Topic: Am I the only one?

[but_ch]

I don't mean any disrespect to anyone, but I like the stock look.  Not sure why.  I guess since it's so old already, it's cool just to see one on the road.  I have no interest (now, at least) in making a cafe bike, chopper, etc.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the looks and effort involved in a project bike.  But for me, I like a stock restoration.  Anyone else?

[kslrr]

Yea, I like seeing a stock restoration.  I don't choose to do them because I am always wanting to try some idea I have, or I want to use a newer item and I am not into hunting down all the correct parts to do a full stock restore.

[but_ch]

Maybe it's my lack of creativity.....

[burmashave]

It's definitely not a creativity thing. I'd say that someone has to be a bit creative to get attached to SOHC4's. ;-) Check out the member pics and the bike of the month winners. You'll see some extremely sweet stock restorations. Mine (see sig) is pretty much, but not completely stock.

You might also check out this current thread. 736cc has at least one beautiful stock bike.

It's really a matter of preference, and one of the cool things about this forum is that I cannot recall a serious argument about whether stock/chopper/cafe/bobber are the best.

[jtb]

I'm with you, but_ch.  I really like the looks of the late 60's and 70's bikes.  Having said that, I did add a small winshield, new shocks and progressive fork springs, but it still is 99% stock.

[BobbyR]

I am with you, I like it stock since unless you go all the way with a Cafe or Chopper it always looks half assed.

[medic09]

I'm with you.  I think the stock bikes have class.

[pddpimp]

Stock bikes are very cool.

In defense of modified bikes, as in my own, it was much cheaper to mod it than to make it stock. Having to outbid other builders for parts on Ebay is getting out of hand. And complete stock bikes are becoming hard to find these days. It's very easy to find a "builder" or parts bike to start with for $20-400 .Another thing with mod bikes, is that you don't have to go to a big show and see 5-10 1973-76, red, stock CB750Ks. Kind of reminds me of a dealership, in a way. Mods, it adds a bit of personal touch to your ride.

Don't get me wrong, I love the look of a 100% stock bike. But, I can't afford/find one

[VitaminCB550]

It's definitely not a creativity thing. I'd say that someone has to be a bit creative to get attached to SOHC4's. ;-) Check out the member pics and the bike of the month winners. You'll see some extremely sweet stock restorations. Mine (see sig) is pretty much, but not completely stock.

You might also check out this current thread. 736cc has at least one beautiful stock bike.

It's really a matter of preference, and one of the cool things about this forum is that I cannot recall a serious argument about whether stock/chopper/cafe/bobber are the best.

burma... love the bike! what bars did you go with? did it require cable shortening?

[CrisPDuk]

I love the look of a good stock bike, especially the earlier 750s, and will own one at some point, but at the moment I'm of the same opinion as pddpimp I could afford to spend that sort of money on S/H stock parts, but I choose not to

PS: Whilst I love the look, I did not actually find my 550K that comfortable to ride, that is why I have swapped my factory ape hangers for clubmans, my stock seat for a giuliari and my footpegs will be replaced with some 'busa rearsets.

[helgiman]

It's all in what you want. My feeling about keeping it stock is that we are saving these old Honda's from the dumpster. Folks can get a look at what we grew up on riding in the 60s, and 70s. In another 15-20 years our stockers will garner even more curiosity and respect. And I can only hope when I pass my bikes along to the next proud owner they will feel the same. That said, The cafe crowd definitely rocks! Put a stocker next to a nice cafe and I'll bet I know which gets more attention. The one with the stubby bars and glossy black Paint!!!!!!
Ed

[Wheelhorse77]

I believe that it also depends on your geographic location. Cafe maybe big in one area and it maybe frown upon in another.

Speaking for my area, it seems as though I get questions or thumbs up for having what appears to be a close-to-stock bike. It is currently unrestored and as I polish up some brackets here and there it slowly removes some of the negative character from the bike LOL. I have also seen what appears to be "Rat Rod" style bikes roaming the street in flat black and in a pack; non of them were HD's either.

[malcolmgb]

I go for tastily customised stock, my 400 is Black but using Honda style graphics, Goodridge brake hoses, power style levers so I don't have to reach so far and of course modern lower profile tyres. I still like the look of cafe racers that have had a complete make over not just a seat and clubman bars. But we are all individuals and the bike world is richer for it.

[Frrrrunkis]

I'm trying to keep my 400 close to stock, with only minor changes, like the striping put on by the PO, and I've shined up some stuff that is originally dull, painted the gauges glossy black instead of flat black, polished the crankcase covers up, added an on/off switch for the headlight

[UnCrash]

De gustibus non es disputandum.

Hell, I'm beginning to like the looks of my Vetter SS fairing and I never thought I would like it.

I especially like being behind it when keeping up with interstate traffic.

[Jinxracing]

Stock CBs don't really do much for me. Blasphemous, I know, but to me they're just a blank canvas. I also wouldn't have the heart to irreversibly modify a complete stock bike (at least not an early one). Don't get me wrong, the perfectionist in me certainly appreciates all of the time and effort that goes into a showroom-perfect restoration and I enjoy looking at them, but I don't have the least interest in having one in my garage. Probably because I never lusted after one as a kid; my formative motorcycle magazine-drooling years were in the '80s–there's nothing I wanted more in highschool than a VFR 700. Maybe one of these days I'll restore one of those. 

I really like the British cafe racers of the '50s and '60s, but don't have the money for old British Iron; CBs are just a cheap (for the moment) and reliable alternative. I guess it's just the way of things; as these bikes get more scarce and valuable, even the basketcases will get too expensive for the casual dude to buy and modify. I'll then move on and modify the next oddball freebie that's rotting away in the neighbor's backyard while the faithful watch their bone-stock CBs increase in value and start buying up modded bikes to put back to stock.

This is not my bike (unfortunately), and that's not me sitting on it, but what an inspiration!

[burmashave]

burma... love the bike! what bars did you go with? did it require cable shortening?

[quick hijack]The bars came with the bike. They didn't require any shortening. I really like 'em and wouldn't go back to stock.[/quick hijack]

[mikedialect]

I fight the cafe urge all the time. I have a pretty damn stock bike that came in decent shape. I almost cafe it every time I see a seat I love. I might just have to grab a crap bike and cafe it because I know I would regret loosing the stock quality of my bike- but the parts are damn hard to find!

[bobsmith]

I bought my '76K new in '76...after a year or so, with mine looking like every other 750 out there and the red paint fading, I got a Veter, Imeron silver paint (remember that?  >:(cough, hack, cough) and since have replaced the holy exhaust system.....Do i wish I'd left IT stock now??? OMG yes, but no one thinks of that when the bike is relatively new...

[feliz]

I prefer stock myself but appreciate what others put into modifying their rides. I like cafe racers but don't like the "rat rod" bikes that are prevelant, I don't see any creativity or art in using a spray can and painting a bike dull black.