Topic: New Forum Member - Looking at a CB750 - need guidance

[newday777]

 
One very nice guy was very short and probably 1/2 my weight and he popped the bike up on the center stand in 1 second. I sat and watched and just shook my head.   He showed me his technique and I quickly got the hang of it.  Now it is easy.

So how are you are doing it differently now?

[kyle750]

 
One very nice guy was very short and probably 1/2 my weight and he popped the bike up on the center stand in 1 second. I sat and watched and just shook my head.   He showed me his technique and I quickly got the hang of it.  Now it is easy.

So how are you are doing it differently now?

I was doing EVERYTHING wrong before and now:

Standing on the left side of the bike.  Both center legs balanced.   Front wheel straight.  Left hand on the grip to balance the front and keep the front wheel straight.   Right hand on the grab bar.  Right foot on the stand leg at 45%  pointing toward the back of the bike.  Push down with the right leg and the bike pops right up.  Easy!

[newday777]

 
One very nice guy was very short and probably 1/2 my weight and he popped the bike up on the center stand in 1 second. I sat and watched and just shook my head.   He showed me his technique and I quickly got the hang of it.  Now it is easy.

So how are you are doing it differently now?

I was doing EVERYTHING wrong before and now:

Standing on the left side of the bike.  Both center legs balanced.   Front wheel straight.  Left hand on the grip to balance the front and keep the front wheel straight.   Right hand on the grab bar.  Right foot on the stand leg at 45%  pointing toward the back of the bike.  Push down with the right leg and the bike pops right up.  Easy!

Exactly. Great that you learned from someone local.

[willbird]

Very interested in this as Thailand is on my list of places to visit. Love the cuisine!  What area do you live?

My niece and nephew have been, they went to the infamous Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan Island.

Phuket intrigues me and may be on the itinerary...

As a quick bike update.  2 more people came to see the bike today to inspect and offer advice.  One very nice guy was very short and probably 1/2 my weight and he popped the bike up on the center stand in 1 second. I sat and watched in total amazement.    He patiently showed me his technique and I quickly got the hang of it.  Now it is easy.

Once again the Honda CB750 fired right up.  What a Beast. The sound of the engine and roar of the pipes is like a fire breathing dragon. What a Machine!

I used to teach some classes for CCW in my state in the USA. Learning how one person has overcome something difficult can help you teach others how to do it. The average ladies hand-arm-wrist strength makes some firearms difficult to unload, an female former LEO showed how she learned to do it and after that I was able to pass that on to other students. it amounts to pushing rather than pulling and going at as if you are RIPPING it open.

[MauiK3]

The center stand move is something everyone needs to learn if they have one of these bikes, it makes it fairly easy.

[Stev-o]

The price on this CB550 is higher than what I just paid for my CB750 (but my bike needs a lot of work)

Does look like a nice bike.  Just curious, what is the asking price?

[PeWe]

It is tricky to  ride a bike or drive a car in Thailand, right?

I hired a bike in Koh Samui 1991. When I got used to the bike, a 125cc, around 90-100kmh and a nice cruise finding a meeting car on wrong side of the road..... No, I was wrong. My automatic bike feel and experience of right hand traffic was a problem.

Riding around the island and watch out for crazy stray dogs that want to hit the bike.

Similar problem some years later when I hired a car in Khon Kaen visiting a girlfriend. After 10 minutes I left the wheel to her brother...

The people more north are very nice, friendly smiling people. I have met many street smart people understanding a lot despite a minimum of education. Very easy to communicate with a few  thai phrases.

Hat Yai completely different, not that friendly feeling as inthev north. I and a friend left as soon as possible 1997.

The beaches in Koh Samui are nice. Koh Samet too with the special thin sand rhat sounds nice when walking on it.

Koh Chang had rip current to be aware of. White Sand beach. High tide floading the restaurants on the beach in the evening.

Patong Beach in Phuket had also a dangerous current that dragged me out a few hundred meters when I was floating on my back for 15-20 minutes. Had to swim hard for my life back to the beach.

The street food is nice. Grilled squid, bbq sticks and various dishes with rice for not much.
They had cheap noodle dishes in Chain Mai when I visited 2008. Cheap dishes for 10 bath!
Fried rice around Pattaya, Bangkok for 40 bath as best, 60-100 bath in various restaurants.

I like the restaurants where I could eat as much I wanted for 99 bath!

They had a huge outdoor place in Khon Kaen with buffet for 99 bath/person.
I could bring the family with friends of two of my girlfriends on same place!
1999 and 2009.
No problem to pay for 15-20 persons!

A friend of mine visit Thailand rather often. Mostly Pattaya and Rayong where his regular girlfriend lives.

They have legal pot stores today. Just to buy the buds you want and smoke.

In the 1990's I met women that fixed the smoke. I have hazy memories visiting Marine Bar...memories.....

Koh Samui in a tropical bungalow full of insects, big roaches, spiders and gheckos  with their sound enhanced after a few joints of Thai Sativa... Hearing the sound of bumping coco nuts on the outside....

Foodwise, chicken taste extra good. Bbq chicken feet.
 Free running chickens taste nice.
Fried rice with something is nice too. Plus thai chili. "Prick nam prah".
Crab dishes , Bbq king prawns, rice soap etc.. mmmm!

Chaing Mai nice too. Hot springs in a volcanic area as well as "Doi Suthep" the big temple I have visited twice.

There are lots to see. A month is needed traveling around. 1 week at each place.
I sometimes remember my first thai girlfriend I met June 1991. I should have focused to bring here to me. I had the chance. A real beauty with correct mind, a perfect match.
I have had several adventures after that.   Thai as Swedish plus others

Married with a western woman I met 15 years ago.

