Topic: Why I'd Like A CB750 SOHC...Tell me if I am mad? :-)

[Jake68]

Guys,
I'd like your opinions here...

I am thinking of buying a CB750..here are my reasons for doing so, I thought you might like to comment on them, make sure I am making the correct decision?

I would like a bike with longer touring legs than my hotrod XS650 (750) which is hard and vibey. I want to tour around Europe and be able to maintain high speeds without too much bother (80+ when I need to). However, most roads will be slower than this as I only tend to ride on motorways if I have to. In Europe you need to keep up in these situations!

I want a character bike that I can maintain. I dont want bucket came followers. I want to be able to adjust the top end and keep it quiet without expensive tooling.

I want an oil tight bike, with a nice sounding engine with a plain bearing bottom end and crankshaft that I can have repaired and reground rather than paying for expensive tear downs and bearing rebuild kits..should anything go wrong.

I want a comfortable smooth fast classic motorcycle.

I want a classic bike with good spares support..

What dya think? 

[kghost]

I think you've come to the right conclusion - CB750.

Tho a Z1 / KZ900 would do it too....

As would a CBX 

[andy750]

Yep a CB750 will do. Ive rode around Europe on a 1974 CB750 and it was no problem and great fun. Started off in England, went to Scotland then to Holland -Germany - Austria -Italy - Switzerland -Lichtenstein - Germany - Czech Republic -Germany - Holland  -Uk. 3 week trip and 6500 miles.

Bike had a blast on the Autobahn (flat out wide open throttle for a couple of hours heading south to Munich)....did great in the Alps....and performed flawlessy coming across Northern Holland where its very windy and wet.....so yes a CB750 is a great classic bike for Europe.

Good luck in finding one,
cheers
Andy

[City Boy]

Just so's u know Jake,all but one of your needs will be covered by a 750;but thou shall not grind these cranks as they are only surface hardened and no undersize bearings are produced.The good news is that a well maintained machine will at rebuild time only need the bearings replaced,the cranks rarely need replacing in my experience.

[Jake68]

Just so's u know Jake,all but one of your needs will be covered by a 750;but thou shall not grind these cranks as they are only surface hardened and no undersize bearings are produced.The good news is that a well maintained machine will at rebuild time only need the bearings replaced,the cranks rarely need replacing in my experience.

Oh dang..that was as misconception then...or wishful thinking :-)

Nevermind, you cant have it all...

Z-thous have bucket and shim arrangement in the twin cam though..and I just dont see the point of that ...

For me the CB750 is a perfect design, it has what it needs to have to produce that power and a little more..whereas the zthou like loads of other jap bikes (NOT the XS650 which is why I like them) have superflous technology, like buckets and shims and twim cams for 8 valve arrangements, which for me, is just a waste of time until you get to some serious rev's.
The longevity of the CB holds this up..Dont like the way the Kawasaki motors look either..but that is just a personal thing..

Why have two cams, when one will do?
Why have roller cranks when plain will do?

Although the Japenese make amazing bikes, there need to push the technological boundaries, makes the bikes a PITA to work on. Which is one of my main loves...although I guess I got problems messing with new things like shims etc..For me its just a load of metal that needs replacing. More parts ..when fewer parts would do.

The CB 750 is a really attractive prospect for me..

[UnCrash]

My only bikes have been XS 650's and CB 750's.

I love my CB's!

My yamaha always vibrated my ass numb. 

The 750 sounds great, is easy to maintain, plenty of power up plus 100, and it won't vibrate your ass numb.   

[City Boy]

Your thinking is sound Jake.The bikes are easy to maintain and there are literally tons of used parts available if the need arises.   Rock On

[BobbyR]

I can blame Andy for this weekend. His voyages around the World inspired me to take the longest ride I have taken in 20 years. I rode from NY to PA through the Mountains. I was having a crisis of faith with my CB 750 this year. Saturday it was reasonably warm, so after clearing some leaves I hit the road.
I took the old girl 200 miles roundtrip through a mixture of winding mountains roads, major highways with extremely steep grades, and a mix of pavement conditions.
I found that the old girl has no problem climbing steep grades at 75 mph. Buffeting winds beat me to death, but she tracked straight even over bridges. The motor was very smooth at 5K which is all I needed to hold that speed. When I needed more there was plenty left. When I crossed the Pa border I got off the Thruway the motor idled so smoothly I thought it stalled.

