Author Topic: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restomod?  (Read 2389 times)

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Offline Chetterooski

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74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restomod?
« on: October 13, 2020, 07:01:39 PM »
Hi all.

Back in 2008/2009 When I was a senior in high school my dad gave me a 1978 CB750k that use to be my grandpas as my first street bike. (have been riding dirt bikes since I was little.)
Here is said bike:

Only pic I could find of it, I took the little fairing off and ran it without it.  I learned a ton on this bike both in riding and trouble shooting problems. Sadly after a few summers I gave it back to my dad and moved on to more modern bikes and he eventually sold it.  I've had quite a few bikes since that first one but after awhile I regretted letting it go.

This year my wife gave me the go ahead to purchase another CB750 even though I already own two other bikes at the moment. Probably just got sick of hearing my want to get another one for so long...

So I picked up this 1974 CB750 that was very lightly cafed and came with most of the stock bits. Minus stock seat and grab bar.
"new" CB:




« Last Edit: November 18, 2020, 05:05:07 AM by Chetterooski »

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2020, 07:02:55 PM »
So far I have just been doing a lot of little things.
I purchased a blade fuseholder and Transistorized Ignition from Hondaman and fitted those.
Rebuilt the petcock because fuel would not shut off.
Replace random bits around the bike like the gas tank rear mount and gas cap seal.
Replaced the fuel hoses the PO had on there that were hard as a rock and to short to lift the tank up any amount.
Replaced the Ignition switch, Seat lock and steering lock.  the stock Ignition was cobbled together and wiring extended and was just sitting in between the top triple clamp and gauge bracket, No mounting bracket.
Purchased a stock type bracket for the ignition and mounted it in original location.
Installed stock rear fender and tail light and got ride of the Ace Hardware bracket "custom" tail light...
Fixed random electrical issues on the bike

Bike came with the horn and turn signals but were not on the bike and wouldn't work without rebuilding the left hand switches since the PO cut all wires except the High/low switch and notched the housing to run the wires outside. So...
   Replaced the Clubman bars with some "superbike" bars
   Bought reproduction left and right side switches and drilled and ran the left side wires through the bars like original.
   Installed new grips and bar end mirrors
   Now that the clubman bars were out of the way I could mount the front turn signals and found out the turn signal relay was bad.
   Replaced the turn signal relay
   Hooked up and then immediately disconnected the turn signal buzzer.
   Hooked up stock horn.
   Purchased reproduction grab bar that was cosmetically imperfect, so was a decent price.
   fixed the wires that were cut on the rear turn signals and mounted them.
   Purchased a "Solo Low profile cafe racer sport seat from Texavina and installed it after it arrived.

Now it looks like this currently:





For the future I want to go through the engine, maybe big bore.  Go down to frame and paint or powder coat.  Paint the tank and side covers. put updated rear shocks on and possibly emulators in the front.  Go to duel disc in the front. Black out the front end and tail and have smaller turn signals and tail light.  Have bobbed front and rear fenders.  And on that last point, I picked up this lovely (to someone I suppose...) rear fender on ebay for cheap to do the shortening and painting on so I can keep my original. Still looking for a front to pick up cheap though.

Offline PeWe

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2020, 07:19:49 PM »
It look much better now!
Like a CB750 ;)
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Online seanbarney41

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2020, 08:34:49 PM »
Lot's of good work!  Don't forget to ride it!
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2020, 06:39:09 AM »
It look much better now!
Like a CB750 ;)

Thanks! I agree :)

Lot's of good work!  Don't forget to ride it!

It's been in the rotation through out doing everything.  The Seat was the last thing to arrive so I had to use that uncomfortable "cafe" seat for most of it, and had to wait on the grab bar and rear turn signals since they wouldn't fit with that seat.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2020, 05:20:09 PM »
Greatly improved!
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2020, 04:55:26 AM »
Greatly improved!

Thanks!  Still want to do a lot to it, but it will probably stay similar to this until I get all mechanical stuff done first.

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2020, 12:52:35 PM »
Purchased one of the Weldless frame kits and received it yesterday.  Will try and install it soon but family time and work leaves very little garage time.

Offline PeWe

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2020, 01:09:04 PM »
Read this thread before you cut.
Leave pipe enough for ign switch.

Here is when I cut my K6 frame and added Franks kit.
I have had great use of ut several times.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,62832.msg1503327.html#msg1503327

There are some tjat cut their frames and explain how they did.
Drill the holes for the triangle part first matching the brackets before cut frame.
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2020, 01:12:43 PM »
Read this thread before you cut.
Leave pipe enough for ign switch.