[kyle750]

Here is another Honda 550 Four for sale here in Thailand.  Just like the white 550 I posted earlier the price on this bike is higher than what I paid for my bike.

Late Edit: The price on this bike is actually 2X (Twice) what I paid for my bike. 

[kyle750]

And here is a 1968 DOHC Honda CB450 priced at 89,000 baht

I find this bike intriguing as you can clearly see where Honda got the styling cues for the CB750.  I am quessing that at the time this bike was considered to be one of the better bikes available

Late Edit:  The seller of this bike does not have a valid title and registration

[kyle750]

I should have gone through a more thorough inspection BEFORE I bought the CB750 but I felt I had to act quickly or someone else would have bought it.  Yesterday very knowledgeable mechanics went over the bike and pointed out potential problems (mostly cosmetic).  Here is a photo of the chain and rear sprocket.  They also checked the wheels and both wheels are turning straight with No Wobble so they believe the bearings in both wheels are probably OK. 

[scottly]

What do you think is wrong with the chain and sprocket? The only thing that looks odd to me is the length of the bolt on the axle adjuster.

[kyle750]

What do you think is wrong with the chain and sprocket? The only thing that looks odd to me is the length of the bolt on the axle adjuster.

Sorry Mate. Nothing wrong with the chain and sprocket.  Only showing the photo because both mechanics pointed them out and noted that they looked to be in very good shape for a 50 year old bike.  I agree with you that the bolt on the axle adjuster does look very long.  Not getting the bike inspected before I bought it was foolish and irresponsible but it's starting to look like I am both dumb . . . and lucky!

[kyle750]

I would like to ask the SOHC members what is their preferred brake disc pad?  I've read a handful of threads and it looks like the EBC brand is popular with a choice between semi-sintered (EBC-FA12V)  and kevlar organic (EBC - FA12).  My understanding is the front brake on the CB750 is adequate but not great.  As a comparison the surface area on my Honda CRF250L disc pads is twice the size.  Disc pads that provide the best stopping power would be preferred and I'm not too concerned about the longevity of pads or rotor as I will not be riding the bike very much. At this point I'm not sure if I will changing the rotor or continue using the rotor that is currently on the bike?    Although I like riding my Honda CRF250L in the rain (with rainjacket) I will not be riding the CB750 in the rain.

Please let me know your experience and preference.  Thanks again for the help and assistance.

[jlh3rd]

What do you think is wrong with the chain and sprocket? The only thing that looks odd to me is the length of the bolt on the axle adjuster.

wrong chain length?

[PeWe]

Good idea to check the drive chain. Old weak one can be expensive when it snap off.
100 links  530 chain. Todays x-ring chains does not stretch much.

I always replace chain and both sprockets at the same time. A longer lasting chain make sprockets to last longer too if always lubricated.
Ride in rain/ wet roads will make chain dry quicker.
I have travelled in taxi cars where water entered the car floor inside during a sudden rain shower in Bangkok. After a visit at restaurant Thum Nak Thai or Royal dragon that was bigger before it closed.Still last millenium, not this

The best chain lube I am aware of and use is Motorex Road strong.

Old style disc pads with the forbidden asbestos would be fine.

I gave my K2 EBC pads, orange colored on the sides. Still not a good enough brake.

My K6 with dual stock brakes with DSS cheap pads have working front brake.

Both my CB750 have DSS aftermarket rotors written to be better than stock.

A single front brake work in legal speeds

[carnivorous chicken]

What do you think is wrong with the chain and sprocket? The only thing that looks odd to me is the length of the bolt on the axle adjuster.

I think this is because the bolt isn't screwed in at all -- I just replaced sprockets and chain on my 550F and unscrewed the bolts all the way and they looked about the same. They went back in maybe half an inch or a little more when I got the new sprockets and chain fitted -- surprised that the bolt sticks out that much there though -- how much slack is there?

[kyle750]

What do you think is wrong with the chain and sprocket? The only thing that looks odd to me is the length of the bolt on the axle adjuster.

 how much slack is there?

I have not counted the links in the chain but there is very little slack

[kyle750]

Chain has 100 links.  The only stamping I could find is on one link that looks like ZP 50?

[M 750K6]

If your sprockets are fine, just lube the chain and don't have it too tight. Patience. Get the bike riding, put some miles on it, before you draw up a list of what it needs.

[kyle750]

Get the bike riding, put some miles on it, before you draw up a list of what it needs.

Excellent advice and I agree.  Right now I'm trying to focus on getting the bike running safely. All the cosmetic stuff I can decide on later.   

[kyle750]

I just learned that the import Tax/Customs Duties for imported motorbike parts into Thailand is 30% (ouch) plus VAT of 7%.  I will need to focus on buying any Honda CB750 parts needed in Thailand from Thailand sellers.

[bryanj]

Does that include private "gifts"?

[MauiK3]

That can really drive the cost up, ouch!

[PeWe]

You'll hear when slack is too much. The chain will rattle when shifting gear. Or when riding on a bumpy road.

When parked, chain must feel not tensed when pressing it up- down where you can touch it, in the middle of front and rear sprocket. An inch up or down. Iit should be tested with rider on bike that affects this a little.

A worn chain can be lifted off rear sprocket so half of the teeth heights are visible.

On center stand.
Slack should not change when rotating wheel a little, test slack, repeat all around.
If it differ a little, make sure slack is ok on the tightest spot.

[PeWe]

I just learned that the import Tax/Customs Duties for imported motorbike parts into Thailand is 30% (ouch) plus VAT of 7%.  I will need to focus on buying any Honda CB750 parts needed in Thailand from Thailand sellers.

I bought a NOS ignition switch to my CB750 K2 from a Thai seller on eBay 6 years ago. They/He had some Honda parts.