Topic: Most restored motorcycle and number of survivors

[kyle750]

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. 

[newday777]

That will be a very hard number to calculate.
Definitely far more that were left rode hard and put away wet. Proper storage is key to survivor bikes. Very few got the Proper treatment for long term storage as most were it will be fine when I get back to it. Old oil let in without changing it, damages internals, gas left in the tank and carbs has devastating effects of rusted tanks and carbs gummed like molasses at minimum to badly corroded carb body pieces exposed to the old MTBE additives the government mandated in the 80s to the 2010s. Rust on exposed painted frames and other parts, and chrome parts rusted beyond cleaning up(you were lucky on your chrome)

[69cb750]

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

CB750 and Z1.

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.

My guess -
20k are running.
200k could be repaired with some effort.
200k are in sad shape.

[kyle750]

My guess -
20k are running.

Very surprised but probably a good quess.  20 running/550 total = 3.6%

[kyle750]

My guess -
20k are running.
200k could be repaired with some effort.
200k are in sad shape.

20 + 200 + 200 = 420.  What happened to the other 130?

[69cb750]

What happened to the other 130?

Gone, no longer exist.

[kyle750]

What happened to the other 130?

Gone, no longer exist.

 . . . buried in the woods

[MauiK3]

It says a lot about the CB750 that they are so restored. Of all the bikes that have been made, many of them spectacular, the CB750 seems to have a unique position of respect and love these days. They seem to check a lot of boxes.

[PeWe]

Lots of parts on eBay from old parted CB750's during the years. Thanks to them, others could be saved and updated.

We must be many with extra parts on the shelves from bikes.
I have a few more cylinders and heads than bikes

Visit CycleX and see a bunch of crankshafts.
Each crank from a bike.

[willbird]

Lots of parts on eBay from old parted CB750's during the years. Thanks to them, others could be saved and updated.

We must be many with extra parts on the shelves from bikes.
I have a few more cylinders and heads than bikes

Visit CycleX and see a bunch of crankshafts.
Each crank from a bike.

Clear back in the 1980's I think you could buy nearly an entire HD design motorcycle without buying a single HD part. Over the years there were a few CB750K frames made too. True devotion to the craft would be an off the shelf CB750K that did not use a single OEM part. An oversize crank and bearings to fit it would be a cool step in that direction. Make it +.03" or +1mm as long as there is room there, Then decide what interval bearings you want. of course in the bargain comes stroker cranks :-).....final regrind is to stock dia :-).

Bill

[bryanj]

Go look up Alan Millyard with his V 12  kawasaki and Viper engined bike along with 4 cyl in line 2 strokes etc plus rebuilding the Norton Nemesis


All by the way in his garden shed!!! And with no big machinery

[rotortiller]

The average guy restores the CB750 because there were many made plus modern Asian parts and support are very plentiful. Many suppliers of parts far and wide are riding on Asian manufacturing shirt tails and making a good living, I love the global economy because of this wide spread vendorship. Because of the vast bike numbers there is not much in the way in collector value, except maybe in the owners head. Good, simple and reliable retro rides, ideal for the regular old and young farts alike has really helped a focused part of the industry grow. Restoring a CB750 is so much easier and cheaper than other bikes of the 70s, plus it is less frustrating.

[69cb750]

Clear back in the 1980's I think you could buy nearly an entire HD design motorcycle without buying a single HD part.

You still can, you can buy every knucklehead part from a catalog., you can buy every panhead part from a catalog or you can buy all the parts in a kit -
https://www2.vtwinmfg.com/replica-1947-knucklehead-bike-kit-2.html
https://www2.vtwinmfg.com/replica-1948-panhead-bike-kit-chrome.html

[willbird]

Clear back in the 1980's I think you could buy nearly an entire HD design motorcycle without buying a single HD part.

You still can, you can buy every knucklehead part from a catalog., you can buy every panhead part from a catalog or you can buy all the parts in a kit -
https://www2.vtwinmfg.com/replica-1947-knucklehead-bike-kit-2.html
https://www2.vtwinmfg.com/replica-1948-panhead-bike-kit-chrome.html

I do not doubt that a bit, was just making the point that before the internet existed you could do it all from a catalog :-).

[Don R]

 Seeing the pic of the bike laying in the dirt makes me wonder what's the most restored single individual CB750? There has to be a few really rough bikes that are lovely now.
 Like Matt Walksler said about antique Harleys, some guys start with an oil stain on the floor and restore a bike from there. L0L.
 
 

[69cb750]

Seeing the pic of the bike laying in the dirt makes me wonder what's the most restored single individual CB750?

Look in the "project shop" section.

For entertainment, my 41 knucklehead when it arrived, it looks better now.

[PeWe]

Or parts bikes.
My brown K2 is only stray parts, new and old spares, old from eBay and a guy nearby.
Engine started with an empty case.

Bike a frame only.
Tank bought from same guy  a few years earlier. It belonged to the frame.

Parts cost much more today than 6 years ago.
NOS K1 rear fender cost more than double today than the fender I bought 2018-2019 to have as spare. A year earlier a little lower.
New cams suddenly doubled in price...

I'm lucky that I bought lots of parts I still have not used.

A biker friend found an engine cover cheap on a fair. He looked up all other parts to get a complete bike that looked like new after the build.

[kyle750]

Because of the vast bike numbers there is not much in the way in collector value, except maybe in the owners head. Good, simple and reliable retro rides, ideal for the regular old and young farts

I am an Old Fart restoring a CB750 and I am not overly concerned with collector value.  For me the joy is watching the transformation from neglected to appreciated.  Many people appreciate the bike for different reasons - historical importance, reliability, or cool vintage style.

As the new caretaker I feel I am giving the bike what it needs to prevent further damage and deterioration as without proper care it would surely have become lost to the ravages of time and end up forgotten and buried somewhere deep in a tropical jungle   

[kyle750]

Lots of parts on eBay from old parted CB750's during the years. Thanks to them, others could be saved and updated.

As someone who is currently restoring a CB750 I am very grateful and thankful for all the parts suppliers - both original from old parted out CB750's and new reproduction parts.  Last week I received my 2nd shipment from Yamiya which included original Honda OEM 341 exhaust baffle diffusers and a complete reproduction #2 exhaust pipe. Reasonable prices, excellent packing, and quick shipping.

[PeWe]

The used parts for a CB750 often cost several times more than similar parts for another newer bike.

Some sellers also add Sandcast in the description when it is not.

[dave500]

that picture in your first post kyle,its for sale!the add reads ran when fell over.

[kyle750]

that picture in your first post kyle,its for sale!the add reads ran when fell over.

The comments in the original Now I don’t really know much about motorcycles ad are precious

https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycle/comments/ghhjhs/now_i_dont_really_know_much_about_motorcycles_but/

[MauiK3]

Such a shame.

[Stev-o]

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

CB750 and Z1.

The big difference here is the production run and numbers:

CB750 [SOHC]  '69-78....approx 600,000     [I have 2]
Z1 900              '73-75....aprox    82,000     [I have 1]

[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.

[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!