Topic: I'm so excited (and I just can't hide it)

[cbjunkie]

Hello All - I'm on my way! I've had'er for about a week - she's ugly as sin and I love her! My avatar is a pic my buddy took on our way back from Lewisburg, TN - 350 of my first ever hwy miles since my '72 cb350 didn't like the big tarmac... My lower back is screaming at me, begging me to slide back just 6 more inches...I laughed my ass off (what's left of it) when I read the Ugliest Accessory thread - looks like I'm coming up with more than one - starting with the worst offender, of the K/Q variety.

Anyways, as the newest newbie, I am bound to ask some stupid questions - I have a friend here in St.Louis that is a pretty decent CB mechanic, but I hope I can call on some of you guys' experience to help me get through this initial phase...fortunately for me the gentleman I bought this bike from was a great mechanic and the engine is nuts on - I get to go straight for the cosmetics as I already own a strong runner - Truth is, I'm not sure I want to do that much to it, besides fix the seat and bars.

It's blacked out, no emblems, and I'm okay with that right now - the hardest part for me is knowing whether or not to stick strictly to 1971 parts - things such as the side cover for the oil tank. There is one on e-bay right now that is off a '73 that is already blacked out, w/no embem and would be perfect for me as long as the tabs line up. 

I just received my parts catalog (abt. five min. ago) and am trying to decode it right now.

Been lurking around for a few days and looking forward to getting to learning from everyone,

John...

[Caferacernoc]

Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the sidecovers did not change during the CB350/four model run.

[cbjunkie]

That confused even me when I went back and read it... The OLD bike is 1972 350 - the NEW bike (pictured) is a '71 750 

[Caferacernoc]

Right. You have a CB750K now. Gotcha. The side covers are the same from '69 to '76.

[cbjunkie]

Great info - Thanks...on to the bidding war.

[Jonesy]

Ummm... the sidecovers on the original K model were different. They were more angular and had the "air intakes" on the sides. From K1 on they were all the same.

[cbjunkie]

Yeah, this is something I've been meaning to ask - does the 1 in "K-1" correspond to 1971 and on up through the years? This is how it was explained to me...

[dusterdude]

john,i like them bars,as far as the k series goes,they were broke up whenever honda changed something significant i guess.

[cbjunkie]

True dat,
the link from the "true story" thread shows this to be true - there is not a direct correspondence between year and K-#...looks like that oil cover doesn't change after '69 (k-0 with the vents)

as far as the bars go - they are nice actually, I've been enjoying them - the seat is killing me...I'll start with the seat and see what happens - bars are much easier to come by anyways...

[dusterdude]

john,do you have a bigger pic of your bike?

[cbjunkie]

I didn't take any of these - all of these came off the original listing on e-bay...interestingly enough, he put this bike up twice and it never made reserve (1000) - I had emailed him with a couple of questions - and when the second auction ended at just over 600 he sent me an email privately asking if I was still interested...I jumped on it.

I drove down with a bud Labor Day and put in my first long distance flight - what a blast - sore neck though...seems like most everyone was put off by the cosmetics...i.e. the seat, bars etc.  I looked at probably 30-40 pristine, stock and near pristine 750's - they were going for twice this one, and lots of them had plenty more miles...

This horse came with 22.9 grand and an engine tuned tighter'n satan's banjo...paid cash - 1 grand.

linkage...
http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=3919.0

[jlzrrteby]

Hey John,

So you went from a 350 to a 750. That sounds familiar. Did that myself. Quite a nice change. I had 350's on and off for about 25 years. I got rid of my last one about 8 years ago. I didn't ride anything at all until last summer when my wife found a 77 CB750A at a garage sale ($550.00). To be completely honest when I went down (About 100 mi) to ride it back I was a little intimidated by the size.

Any way I love it. It too needs to be prettied up, new paint much chrome polishing, aluminum buffing, frame painting, and especially new exhaust (very expensive and very very scarce). 

I'd like to find a cross-reference somewhere that lists what parts fit what bikes.

