Topic: $100 1978 Cb750 project

[Rydog400f]

Picked up this little gem from a friend. Motor was seized and it was missing the title. A little over a week of marvel mystery oil and the cylinders freed up with ease and a little schmoozing at the dmv brought the $610 late fees and penalties down to $400. Thinking about just bringing it back to stock but am kind of leaning towards a gl1000/ '76cb750 spoked wheel conversion. I'm pretty sure this year came with a painted engine which is chipped pretty bad. Other than that I changed the oil, plugs, battery, and cleaned the carbs and it fired up! Easiest project bike I've started in a while!

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[firebane]

As I mentioned in another area you have a F model bike which are a bit more sought after.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

The F models had black painted engines.

The F1/F2 have comstars and probably the best CB750 SOHC4 brakes.  The GL will give you slightly more stopping power and 37mm (versus 35mm) diameter fork tubes.  You will need to do a complete swap though -- triples, forks, brakes, wheel, rotors, etc.  If you were swapping from a K model, I might recommend it, but here I don't really think the juice is worth the squeeze. 

[Rydog400f]

The F models had black painted engines.

The F1/F2 have comstars and probably the best CB750 SOHC4 brakes.  The GL will give you slightly more stopping power and 37mm (versus 35mm) diameter fork tubes.  You will need to do a complete swap though -- triples, forks, brakes, wheel, rotors, etc.  If you were swapping from a K model, I might recommend it, but here I don't really think the juice is worth the squeeze.

Yeah after doing more research I think I've decided not to do the swap and really just bring it back to stock with the vfr brake upgrade.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[Rydog400f]

Got some more work done today and had a LOT of parts come in. I bought what I though was cb900f front and rear brakes. But it looks like the front is for a 900c and the rear is a cb900f. The 900c won't fit the 750f mounts. Got a new headlight and some other bits. Tank is being prepped for por15 now. I'm also having trouble finding a 22mm petcock. Any help is much appreciated!

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[madmtnmotors]

Aftermarket fuel valve (scroll down):

http://www.vintagecb750.com/products/6/fuel-system/67/fuel-petcocks-gas-tank-caps-and-parts

Fitment is determined by measuring the OD and thread pitch of the threaded bung on the bottom of the tank. Be sure to pull the old filter out of the bottom of the tank from inside the petcock bung. New filter can still be had from Honda:

http://www.hondapartsnation.com/oemparts/p/honda/16952-388-015/screen-set-fuel-strainer


How much do you want for the old petcock?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's a bummer about the front calipers.  I imagine the dual piston 900f calipers should improve the stopping power.  Hopefully the seller will take back the wrong calipers.

Those rotors could use a little TLC, too.  I wouldn't ride on those shocks either.  I'm looking forward to seeing you bringing this one back.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

As I mentioned in another area you have a F model bike which are a bit more sought after.

It's funny because 10 years ago, that wasn't the case in California.

[Rydog400f]

That's a bummer about the front calipers.  I imagine the dual piston 900f calipers should improve the stopping power.  Hopefully the seller will take back the wrong calipers.

Those rotors could use a little TLC, too.  I wouldn't ride on those shocks either.  I'm looking forward to seeing you bringing this one back.

I hope I can just find the 900f brackets and bolt them on. Oh yeah I wasn't planning on riding it with the rotors/ shocks this way. Rotors will get honed and drilled and  ordering some hagons shocks.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[Stev-o]

Subscribed.   You have a name for this bike yet?

[seanbarney41]

As I mentioned in another area you have a F model bike which are a bit more sought after.

It's funny because 10 years ago, that wasn't the case in California.

I dont think that is the case anywhere... its funny because f parts are precious, but the whole bike aint worth #$%*.  Don't get me wrong, I love the F's, you just cant sell em.

[Terry in Australia]

Wow, that brings back memories. I bought an F2 like yours for $400 on ebay 12 or 13 years ago and spent a small fortune restoring it. Thanks to Photobucket holding my pics hostage, I can't show you a before and after pic now, but it looked better than new when I'd finished. It was a great bike when I finished it, but as has been said before, they're worth nothing compared to early "K" series bikes, and I lost several thousand dollars when I sold it. Great bikes, but I'd never restore another one. Cheers, Terry.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Wow, that brings back memories. I bought an F2 like yours for $400 on ebay 12 or 13 years ago and spent a small fortune restoring it. Thanks to Photobucket holding my pics hostage, I can't show you a before and after pic now, but it looked better than new when I'd finished. It was a great bike when I finished it, but as has been said before, they're worth nothing compared to early "K" series bikes, and I lost several thousand dollars when I sold it. Great bikes, but I'd never restore another one. Cheers, Terry.

