Topic: I got a "free" Honda CB

[snickram]

Ok, no more photos...   

[snickram]

Good news!!!  After posting all those photos I went from newbie to enthusiast..  Now that's exciting... 

Well, after learning this is the less desireable year I may get it running and simply enjoy it..  Not sure what I'll do yet, but I'm thinking about riding it daily.  Surely it gets good gas mileage..  It should make for cheap transportation?  Well, time to clean her...          

[medic09]

that will be a sweet, fun ride.  enjoy it!

[750goes]

You got it for what $50 then told the poor guy I'll only give you $25 if you can't find the title....

You got a completely original bike with f' all mileage.....what an absolute STEAL..and manual......

Buy yourself a lottery ticket.......... you just won the jackpot anyway......

keep it, restore it.........if it runs with little effort your are really one lucky dude.

[snickram]

You got it for what $50 then told the poor guy I'll only give you $25 if you can't find the title....

You got a completely original bike with f' all mileage.....what an absolute STEAL..and manual......

Buy yourself a lottery ticket.......... you just won the jackpot anyway......

keep it, restore it.........if it runs with little effort your are really one lucky dude.

  Well, I really need that title..  Believe me this particular guy isn't hurting for money..  He's a farmer that apparently does well judging by his house?  The bike was in the corner of his barn and I think he wanted to get rid of it?  I asked him how much he wanted and he said "not much", so I offered $50..  He quickly said ok, so I don't feel too bad..  Now if he can find that title he'll get $50..  I've yet to pay him, I'll pay next week when I get paid         

[750goes]

So you got the bike, washed it, put it in your garage, and not paid for it ...


What hapopens if the guy cannot find the title - you pay him $25 or do you take the bike back ??

[DammitDan]

Unfortunately thats one of the very undesirable models, known for being complete peices of junk.  But Ill give you $100 for it!  Double your money!   Kidding.  Don't know what that old thumpers worth but I may be interested if you let if go for a good price, and find the title.

Old thumper?

Nice looking bike for $25 (or $50)!

[snickram]

So you got the bike, washed it, put it in your garage, and not paid for it ...


What hapopens if the guy cannot find the title - you pay him $25 or do you take the bike back ??

I pay him $25..  What would you do?  Take her back or pay $25???    

[750goes]

Give him the $50 and tell him you'll let him test ride it after you have it running........he may even find the title for you...

[snickram]

Give him the $50 and tell him you'll let him test ride it after you have it running........he may even find the title for you...

Well, this is also part of the reason he sold it..  He's 70 something years old and has no desire to ride a motorcycle..  He may still find the title, I hope..

[nickjtc]

Lucky b@$^@&d!! What a nice looking bike. Enjoy......given time anything '70s from Honda will be collectable.

[motorcycleclaude75]

DAMN!!   

The bike looks like you could ride it now! 

DO NOT SELL THIS BIKE!!!!!!!  How often do you come across an original with so low miles.

If I didn't stop myself, I would call you many bad names 

Give the guy his $50 already!

Nice Find.

Claude

[snickram]

Lucky b@$^@&d!! What a nice looking bike. Enjoy......given time anything '70s from Honda will be collectable.

Well after tomorrow it should look much nicer?  I'm going to steel wool the heck out of it...  0000 ofcourse... 

[mrbreeze]

Can't believe Pro Teal hasn't jumped in yet. He's gonna s%#t when he sees this!!!! Nice find dude!!! I like that year of a 450.

[Pinhead]

I doubt that year is junk... DOHC 450's used to be raced all the time, right? I know that year 360 was junk (had one) but it was SOHC instead of DOHC.

[Master Ted]

How neat!  Congrats again on your good fortune.

[mkramer1121]

Yes, on that bike you keep it original, with everything accounted for.  On bikes where you're missing parts, that's when you cafe them!

[needswork]

DAMN!!   

The bike looks like you could ride it now! 

DO NOT SELL THIS BIKE!!!!!!!  How often do you come across an original with so low miles.

If I didn't stop myself, I would call you many bad names 

Give the guy his $50 already!

Nice Find.

