Topic: How much has your project CB cost you?

[Frankenkit]

Good lord.

Ok. Everything is estimated or rounded.
My cb650 project:

bike- $450.  I was so broke and the time, the guy let me make payments on it.
carb rebuild set 1- the keyster kit- $120 ($30ish each)
that set leaked like a freakin sieve.
Honda set- $40ish each, so closer to $160.
Accelerator pump- $15
Air cutoff valves- $10 each. (x4..) $40
Tires- $60 each.  $120.
Gasket set- $86
MC rebuild kit- $40
MC reservoir- $35
Pads- $15
New clutch lever- $5
All new cables- $30 give or take some for clutch, speedo, tach, throttle. $120
Cost for Mac's Radiator to boil out, coat and completely effing hose my original tank- $200.
New tank- $100. (lousy learning experience.)
H4 headlight kit- $50 (ebay, claims to be DOT)
Seat recovered- $60
Kickstand shortened- $20
Shorty shocks $60
Progressive springs w/ fork oil $70
new seals/dust seals $20
LED idiot lights- $26
Seat trim- $10
Rewound rotor/stator- $120
OMP reg/rectifier- $90
Iridium plugs- 8 ea $32
Accel wires and caps- $10
4-4 exhaust $200  (I think?)
Hard luggage- $90 (ebay)
Fiberglass kit to repair luggage- $15
Windshield- $90
I think.... that might be it.

comes to $2599 all told... a decent deal for the bike as it stands.   I don't keep track of expenses though, all that was spread out over 3+ years, too, so it wasn't as painful as some builds.

[campbmic]

I don't want to talk about it 

[bucky katt]

hmm i've never put it all into one space before..........lets see.
original k6 750 was 900
new frame when i was hit, 200
carb rubbers 69
airbox rubbers 50
oem gascap 50
tires 220
tubes 40
stainless caliper piston/seal 60
GSXR master cylinder 50
brake pads and shoes 100
stainless brake lines 100
hard brake pipe front 25
paint and materials 140 (including paint gun)
frame kit 100?
hondaman ignition box 70?
stock coils 25
d8ea plugs 6.00
gasket kit 69
seal kit 25
stainless screw kit 39
fork tubes with seals 129
shocks 89
superbike bars 22
bar end mirrors 30
grips 8.00
clutch springs 15
airtech seat and pan 160
1/4 fairing 45
new headlight rim 30

  damn, $2766 dollars. i wish i hadnt looked. and thats not everything, just the major parts not including misc fasteners and oil and fork oil. so around 3000. ah well, it's done and ready to roll. first bike season in 5 years that i've had a running motorcycle.

[Frankenkit]

you made me remember my $60 stainless brake line, "new" old CDI, new to me igniters, and grab bar... Darn glad I don't keep track of this crap...

[lordmoonpie]

I'd *really* *really* like to see MRieck's response to this for the million dollar CB - what about it Mike? 

Lots of rare kit parts on my CR750 have pushed it up from the donor bike at $350 to rather too close to $40,000 but like a lot of the guys said, I 'm doing it for my enjoyment, I buy and sell sell stuff to fund the build over a period of years so it works out net zero for me near enough. The pleasure I get from the build challenges and the learning process in fitting a DOHC crank in an SOHC engine - priceless 

[76CB5WI]

Vintage HOnda Great bikes. Vintage anything cost alot now unless
you get a lucky find.
I was going to start a thread on this but Ill just put my #$%* in
here and be done.
NOS and OEM this stuff is priced like its
Gold.
Yamiya on ebay? 1000 for a tank? 90 for tank trim?
Who does Honda think they are good lord for a bike that
originally cost 1599..
Did I pay over 6k for my restoration..yes I did.
Do I think its entirely justifiable..NO I dont.
Am I happy ..Pretty much.
Ive just become very conscious about the cost of small items
and my ability to refurb things.
If they ever reissue a 750 retro it will be nearly 10k and certainly over
8 so this is how I make peace with myself.

[the-chauffeur]

You folks in the 'states should count yourselves lucky when it comes to finding bikes to start with.  Anything earlier than '73-ish over here (UK) is getting prohibitively expensive - even for basket cases.

Basic outlay

CB750 ('72) - £1,500 (badly cafe'd rat)
CB450 ('72) - £1,100 (looked tired and not UK registered)

Gave up counting after . . . .

