Topic: Most restored motorcycle and number of survivors

[kyle750]

This just showed up for sale in my local facebook group.  Here is the description:

Honda S 100. Exterior colour: Gold.  Price 2500 baht. Let’s take it. Mother’s bike. I can’t find the book. The bike is in Bangkok.

[Stev-o]

This just showed up for sale in my local facebook group.  Here is the description:

Honda S 100. Exterior colour: Gold.  Price 2500 baht. Let’s take it. Mother’s bike. I can’t find the book. The bike is in Bangkok.

They for got the classic line:   "Ran when parked"!

[MauiK3]

Always sad to see one that way.

[jakec]

I had multiple people from Thailand try to buy my chopper when I had it for sale. I didn't know they could afford american prices. I do see a lot of honda choppers over there, on instagram. 750s less often than the smaller, new single cylinder engines

[Magpie]

Since motorcycles seem to be disposable, many are parked and simply ignored or forgotten. And, some are abandoned projects. This is how my K3 came home. After much love it's now a rider.

[willbird]

Since motorcycles seem to be disposable, many are parked and simply ignored or forgotten. And, some are abandoned projects. This is how my K3 came home. After much love it's now a rider.

Yea reading this thread I have pondered about how many are truly lost and gone forever, and how may are just sitting somewhere apart or together. When cars are scrapped a lot of wrecking yards need a title, but some would and maybe some still will take an intact car with no title. Whether those "no title" VIN's ever get recorded as that I do not know, whether it even HAD a title is subject to state laws...sounds like some states do not even use vehicle titles ??

Bill

[HondaMan]

Since motorcycles seem to be disposable, many are parked and simply ignored or forgotten. And, some are abandoned projects. This is how my K3 came home. After much love it's now a rider.

I just had to jump in and admire your grit, Magpie! That was how the "title" bike was renewed in my book! I did have the advantage, though, on yours: mine had the front wheel in the forks and on the frame, with the engine in the frame, too. Nothing turned (not even the front wheel) so it was a...task...to get it home. When I got it off the truck I was so tired that I just went and got my camera and took the picture of it that is on the cover. It sat there 2 days in front of my house, but no one came and stole it. I never figured out 'why', except maybe because it was a whole week of below-zero temperatures?

Or maybe thieves are just lazy...?

[Laids]

The first pics are an abandoned KO , the oil cap was left off, don’t think I had ever seen a oil tank rust from the bottom before. Did salvage a few parts then passed the frame and engine on. Needless to say the engine was very stuck.
The other pic is from Mid Ohio, 2019, this is one trailer load of CB 750s and a few others going back to Japan I think.

[kyle750]

I would love to see photos of the completed bike.  I am currently piling up parts that are arriving from all over the world  in very similar looking large plastic storage bins that are haphazardly strewn across the floor. You are VERY organized!

I am quickly discovering that used parts are readily available from old, parted out Honda CB750s but condition, quality, and the price of parts varies greatly. 

I could sure use that gas tank trim from the 1st photo of the bike "buried in the woods" 

[kyle750]

I didn't know they could afford american prices.

IMO American prices for complete Honda CB750s and parts are very affordable and widely available.  Honda CB owners living in the USA are very fortunate!

[HondaMan]

I recently read that the Honda CB750 is the most restored motorcycle in the world.  Is this true?

Also I read that approximately 550,000 CB750s were made from 1969 - 1978.  Impossible to know for certain but how many do you think have survived  in fairly original, close to stock condition.  I'm sure many were lost over time to accident, neglect, and customization. 

Where's that one in the leaves? I'll take it!

[HondaMan]

I did the frame up on my CB750K2 in 1993. At that time there was a BIG market rounding up similar bikes and exporting them BACK to Japan. Semi local people would totally fill a shipping container with bikes each month. I do not suppose we will ever get a idea how many bikes went that way. I was in contact with the original Action 4's back then, they still had micro fiche for the SOHC bikes and could and did order any Honda OEM part for me, stuff that the local folks did not seem able to get. Action 4's was pretty much totally into the import business too. Don't get me wrong that may have gotten those bikes into the hands of people who still keep them roadworthy today.

Action Fours was exemplary back int the 1970s-1980s era. I learned a great deal from their parts, although I can't say their cams were "great" other than they found some real good operating parameters for them. They just didn't harden them for beans, so they died early deaths. They made the 825cc kits, too, which were outstanding performers.