Claude

OK, I'll call him bad names  Lucky SOB!  Yeah, very unreliable, troublesome bike. You really should let me take that off your hands for...oh... say $101.00 

Man, why can't I find stuff like that?

[snickram]

Hey, try dipping the steel wool in some chrome polish, like Blue Thunder, seems to make it just a bit less abbrasive on the chrome, plus you hit 2 birds with one stone.  Just let it dry after the rust is off and buff to gloss.  Ive had good luck with that method anyway.  Looking forward to the clean pics!  Keep it man.

  I've not heard of blue thunder?  I may pick up some brasso and 00 steel wool.  I have 0000 steel wool, but I can tell some places will require 00 wool..  It's not perfect, but man 1699 miles..   My gas tank is 50% rusty and I need to break that up, any suggestions?  I really don't want to cream it, actually I refuse to cream it..  NOT GONNA DO IT...  There are a few items I'll replace to make it look nice, but I won't dismantle this one..  I'll simply clean her as it sits and put it on the road..  Later on I "might" restore?  For now she's going to be ridden and enjoyed..  That's what my uncle said to do..  I told him I might put it on ebay and he said NO ride that thing...      My uncle had a lot of motorcycles in his days and recalled this particular honda being a dependable machine like most hondas..  My uncle now has 3 goldwings, mainly older ones..                    

[kuyarico]

Excellent find! Great story. I love hearing about these kind of finds.

[snickram]

Well, this bike is definetely a peice of history with such low miles, but I started cleaning and unfortunetely the chrome is horrible.  It spent too much time in a barn, that's for sure.  The chrome on the rims has been taken over by rust in many places..  Actually all the chrome on this bike is bad, but I may just ride it replacing a peice here and there as I come across good deals.  Not in a hurry to fix her..  Once I replace all the bad looking parts I'll consider completely restoring it..  It really makes me sad to see such a nice bike in such helpless condition.  So even if I didn't like CB450's this one will get my attention, I like her..  Sad     I may have got a good deal on this bike but by the time I replace all the required items it won't be such a great deal, however I'm just happy to have it..         

[jsaab2748]

If you can make it run right, you'll get the fever to retore it. Don't do like I've done recently, and try to "conquer the world" all at once. I've gotten into this trap with a 550 that didn't run and was in rough shape. While at this point it's coming along fairly well, I wish I'd had done things slower. It'd have been much less expensive. Tryin to do all things at once can burn you out sometimes too.
I own a 750 that I restored almost to new condition. and it was much more rewarding than my 550 has been. Hoping this will change when the 550 is finished. I guess my suggestion to you is make it run sweetly, then do the rest in stages. And STAY OFF Ebay till you're ready to go on to the next stage. That's a nice 450, a very tempting restoration. just my .02...

[snickram]

Well, I took some steal wool to it and here's what I've concluded.  It has some good points, but some bad points also.  I'm seriously considering parting this thing out on ebay, but I truly hate to do this.  I feel as though I need to locate a parts bike to come out ahead?  If I'm able to get the title or not is another obstacle.  Anyhow here's the good:

-motor with only 1699 miles that I assume will run just fine?
-gauges in good condition with one reading 1699 miles 
-beautiful tank and side cases
-a very nice "tare free" seat



The bad: (all the chrome)

I'd need to replace the following items:
rims, exhaust pipes, both fenders, rear tail light chrome, shocks, handle bars, turn signals and posts.. 

I realize the bike looks good in picture, but believe me it needs help!!!  Sitting in a barn for over 30 years = NOT GOOD...  He did kick the motor over once a year, so that's good.  I simply feel I'll have too much money invested in this thing, unless I locate a donor bike.  What do ya'all think?  Keep it and replace items along the way or sell and donate money to other Honda projects..  And YES I'm positive the above items need replaced.  No chrome remaining is some spots and a lot of bad pitting..  Trust me...       

[jsaab2748]

.....and after lookin at the pics again I'd think you could get used chrome replacement parts off e bay cheap.

[dagersh]

Snick,

Get her running, replace what is most important (rims) and take your time.  That bike is a time capsule, you will find all that you need for it!  This was a kismet find - never go against kismet!

Gersh