Topic: 1971 cb 750 chopper with extra 836 engine, whats it worth?

[damagedduck]

So the intention is to sell it on and make some money mate? If so, I wouldn't worry about installing the 836cc engine, choppers are mostly about "form over function", so chopper guys aren't really worried about performance, but more about cruising.


   so chopper guys aren'treally worried about performance?? says who? mine had a 850 kit in it,,alot of my buds have 836's &850 hell even a few have bigger....

[Retro Rocket]

Choppers with big engines are mainly for posing, they usually have sub standard brakes and handle like #$%* so its really a waste having a huge engine in a chopper......If you read that post again Terry is pointing out the fact that it is to be sold on so why put a big engine in it that really won't increase the price of the bike when he could sell the 836 for more coin than a stocker....Makes sense to me....

Mick

[BAchvytrk]

So the intention is to sell it on and make some money mate? If so, I wouldn't worry about installing the 836cc engine, choppers are mostly about "form over function", so chopper guys aren't really worried about performance, but more about cruising.

Tidy up that 836cc engine and sell it seperately and it'll go a fair way towards paying for the stuff you'll need to get that chopper nice and shiny and ready to sell for a fat profit, if that's what you want to do. Personally, I'd keep it for summer cruising........     

I wouldn't say the intention is to sell it, i'm just trying to figure out what to do with everything i got with the bike. It's most definitely getting put on the road and some miles put on it and see how i like it.  Thing is i change bikes as often as some people change underwear. I have 5 bikes on the road now, the cb750 now makes 6. When i find something new i like, i try to sell one that doesn't get ridden much.  So maybe i'll like this cb and the xs or kz bobber i have will get sold, who knows, lol!

[Terry in Australia]

So the intention is to sell it on and make some money mate? If so, I wouldn't worry about installing the 836cc engine, choppers are mostly about "form over function", so chopper guys aren't really worried about performance, but more about cruising.


   so chopper guys aren'treally worried about performance?? says who? mine had a 850 kit in it,,alot of my buds have 836's &850 hell even a few have bigger....

To answer your 2 questions, 1.Yep, and 2. Me. "Performance" is more than just going fast in a straight line mate, which is all choppers are good at doing, going in a straight line. Regardless of how good you might think you are as a rider, a CB750 with a stock engine but good suspension and brakes will pisss all over a chopper once you get off the freeway and hit the first corner, so putting a bigger engine in one is only usefull if the roads you travel don't have bends.

Really, putting a bigger engine in one is only good for "Pose Value", so you can say things like, "mine had a 850 kit in it,,alot of my buds have 836's &850 hell even a few have bigger....". I really do like choppers, but you should never use "chopper" and "performance" in the same sentence............. 
 

[754]

I will have to disagree with Terry and Retro. Seems to me they are saying big inch choppers are not their choice.
 Apparently a good portion of the rest of the world does not think that way..

 There are many, many chopper owners that  prefer built motors over stockers.

 I disagree on the brakes, my chopper had far better front brakes than they ever had at the factory on cb 750 street bikes. There are endless choices for good brakes.

 We live in a land of many freeways, not everyone desires a roadracer, or a hard cornering bike, for everyday use..

 Build what you want but for the fun factor if you rode the 836, I doubt you would switch back to a 736cc.. providing the 836 was  a decent choice of parts. Bigger than 836, is even more fun..

[Terry in Australia]

Like I said Frank, (and it looks like you've agreed with, but in your own words) Choppers are great in a straight line, but useless on anything but nice straight, smooth roads. Most have extended forks, many have no rear suspension, just about all have very low ground clearance, and many don't even run front brakes. Sure, you can put really good brakes on one, but how many people do? I watch lots of chopper shows on cable, and most of the builders don't even fit a front brake at all.   

If they really were "Performance bikes", people would race them. I go to a lot of classic race meetings where many, many Honda CB750's are still raced, but so far, I haven't ever seen one chopper in the pits? I do see plenty in the car parks though, which is probably the safest place for them, with lots of sparkly chrome and big dollar paint jobs, the last thing you'd want to do is lay one down.

Choppers are motorcycle art, extreme form over function, and I love them, but they will never be considered "Performance" bikes by anyone with half a brain. Cheers, Terry.

[Stev-o]

For what it's worth, I agree with the "Boys from Oz" on this one.

