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Author Topic: 1978 750F The start of a big project.  (Read 15937 times)

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Offline Jnel

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1978 750F The start of a big project.
« on: February 07, 2017, 12:34:49 PM »
I've been riding since I was 15 and I'm  62 now.  I've pulled a 750 engine a time or two. Done the timing chain thing.  Messed with the carbs. The normal stuff. 

But I'm not going to lie here.  I think I went too far this time.  I've never owned a Cafe Racer and I've always loved the look.  The simple, open frame and the minimalistic approach to the design and function was what got me.

There is nothing simple about building this bike.  The research alone is a ton of work.  I think 3 dimensionally.  I see the finished project in my mind and i know what i want. But knowing what you want and knowing were to find it and bring it together... well that's another story.

Im the second owner of the bike.  The last time it ran was 2002.  Since then it got moverd around, treated terribly and I fully take the blame.  It had some issues back then, but mostly electrical glitches.  As long as you had spare fuses or aluminium foil in you cigarette pack... you were good.

So 14 years without running.  Not even turned over by hand.  But honestly... thats what got me.  I used my hand on the kick starter and it moved freely.  Wow.



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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2017, 12:58:20 PM »


Quote from: Jnel on February 07, 2017, 12:34:49 PM
I've been riding since I was 15 and I'm  62 now.  I've pulled a 750 engine a time or two. Done the timing chain thing.  Messed with the carbs. The normal stuff. 

But I'm not going to lie here.  I think I went too far this time.  I've never owned a Cafe Racer and I've always loved the look.  The simple, open frame and the minimalistic approach to the design and function was what got me.

There is nothing simple about building this bike.  The research alone is a ton of work.  I think 3 dimensionally.  I see the finished project in my mind and i know what i want. But knowing what you want and knowing were to find it and bring it together... well that's another story.

Im the second owner of the bike.  The last time it ran was 2002.  Since then it got moverd around, treated terribly and I fully take the blame.  It had some issues back then, but mostly electrical glitches.  As long as you had spare fuses or aluminium foil in you cigarette pack... you were good.

So 14 years without running.  Not even turned over by hand.  But honestly... thats what got me.  I used my hand on the kick starter and it moved freely.  Wow.





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Offline calj737

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2017, 01:05:27 PM »
Easy enough to bring that up to where you want it to go. A little wax, some elbow grease, and good as new  ;) Okay, maybe a bit more work than that. But plenty of helpful folks and resources available for you. Just put together a shopping list of wish items and we will happily spend your money  ;D
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2017, 02:08:25 PM »
Well i did the only thing that I could think of... I took it completely apart.  This way Ill be sure to touch every part.  It's down to the frame now.

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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2017, 02:15:57 PM »
Quote from: Jnel on February 07, 2017, 02:08:25 PM
Well i did the only thing that I could think of... I took it completely apart.  This way Ill be sure to touch every part.  It's down to the frame now.

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2017, 05:17:40 PM »
That might have been a little heavy handed.  It's easier to tell what an old bike needs by trying to getting it started and running before breaking it down, but so be it.  Bring on questions.
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"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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1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2017, 05:39:34 PM »
Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!

Oops, sorry was just trying to help jumpstart this project  :-[
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2017, 06:07:04 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on February 07, 2017, 05:39:34 PM
Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!

Oops, sorry was just trying to help jumpstart this project  :-[


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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2017, 06:08:06 AM »
Once I got started... look out. 

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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #9 on: February 08, 2017, 06:09:24 AM »
Quote from: Jnel on February 08, 2017, 06:08:06 AM
Once I got started... look out. 

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Pretty rusty

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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2017, 06:11:13 AM »
Quote from: Jnel on February 08, 2017, 06:09:24 AM
Quote from: Jnel on February 08, 2017, 06:08:06 AM
Once I got started... look out. 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk


Pretty rusty

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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #11 on: February 08, 2017, 06:16:17 AM »
I had only two issues on the tear-down.  The rear axle was very hard to remove and i snapped one bolt off on the points cover
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Offline palepainter

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2017, 07:27:22 AM »
Yikes........ 
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Offline hashvm

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2017, 07:37:51 AM »
Looks like you got a plan .. good luck
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Offline calj737

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2017, 07:45:24 AM »
I have a stock disc in far better shape than that one. You're welcome to it. I'd send it off to Tom @truedisk.net for surface grinding and drilling though.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2017, 08:13:07 AM »


I didn't turn them because I was thinking of getting new drilled disks.  But I hit them with a wire wheel.  They didn't come too bad.
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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #16 on: February 08, 2017, 08:16:06 AM »
Hashvm... I have no plan.  Nothing!  Only time and beer!  Totally winging it.
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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #17 on: February 08, 2017, 08:19:37 AM »
Cal.... lets see how this turns out.  Don't worry, I'm not going to bust out the electric drill and put some holes in that disk!    I appreciate your offer.
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Offline palepainter

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #18 on: February 08, 2017, 12:04:22 PM »
Quote from: Jnel on February 08, 2017, 08:16:06 AM
Hashvm... I have no plan.  Nothing!  Only time and beer!  Totally winging it.

Beer does help!!
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Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #19 on: February 09, 2017, 07:06:46 AM »


Spokes cleaned up ok.  Rims need some love.
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Offline calj737

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #20 on: February 09, 2017, 07:56:56 AM »
And new rubber!
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #21 on: February 09, 2017, 08:43:01 AM »
My ears are open for comments on tires.  Please.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #22 on: February 09, 2017, 08:53:17 AM »
Bridgestone BT45 or Avon Roadriders -- both provide ample grip and durability.
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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)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #23 on: February 09, 2017, 09:39:22 AM »
Very popular choices. If you are changing the rim sizes, (18" from 19") you can opt for Pirelli Sport Demons for a slight upgrade on performance. But love the Avons too-
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Jnel

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Re: 1978 750F The start of a big project.
« Reply #24 on: February 09, 2017, 09:51:09 AM »


I'm a fan of beefy looking tires. Not sure if im going to be able to get that with the rims that i have.
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