Topic: Bringing 1975 CB750 from US to NL

[dnedved]

Hi All,

I'm planning to bring my 75 CB750K over from the US to the Netherlands.  The bike is in very good shape for a rider, and has been mostly restored.  My company will take care of the moving expense (probably more than the bike is "worth" other than sentimental value), and I'll rent a storage building over here, but I still have plenty of other questions I hope members of the forum can help me with.

- how hard are parts to come by in the EU?  Where's a good place to start looking?
- if they make me put on a kilometer speedometer (hoping for an exemption due to age) where would I find one?
- are parts and labor generally cheaper in the US?  Should I go ahead and put on new tires, get swingarm and rear wheel bushing replaced?  Should I also send over several cases of oil and other consumables?
- any other weird things to watch out for?  I've got stock style headlight, aftermarket 4-1 exhaust (4-4's rusted out and are gone).

Thanks in advance for any help!

David

[Jim Shea]

David,
Welcome. Here are a couple of links for parts, 1st one is in NL, 2nd one is in UK.
http://www.cmsnl.com/
http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/

I don't think they will make you put a km speedo on, but they do come up on ebay.
I think everything generally is cheaper in the US, so DIY is the way forward. It is not easy finding someone who understands these bikes and will work on them 'reliably'!
Always have good tyres and wheel bushes, so change them if they need it.
I would bring over oil etc, if your company will ship it foc? It is definitely cheaper in the US.
One thing to check, if you have an MOT(roadworthy test) type regulations in NL, is the indicators, we are not allowed ot have certain colour lenses in the UK and you can not have indicators as running lights as far as I know?
Cheers,
Jim.

[SteveD CB500F]

Hi David.

Check out the "Where are you in Europe?" thread.  As far as I can see, only "Tony CB750K6" is in the Netherlands - you may like to hook up with him for some advice.

Steve

[Glenn Stauffer]

You need to check out this guy: http://home.hetnet.nl/~marion1965/

I think there is a forum on that site, but my Dutch is rusty.

Rene van Maanen lives in Utrecht.  Great guy.  He was a long active member of the SOHC/4 mailing list; though I haven't heard from him in a while.  A couple of years ago he started selling SOHC4 bikes and parts and running a repair shop in Utrecht.  You must look him up when you get there.

I also suggest you look up Johnny Verhoeven (johnny_verhoeven@yahoo.com) who lives north of Brussels in Diegem, Belgium.  Johnny is a great guy who has been connected with the sohc4 group since the early years.

You'll be in good company over there.

[Glenn Stauffer]

I just had an email conversation with Rene.  He told me about the Dutch SOHC/4 group that he runs.  They have about 150 members and a website at http://www.cbfourclub.nl

[Jim Shea]

Gleen,
Is there a link to 'local' forums such as the Dutch one? We have one here in the UK; http://www.honda-sohc.co.uk/

[Glenn Stauffer]

Something I want to add to the club pages on the website are links and descriptions of local SOHC/4 clubs around the world.  There is a club in Germany, cbfourclub.de, that puts out a great magazine.  Some kind soul there ensures that I get a copy - it is a really nice piece of work.

When I get the pages up on the website, I'll be sure to have links for the UK group.

--Glenn

[Jim Shea]

Glenn,
Thanks for that.
Jim.

[dnedved]

Thanks for the reply everyone, you guys are great!

I checked out all the websites, and I can see I won't have any shortage of parts or people over here.  Made me feel a lot better about bringing a classic motorbike over.  I'll be sure to contact every person and club you've mentioned this spring when I actually get the bike over here.  Sounds like I'll find plenty of people to ride with.  Never even seen another SOHC/4, always ridden with newer bikes, so it'll be cool if I can hook up with a club over here.

Tires are about 20% right now, and swingarm and rear wheel bushings are not necessarily bad, just the only bushings I haven't replaced as part of the restoration.  I suppose a new set of high-mileage touring tires and new bushings would be a smart thing to have done before I leave since they'll have to get done at some point anyway.  So far I've done all the work myself, and planning on bringing tools over as well, so should be in good shape for ongoing maintenance as long as I can get parts.  I'm already over here in the Netherlands enjoying the beautiful winter weather (ha!), but I can have my father-in-law run the bike over to a shop back home before the spring rush to have it all set up for the trip.

Thanks again for all the help... can't wait to get my bike back!

[René van Maanen]

You need to check out this guy: http://home.hetnet.nl/~marion1965/

Rene van Maanen lives in Utrecht.  ..............and running a repair shop in Utrecht. 

Well Glenn, actually it's in Apeldoorn.

Any international visitor is welcome, ofcourse.