Topic: Hi from Iowa

[b82ta]

So I finally get around to introducing myself and my 1978 cb750.  I bought this bike a few weeks ago, and have been working on it as time and money permits, which unfortunately is not as much as I'd like... Here are some before and current state shots,

before





and current (messy garage... I know...)

[Holubs]

Welcome from another Iowa noob! 

My son has lived in Ames for 6 years, attends Iowa State University.

Looks like you are getting a nice start, the time to work on my pair of '76 Fs are always a problem as well.  I'll get there, eventually...

You can get any help you need here, for the asking.

Holubs

[alltherightpills]

Welcome from Iowa City.  Jreich (member here) is over in Ames.  I think his last build was a blue 500 or 550 chopper.  It's always good to see more Iowa folks on here.

[b82ta]

good to know there are others here! Now if I could just figure out a way to finish this bike without a job... haha

[b82ta]

btw Holubs,  What is your son studying if you don't mind me asking.  I'm currently in the Architecture program at ISU, its a great school.  I love it there.

[Holubs]

No problem.  I have heard the architecture program is pretty difficult, congrats.  ISU is a great school, my son loves it there.

He graduated last year with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering.  He is now in grad school, one year into a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Human Computer Interface.  Does research half time and carries half a class load.  He gets to work with some pretty interesting, cutting edge stuff.

When my son comes home he helps me with my F1 project.  My first project will be a mostly stocker, getting a bike I sold 20 years ago back to the shape it was in in when I first owned it in 1980.  When that is done, I may do something more interesting with the parts bike I picked up in Des Moines a couple weeks ago.   Assuming I can get a title for it, that is.

[b82ta]

Thanks,  Yeah its certainly not easy, it pretty much owns my life during the school year :S 

Thats great!  ISU has a great engineering program, I used to be in it, but couldn't hack calculus... haha

That would be a fun project, I have this problem that I simply cannot leave anything alone... I think the only vehicle I have ever owned that hasn't been extensively modified was my yz125...  I don't think it would be too bad to get a title for it, I looked into getting a bonded title for the '75 frame I had, and then just piecing the rest together, and from the way I understood it was just a vin check, $50-100 to an insurance company for a bond, and then an inspection to verify that the bike you're applying for is actually the one you have, and then you get your bonded title, and a real one 3 years after that.  I almost did it, but then I found an amazing deal on my '78 and didn't have to go through it.

[Holubs]

I plan to strip my F1 to the frame, send it to get sandblasted and powder coated, then start reassembling the best parts of the two bikes into the best (mostly) stock bike I can make.  That will take the rest of the Summer, need to do a lot polishing and, cleaning!  Since both of my F1s came out of barns, 1 after 5 years, the other after 15 years, there is lots of cleaning to do.

Good luck with your project, and keep the pictures coming.

[Glenn Stauffer]

Messy garage?  If my garage ever looks that clean, it'll mean that my wife finally had the 'haul your stuff away for free' guys out to the house while I was on a business trip. :-)

[b82ta]

haha Mine has been worse but, clutter in my workspace just bothers me, so usually the place I'm working is clean but the rest of the garage is a pit...

[b82ta]

Looks like this project might be on hold for some time... My '78 frame is twisted and i can't really see it being easily straightened, so now I have to figure something else out... I have a 75, with no title.... But I don't know if I really want to use that, so right now I'm trying to find a 77-78 frame w/ title. otherwise my run with the sohc 750 might be really short lived...

I do have to give some credit for the previous owner's ability to twist the frame like this... I dont even know how they pulled it off to be honest... unless the whole front end has been replaced.  There are two small dents slightly above the engine, but beyond that there is no sign of any hit or crash damage other than the bent frame rails/bars/whatever.  The damage is bad enough that it twists the whole front end lightly to the right, forks and otherwise will not run plumb ever... I can only imagine how terrible this bike would handle... Just one more thing in a LONG list of things wrong with this bike, my $300 purchase is not looking like a good deal anymore...

sorry for the rant/complaining but this was not a fun discovery...

[alltherightpills]

You should post something over in the tech forums about your frame.  People might have some advice for straightening it.