Good Luck with it,

Jerry

[Einyodeler]

Hey John
great deal there
I`m out here in Wentzville if you ever need a hand with the wrenchin
I just got my "parts bike" on the road today for it`s first roadtrip :Wentzville to Chicago = 7 hrs in the saddle
Yeeha....ouch

[attachment deleted by admin]

[cbjunkie]

Well, it was worth it to me, for sure - I'm having to much fun to be completely subjective about it ... ha! One thing's true -  I have a bike I can work on and modify without fear of destroying a museum quality finish.

Yeah, the transition from 350 to 750 was nerve-wracking as hell - especially the first hundred miles or so over concrete interstate - ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump - I thought I was gonna have to pull over and pitch a couple of times.     I feel real sorry for all the poor bastards down in Kentucky! what roads they have there, yikes...

We have a pretty good little club up here in St. Louis - meet up once or twice a week to terrorize the neighbors...it's a motley crew - a KZ or two, a dirtbike, a couple of 500's and one other 750, chopped down sweetly...good times.

Yodler, do you go down into the Ozarks ever? I've been visiting friends down there for a few years - now I finally have a bike that will stand up to the trip - there are some beautiful twistys down there!

johnny...

[Einyodeler]

Well hell! Where do you guys meet and ride? I`ll be headin back down that way Sat.

[cbjunkie]

Monday nights at Lemon's usually - we just sit around and stare at each other and drink beer, occasionally someone grunts, then, without warning ... VROOM!
VROOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM.......

 

[kghost]

Just to correct a couple miscues......

The 69-70 side covers are the boxy looking ones.

The 71-73 have the "sevenfifty" in script and the Jewel below.

74 and up (I think till 76) had "sevenfifty" in a box (rectangle)

See photos

[cbjunkie]

Info much appreciated - It looks to me like I'm good to go on that '73.

Thanks, kghost

p.s. where o where did you find the pix?

[kghost]

All the side cover pics are from www.cmsnl.com Where they are available for sale.

All the Badges are from www.oldbikebarn.com Where they are for sale.

Cmsnl also carries some badges. I have ordered from both and had good experiences.

Congrad's on your new bike, Welcome.

Do check out the FAQ section for vendor information.

[cbjunkie]

Thanks again - yeah I have been going through all of the links - saves a lot of time, glad I found you guys - very helpful!

[heffay]

We have a pretty good little club up here in St. Louis - meet up once or twice a week to terrorize the neighbors...it's a motley crew - a KZ or two, a dirtbike, a couple of 500's and one other 750, chopped down sweetly...good times.

huh hum... (that was a throat clearing by the way for those of you don't know how to speak heffay) ... being one of Motley Crue's biggest fans since age 10 or so... it's spelled Motley crue!  (sorry can't figure out how to get the two dots over the o in Motley and U in Crue) 

[kghost]

No, I think he really meant motley crew. As in a rough and tumble group. Or a diverse group of rag tag individuals.

But since you still like Motley Crue even tho the 80's are long gone we'll overlook your interpretational error. 

[Sam Green Racing]

Can't understand a word he's saying with that stupid gas mask on.

[heffay]

i'm sorry... did you call me stupid???

 oh wait.. i'll leave that for buffo to comprehend.


motley crue is not a thing of the past... pink floyd came and went... came and back again... why cant motlley crue?  oh... i believe they have....j

[SteveD CB500F]

I do not know who used it first but motley is an adjective meaning "speck" from the Middle English mot or mote which in Middle Dutch can mean "sand".
Sand is composed of diverse and often incongruous elements--hence, the term "motley crew", a phrase maybe describing the employees of a ocean going vessel.

I found a reference from 1748 from something called "Anson's Voyage" which speaks of "with this motley crew, Pizarro set sail." Motley has meant many-colored (like a patchwork) for centuries, and it's the colorful costume of a Fool. Motley (the noun) is cloth of vibrant mismatched colors. Motley (the adjective) borrows from the sense of a fool's costume, and a motley crew suggests a mismatched, raggle-taggle bunch of less than organized troops.

Steve ("the prof")