Topic: I've got the SOHC4 bug

[UnCrash]

Is it a hobby?  Is it an obsession?  Do I need therapy help?

... Or just a project bike 

I look in Craigslist daily for SOHC hondas.... Why? 

So on days like today when I find one (actually 2), I can go out and check em out and think about how I can bring them back to my stable and rebuild them.

Today I'm looking at a 74 and 76 750.  The 74's engine is in a box, recently disassembled by a mechanic who said to the current owner that it needed a rebuild.  The 76 has no spark according to the owner but the engine kicks (whatever that means)

Neither have stock exhausts but are in "reasonable shape"

I'm about to ride my 78 750F over to see if they're worth the $450.00 he's asking.

If so I have no idea how I'll convince my wife that it's reasonable to purchase them.  I'll work on that later...  My birthday's next week so I could always use that excuse.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Yes, it's a sickness.  I do the same thing, only the bikes close to me are either out of budget up front or out of budget in what it needs.  Still looking for that elusive Barn Bike!

To cure your illness, buy 2 CBs and post pics in the morning! 

[KB02]

AND, you can always use one other these following excuses for your wife:

A.) I bought them for you so we can ride together.

or

B.) Hey, If I'm out in the garage, I'm not out in the bars, am I?

 

[BobbyR]

It is an addiction, and you will find yourself craving more and more to feed this perversity you have embraced. May the Lord have mercy in you. 

[andy750]

Im down to 2 now myself.....

BTW I PMd you about Chris having 3 engines (CB750) he wants to get rid of....anyone in the New England area can have them before the chucks them! Varying condition and mostly not so good.

cheers
Andy

[TwoTired]

Problem?  What problem?

(Pay no attention to my Sig, which will likely expand to one more.)

Cheers,

[S-Dog]

Varying condition and mostly not so good.

HAHAHAHAH... I LOVE IT!!!

[UnCrash]

   He He!  Love the replies.

The verdict is that the 2 bikes could be made into one that looked real sharp for the initial purchase price of $450 and another $1000 kicked in.

The chrome was not so great, no original exhaust, the 76 has the engine in a box with the head having a nice rust ring in the cylinders from where it was siezed.

The 76 has a Dyna and oil pressure gauge and rear sets.  All of which I would like if he's willing to sell off parts.

Currently he's looking to part with the whole lot for $450 which seems reasonable to me and is less than half of what he has in the whole project.  The shop charged him $250 to pull apart the engine to tell him it needed a rebuild.  Sheesh.  So he picks it up in a box and says no thanks.

That engine needs to be bored out etc to make it new again...

The 74's engine has 15K on it and has no electrics hooked up.  When I kicked it it sounded good and had good compression.

All in all it's the right project for someone.  Just not me.

I wish him all the best in selling it.

[GammaFlat]

Yes it's a hobby, yes it's an obsession and yes you need therapy

I've often wondered about this and my thoughts change over time.  Here's today's thoughts...

• SOHC4's are relatively cheap
• SOHC4's are darn good hardware with excellent engineering
• 1 and 2 make them a pretty terrific value proposition
• They're fun
• They're fun to work on
• They were the first of their kind
• Others with this sickness are genuinely nice folks (specifically, this forum)

In one sentence I think it is a form of escapism.  (escapism -noun  the avoidance of reality by absorption of the mind in entertainment or in an imaginative situation, activity, etc.)

Everybody needs an escape.  We just have a good one. 


Grab all the parts you can with both hands and build a bike.  If nothing else you can sell them here or on ebay.  In general, parts bikes are a good value.  The Dyna unit alone will probably fetch $75. 

[tmart]

Remember,it is always easier to ask for forgivness than asking for permission

[JMURACN]

we all need therapy... but its ok... at least we are having some good clean fun with our "issue."  that cant be said for many other people that are seeing a therapist! 

[Bodain]

It's an obsession.. In my area Dallas / Fort Worth... You don't call a guy and say I'll come and look tomorrow. If you do that you've already lost it. Too many locals looking for the same thing. So recently I make contact and commit to buy based on a very poor pic... Just to beat the next guy.
My last buy like this was the 78 CB 750 F... It continues to drain my wallet.

Just a couple of weeks ago an interesting item came up... 1975 CB 750 F    for 400 bucks. I called the guy and talked to him on the phone about 10:00 PM at night. (Thats when he gave me his phone number)  10 minutes of conversation and I wanted this bike now...  13,000 original miles. He bought it from his 65 year old neighbor. The bike had been sitting in the garage for years. Since he didn't want me to come at 10:00 Pm we agreed I would call the next afternoon and pick it up.

I called the following afternoon. Now the guy says he changed his mind and didn't want to sell it.
One day later I see a new item on local CL 1975 CB 750 F in pristine shape for $2500.00. What a coincidence... It has 13,000 miles on it.

[mrbreeze]

Early bird usually gets the worm with these bikes.I always love to hear when a member gets a good grab (like Hahnda with the KO awhile back). I just wish I could get as lucky.