[Don R]

  The guy that owned my sandcast and one dragbike, told me he used some 785cc or something like that" big bore kits, they were sold out of 836's at the time. I think he was an Action 4's dealer.

[willbird]

I did the frame up on my CB750K2 in 1993. At that time there was a BIG market rounding up similar bikes and exporting them BACK to Japan. Semi local people would totally fill a shipping container with bikes each month. I do not suppose we will ever get a idea how many bikes went that way. I was in contact with the original Action 4's back then, they still had micro fiche for the SOHC bikes and could and did order any Honda OEM part for me, stuff that the local folks did not seem able to get. Action 4's was pretty much totally into the import business too. Don't get me wrong that may have gotten those bikes into the hands of people who still keep them roadworthy today.

Action Fours was exemplary back int the 1970s-1980s era. I learned a great deal from their parts, although I can't say their cams were "great" other than they found some real good operating parameters for them. They just didn't harden them for beans, so they died early deaths. They made the 825cc kits, too, which were outstanding performers.

In 1992 or so I contacted Action Fours trying to find a new header like the one on my CB750K2. None avail but "Jim" was able to get me a whole slew of OEM parts to do a frame up on the bike. He also had a bin in the back full of Action Fours clutch springs and I got a set of those. I ended up with a Mac header that he also sold me. At that time I think their primary focus was re importing 60's and 70's bikes to Japan.

Bill

[Stev-o]

I did the frame up on my CB750K2 in 1993. At that time there was a BIG market rounding up similar bikes and exporting them BACK to Japan. Semi local people would totally fill a shipping container with bikes each month. I do not suppose we will ever get a idea how many bikes went that way. I was in contact with the original Action 4's back then, they still had micro fiche for the SOHC bikes and could and did order any Honda OEM part for me, stuff that the local folks did not seem able to get. Action 4's was pretty much totally into the import business too. Don't get me wrong that may have gotten those bikes into the hands of people who still keep them roadworthy today.

Action Fours was exemplary back int the 1970s-1980s era. I learned a great deal from their parts, although I can't say their cams were "great" other than they found some real good operating parameters for them. They just didn't harden them for beans, so they died early deaths. They made the 825cc kits, too, which were outstanding performers.

In 1992 or so I contacted Action Fours trying to find a new header like the one on my CB750K2. None avail but "Jim" was able to get me a whole slew of OEM parts to do a frame up on the bike. He also had a bin in the back full of Action Fours clutch springs and I got a set of those. I ended up with a Mac header that he also sold me. At that time I think their primary focus was re importing 60's and 70's bikes to Japan.

Bill

My K4 had an Action Four's 4 into 2 exhaust when I bought it 10+ years ago, I really liked it.  But after blowing the engine [rod nut came loose] I rebuilt the bike and put oem exhaust on and sold the AF system.

[willbird]

I did the frame up on my CB750K2 in 1993. At that time there was a BIG market rounding up similar bikes and exporting them BACK to Japan. Semi local people would totally fill a shipping container with bikes each month. I do not suppose we will ever get a idea how many bikes went that way. I was in contact with the original Action 4's back then, they still had micro fiche for the SOHC bikes and could and did order any Honda OEM part for me, stuff that the local folks did not seem able to get. Action 4's was pretty much totally into the import business too. Don't get me wrong that may have gotten those bikes into the hands of people who still keep them roadworthy today.

Action Fours was exemplary back int the 1970s-1980s era. I learned a great deal from their parts, although I can't say their cams were "great" other than they found some real good operating parameters for them. They just didn't harden them for beans, so they died early deaths. They made the 825cc kits, too, which were outstanding performers.

In 1992 or so I contacted Action Fours trying to find a new header like the one on my CB750K2. None avail but "Jim" was able to get me a whole slew of OEM parts to do a frame up on the bike. He also had a bin in the back full of Action Fours clutch springs and I got a set of those. I ended up with a Mac header that he also sold me. At that time I think their primary focus was re importing 60's and 70's bikes to Japan.

Bill

My K4 had an Action Four's 4 into 2 exhaust when I bought it 10+ years ago, I really liked it.  But after blowing the engine [rod nut came loose] I rebuilt the bike and put oem exhaust on and sold the AF system.

Memory is a fickle thing but my recollection of that header is that it had fairly small tubes and I think that might be good. I put a new Delkevic on it last year and have been happy with it.

