Topic: --- Hello, and how's my driving ---

[zzcoopzz]

Hello all, this is my second post here and I have a feeling that it will be one of many in the future.  I just purchased a 1977 CB750 F, in cherry condition and relatively in expensive.  I have been struggling with wanting to turn it into a road monster from hell or leave it alone and keep it stock...  Sense I don’t have a lot of disposable income, I will wind up keeping her stock.  this is fine because tricking out a bike of lesser condition would be ok, but since this bike is in such nice condition its best to make it shine and run strong, but other then that leave it alone.

any way, getting to the point.  there are a few miner things wrong with it, oil leak in the sprocket casing, tachometer seal needs to be replaced, carbs need to be adjusted, and tuned.  other then that she runs great.  here is my question about this bike.  should she have "hold onto your handlebars, type of acceleration" or is it just "good" acceleration but nothing to write home about?  I understand the Inline four has high end power as opposed to low end, but  I guess I just don't know what a finely tuned cb750 can do.  I don't really have the money to take her to the shop, but if she is not running right, then I will have to find the money to get her legs workin properly.

Don’t get me wrong I didn’t buy the bike for its speed, I bought it so my wife and I can have transportation in an otherwise way too crammed city with cars, and the old CB models are just beautiful.  I just want to know if the bike is working at 100% or not.

if you could explain what 80mph to 100mph feels like on the 750 I would greatly appreciate it.  as soon as I can I will get a buddy of mine to take her for a spin and tell me what he thinks, but until then I am very curious to know what you think.

thanks in advance, and its good to be a part of this forum.

coop

[smithrelo]

 I don't have a 750, but my 550 4 is scary anytime I hit the throttle and it rev's over 5500 rpm's.  I need a seatbelt!!!  (extreme top-end power surge)

Linda

[Harry]

SOHCs need to be on the boil to get the "surge". If I potter about in 5th, 80 to 100 is nothing to write home about. Kick down to 4th or even third and get the revs to 6K and things really happen fast - more than enough for me! Under 6K and these bikes are docile.

[Gordon]

My wife and I used to ride around a lot on my 400F, and she was really comfortable with it.  Now, the first time I took her for a ride on the 750, she held onto me tighter than she ever had before.  When we finally stopped, she said that was the first time she felt like she might actually fall off the back of the bike.  So I don't know if it's supposed to have "hold onto the handlebars" accelleration, but it definitely has the "hold onto your husband" kind. 

Just do all the regular maintenance type stuff, and give it a full tune-up.  If it still feels sluggish, then start searching for problems.

Gordon

[zzcoopzz]

"hold onto your husband"  that's funny,  I like that.

thanks everyone, your posts give me a pretty good idea of what the power should feel like.  I'm pretty sure I will need to take the bike to the  shop and get her a tune up.  I'm going to take her out today and get her up to the 7k 8k and see how she does.  The engine seems to run a little hot so I guess I have been a little nervous about really pushing the engine.

any way, thanks again for you help.

coop

[Gordon]

Take it to the shop?!    That's crazy talk!
 
Trust me, with a manual, a basic set of tools, and this forum, you can do a better job of working on your bike than any shop will do. 
Seriously, I don't know what I'd do if another man ever had his hands on my baby!  The only work I let anybody else do on my bike is change the tires, and even then I only bring the wheels to the shop.

Gordon

[BarryKelly]

I second that last post - get a manual and work on it yourself.  Even with no technical knowledge, if you start with the basics soon you'll be an old pro giving advice to the new guys.  These bikes are easy and fun to work on. 