[754]

Some of us live in totally different worlds..

 At most of the races I have been to there are plenty of choppers, and they compete sometimes too.
 Plenty racing at dragstrips, plenty in the pits at the flattracks, and hillclimbs, and many compete in rodeos as well..
 Try racing an unraked bike at Bonneville..
 So maybe you are just going to different races than some of the rest of the world.

  Terry when you build your big-bore Honda, are you planning to roadrace it? or are you more likely to get into it on the street?

 Bikes in shows are show-bikes, they represent the radical glirzy end of the bike building spectrum.. real life street customs are not exactly like that... just as GP bikes are more radical than their street-legal clones..

 I am glad I live in North America where the custom bike scene is alive and well and plenty of things to do..

[Retro Rocket]

Frank, there are more people riding "normal" bikes than choppers for a reason. Any time to want to race me on my Honda just let me know, i can guarantee you that i will out brake your Chopper with the same braking system, and definitely go round corners better safer and faster , the comparison is really quite stupid. Terry is basically saying, unless you drag race a chopper, {not just a raked bike} it is just a Christmas tree on wheels because it will never be as safe or handle or brake as good as a stocker, so if it is a street bike ,why make it more dangerous by putting a big bore engine in it.....more chest beating i suspect.....

And by the way, i like choppers but don't be silly enough to think they are anywhere near as safe of better than a well set up street bike....At most of the races, and i mean REAL races that most people go to,the bikes they ride would beat your choppers at everything and easily most of the time. And just for clarification a low fully raked drag bike isn't a chopper.....

Mick

[Terry in Australia]

Some of us live in totally different worlds..

  I am glad I live in North America where the custom bike scene is alive and well and plenty of things to do..

You must live in a totally different world Frank, because last time I looked at my Atlas, you lived in Canada? 

[754]

Reto, you obviously havent been over to this side of the planet.. places like Sturgis.. People that think like you go to Laguna Seca, people that think like me go to Sturgis..

 Different strokes for different folks.... Seriously, I am trying to get a 970cc motor together, the thought of running it in a swingarm frame with shocks, has never even entered my mind..

 I am not saying what I like is good for the masses, but I am not on here preaching that a HUGE segment of motorcycling, is all wrong and cant work...

[scottly]

A running, stock motor, in any frame with a title, is worth more than a non-running 836 in the same bike. I would ride the chopper a while before swapping in another unknown motor (and gearbox) into the equation.

[Retro Rocket]

Reto, you obviously havent been over to this side of the planet.. places like Sturgis.. People that think like you go to Laguna Seca, people that think like me go to Sturgis..

 Different strokes for different folks.... Seriously, I am trying to get a 970cc motor together, the thought of running it in a swingarm frame with shocks, has never even entered my mind..

 I am not saying what I like is good for the masses, but I am not on here preaching that a HUGE segment of motorcycling, is all wrong and cant work...

Didn't say that at all, even said i like choppers but they are heaps of #$%*e when compared to "normal" bikes in a functional sense. Like Terry said, form over function and thats all there is to it. I don't care what motor you put in your chopper,my bike will do everything better.....that is my point. Ride what you like, its only an opinion Frank i am not trying to talk anyone out of anything, just got to your defensive side..... I wouldn't say a HUGE segment either mate, it has its following but its highly obvious that its a "Niche" market, just like cafe's.....Horses for courses.....Over here, you would see hundreds of bikes before you would see anything even resembling a chopper.

Mick

[damagedduck]

well back to the question at hand,$950.oo for the chop & 3 motors,bloody good deal,stock engines in my area run about $1oo-2oo .a good solid chopper around $1000.oo-2500..good luck with build=chuck
PS if need some pix of other amen frames i have 1971 &1974 amem catalogs i can get pix from....

[BAchvytrk]

Wow, sure didn't think i'd start such a debate on "performance", but it was sure fun to read. I appreciate all the input, once i get it rewired and some good paint, i'll post some more pics, maybe i'll post some as it's coming along if i get the time.  and just a side note, Canada is a country located on the continent of North America 

[Reindeer]

That bike looks killer, post some better pictures sometime.

[Terry in Australia]

Canada is a country located on the continent of North America  

Ha ha, fair enough mate, I guess it sucks not having your own continent, with all those other pesky countries hanging off a shared land mass!