Topic: A new guy in need of some advice.

[754]

I was going to mention (read your post you covered a lot of it)

If you think you are inclined, think you can learn and enjoy it, want to learn & dont need it for daily transport.. then any of them will work & you can be less picky..

Now if you want to build a chopper or other style of bike or switch back and forth, if you want to end up with a fire- breathing monster that there is almost no limits to what you can do with it, then I suggest the 750 sohc..

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I'm partial to the cafe racer style.

[754]

With the 750 you have, choice of

several aftermarket frames..

at least 6 wheel choices..

cafe tanks that drop on..

cafe seats...

at least a dozen choices of exhausts..

bore kits up to 150 % of stock size..


at least 2 chices of conrods..


at least 4 cam makers..

at least 3 carb choices.. at least 3 clutch choices..

aftermarket swingarms..

better selection of used parts..

more selection of rear sets..

more ignition options..


now see what you can find for the other models..

[Gordon]

now see what you can find for the other models..

There are plenty of examples of great custom bikes based on all sohc4 models on this website alone.  The only limiting factor is the imagination of the owner. 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I don't think I can really decide until I actually see a 550 in person. The size might be the deciding factor for me.

[cafe750]

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!

I think mine are bored in the garage, and they're multiplying to kill time... It all started with 2 750's and a 550...

now see what you can find for the other models..

There are plenty of examples of great custom bikes based on all sohc4 models on this website alone.  The only limiting factor is the imagination of the owner. 

+1  and just about all of the nifty stuff that was made for the 750's can be had for the smaller bikes, it just takes a wee bit more time and patience to find it...

[754]

so lets see a Rickman kit for a 500

a magneto for a 500


What choices do you have for rods.

Ever see a blower for a 500 ?

[cafe750]

so lets see a Rickman kit for a 500

a magneto for a 500


What choices do you have for rods.

Ever see a blower for a 500 ?

No blowers, but I have seen turbo'ed 550's. I've seen Dresda swingarms, Megacycle and Webcams make cams, Yoshi made cams and there are at least 2 options for ignitions. Piston kits still show up, rearsets are still available, and cafe tanks and seats can be had, it just takes a little ingenuity to mount them. Hell, I had a CB550 Dunstall tank and seat in my hand a couple of days ago.  Granted, the smaller ones didn't have as substantial of an aftermarket, but, there was still quite a following. I'm simply suggesting that Sheik keep his mind open to the other SOHC's. I love 750's to death, but the smaller ones are a lot of fun, and I enjoy them all. My little brother loves his 550's, because they're a little smaller, a little easier to ride hard and fast in the twisties, it'll break the "ton" and they serve him well. He thinks that the 750 is a little on the heavy side in stock form. So, in the end, to each his own, we're all in this together...

[754]

Well you put it better than I did, I agree with you.

I agree with 500/550 being easier to ride, but a lowered 750 is easier to ride than stock height... and easily reversible..

What bothers you learning to ride, can disappear pretty quick after a few months.

[lordmoonpie]

What bothers you learning to ride, can disappear pretty quick after a few months.

+1 754 - that's a darn good point. It's like the Keith Code $10 worth of concentration. When you first start to ride a gear change can take $8 worth of the $10 in thought terms but once you've done it a few times it's less than a penny....same with a big bike. At first it seems like a massive undertaking and quite daunting but within weeks it's the most natural thing in the world.

I remember my first ride on a ZZR1100 when they came out. Having been used to customs and classics it was a whole mind shift. I eased the clutch out as I left the shop with the salesman walking inside and shaking his head - the bike shot off like a scladed cat and I reached the junction 400 yards down the road before I found the footpeg for my trailing leg! I had to have it though and within weeks it felt quick in a straight line but was otherwise a big comfy armchair and didn't have the wow factor for long.

If that boils down to any advice - I'd say in buying a bike, get one that stretches your comfort zone a little bit and you'll benefit more in the long run!

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I have a lead on a 1971 CB500. I'll keep you guys on the up and up.

[Jeff]

Regardless of what model bike you get, I think you should get a good runner, which to me would be avoiding the Nazi 750 like the plague.
What do you want to do more... learn to ride or learn to work on your ride?

Also, if this is your first full size bike, I still think going for a 500/550 is a better choice. Not that the 750 is a fire breathing monster like today's liter bikes, but the 750 is taller and heavier. Those are two things that make being a newbie rider more difficult. The best bet when learning to ride is getting a bike that allows you to focus on learning and enjoying riding. JMO.

Jeff

[754]

Some folks may say I tend to have a slight bias towards the 750,s, not sure if that is true..

[Jeff]

Some folks may say I tend to have a slight bias towards the 750,s, not sure if that is true..

I'd bet that most people recommend whatever bike they have! After all, I have a 550.

[78 k550]

I heard the early 500's are fetching some good cash.

Paul

[TwoTired]

One thing to consider (if this hasn't already been brought up) is to take strong note of your inseam.  It's no fun riding a 750 if you can't flat foot on the ground while sitting on the bike.  How will you feel if you drop the bike when stopped because you couldn't keep your balance?
There are things you can do to make the 750 more acceptable to shorter legs.  But, the 550 is already there when stock.  The 400 is even more fitting for short legs, though the one I had seemed "flimsy" (for lack of a better word) when compared to the slightly more substantial or stable 550.

Food for thought.

Cheers,

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Hah, thanks for all the advice guys. I remember not being able to comfortably have both feet on the ground with the 750. I am definitely leaning hard towards the 500 or 550. Whichever I can find.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Well, I have good news and bad news. I saw a CB550 on Cinci's craigslist and called as quickly as I could. I was at the gym and missed the guy by 20 minutes. Somebody already had a deposit on it. But I talked to the guy on the phone and he was super cool, and he told me he'd relay my name to some local guys who are real into SOHC Hondas. He said they have something like 50 (!) bikes in their possession. Hopefully I get an e-mail soon, and I can actually pick a bike instead of settling on whatever comes down the pipe.

[seaweb11]

uh hu.........now you're on the inside track.   Who knows where that will lead and who you will meet   That's the fun when you go on the hunt for something unusual

[Badger 5]

What was your budget?

[seaweb11]

$800.00 is what he has to buy/

I got my running, reasonably well kept 750 for $800.00 so that sounds fair.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Got a call from that guy this morning. He has a few CB500s for me to look at. I'm going next Saturday. The one he has a title for does not come with a seat or a gas tank, but that's not a huge deal because I'd be customizing those regardless. The good news is that the bike runs.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Well, the trip we made out to visit the bikes were not quite worth it. The bike he had up for grabs was not running and was sitting for awhile. It was a very nice bike, but a little too nice for me to take and bastardize. He also wanted a bit too much for it. But the good news is I determined for sure that I want a 550/500. The size was perfect for me. I felt comfortable rolling it and sitting on it was great. So that's one major concern out of the way.