Additionally, if you take it to the shop more often then not (it seems anyway) you get some 16 year old kid (no offense to 16 year old kids) that just got his first job and could care less about your bike working on it.  It's easy to strip bolts, not align things 100% right, and all sorts of other things that require a little loving to work exactly right.  Honestly, all the people who have "helped" me with my bike (with a few notable and noble exceptions) have left it in worse condition than before.  I remember when I learned to adjust valve clearances:  A family friend mechanic with many many years experience had come over and tinkered around, adjusting the valves and putting it back together before he had to run.  I took it out for a spin and it wouldn't accelerate, couldn't go up hills... it ran terrible.  Well, I quickly learned (by going over the manual carefully) how to adjust the valves.  Now it takes only a few minutes to do and I know its done right.

It's a great hobby, I'd recommend that you learn how it all works and try to get it going yourself.  It's much cheaper to boot.

Regards

Barry

[zzcoopzz]

I appreciate the advice and you both have convinced me to do it myself.  I'm pretty competent when it comes to engines and tools, however when it comes to timing and tuning I guess I get a bit nervous.  I suppose its time to start figuring out all that on my own.  now all I need is a place to work on it... I envy all the readers with garages.

thanks again for all the help,
cooper

[Bobby]

Cooper, always remeber, "Motorcycles smell fear."  If you are going to wiork on these old peices of iron, you have to stare them straight  in the eye and never flinch.  As for my CB750, I have hotrodded it, no Monster 836, but a respectable retro-rod.  The CB's do not possess the "Blood-to-the-back-of-the-brain" acceleration as say a Z1-900 of the same era does.  The 3/4 liter 750, when tuned well, has a balanced "predictable" power curve.  Well, for me anyway it does.

-Bobby

 

[pmpski_1]

I was nervous before rebuilding my carbs, but now that it's done I feel a real sense of accomplishment. If you're nervous about working on any specific part of the bike, just take it slow, think about what you are doing, take notes, and ask lots of questions. Besides, taking it to the shop can start to get expensive after a while.

-Brian

[zzcoopzz]

As for my CB750, I have hotrodded it, no Monster 836, but a respectable retro-rod.

To mod or not to mod, that is the question...  I swear to god, my mind changes every day.  I've seen what people are doing with the 450's, and if you can do the same with a 750, you could have a pretty kick a@* bike on your hands.  CONS, you would spend about 5 to 6k making it hot sh%t, and you could buy a nice used super bike for that much. PROS, 5 to 6k and a good imagination and you could have a bike that no one is riding and if you know how to ride could keep up with most of the super bikes in the twisties any way, it would still be a pig, but it would move, and the engine would be bullet proof.  and did I mention that it would be one of a kind...  however if you are going to do that you might as well buy one that has a good engine and frame and scrap the rest, because you will be replacing everything else anyway.  My bike is stock and cherry... it would kill me to take a hacksaw to something so nice... I should leave it alone...

I have a tendency to get too ahead of my self.  I should be more concerned about getting it to run as smooth and clean as possible, not whether or not I can fashion an newer swing arm to it that will take a 140 tire.

coop

[kghost]

heeeheeeheee.......

What happens when the stocker runs like you want and looks like you want? Eh Coop?

Cafe time my man!!!!!!!

The best part is you don't have to spend all at once. Little part here and there. (NO really dear, I have no idea, I think it was just a couple hundred.) Sounds better to the significant other.

[zzcoopzz]

ahh, see... now that's just dangerous.  likes like having green lights all the way down the street.  you can tell in my heart I want to mod the hell out it.

something like this, but in 750 form.
 

[smithrelo]

Ok, guys, I HAVE to ask:

What does "CAFE" mean?  I see the photos, and I'm just lost!

(Can you tell I've been out of "bike-speak" for 30 years??

Linda
(feeling REALLY DUMB right now!)

[SteveD CB500F]

"Cafe Racers" were invented in the 50's and 60's in Britain when the bike boys (as opposed to the scooter boys) built their specials and raced from cafe to cafe.  Hot place (still is) is the Ace Cafe in NW London.

The bikes had low bars, long tank, single seat, rear sets and loud exhausts.

Check out www.ace-cafe-london.com

[Einyodeler]

Hi Linda , check this out:
   http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/escape/features/122_0207_ace/