Topic: Advise on purchasing Honda CB 750 K2 1972

[dinozauris]

Hi,

I'm looking for restoration project for my father who is going into retirement in a week and since teenage years has been into repairing, customising motorcycles. As he's a fan of Japanese engineering and bikes then my top choices are Honda CB 750 four (K0-K4) or Kawasaki Z1/Z900 A4.

After more than a month long search, this is the bike I'm strongly considering to purchase. It's a K2 made in 1972, engine is running (yet as it's abroad can't check actual condition). Price is $6,200 + need to get it to my location for some $400.

As I'm not familiar with pricing and also following listings on ebay I see quite a big range among diecasts. Can someone better suited and experienced owner tell me is it a reasonable deal? Thank you


P.S. Sincere apologies if posting this in a wrong thread.

[Stev-o]

First off, welcome.   Are you in Latvia?  PRice can vary greatly by location.

Here in the U.S., a fairly nice, mostly original K2 would prolly sell for $3000-$4000, price would vary again on location and whom you are buying from [private party or dealer]

Although you only posted 1 pic, it looks like a fairly nice example. Did you notice the front end is not stock?
And the seat cover does not look like a original replica.
That is all I can offer as far as info with what I see here.

Good luck!   

PS. I have a '75 Z1, it would be harder to find and more expensive when you do!

[ekpent]

 The front end/forks look original but somebody has eliminated the boots and installed caps. Overpriced is my opinion at least in my neck of the woods. Something weird about the front caliper bleeder screw, maybe a sign of short cut fixes.
 Is the bike in the USA or Europe ? I have no clue as to prices over there.

[MauiK3]

Also, I don’t think K2 was that color.

[754]

Front end looks  right to me, tank if it has petcock on left , is 75 or 76.
Should have grab rail on the back, looks like just a lift handle.

[low-side]

Dust boots, mashed mirror backs, bent clutch lever, tweaked fork esr, funky bleeder screws, cut down and recovered seat, and something funky about the alternator cover (shouldn't we be able to see the Honda emblem from this angle?).  She's not as clean as she looks at first glance.  I'd wait for a better example or pay a whole lot less.

[ekpent]

Dust boots, mashed mirror backs, bent clutch lever, tweaked fork esr, funky bleeder screws, cut down and recovered seat, and something funky about the alternator cover (shouldn't we be able to see the Honda emblem from this angle?).  She's not as clean as she looks at first glance.  I'd wait for a better example or pay a whole lot less.

We would really be brutal if we had more and better pictures 

[dinozauris]

First off, welcome.   Are you in Latvia?  PRice can vary greatly by location.

Here in the U.S., a fairly nice, mostly original K2 would prolly sell for $3000-$4000, price would vary again on location and whom you are buying from [private party or dealer]

Although you only posted 1 pic, it looks like a fairly nice example. Did you notice the front end is not stock?
And the seat cover does not look like a original replica.
That is all I can offer as far as info with what I see here.

Good luck!   

PS. I have a '75 Z1, it would be harder to find and more expensive when you do!

Thanks, yes I from Latvia and particular bike is from Italy. Looking also into Craiglist, Ebay, Marketplace to check what's available in the US, however, shipping bike here will be an around extra $1000 + more difficult to organise. Overall, I see that there's up to even $4000 difference between CB 750/Z1 in the US vs. Europe.

Here are more pics:

[dinozauris]

Dust boots, mashed mirror backs, bent clutch lever, tweaked fork esr, funky bleeder screws, cut down and recovered seat, and something funky about the alternator cover (shouldn't we be able to see the Honda emblem from this angle?).  She's not as clean as she looks at first glance. I'd wait for a better example or pay a whole lot less.

Engine number starts with 202XXXX why the year should be 1971-1972, yet of course some or many parts might have been changed. Seller is not unfolding that many details as well.

[Doobie]

When I'm eyeing a CB750 with the thought of buying it, I have a goal in mind. Is my objective to do a full restoration with OEM parts or to build something to ride around using whatever parts I can get my hands on? For me, and probably most people, it's not just the cost to buy it but all the costs that potentially come after it.


I really don't know if $6200 is a good/bad deal in your part of the world. It's certainly not a good deal in the US no matter what you plan to do with it.


One thing I will say though, is that prices for decent CB750s are climbing very fast. A bike that would have sold for $4K-$5K in the US last year is pushing $6K-$7K this year. I know because I've sold four in the last couple of years. I also peruse ads for bikes in Europe just to see what they're selling for and they're generally quite a bit higher than in the US.

[jlh3rd]

Honda's tank stripes never went all the way to the front. Plus, that stripe is wider than stock. It would matter to me if a seller was pricing his bike as an original.

[dinozauris]

When I'm eyeing a CB750 with the thought of buying it, I have a goal in mind. Is my objective to do a full restoration with OEM parts or to build something to ride around using whatever parts I can get my hands on? For me, and probably most people, it's not just the cost to buy it but all the costs that potentially come after it.


