Topic: Help with potential purchase

[Rigs]

Hi

Hopefully this is the correct thread.

I've attached a picture of a CB750 I'm viewing on Wednesday and wanted to know if anyone knows the model.

Would the frame be a flat / straight base or would it need fabrication to have a more flat / brat style seat?

Its a project for me and my dad to work on, keeping as original as possible.

Thanks alot

[Tews19]

That is not a SOHC. 80s model I think

[low-side]

My recollection is that the frame more or less follows the lines of the seat.

[jakec]

if you want a cafe racer platform that's fine because at least you won't be chopping up a bike that's worth something

[jakec]

jokes aside I had the same model (81 cb750c) as my first bike. Here's a photo with the seat off.



here it is a few months later with a seat

[ekpent]

GET THE KAWASAKI TRIPLE THAT'S HIDING BEHIND IT INSTEAD (in shouty voice) !!     

[Stev-o]

GET THE KAWASAKI TRIPLE THAT'S HIDING BEHIND IT INSTEAD

PLUS 1!  Good eye Eric....

[ekpent]

GET THE KAWASAKI TRIPLE THAT'S HIDING BEHIND IT INSTEAD

PLUS 1!  Good eye Eric....

  What's your guess Steve,I say maybe a 250cc ??

[Stev-o]

GET THE KAWASAKI TRIPLE THAT'S HIDING BEHIND IT INSTEAD

PLUS 1!  Good eye Eric....

  What's your guess Steve,I say maybe a 250cc ??

Hard to see but my guess in a S3 400 with aftermarket bars.

BTW - looks like your buddy RB is down in Florida...

https://www.ebay.com/i/362567278096?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D9b55e422dae44590aac35350009e3a46%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D362821831381%26itm%3D362567278096%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2386202

[Rigs]

Thanks for the picture, that's what I wondering.

Did you keep it stock or did you change the back end at all ?

Seemed to look a little flatter.

And yes I didn't want to cut anything up that was considered a classic year or turning point for engine design etc. Still wanted something with a little character.

I have an old honda shadow myself so this is new ground for me, hence jumping on the forums

GET THE KAWASAKI TRIPLE THAT'S HIDING BEHIND IT INSTEAD (in shouty voice) !!     

[jakec]

compare the difference from mine to the pic here from the parts fiche. looks like you have to remove the seat support. and a crossbar was added  in its place on my bike.

[Bankerdanny]

Generally speaking fitting a brat style seat requires modifying the frame somewhat, usually in the form of cutting off the bridge looking brace you see in the photo that Jake posted.

[Rigs]

I actually had a change of plan as I found a 1974 SOHC CB550.

So I am considering either a restoration or the brat project, depending on what the resale value would be like.

I found £1978 for it so not too bad.

[Bankerdanny]

A bit more than I think that bike would be worth in the US, but still looks like a nice complete bike. In my part of the US that is probably a $1,500 bike, so ~£1,200 or so.

Restoring to original would be expensive and you wouldn't get your money back. However, a brat conversion would be expensive too, plus more work, and you still wouldn't get your mone back.

I would do the minimum to get it on the road and MOT'd then ride it for a while to get a feel for it. But either way, I would caution you not to expect to get your money back. 550's just aren't as collectible as 750's and 400's.

[bill440cars]

       Well, to each his own, I say. Some don't seem to have any feeling for the DOHC750s and I can fully understand the attraction for the SOHC version, as they Are A Great model. Myself, I couldn't seem to swing a deal on a SOHC750, but did come up with an '80 750 DOHC & started out, to fix it up, with the Sidecar shown in the photo (I worked with folks with Special Needs & was building this one, to give rides, to 2 young boys, I worked with. I retired from that, several years ago though & it's gone. This is the only photo, I could easily come up with. I had NO issues with this 750 & was a Good runner. Just saying'   

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, that 550 isn't all that collectable, but will be a whole lot less desirable to a wider audience if you chop it up. I'm sure you're not doing it for the money though, so if you don't care about what you can sell it for when you've turned it into whatever your vision of a cool bike is, then go for it. Keep everything you take off it though, (including the tabs and frame sections you lop off) that way someone who wants to take it back to original will have a chance.

[Rigs]

Well this is what I'm heading for, not chopping about too much.

But I would say in the UK 550s are hard to find and I've seen even really rough ones selling around 5k.

The guy who sold it is a classic bike shop and had alot of good advice. It's a US import.

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, that looks ok, just don't put those stupid tyres on it, you guys get about 3 days per year with no rain, and those things are no good in the wet, so unless you intend to trailer it everywhere, put some real motorcycle tyres on it.

Just remember to measure twice and cut once, then save whatever you've cut off, I've just spent a lot of time and money replacing whole frame sections after the PO chopped off all the tabs on my Kawasaki Z1000. (Ex drag bike)

[MauiK3]

Who's CBX was that in the previous picture?