Topic: 1974 CB750 Flake Sunrise Orange just showed up for sale

[kyle750]

I love the sunrise orange color.   I'm not sure if I need 2 bikes as I already have my hands full with the Candy Gold K2.  Any evaluation, observations,  opinions, or guidance on this bike would be greatly appreciated.

Bike has full title, registration, and license plate. I can see scratches on the tank.

[newday777]

Well night pictures aren't the best to go by.
How much for it?
How far are you from it?
Can you afford a second bike and do you have room to keep it?

[kyle750]

Well night pictures aren't the best to go by.

Excellent observation.  Thank You.  I spent 2 hours talking to the owner this evening and he forwarded lots of additional photos and videos.  After reading the comment I called him back and asked for more photos of the bike in full daylight which he will take tomorrow and send to me.   

I am reviewing the engine rebuilding photos now on a large monitor at home and will post later. 

[MauiK3]

Agreed, all night pictures is something to wonder about.
Looks mostly unmolested.

[PeWe]

Look inside tank for rust. Oil tank too.
A test ride is a must to verify it is OK. As a not bent steering head/ fork or swingarm. Functional brakes.
No extra holes in exhaust pipes.

Carbs OK and clean. If running unevenly is a good haggle point.
Dirty carbs can need access to an ultrasonic cleaner.

[kyle750]

Look inside tank for rust. Oil tank too.
A test ride is a must to verify it is OK. As a not bent steering head/ fork or swingarm. Functional brakes.
No extra holes in exhaust pipes.

Carbs OK and clean. If running unevenly is a good haggle point.
Dirty carbs can need access to an ultrasonic cleaner.

Excellent advice.  Thank You!  When I bought the candy gold K2  I was paying a very low price so my expectations were very low. It was sold cheap as a bike needing full restoration.  This bike has been fully restored with a corresponding higher price and therefore expectation should be much higher.  More caution is needed if I decide to proceed with this bike.  I am still waiting for photos of frame and engine numbers and title book (green book here in Thailand).  I need to verify that all the numbers are correct before spending any further time because without a correct green book it can be very difficult (nearly impossible)  to re-title.

[kyle750]

Engine photo from the seller.  Engine number is CB750E-2372427

[PeWe]

I forgot the steering stem.
I bought a used fork where the steering stem was slightly bent and lower bearing race cracked.

Most important parts for me were the lowers and pistons inside.

It must be visible when steering to each end and see how the stoppers meet.

I'm sure there are others that will chime in with experiences of many bikes after professional shop years.

[kyle750]

Seller sent me 2 videos of the bike yesterday.  Both were taken at night lit up only by street lights (same lighting as the photos).  A warning sign.  I am waiting for better photos and videos taken in daylight.   

[kyle750]

https://youtube.com/shorts/F-rFxCKATcI

I believe you guys know me well enough now that I feel compelled to point out that steering stem bolt 

[BenelliSEI]

That is one fine looking machine…….

[kyle750]

The Sunrise Flake Orange K4 is a beautiful bike and the owner has done a excellent job with the restoration.   I only have limited experience but I already know  how expensive a good restoration costs for a  Honda CB750.   Good quality new and vintage parts are expensive so I appreciate everything he has done with the bike.  Unfortunately,  after careful consideration I believe the bike is extremely overpriced in the current slow market for vintage bikes and a slowing worldwide economy.     I told the seller that I am still very interested but at a much lower price.   

[kyle750]

New short video of the bike taken yesterday in daylight

https://youtube.com/shorts/lybRz9-2SmQ

[junior]

didn't 74 speedometers have the trip knob out the back? Not the side?  Nice bike!

[kyle750]

Still discussing the bike with the owner.  He has been very helpful in answering questions.  I told him his price is too high (for me at least) but I have not made a counteroffer.

Another video of the bike in the daylight as requested

Not a valid youtube URL

[newday777]

Still discussing the bike with the owner.  He has been very helpful in answering questions.  I told him his price is too high (for me at least) but I have not made a counteroffer.  Any vintage bike negotiating tips other members could offer would be greatly appreciated. 

Another video of the bike in the daylight as requested

https://youtube.com/shorts/E3grlChelsc

[newday777]

didn't 74 speedometers have the trip knob out the back? Not the side?  Nice bike!

Yes.
Those gauges are K6 green.
K4 gauges are darker.

[newday777]

My friend's K4 speedometer that are original, he bought his K4 new in 1974.
The trip meter reset is on the back and not on the side like the K6 has.

[kyle750]

Thank you.  As the speedo is from a later K6 I need to find out what else has been changed?

Also I believe I changed the status of the videos from private to public.  Please let me know if they are still not viewable.

[newday777]

Thank you.  As the speedo is from a later K6 I need to find out what else has been changed?

Also I believe I changed the status of the videos from private to public.  Please let me know if they are still not viewable.

It's working now. But his movements are too fast to get good pictures.

The tank has the petcock on the left side(K5/K6 type tank) K4 tank petcock are on the right side of the tank. So it has been repainted.
That fuel filter and hose routing is wrong and might cause running problems at speed, also a good inspection of the tank when empty should be done with a bore scope for rust and if (and how) it has been lined.
The oil hoses have been rebuilt with smooth hose.
A lot of non stock parts have been used on this bike in it's "restoration ". Use the cb750expert link I gave you  early on to know original vs not.

[kyle750]

I did notice the fuel filter sticking out on the left side.  Looks wrong. If the bike was assembled from different bikes then that is a major red flag. I am considering using a K4 gas tank on my K2 but it still has the petcock on the right side just like my K2.  CB750 owners are fortunate as many of the parts from different years are mainly interchangable but it still helps to try to keep it as close to original whenever possible. 

[BenelliSEI]

Did you ever get the original frame and engine numbers? Looks like a pretty nice restoration to me.

[kyle750]

Still waiting for photos of the title book with frame and engine numbers?  Seller has told me they match but I have not seen the actual frame number only the engine number in engine rebuilding photos.  I will ask again!

Thai sellers are very hesitant to post or send photos of the title green book as information can be copied and counterfeited and then can be used by scammers to cheat people. They almost always send photos of the title book with the actual vehicle ID number whited out.

[Stev-o]

didn't 74 speedometers have the trip knob out the back?

Is this a Euro spec bike?