe]

Important to open cover for front sprocket, clean the cases inside and check for cracked cases. Maybe a bad repair due to snapped drive chain cracking the case(s), fixed by JB weld which is not good in the long run.