Topic: New Project! 1970 CB750K1!

[God of Thunder]

Hello again! It's been awhile - but I'm BACKKKKKKKKKKK

I had to sell the 72K2 due to some financial difficulties - but now - the credit cards are paid off baby! I've been wanting to get another CB750 for quite some time, and had some trouble letting go of the K2. However - today, this 1970 (K0/K1?) popped up with a "make me an offer" - the engine was not locked up, and it looked in fairly good shape minus a few obvious odds and ends, but for the most part.....it was what I was after. I made an offer and we settled at $400 for it. I was fairly happy with the price - but in this market - who knows!

To start, the VIN tag clearly says 7/70 - but I think the serial number puts it in a K1 territory rather than a K0? Although I am totally confused by the carbs (see pic!). The seat is one of those odd king/queen seats - so the first thing I'll be looking for is a period correct seat. However, this is difficult because if I recall, the K0 has a duck bill, and the K1 is flat - so I'm not sure what I need!!

Regardless - beyond happy to add this back to the stable with the 83 Harley Ironhead!

I'd love your thoughts on this project and hopefully we'll have some new progress soon. The first thing I intend to do is try and fill in the missing pieces....

-Key
-Key Switch
-Seat
-Side Covers

I'm guessing the red is original, so that's what we will go with for now!

[newday777]

Welcome back with a good project
The numbers are an early K1
The red is a repaint at some point, no stripe so you'll need to verify color if doing a full restore, along with matching headlight bucket and ears and sidecovers
You are correct the seat on a K1 was not a duck tail, but notice how the piping starts just forward of the strap, as compared to the K2-K6 piping which starts from the front of the seat
Carbs not correct as you said. Would be 4 to 1 top pull cable carbs

For full details between models
(The seat pics are from)
http://honda750expert.com/

Have fun and congrats on getting your finances in shape

[BenelliSEI]

Nice find, my favourite combination of early parts! My K1 is my “go to” ride. Do your speedo and tach have the metal covers (black part) and glass faces? Four idiot lights are inside? Tough gauges to find and worth 2 or 3 times what you paid for the bike!

The K1 should have the earlier style front brake and fender mount. Can’t quite see it in your pictures. Good luck!

[Stev-o]

Nice find, $400 is a deal...

[God of Thunder]

Nice find, my favourite combination of early parts! My K1 is my “go to” ride. Do your speedo and tach have the metal covers (black part) and glass faces? Four idiot lights are inside? Tough gauges to find and worth 2 or 3 times what you paid for the bike!

The K1 should have the earlier style front brake and fender mount. Can’t quite see it in your pictures. Good luck!

Hey Binelli! Still learning here, but the bike is held at my Grandpas house right now as I had too much crap in the garage for it to live here. However, I did snag a photo of the listing! Here's the gauges - but I don't know what I've got! 

[God of Thunder]

Also - the side covers for this particular model - would it have the slots?

[rocket johnny]

a nice project bike at a good price .  i'll be watching how it turns out

[newday777]

Also - the side covers for this particular model - would it have the slots?

Only if it is a K0

[BenelliSEI]

Also - the side covers for this particular model - would it have the slots?

No…. A 1971 K1 has the regular cover. Those gauges are correct and rare! Your rear wheel is a 16” Harley rim, laced to the stock hub and your rear shocks have lowering links added to the bottom shock mount. If you remove them and lace in an 18” rim with the correct spokes you are back to stock.

When you get a chance, post a photo of the front brake caliper mount and the guys on here will tell you if you have the correct forks. Nice find!

[God of Thunder]

Also - the side covers for this particular model - would it have the slots?

No…. A 1971 K1 has the regular cover. Those gauges are correct and rare! Your rear wheel is a 16” Harley rim, laced to the stock hub and your rear shocks have lowering links added to the bottom shock mount. If you remove them and lace in an 18” rim with the correct spokes you are back to stock.

When you get a chance, post a photo of the front brake caliper mount and the guys on here will tell you if you have the correct forks. Nice find!

Lord help me if I don't!

As a short guy - I like the lowering links tough!~ My K2 was a little tough!

[seanbarney41]

carbs look to be vm24ss off 79 or 80 era Kawasaki kz650.

[BenelliSEI]

The triple tree is correct, so I’m pretty sure the front end is correct too. A photo of the combination caliper bracket and fender mount will confirm.

[willbird]

Nice find, my favourite combination of early parts! My K1 is my “go to” ride. Do your speedo and tach have the metal covers (black part) and glass faces? Four idiot lights are inside? Tough gauges to find and worth 2 or 3 times what you paid for the bike!

The K1 should have the earlier style front brake and fender mount. Can’t quite see it in your pictures. Good luck!

Hey Binelli! Still learning here, but the bike is held at my Grandpas house right now as I had too much crap in the garage for it to live here. However, I did snag a photo of the listing! Here's the gauges - but I don't know what I've got! 

