Topic: A new guy in need of some advice.

[Caferacernoc]

Plus, you can always sell it later if the perfect 550 or 750 comes along.

Are you sure you don't mean that he can always ADD a 550 and 750 to the collection when the perfect ones come along?


Let me look in the garage, hmmmmm, 2 CB750's, a CB550, and a CL350 Scrambler...... Yeah, you are right!

[Sheik Yerbouti]

In the meanwhile here's a picture of the 750 in Indianapolis. It's pretty damn terrifying. Ignore the Nazi symbolism.



Right click, save image location, and open in a new window for a much bigger picture.

[754]

Get the slammed 750, there is so much you can do with them, nicest looking engine... IMO...

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I have more images. The carbs don't have any air filters or anything like that. It looks like the head gasket is gushing pretty bad. What should I offer? $500 or something?

[TwoTired]

I have more images. The carbs don't have any air filters or anything like that. It looks like the head gasket is gushing pretty bad. What should I offer? $500 or something?

$100, tops.  If you like bashing your own head in, maybe compromise at $200.

[andy750]

If this is your first bike then Id pass on the 750 in the photos...to me it looks like too much wrong with it and unless you want to spend the next 8 -12 months fixing it up, Id get something else. If you really want it then offer less than $200. Whole bike looks like junk to me. IMHO. For $500 -$1000 you could get a running CB750 no problem.

For example there is a CB750K1 here in Boston for $900! Yes it needs some work but its all there, stock seat, clean tank and wont take much to get it going. Being sold by a fellow SOHC owner...OR look at SOHC member KB02s bike in bikes for sale. Good price for a running bike and hes in Vermont - take a bus and come pick it up in person and ride it home. If you fly into Boston Ill even take you to Vermont myself! 

BTW - I did a similar thing for both my CB750s....the K4 I won on Ebay and it was in North Carolina and I was in Boston...flew down and rode it 900 miles back home. Second K4 was in Washington DC and again flew down and rode it home.

Good luck!
Andy

**edit - Llyod beat me to it but looks like we both had the same idea**

[moham]

It's pretty damn terrifying. Ignore the Nazi symbolism.

does it come with a period-appropriate sidecar?

[mark]

Plus, you can always sell it later if the perfect 550 or 750 comes along.

Are you sure you don't mean that he can always ADD a 550 and 750 to the collection when the perfect ones come along?   ...

+1

A buddy has 2 750s.. an 'A' and a 'C' .... both seem like 4H exhibits to me. (but what do I know...)

Here's the 550.. Don't mind the seat - it was a '70s thing. Gawd am I glad to get rid of the school bus blinkers!



Happy trails.


btw... The 650 you posted looks like a better deal than that black hulk - at any price!

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Hah, if I could get it for 100 it'd cost me more in gas to get it home.

[Gordon]

Are you looking for a complete tear-down and rebuild project, or something you can ride while you're in the process of making it your own? 

Answering that question for yourself will go a long way to helping you decide what bike to buy. 

If you're looking for something to make cosmetic changes to but leave most of the mechanics stock, then your best bet would be something that is in decent running condition but looks like #$%*.  Money-wise, at least, that would be best. 

If you plan on doing a complete custom job and are going to significantly modify the engine and/or frame, then a basket case might be best because you can get them cheapest, and you're going to spend the cash on rebuild parts anyway. 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I am more than willing to do an entire restoration, but I simply don't have the means. Being a college student, all I have is a very little garage to work with. I do have access to my school shop, but I couldn't really do a whole lot of work there. He claims the bike runs, but needs a new head gasket. It just looks too far gone for me to even concern myself with.

[Gordon]

It just looks too far gone for me to even concern myself with.

With your current situation, I'd have to agree. 

Don't get me wrong, I love a good basket case resto, but if you don't have the means to really dig into it, and don't have the time, space and possibly money to put into it, it can quickly become more of a hassle and headache than it is fun, and can easily steer you away from every trying it again. 