Bill

[Stev-o]

I did the frame up on my CB750K2 in 1993. At that time there was a BIG market rounding up similar bikes and exporting them BACK to Japan. Semi local people would totally fill a shipping container with bikes each month. I do not suppose we will ever get a idea how many bikes went that way. I was in contact with the original Action 4's back then, they still had micro fiche for the SOHC bikes and could and did order any Honda OEM part for me, stuff that the local folks did not seem able to get. Action 4's was pretty much totally into the import business too. Don't get me wrong that may have gotten those bikes into the hands of people who still keep them roadworthy today.

Action Fours was exemplary back int the 1970s-1980s era. I learned a great deal from their parts, although I can't say their cams were "great" other than they found some real good operating parameters for them. They just didn't harden them for beans, so they died early deaths. They made the 825cc kits, too, which were outstanding performers.

In 1992 or so I contacted Action Fours trying to find a new header like the one on my CB750K2. None avail but "Jim" was able to get me a whole slew of OEM parts to do a frame up on the bike. He also had a bin in the back full of Action Fours clutch springs and I got a set of those. I ended up with a Mac header that he also sold me. At that time I think their primary focus was re importing 60's and 70's bikes to Japan.

Bill

My K4 had an Action Four's 4 into 2 exhaust when I bought it 10+ years ago, I really liked it.  But after blowing the engine [rod nut came loose] I rebuilt the bike and put oem exhaust on and sold the AF system.

Memory is a fickle thing but my recollection of that header is that it had fairly small tubes and I think that might be good.

I dont recall the size of the header being much smaller that OEM but it was a "crossover" system, pipes 1&3 went to one side and 2&4 the other.  Looked very cool...

[willbird]

I did the frame up on my CB750K2 in 1993. At that time there was a BIG market rounding up similar bikes and exporting them BACK to Japan. Semi local people would totally fill a shipping container with bikes each month. I do not suppose we will ever get a idea how many bikes went that way. I was in contact with the original Action 4's back then, they still had micro fiche for the SOHC bikes and could and did order any Honda OEM part for me, stuff that the local folks did not seem able to get. Action 4's was pretty much totally into the import business too. Don't get me wrong that may have gotten those bikes into the hands of people who still keep them roadworthy today.

Action Fours was exemplary back int the 1970s-1980s era. I learned a great deal from their parts, although I can't say their cams were "great" other than they found some real good operating parameters for them. They just didn't harden them for beans, so they died early deaths. They made the 825cc kits, too, which were outstanding performers.

In 1992 or so I contacted Action Fours trying to find a new header like the one on my CB750K2. None avail but "Jim" was able to get me a whole slew of OEM parts to do a frame up on the bike. He also had a bin in the back full of Action Fours clutch springs and I got a set of those. I ended up with a Mac header that he also sold me. At that time I think their primary focus was re importing 60's and 70's bikes to Japan.

Bill

My K4 had an Action Four's 4 into 2 exhaust when I bought it 10+ years ago, I really liked it.  But after blowing the engine [rod nut came loose] I rebuilt the bike and put oem exhaust on and sold the AF system.

Memory is a fickle thing but my recollection of that header is that it had fairly small tubes and I think that might be good.

I dont recall the size of the header being much smaller that OEM but it was a "crossover" system, pipes 1&3 went to one side and 2&4 the other.  Looked very cool...

I had a 4,000 square foot building full of stuff for 20 years then had to empty it out due to selling it. SO many times I wish I had saved those headers which I just hung on the wall when I redid my CB750K2. Mine were a 4:1. They were pretty badly rusted with lots of pinholes rusted through the primary tubes.

[Magpie]

My K3, from trailer to this. It has a Kirker 4into 1 on it now, much better ground clearance.

[PeWe]

That K3 looks really good!
You have nice bikes to ride.

Photos like that makes me to tell myself to clean and polish my bikes more often

[willbird]

That K3 looks really good!
You have nice bikes to ride.

Photos like that makes me to tell myself to clean and polish my bikes more often

I was just picturing a ride where we invited the surviving Japanese workers who built our bikes for a visit and we took them for a ride in a big parade :-). It was a cool visual :-).

[dave500]

most honourable!

[MauiK3]

I think even if for some reason I can no longer ride my K3 I'll keep it just to look at.