That is unusual to see that many miles from my limited experience.

[newday777]

That is unusual to see that many miles from my limited experience.

Back in 1976 when I was parts manager, I had a local customer came in often on his K1 that he had put 69,000 miles on it from new.

Hondaman has over 100,000 miles on his K1(?)

[God of Thunder]

The triple tree is correct, so I’m pretty sure the front end is correct too. A photo of the combination caliper bracket and fender mount will confirm.

This might be a waste of a post - but I'm off to get the kiddo from school. My grandparents house is right by there, so I'll swing in and grab a few photos of the front end!

[Stev-o]

That is unusual to see that many miles from my limited experience.

Not that unusual, I had one with over 60K miles and Ofreen's bike has 140K!  It is just a sign that the bike was ridden and not just sitting around for many years.

[willbird]

That is unusual to see that many miles from my limited experience.

Not that unusual, I had one with over 60K miles and Ofreen's bike has 140K!  It is just a sign that the bike was ridden and not just sitting around for many years.

Oh I do not take it as a BAD thing, just a general comment.

Bill

[God of Thunder]

The triple tree is correct, so I’m pretty sure the front end is correct too. A photo of the combination caliper bracket and fender mount will confirm.

Well - I'd be lying if I knew what all that meant - but I stopped by and took a decent number of photos that hopefully show some good things!

I also took a few pics of the engine numbers and where I think the key switch should connect to! Let me know if you see anything amiss!



















I think when I get a new key switch - it should plug in here....



Also - would these handlebars be correct for a 1970K1?

[newday777]

Incorrect handlebars.

[God of Thunder]

Incorrect handlebars.

Ugh - just drives me bananas. I had to swap them on my K2 as well - at least they're cheap parts, but threading that dang wires through the handlebars was a challenging one.

[newday777]

Incorrect handlebars.

Ugh - just drives me bananas. I had to swap them on my K2 as well - at least they're cheap parts, but threading that dang wires through the handlebars was a challenging one.

It helps to heat the plastic wire sheath to soften it so it bends in the bars as well as using some silicone grease so it slides easier.

[BenelliSEI]

Good News! You do have the correct forks, brakes and front fender for a 1971 cb750K1.

[God of Thunder]

Good News! You do have the correct forks, brakes and front fender for a 1971 cb750K1.

You'll never know it - but I'm beyond thrilled!!!! 

On my list
-Seat
-Side Covers
-Rear rim/rebuild
-key switch
-carbs (I wonder if those others will suffice in the meantime)
-handle bars
-Painted headlight housing(??)
-Painted fork area (??)

Could be much worse!

[BenelliSEI]

Get rid of those carbs and find the right set. Those others will just make you nuts and waste your time. I always start my projects this way;

1. Get the ownership in your name, free and clear, otherwise you might be working on someone else’s bike. This comes from a bad experience. Don’t ask.

2. New points, plugs, set the valve clearances, ignition timing, check for oil pressure, and get it running. You need a key switch and the EMGO ones are cheap.

3. Sync the carbs and get it running really well. Costs nothing and you have to do it anyways. Use a clean, remote fuel tank. The original is full of crap. Don’t get distracted.

4. If it idles well, clutch and gearbox work fine and it has 5 speeds, start looking at what else it needs.

5 At this point, you will have spent $100 and have a bike that is worth 4 X what you paid for it. If you’re smart, you will sell it at this absolute “profit zenith”. If you are dumb like me, you will get into it. Now you can spend some real money (and say goodbye to it)……

[God of Thunder]

Get rid of those carbs and find the right set. Those others will just make you nuts and waste your time. I always start my projects this way;

1. Get the ownership in your name, free and clear, otherwise you might be working on someone else’s bike. This comes from a bad experience. Don’t ask.

2. New points, plugs, set the valve clearances, ignition timing, check for oil pressure, and get it running. You need a key switch and the EMGO ones are cheap.

3. Sync the carbs and get it running really well. Costs nothing and you have to do it anyways. Use a clean, remote fuel tank. The original is full of crap. Don’t get distracted.

4. If it idles well, clutch and gearbox work fine and it has 5 speeds, start looking at what else it needs.

5 At this point, you will have spent $100 and have a bike that is worth 4 X what you paid for it. If you’re smart, you will sell it at this absolute “profit zenith”. If you are dumb like me, you will get into it. Now you can spend some real money (and say goodbye to it)……

Ha - unfortunately to #1, the owner still has to 'find' the title. I told him I'd pay him more if he finds it and he "swears he has it" - but I live in a place where I can get it titled as an "antique" - its a bit more of a PIA but if I have to - then I have to. I did get a bill of sale though - so with the title thing, it was either "keep waiting" or "finally get a CB750" again. You mentioned "dumb like me" - so I'm probably already apart of that club! 

I don't think I'm going to find a full set of carbs for less than $100 though to make point 5 correct!