I really don't know if $6200 is a good/bad deal in your part of the world. It's certainly not a good deal in the US no matter what you plan to do with it.


One thing I will say though, is that prices for decent CB750s are climbing very fast. A bike that would have sold for $4K-$5K in the US last year is pushing $6K-$7K this year. I know because I've sold four in the last couple of years. I also peruse ads for bikes in Europe just to see what they're selling for and they're generally quite a bit higher than in the US.

Thanks, goal is to find a bike as a restoration project. Thus, ideally the bike is not close to mint condition, but there are things to do, yet of course don't want to end up with bitza bike or an overpriced bike.

I guess my search will continue and somehow it seems that the US is a better place to find a bike as more options are available.

[disco]

Early model head which is likely correct for K2. Tank stripe looks a bit off though. Has correct (euro style) K2 lift bar and rear light. Side cover badges appear to be correct too. Fork gaiters are missing. Instruments look More like K6 though. I would check frame & engine numbers per Honda Chopper website. I think it may be correct for an Italian Market bike (with some changes made in its lifetime).

[PeWe]

Important with more photos.
If it is a K2, the gauges must be right with the upper tree, rhino horn.

I built my K2. Bike built on parts.
NOS K2 speedo with kmh from Venezuela $500 US. Low cost written so very low customs fees.

Found NOS tacho in US that ended up in 650 min in total. Plus the rhino horn and other stuff
New harness, the harness in each gauge had dried.

So maybe $1500US for gauges
Tank graphic is not right, a painted gold stripe.

I should give max 3500-4000 with that much wrongs. (Restore object).

Same here, people ask 7000 for scrap that will cost 10.000 in parts to fix. Maybe possible to sell it for parts cost.

[Henning]

What's your budget in Euro's?

[beemerbum]

First off, welcome.   Are you in Latvia?  PRice can vary greatly by location.

Here in the U.S., a fairly nice, mostly original K2 would prolly sell for $3000-$4000, price would vary again on location and whom you are buying from [private party or dealer]

Although you only posted 1 pic, it looks like a fairly nice example. Did you notice the front end is not stock?
And the seat cover does not look like a original replica.
That is all I can offer as far as info with what I see here. Sveiks tautiet!

Good luck!   

PS. I have a '75 Z1, it would be harder to find and more expensive when you do!

Thanks, yes I from Latvia and particular bike is from Italy. Looking also into Craiglist, Ebay, Marketplace to check what's available in the US, however, shipping bike here will be an around extra $1000 + more difficult to organise. Overall, I see that there's up to even $4000 difference between CB 750/Z1 in the US vs. Europe.

Here are more pics:

[beemerbum]

Hi,

I'm looking for restoration project for my father who is going into retirement in a week and since teenage years has been into repairing, customising motorcycles. As he's a fan of Japanese engineering and bikes then my top choices are Honda CB 750 four (K0-K4) or Kawasaki Z1/Z900 A4.

After more than a month long search, this is the bike I'm strongly considering to purchase. It's a K2 made in 1972, engine is running (yet as it's abroad can't check actual condition). Price is $6,200 + need to get it to my location for some $400.

As I'm not familiar with pricing and also following listings on ebay I see quite a big range among diecasts. Can someone better suited and experienced owner tell me is it a reasonable deal? Thank you


P.S. Sincere apologies if posting this in a wrong thread.

Sveiks Tautiet!

[low-side]

If you had already bought it I would not have been so blunt about the flaws I saw, LOL.  Here in the US you can still find some amazing deals on these bikes, but the guys selling them so cheap wouldn't want to / wouldn't know how to help you export it.  In your location, it will cost money to get either of the bikes you're looking for.  That said, this bike has had some work done to make it look pretty and it doesn't sound like they've done much mechanical to it.  Have they provided a video of it running?  With the new but not correct paint job on the tank, the in-situ paint job on the engine, the damage to the front fender, points cover, and the mufflers along with the fuel leakage and everything else I mentioned before this bike is throwing all kinds of red flags for me.  Personally I would be very cautious and I would consider importing from the US despite the increased costs.  This is a great thing you are doing for your dad, so best of luck to you both.

[dinozauris]

Prieks tikties šeit!

Hi,

I'm looking for restoration project for my father who is going into retirement in a week and since teenage years has been into repairing, customising motorcycles. As he's a fan of Japanese engineering and bikes then my top choices are Honda CB 750 four (K0-K4) or Kawasaki Z1/Z900 A4.

After more than a month long search, this is the bike I'm strongly considering to purchase. It's a K2 made in 1972, engine is running (yet as it's abroad can't check actual condition). Price is $6,200 + need to get it to my location for some $400.

As I'm not familiar with pricing and also following listings on ebay I see quite a big range among diecasts. Can someone better suited and experienced owner tell me is it a reasonable deal? Thank you


P.S. Sincere apologies if posting this in a wrong thread.

Sveiks Tautiet!