- more than £1,500 in paint and decals (which still isn't right on either)

- very basic engine rebuild work on the 750 in excess of £500 (which I subsequently realised I could easily have done myself)

- approx £650 for 750 NOS 4-into-4 exhausts (am scared to think what the 450 mufflers will cost if I ever find them NOS - essentially made of unobtanium)
 
- destroying a brand new Dyna ignition module by following 'modification' instructions to get a GL1000 unit fit the 450 (when all it really needed was a couple of little washers fitting)

- coupla hundred (and lots of time) getting the 450 registered in the UK

 . . . and all of the postage/import duties on hard-to-get bits for the CB450 'cos it was never a UK market bike.  Think on this - on anything posted from outside the UK with a declared value of more than $25, we pay a standard handling fee of $14 plus import tax.


Yes . . . ouch.

[sellitsoon]

Ive been keeping track and trying to keep a tight budget.  here you go:

Bike 650
carb clean 80
Fuel tank 30
seat 100
bodywork(wasted money) 100
Kerker 150
Caliper and pads 30
gauges, clubmans, and headlight ears 50
seat pad 75
pods 35
exhaust gaskets 10
tires 100
mounting them 50
brake light 30
battery 30
paint supplies 25
tank Badges 10

minus 400 (stock parts that were sold)

Total of $1160

If you want to stretch it I bought a 400F to part out and raise funds for the 750.  Im up to 720(profit) on that endeavor.  Take that amount off for a grand total of

440 bucks!

[NickC]

$900, with purchase 

[fire113]

I bought the bike (CB750 K1) with 2 big boxes of extra parts (like tank,seat,engine, breakingdiscs,...)
for 1400€ ~1800$
ACCENT Electronic ignition system 140€ (fourever-classic-parts.de)
Gasket-set 50€ (fourever-classic-parts.de)
Clutch+springs ~ 50€(fourever-classic-parts.de)
WISECO 836kit ~450$ (Ebay/Cyclex)
Paint ~20€
And next week I have to pay ~200€ for bore and hone the cylinder

[Elniniomuchachos]

Just started my project about a month ago...

Started with 2 CB550's one a 76' the other 77' one good motor other seized, both without headers and exhaust. both had titles.
-$350 for both.

sold 2 side covers for +$105
-$79 for rebuild kit

found another 2 550's again one a 76' other 77' no titles.
Both motors turn over, good exhaust and headers.
- $400

Total so far -$829

[moham]

My 74 550 cost me $200. It looked like this.





About $3,000 later...





It's just money. Can't take it with you when you go...

[seaweb11]

Cost:
Bike $1300
Freight $359.85
2 motors $350.00
carbs $300.00
Frame Straightening $500.00
Frame Mod kit $132.00
Frame Mod kit cut/weld/install $400.00
Engine Paint/polishing supplies $100.00
Aluminum case welding $100.00
Tapered bearings $50.00?
Brand New wiring harness $150.00
Cyl Bore & sand blasting $350?
        (Cycle exchange)
Lightened fly wheel $65.95
Oil Seal Kit $39.00
836 Head Gasket $49.00
836 Pistons $499.00
Barnett clutch $79.00
Heavy duty Clutch springs $14.00
Heavy Duty Cyl studs $84.00
Complete Gasket set $79.00
Primary Chains $119.00
Megacycle Cam $244.95

exhaust $1000.00
New chrome $1200.00
Tires 300.00
wheels $800.00
Forks $180.00
seat $700.00
SS brake lines $200
tach $100.00
speedo $100.00
mirrors $70.00
oil pressure gauge $50.00
Oil temp gauge $90.00
turn sigs 70.00
headlight bucket $90.00

Labour to tear apart 2 really FCKED UP engines and make one $1911.55.

I know there's more but as best as I can remember.................... $12,225.35

[Steve_K]

I kept a record for my 86 GSXR 750.  I am not doing it for my cafe.  I don't even want to consider my time.  Mostly my time has been fun.  At least, in riding season I can ride other bikes to remind me that it is a great hobby!
Steve

[MRieck]

I'd *really* *really* like to see MRieck's response to this for the million dollar CB - what about it Mike? 

Lots of rare kit parts on my CR750 have pushed it up from the donor bike at $350 to rather too close to $40,000 but like a lot of the guys said, I 'm doing it for my enjoyment, I buy and sell sell stuff to fund the build over a period of years so it works out net zero for me near enough. The pleasure I get from the build challenges and the learning process in fitting a DOHC crank in an SOHC engine - priceless 

  The latest addition was a set of 32mm Mikuni TMR's Simon and that was over 2,000.00. After the various engine/carb combination's, brake set ups, parts etc it's got to be over 25,000.00. I've owned the bike 34 years....I don't think I'll be selling it anytime soon. Oh yeah...I work a lot too.

[Honda?]

I'm well over 4000. 

