Author Topic: New Guy and His First Bike  (Read 887 times)

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Offline jayrdee

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New Guy and His First Bike
« on: September 12, 2019, 07:37:25 pm »
Hello everyone! 

I picked up my first motorcycle about a month and a half ago, and found myself browsing this forum a lot so I figured I would make an account and get involved.  :D :D

A little background on myself, I live in Lexington KY, I'm 24, spent 6 years in the National Guard as a vehicle mechanic, just graduated college with a degree in Electrical Engineering and got my first big boy job as a Production Engineer. I'm also real big into music, played guitar in bands and gigged all around central KY throughout high school and college. I've always had an itch for bikes but never got a chance to get one for myself. I've always been more of a car guy, specifically 80s/90s Japanese cars, but I finally got my first bike!

Its a 1977 CB750K. Snagged it from a guy off craigslist in Cincinnati OH. I initially bought it with the intentions of chopping it up and building a brat/cafe style bike, but I fell in love with the OEM look and all the chrome so we'll see what happens. She's weathered, but she's solid  ;D






It still needs a few things to get it in good running condition. When I got it, it had a seized caliper so I immediately replaced that. The next big thing to do is rebuild the forks. The fork seals leak REALLY bad.

I also noticed when riding around the front brake seizes up. When I open the bleeder valve some brake fluid squirts out and the caliper frees up, which that leads me to believe something is up with the Master Cylinder, like its not retracting. This doesn't surprise me because unfortunately the previous owner kept this thing outside :P  The brake fluid looked like chocolate milk when I did the caliper job. No big deal though!

Anyways, looking forward to chatting with everyone!
« Last Edit: September 12, 2019, 07:39:57 pm by jayrdee »
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Offline Tracksnblades1

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2019, 07:47:02 pm »
👍

Thanks for your service....Keeping America Free.....

🇺🇸
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Offline Kelly E

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2019, 07:53:53 pm »
Welcome
Check the small return hole in the master cylinder, it may be plugged. Also could be the brake hoses which I always replace anyway.
Never Give Up - Never Surrender

The Rust Bros. Garage Collection
1974 Honda CB 550 K0                                            1971 MGB/GT
1975 Honda CB 400F Super Sport                          1972 MGB/GT
1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD                                   1985 GMC S15
1978 Kawasaki KL 250
1980 Suzuki GS 1100E
1981 Suzuki GS 1100E
1982 Honda CB 900F Super Sport
1983 Honda CB 1100F
1984 Honda VF 700S Sabre
1984 Honda VF 1000F Interceptor
1990 Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans
1994 Kawasaki Concours ZG 1000A9
2005 Harley Davidson Fat Boy

Offline Kickinash

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2019, 08:06:44 pm »
Welcome from another new member, nice looking bike.
76 CB550, 94 ST1100, 97 XR400, 84 CT70, 69 CT70, 70 Trail 90, 64 305 Dream next project.

Offline Johnie

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2019, 08:48:13 am »
Welcome to the forum! Good on you for not chopping that bike up. Even has the OEM exhaust which is great. Here is a pic of my 1977 the day I brought it home brand new. And I married her...the girl that is. :)
« Last Edit: September 13, 2019, 08:57:25 am by Johnie »
1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 sulphur yellow (current project)

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline Kevin D

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2019, 09:17:08 am »
Welcome, Thanks for your service. That CB is very nice. If you’re a beginning rider get yourself into a beginning rider class.
71 CB750 K1
100,000 miles
Original Owner
———past———
70 SL100/125/150
70 Candy BlueGreen CB 750 K0
————————————————-
Former Honda parts kid/counter kid/do all
—————————————————————-
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right
Genius is 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2019, 10:04:34 am »
Go Cats!

Great snag. DO NOT CUT UP THAT SWEET ORIGINAL BIKE! If you want to play then get a beater. And go through the whole brake system. It's your lifeline.

Welcome to the other madness  ;)
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline MD

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2019, 05:03:38 pm »
Welcome from Lake Superior,

Spent a few years in that area, you definitely have some fun roads around there.

-MD
1975 CB550F Super Sport;  Lake Superior Circle 1000, 45-90 Saddle 1000, and All in Yooper 1000:  1985 GL1200A, MN in State SS1K

Offline tool14

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2019, 11:29:50 am »
welcome aboard.

Offline dhall57

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2019, 01:41:52 pm »
Welcome from North Carolina. Glad you decided not to chop up that original K7.
1970 CB750KO
1971 CB500KO-project bike
1973 CB350G- project bike
1974 CB750K4-project bike
1974 CB750K4
1976 CB750K6
1977 GL1000
1997 Harley Wideglide

Offline frenchy51

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2019, 04:28:30 am »
Welcome to the forum. Nice Bike-good choice not to cafe it.
1976 CB750F SURVIVOR

Offline Erny

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2019, 06:16:41 am »
Welcome to the forum and congrats to nice K7!
Chopping her is bad idea, looking how nice survivor you found.
She's similar to my K7  ;)

Concerning brake - my advice, based on my own exprience:
- do full clean-up of MC (special attention to tiny hole inside, must be free to allow retraction), Caliper - make special attention to clean groove inside where ring sits, it has conical shape, must be carefully cleaned to sit new ring, I only succeeded mechanically, this is important for proper retraction. Check piston for pitting replace if needed (I put stainless one), install rebuild kit for MC and new ring into Caliper (best genuine Honda, still avalable)
- if you can, get OEM Honda pads, they seems to brake the best w/o sqeaking
- if hoses are stock original, replace them, best for braided ones. For example Goodridge makes black braided hoses (on order) that looks like stock rubber ones, they are just thinner. Can post some photos
- lubricate caliper arm pilot properly, check for free play
- adjust and ride ;)

Note: after istalling new pads let them at ~50 miles to sit properly to achive max braking power
CB750K K7 USA model (1977)
CB550K1 USA model (1975)

Offline RAFster122s

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2019, 03:09:34 pm »
Welcome from TN.

 Brake rubber hoses should be replaced every 6 years as the rubber degrades and can cause the symptoms you mentioned. Braided stainless steel Teflon lines last longer and give better brake feel. Apex Brakes, talk to Raymond, can hook you up with the needed hoses to fit your MC, handlebar height, etc. and any other changes from stock to fit your bike and his prices are reasonable.

David
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline jayrdee

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Re: New Guy and His First Bike
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2019, 05:34:19 am »
Thanks for the kind words everyone!

Side note, got a few things knocked off the list this week!
- New fork seals
- New master cylinder
- Superbike handlebars  8) 8)

I'll tell you what though, getting the old fork seals out was a pain in the ass. I tried all the little tricks and nothing worked until I let them soak in PB Blaster over night. Even then, I had to go out and buy a seal puller and get out my blowtorch.

Anyways, she's back together and ready to go!


[I have no idea what I'm doing]