Here is when I cut my K6 frame and added Franks kit.
I have had great use of ut several times.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,62832.msg1503327.html#msg1503327

There are some tjat cut their frames and explain how they did.
Drill the holes for the triangle part first matching the brackets before cut frame.

Will do. Thanks!

Offline 754

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2020, 09:00:41 PM »
When the straps goes in the triangle sides it should be underneath. But must be on outside , moved over thickness of the metal to lay it out... or a bit less ..  you can always file hole sideways.
 A tight fit is better, the bevel cut on the strap, is to fit it into the curved corner,  and be tight.

 I have not seen this on other kits,  they can just move around all over giving less support..

Your blue looks close to Terry,s blue ..

« Last Edit: October 24, 2020, 09:05:00 PM by 754 »
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restromod?
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2020, 08:37:08 AM »
When the straps goes in the triangle sides it should be underneath. But must be on outside , moved over thickness of the metal to lay it out... or a bit less ..  you can always file hole sideways.
 A tight fit is better, the bevel cut on the strap, is to fit it into the curved corner,  and be tight.

 I have not seen this on other kits,  they can just move around all over giving less support..

Your blue looks close to Terry,s blue ..

The blue does look similar in pictures.  I have no idea what my paint is since a PO did the paint job, and not very well.  I'll probably end up painting it down the road.

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restomod?
« Reply #12 on: May 23, 2022, 03:30:59 PM »
Its been a long time since I worked on my CB.  Hard to get work done with a 3 year old and 9 month old, but i've been getting to a few things recently.

Rebuilt the master cylinder and lubed the brake pivot and adjusted the front brake so its not dragging anymore.

Took the carbs apart and i'm currently waiting for genuine needles and jets to replace the kit the PO used.

Will be installing new coils soon. went with Dyna 5 ohms since I could get them for $100 for a set.

Took old exhaust off and will install my MotoGP werks 4 into 1 soon, probably after I find where oil is leaking from.

Have new Dunlop 404's ready to put on when I find the time.

My side covers are very brittle and the oil take side was starting to crack, so I picked up some smooth badgeless covers from FB-Stuff.com and hope to paint those along with my tank in the future.

Was very sad to see the passsing of 754, the guy was everywhere on the forums and a wealth of knowledge.  So in his honor I thought it was about time I put the weldless frame kit on my bike.  Went on really easy.  Cutting the frame with a pipe cutter worked way better then I thought it would. 



Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restomod?
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2022, 03:58:01 PM »
Got some more work done this week.  Rebuilt the carbs and got them mounted onto the bike again.  check/adjusted valve clearances, points and cam chain tensioner
   Got the new coils mounted up.  Does anyone that has the weldless frame kit and dyna coils have any clearance issues?  I am still waiting on new plug wires to come in so I haven't been able to see if I need to modify the front coil mount at all.
   Installed and mounted the Motogp Werks exhaust onto my grimy bike.
Still need to mount new tires and sync the carbs, but cant sync until the new plugs, wires and caps come in.

Don't mind the very messy garage...






Offline PeWe

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restomod?
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2022, 12:29:47 AM »
I use M8 nuts as spacers to lift the Dyna coils a little. CB750 stock coil brackets.

I rotate the front clamps a little outwards too.
I have not tried bolts down as your photo.

« Last Edit: May 29, 2022, 12:33:57 AM by PeWe »
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restomod?
« Reply #15 on: May 29, 2022, 04:34:30 AM »
That's a great idea with the nut under the coils, seems to give a ton of clearance.  Yeah, I flipped the front ones to see if it gave any more room, I'll probably keep it that way, seems to work just as good.

Offline Chetterooski

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Re: 74 CB750 "cafe" to eventual restomod?
« Reply #16 on: June 02, 2022, 12:20:11 PM »
Thanks for the idea PeWe. Went out and got these aluminum spacers and new bolts, seems to work pretty well.


Got new tires on and carbs synced. Took it for a test ride and need to figure out fueling more.  Lots of popping on decel, guessing too lean. I adjusted the air screw in to 3/4 but have not tested yet. Also have bigger main jets but that shouldn't have an affect with the popping since the throttle is closed correct? Carbs right now have stock 40 idle and 110 mains.

The MotoGP Werks exhaust sounds so damn good.  Its now the loudest motorcycle I own, but it sounds so good, especially when you are taking it to red line.