[blackhog02]

Lets see I have 8 bikes all were projects at ...per bike oh I better not do this!!!

[NitroHunter]

Let's see, If I counted the purchase price in '78, the stuff I've bought, changed, blown up, modified... that'd be about... oh no, wait, there's them pesky women I've run off to factor in... maybe not, that probably saved me money... well, except that one who got the house...
Oh no, my CRS (Can't Remember $h!t) is acting up again... where was I?

[Tom]

My Buddy Cookie and i have this saying we tell each other to help justify the stupid prices we pay for NOS bits, its great moral support after winning that item on epay that you have just paid twice what you would have liked to have.. it goes like this.
You pay tomorrows prices today but tomorrow they will be yesterdays prices.... and thats Priceless... TC

[MRieck]

I'd *really* *really* like to see MRieck's response to this for the million dollar CB - what about it Mike? 

Lots of rare kit parts on my CR750 have pushed it up from the donor bike at $350 to rather too close to $40,000 but like a lot of the guys said, I 'm doing it for my enjoyment, I buy and sell sell stuff to fund the build over a period of years so it works out net zero for me near enough. The pleasure I get from the build challenges and the learning process in fitting a DOHC crank in an SOHC engine - priceless 

  The latest addition was a set of 32mm Mikuni TMR's Simon and that was over 2,000.00. After the various engine/carb combination's, brake set ups, parts etc it's got to be over 25,000.00. I've owned the bike 34 years....I don't think I'll be selling it anytime soon. Oh yeah...I work a lot too.

Oh God....I never even thought about the time factor fitting one off parts, engine building etc. God that pumps it up a lot more Simon. It must be........1 MILLION DOLLARS!!!

[klindsey]

1974 CB550
price of thoroughly trashed salvage parts bike: $360.00
sunrise orange flake tank (with dent): $100
new orange-ish side covers: $50.00
tires, seat, stuff: $1000
time spent learning to rebuild carbs, forks, steering head, cleaning up engine, pulling wheels, installing chain, tracking down electrical faults:  200+ hours

experience gained: priceless
restored CB550: $1500
today's ride up the mountain on what's now a well-restored classic (historic?) CB550: 2 x priceless
seeing heads turn when I go by: well...

It's not a cheap hobby, but it's really, really profitable when you see the total results

[scottly]

Geez, I almost feel guilty. I bought my Seeley in '79 with all the good parts, poorly assembled by the PO, for $1800-1900. I immediately tore it down, replaced the main and rod bearings (can't remember what they cost), about $150 worth of Weber parts, and I think about $35 for a trans gear in an attempt to correct the "popping out of gear" problem. After that, costs were mostly maintenance related: replace worn tires, oil etc. I DO have a lot of time, fabbing parts and such, but I don't call that an expense, rather, a rewarding experience.

Ooops; forgot about the $300 K7 I bought for the forks...

[bender01]

My 78750f. Thought about this all afternoon. Its done for now. After purchase and 30 year tune up. Safety items straightened out. Its at $1950. Id like some superbike bars new grips and a low rear backrest. So the price will go up. Its ready to ride anywhere.
 My 75 550k Is at $2100 due to NOS exhaust but it was worth it.  That baby sparkles (to me)!It too is so roadworthy I need another project!

[mgbgt89]

77 cb750F                                    $630
Morris mags with various brake parts $540
LPM side covers                            $106
GL1000 front end                           $75
CBR954 brakes                               $175

So far i'm just over 1500, probably have at least another grand to go before it sees the road. Another 2 grand on down the road when it gets fuel injection and more displacement.

[Old75_ratafe]

$250 1975 cb750K sitting for oh... 18 years
$150 Dyna coils and ignition (used, gotta love ebay)
$60 carb rebuild kits
$30 SS higher flow airbox with K&N
$50 Misc paint and stuff (most of my chrome is now painted gloss black from the sitting outside for 8 of those 18 years)
$25 more modern looking mirrors (god those round ones were ugly...and rusty)
$200 new dunlop tires
$25 ditches the highway bars for chrome crash gaurds
$40 Ebay gas tank and petcock (one that didn't leak gas)
$15 new fork seals
$10 New headlight
$35 New rear brake shoes
$65 Later model "dual hump" seat
$35 Goldwing style taillight / license plate.
$0   Old audiovox TALKING car alarm just for laugh factor. (the cheap ass all in one $35 ones they made in the 90's)
$0   Countless summer evenings tearing stuff apart cleaning it up and repainting it.

So I got a tad under a grand into it.  Its not quite done I gotta repaint the tank and side covers still but I think it looks pretty good considering the I had to paint 80% of the chrome black cause it was so bad.