What did I learn from this trip:

The bike is all you will need for any kind of riding.
The motor loves to run and has all the power you need.
It gets cold up in the mountains.

I will keep the old girl as long as she will have me. Crisis over.

Now go get your own!
 

[Jake68]

I can blame Andy for this weekend. His voyages around the World inspired me to take the longest ride I have taken in 20 years. I rode from NY to PA through the Mountains. I was having a crisis of faith with my CB 750 this year. Saturday it was reasonably warm, so after clearing some leaves I hit the road.
I took the old girl 200 miles roundtrip through a mixture of winding mountains roads, major highways with extremely steep grades, and a mix of pavement conditions.
I found that the old girl has no problem climbing steep grades at 75 mph. Buffeting winds beat me to death, but she tracked straight even over bridges. The motor was very smooth at 5K which is all I needed to hold that speed. When I needed more there was plenty left. When I crossed the Pa border I got off the Thruway the motor idled so smoothly I thought it stalled.

What did I learn from this trip:

The bike is all you will need for any kind of riding.
The motor loves to run and has all the power you need.
It gets cold up in the mountains.

I will keep the old girl as long as she will have me. Crisis over.

Now go get your own!
 

Bobby thats all I need to know..

Great story, I live riding stories..great..I took my 650 on a 150 mile round trip the other weekend and, I had a really good time, it pulls a lot of admiring glances, but I built it finished it and rode it, and a little more work like a first class paint job and I'll probably sell it..I must be effin mental LOL :-)

[Magpie]

Be careful, you can't have just one! It's like a crack addiction to some of us.  If you park they will come -  to talk and talk and talk...........................
Welcome aboard.
Cliff.

[andy750]

I can blame Andy for this weekend. His voyages around the World inspired me to take the longest ride I have taken in 20 years. I rode from NY to PA through the Mountains. I was having a crisis of faith with my CB 750 this year. Saturday it was reasonably warm, so after clearing some leaves I hit the road.
I took the old girl 200 miles roundtrip through a mixture of winding mountains roads, major highways with extremely steep grades, and a mix of pavement conditions.
I found that the old girl has no problem climbing steep grades at 75 mph. Buffeting winds beat me to death, but she tracked straight even over bridges. The motor was very smooth at 5K which is all I needed to hold that speed. When I needed more there was plenty left. When I crossed the Pa border I got off the Thruway the motor idled so smoothly I thought it stalled.

Glad to inspire Bobby, but you did the real work by getting out there and riding! And that part of the country has some great roads as I found out in the summer coming back from Mid-Ohio.

Yesterday I got out myself and even though it was between 32F (in morning) and 50F (high point) all day and freezing cold, it was a good ride and the CB750 loves to ride in the cold! Four of us went to Castle Gillete, CT which is really worth a trip if you havent been before. Mixture of highway (80mph+) and backroads: round trip 230 miles.

cheers
Andy

[UnCrash]

It was 28 degrees when I left for work this morning.   

 My K6 is in good tune, so it fired right up and within 1 minute I had my helmet on and headed off for work. 
I agree with Andy, these bikes run great in the desert and below freezing, in town or on the Autobahn (I wish I were on it!)

[BobbyR]

I learned some things about the bike, but on a deeper level I learned something about myself. Over a 35 year period  I had slipped from a rider into the hobbyist. I would spend a few hours a month tooling around some very pretty but predictable roads. I would get  her out in the Highway and ton her up for short bursts. I became dull.
I think my crisis was not with the 750, it was me. I began this summer taking longer rides to more interesting places, I think I was in training without knowing it. Saturday was the day I was training for. I hit that road, and no matter what, I was going to get to that spot. The side winds beat the crap out of me, the cold at 1300 ft and the snow piled on the edge of the road was a surpprise and scary. I crossed the bridge into Pa I smiled. In many ways I am not the man I was 35 years ago, but, this I can still do.

[andy750]

Well said Bobby....keep going and dont look back...the future is bright  Ride like there is no tomorrow.

cheers
Andy

[Jake68]

It seems like a CB750 is the bike for me...all these stories about people riding them long distances despite them being long in the tooth (the bike not the riders :-) )..is a great endorsement...