I thought that was still the case, but I have never tried to buy or sell one.

[MauiK3]

I'm glad I'm not thinking about selling my K3 when I'm done. If I added up the costs there would be no way to break even. These bikes are expensive to bring back. I still have some pretty pricy things to get such as calipers, maybe a master cylinder, various nuts and bolts, pistons and I assume valve guides. Oh, I also will be getting progressive fork springs and shocks. It adds up quickly. If I were to sell it someone would want to buy it for what it sold for in 1973. Do it for the joy, not the money. Only a very few vehicles make money. I suppose if someone had a very low number K0 it might bring in real cash. I'll just enjoy putting around with my wife as other "guys of a certain age" look at me and wonder where the bike came from and dream of their youth. :-))

[Rydog400f]

I'm glad I'm not thinking about selling my K3 when I'm done. If I added up the costs there would be no way to break even. These bikes are expensive to bring back. I still have some pretty pricy things to get such as calipers, maybe a master cylinder, various nuts and bolts, pistons and I assume valve guides. Oh, I also will be getting progressive fork springs and shocks. It adds up quickly. If I were to sell it someone would want to buy it for what it sold for in 1973. Do it for the joy, not the money. Only a very few vehicles make money. I suppose if someone had a very low number K0 it might bring in real cash. I'll just enjoy putting around with my wife as other "guys of a certain age" look at me and wonder where the bike came from and dream of their youth. :-))

That's how I feel too. I've never really built a bike to make money. If I'm lucky I'll make a few hundred. After the first one the money just gets recycled from one to the other.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[Rydog400f]

Aftermarket fuel valve (scroll down):

http://www.vintagecb750.com/products/6/fuel-system/67/fuel-petcocks-gas-tank-caps-and-parts

Fitment is determined by measuring the OD and thread pitch of the threaded bung on the bottom of the tank. Be sure to pull the old filter out of the bottom of the tank from inside the petcock bung. New filter can still be had from Honda:

http://www.hondapartsnation.com/oemparts/p/honda/16952-388-015/screen-set-fuel-strainer


How much do you want for the old petcock?

Well I guess I'll keep it. The bike had a full tank when I got it and it wasn't leaking. I think I'll just try to replace the rubber washer and reuse it. Thanks for the link!

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[madmtnmotors]

Well I guess I'll keep it. The bike had a full tank when I got it and it wasn't leaking. I think I'll just try to replace the rubber washer and reuse it. Thanks for the link!

The new strainer/filter comes with a new gasket for the petcock. Be sure to get all of the old gasket out. 

[Rydog400f]

Got the front brakes sorted. Picked up a pair from an '85 honda shadow for $25 and they bolted right on. Plus they're in way better shape than the original! Almost ready to tear the bike down for powder coating. Just trying to figure out what kind of seat to go with. My wife and I decided it would be a single  seat. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use the stock hinge and seat lock. Also looking into the handle bar setup. I have some super motos on now but like the look of the Hyde m bars.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Another member converted his 2-up Super Sport to a single.  The build currently escapes me, but it use the stock hinges as well.

[Rydog400f]

Another member converted his 2-up Super Sport to a single.  The build currently escapes me, but it use the stock hinges as well.

I've seen a few. I think the Corbin seat is Bolt on.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[Farley121]

 IIRC, Carpy has a fiberglass cafe seat that used the the original seat hardware.

[Geeto67]

Just trying to figure out what kind of seat to go with. My wife and I decided it would be a single  seat. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use the stock hinge and seat lock.

If you can find one, Giuliari made a special seat for the F model supersports in the 70's/80's that used the stock hinges and locks. they are a bit wild looking and rare as hens teeth but they are out there and you can find them:

[Rydog400f]

Just trying to figure out what kind of seat to go with. My wife and I decided it would be a single  seat. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use the stock hinge and seat lock.

If you can find one, Giuliari made a special seat for the F model supersports in the 70's/80's that used the stock hinges and locks. they are a bit wild looking and rare as hens teeth but they are out there and you can find them:

Woah!

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Just trying to figure out what kind of seat to go with. My wife and I decided it would be a single  seat. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use the stock hinge and seat lock.