[seaweb11]

Spend the money up front for a bike that runs.

That last 750 is not for you "I think".  You won't be riding that for along....long time. $$$$$$$$$$$$

I've said it before and I will say it again."some times a free boat is tooooooooooooooo expensive.

Keep looking.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I was able to talk to the owner of the 650 on the phone. He was a great guy, answered all my questions and was generally a pleasure to talk to. He said he had somebody looking at it tonight, and if they don't take it he'll call me. I think they will, though. Oh well, back to the hunt.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I found an '81(?) DOHC that looks pretty decent. The seller is in a monetary pinch and would let it go for $500. Worth it?

This is the description

"Very nice bike needs 2 coil paks but i got one still in wrap.has 25,876 miles Never ride and desperate for money !MAKE OFFER! or will trade"

And here's the pictures.







I'm going to kick myself in the ass for not getting a SOHC, DOHC will be much harder to work on I assume.

[seaweb11]

patience grasshopper

looks like there are a lot of bikes in your area.    My last one was 4000 miles away, it will come....and you will know

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Yep, sent him an e-mail that I wasn't interested. I should be doing homework, not browsing craigslist.

[seaweb11]

Yep, sent him an email that I wasn't interested. I should be doing homework, not browsing craigslist.

My 14yr old has a mid term in math tomorrow. She came home and after 12 mins said she was finished her studying `Now without much effort she gets a B, so I offered her $100.00 on an A on tomorrows test.



...............she has been at the books for an hour and 1/2 now


Get off your computer and get back to your future

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I'm reading a book for english class called Generation Me. It's dryer than the Sahara and so redundant I want to scream. I'm on the computer for my sanity!

[754]

If that 750 runs Ok,  and I needed a bike  and had a G-note to spend, I would still take it  for 500, over any of the others.

The other bikes just dont do anything for me, and I am used to bikes like that.. but that is just my opinion..( not your average bike owner)

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I might as well do this right and get a bike I love to start with. I don't feel like settling.

[Gordon]

I might as well do this right and get a bike I love to start with. I don't feel like settling.

That's a good plan.

[754]

if I had started with a nice, good running bike that needed nothing.. when I got my first one..

 I probably would have learned a lot less about bikes..

[seaweb11]

Not true, there will always be something to deal with.
As a student he has no real shop, few skills, and I would guess few tools, little time, and few $$$/

I still recommend a good runner for you. 

If you could,  answer these questions:
What is your budget CASH for a bike up front Max?
What kind of $$ per month could you afford to spend "restoring"
How many hours per month could you "get at er"
Do you want to ride while you "fix it?"...............these are not rhetorical questions, every one here could help more if we knew.

Having done 3 complete tear downs and 1 "clean-up, paint,carbs, points, tires"  I can tell you the one that gets you on the road will cost you less in the long run and you will have ample crap happen to learn what you need.

.08%   it's been a long day.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I am shop oriented, so I have access to plenty of tools and fabrication materials including: Laser cutters, paint booths, CNC machines, MIG/TIG Welders, grinders, woodworking tools, etc.

Next year I am going to have my own place with a small detached garage which would give me enough room to have the essential tools (wrench/driver set, Variable speed drill, dremel, sanders, etc.)

My budget up front is around 800 max. I want to start with a runner. Next year I am going to have a job and be able to slowly pour money into it as I go.

It's not my number 1 form of transportation, I live with in walking/biking distance of my school. This is more just a project for fun and a way to go out on some back roads and have some weekend fun. I could spend time on the weekends mostly, I could probably afford 30 hours a month or more if I really pushed myself. Riding it while I fix it would be nice but is NOT completely necessary. I would love to do a complete teardown someday. The feeling of accomplishment would be unparalleled. I don't think it's in the cards right now though. Maybe when I have my own shop.

I hope this helps.