Topic: Terry's Taxi CaB 750A project.

[Just John]

There are two As for sale locally.  I'm pretty sure one of them was the parts source for the other.  Seller wants $1500 for the pair.  I doubt he will get it, but who knows.  Nice fix for the turn signals. 

[Terry in Australia]

There are two As for sale locally.  I'm pretty sure one of them was the parts source for the other.  Seller wants $1500 for the pair.  I doubt he will get it, but who knows.  Nice fix for the turn signals. 

Thanks John, I was pretty happy with how cheap this bike was, around twice the price you've quoted for those 2 bikes, but over here a K2 in similar condition would be at least $10K now, so while not cheap in the US, a bargain here.

I'm slowly warming to this thing, the ingenuity involved in making an auto safe to ride, like the automatic neutral selector that automatically puts the bike in neutral if you come to a stop and put the side stand down before selecting neutral manually, or the parking brake so that if you park it on a hill, on the sidestand, it doesn't just roll off, are something that I've never seen on a bike before, but quite well thought out by the Honda engineers.

Once the world settles down and I can get some new tyres for it I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin and seeing what it's like. I'm not expecting a powerhouse, but it should be an enjoyable cruiser.

[grcamna2]

There are two As for sale locally.  I'm pretty sure one of them was the parts source for the other.  Seller wants $1500 for the pair.  I doubt he will get it, but who knows.  Nice fix for the turn signals. 

Thanks John, I was pretty happy with how cheap this bike was, around twice the price you've quoted for those 2 bikes, but over here a K2 in similar condition would be at least $10K now, so while not cheap in the US, a bargain here.

I'm slowly warming to this thing, the ingenuity involved in making an auto safe to ride, like the automatic neutral selector that automatically puts the bike in neutral if you come to a stop and put the side stand down before selecting neutral manually, or the parking brake so that if you park it on a hill, on the sidestand, it doesn't just roll off, are something that I've never seen on a bike before, but quite well thought out by the Honda engineers.

Once the world settles down and I can get some new tyres for it I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin and seeing what it's like. I'm not expecting a powerhouse, but it should be an enjoyable cruiser.

Keep those rear turn signal wires available Terry,for when you hook-up your Taxi trailer 

[dave the welder]

terry you will notice on left foot peg is a flat hook. there is also one on frame above foot peg. the rubber strap that holds kick lever in place under seat will hold foot peg out of way so you can kick start. i tried using my kickstart once just to see if i could.like any good 750 it started on first kick

[Terry in Australia]

Well it's hard to believe that I haven't touched the ol' Taxi since late August, but it's true, the last thing that I needed before I could ride the CB750A was tyres, and sadly, due to Covid (the "excuse du jour" for just about everything nowadays) my tyre supplier has only just got some Stinko tyres for me.

Oh well, seeing that Melbourne has been locked down since I can't remember when, it's not like I've missed out on any rides, so no biggie. Today I pulled the wheels and ancient rock hard Dunlop tyres off the bike, and tomorrow I'll take them and the new tubes I bought over to the tyre place to get those Stinko's mounted so I can take it for a sneaky ride around the block, or maybe a little further.

I installed an old CB750 front wheel just to hold the front of the bike down so the whole plot doesn't fall off the centre stand. More tomorrow.

T500 Sunday 10 October 2021 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr 

[Terry in Australia]

Is there anything better than new tyres for your bike or car? I remember back in the 1970's I owned a Mazda RX2 Coupe, and it had some horrible old tyres on it when I bought it, so as soon as I could afford it I bought wider rims and new Toyo Tyres (do they still make them?) and the difference was chalk and cheese, it steered in a straight line for the first time ever, and felt like a new car! Anyway I took the Comstars with their horrible old tyres over to the tyre place and let those young guys wrestle the rock hard old Dunlops off them, and install the new Stinko's and tubes that I took with me. They looked much better.

CB750A Monday 11 Oct 2021 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I reinstalled the wheels and a new speedo cable, and of course I had to take it for a ride, the very first time I've ever ridden an Auto, since I was a kid riding minibikes with centrifugal clutches.

CB750A Monday 11 Oct 2021 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I've got to say that I really enjoyed riding it. Certainly, it's not a powerhouse, but who cares? I've got bikes with engines 3 times the size of a CB750, so if I want to go seriously fast I can ride them, but if I want to ride a comfy relaxed cruiser, this may well be my first choice. I parked it down in the carport with the K2 Bitsa and F2, and realised that all 4 of my running riding CB750's are sporting Stinko tyres now, and I have a set of Lesters with new Stinko's that will go on my next CB750 build. Gotta love those Stinko's.......

CB750A Monday 11 Oct 2021 5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[PeWe]

It can be better for future to keep it stock if you have not upgraded it. I do not remember what you did with the engine.

Stock A carbs are very small.
Another set of CB750 carbs, higher compression pistons and a better cam might help it to get a little bit more fun power.

[Terry in Australia]

That was the original plan Per, but it seems a shame to open up an engine that hasn't seen a spanner since 1978 now? I think I'll just ride it a few times and pass it on to someone who'll enjoy it for what it is, I won't get any more money for it if I hot it up.

[PeWe]

That's right, Terry. If it runs as designed and no need to open it, fully stock is a good choice.

[MauiK3]

That's a great looking bike!!

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks guys, I keep telling myself that I need to to "thin the herd" and sell off maybe 14 or 15 bikes, but so far I just can't bring myself to do it? It's not easy....

[PeWe]

The Auto must be a keeper since it is very special unless you get a very good price for it? Good big city shopping bike.

[BenelliSEI]

Terry..... mounted a set of “Stinkos” to my Rickman wheels. Needed something o roll on.  Nice looking rubber and the price is the lowest I have ever paid in Canada. Much less than the budget Kendas I mostly use..... thanks!

[PeWe]

I searched for Stinkos here in Sweden, the tires I found not especially cheap.
Typical when a low priced tire get good reviews, the dealers raise the price. Same with a Falken tire model I planned to put on my car.

[Don R]

 I mentioned before my first cb750, I took off the Goodyears and mounted Continentals, I did one each weekend. Boy was that thing a handful the week I rode it with the mismatched tires. An offramp was a challenge to make it follow a line. Either set rode fine but not the mix.