If you can find one, Giuliari made a special seat for the F model supersports in the 70's/80's that used the stock hinges and locks. they are a bit wild looking and rare as hens teeth but they are out there and you can find them:

If that's wild looking, it's definitely wild looking in a GOOD way!!  Very cool, although I'd avoid white as the upholstery. 

[Stev-o]

Just trying to figure out what kind of seat to go with. My wife and I decided it would be a single  seat. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use the stock hinge and seat lock.

If you can find one, Giuliari made a special seat for the F model supersports in the 70's/80's that used the stock hinges and locks. they are a bit wild looking and rare as hens teeth but they are out there and you can find them:

 Very cool, although I'd avoid white as the upholstery. 

Better than some of the other ugly colors I've seen

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Just trying to figure out what kind of seat to go with. My wife and I decided it would be a single  seat. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use the stock hinge and seat lock.

If you can find one, Giuliari made a special seat for the F model supersports in the 70's/80's that used the stock hinges and locks. they are a bit wild looking and rare as hens teeth but they are out there and you can find them:

 Very cool, although I'd avoid white as the upholstery. 

Better than some of the other ugly colors I've seen

It's not necessarily unattractive, but simply impractical.  If the bike is going to be ridden (and not just shown), that white will show dirt and wear faster than other colors.

[seanbarney41]

he he...I like the white a hell of a lot better than any brown, but the beloved white would surely turn to hated brown soon enough

[seanbarney41]

Geeto, have you or anyone you know ever actually been in the same room as one of these fabled Giuliari F seats?

I tend to think the 2 people that bought them lost the seat before they ever got around to putting it on their bike.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

he he...I like the white a hell of a lot better than any brown, but the beloved white would surely turn to hated brown soon enough

Oh, but it would look pretty sweet with black upholstery (and paint on the bodywork to match the rest of the bike).

[seanbarney41]

he he...I like the white a hell of a lot better than any brown, but the beloved white would surely turn to hated brown soon enough

Oh, but it would look pretty sweet with black upholstery (and paint on the bodywork to match the rest of the bike).

totally not argueing with that...got one you want to sell?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

he he...I like the white a hell of a lot better than any brown, but the beloved white would surely turn to hated brown soon enough

Oh, but it would look pretty sweet with black upholstery (and paint on the bodywork to match the rest of the bike).

totally not argueing with that...got one you want to sell?

Nope! Just making an observation.  I've never seen one out in the wild.

[Geeto67]

Geeto, have you or anyone you know ever actually been in the same room as one of these fabled Giuliari F seats?

I tend to think the 2 people that bought them lost the seat before they ever got around to putting it on their bike.

I have one. It is in my storage unit in NY. I had it mounted at one point on an old F I have but I don't seem to have any of those old pictures. I don't have a stock framed F at the moment but I am holding on to it because I'll probably buy another one sooner or later.

Mine has the black seat cover and has been def used. It has a gold paint job with black stripes. I bought it from a T500 collector/racer friend of mine who was going to cut it up to mount it on a T500, when I explained the rarity of it he sold it to me. He had it for something close to 20 years, he buys a lot of giuliari seats to use on two stroke suzukis, I'm in the middle of trying to convince him not to cut up a bmw airhead one for a T500 so I can use it on my R80.

do you have questions about it? I can answer most questions. I have seen three other ones in my life, plus two others for sale on ebay in germany and italy. The one with the white cover I posted a pic of is owned by someone I know and I forwarded the info to the OP in case he wants to try to convince them to sell it. As far as I know that one has not been used. There is an old thread on these seats here that even discloses who owns the white one:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=66043.0

unfortunatley all the pics have been photobucketed.

The white giuliari seat covers are pretty durable. They don't turn brown or get dusty, the worst that happens to them is they dry and rip (they are not the highest quality vinyl), and dirt gets into the cracks and start to make it look grungy. If you smoke around them they will yellow. I have seen a number of harley and vespa seats in white that giuliari made and this is about as bad as they get if you take care of them:



I had entertained the idea of reproducing them. The rear cowl is just old fashioned chopper gun hand laid fiberglass, and the seat pan doesn't look to be much different. The hardest thing to source would be the foam. For what it would cost I don't think there is a market to support it.

I personally like them because they remind me of the BEET bodywork you see on a lot of the Japanese Domestic custom KZ1000s and CB750s:

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

There you go.  At least one still exists!  And perhaps, at the right price . . .

[seanbarney41]

Thanks for the excellent info Geeto...I will have to keep my eyes and ears open for one of these puppies.