Author Topic: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?  (Read 2380 times)

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Offline messeduptriple

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Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« on: July 01, 2012, 10:49:51 PM »

So im on the lookout for a 750 honda to cafe out. My?  Is are there some bad year bikes to stay away from and or what are some good year bikes that were made? I know there's more to just this question  when factoring my next project but just curious if certain years had some bad issues in the bikes. Thanks for any help
- cristian
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Offline xsmooth69x

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Re: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2012, 11:37:22 PM »
no there all good.

the older the bike the more rare and gangsta it is.

but regardless just try to find a good cheap fixer upper.

dont buy some expensive cherry and rip it up ull get eatin alive by some of the member lol
1975 CB550 (FINISHED?!?!?)
first motorcycle ever!!! ow and i dont know how to ride it either :D

raw rust rice venti quad shot cafe racing latte project aka my build..... http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88853.0

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1972 cb750 - next in line for some <3

Offline harisuluv

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Re: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2012, 02:27:54 AM »
I agree. The year isnt really important. However the k0 and k1 have some rarer parts and therefore can be more expensive--something to keep in mind.

More importantly is you find a good base to start with.  Running bikes that don't leak oil and just need the usual stuff are best. At the very least make sure the bike turns over.

Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2012, 06:11:08 AM »
I agree. The year isnt really important. However the k0 and k1 have some rarer parts and therefore can be more expensive--something to keep in mind.

More importantly is you find a good base to start with.  Running bikes that don't leak oil and just need the usual stuff are best. At the very least make sure the bike turns over.
how will I know if its a " k " model?

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2012, 10:00:46 PM »
The F models are Super Sport models. 

Check out the following article by Hondaman, which breaks down some of the highlights of the different year K models:
http://www.sohc4.net/index.php/hondaman31/
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline kajtek

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Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2012, 12:14:43 AM »
My advice, regardless of what people say regarding chopping up a complete bike, is to get the best most complete bike u can afford. That way u havent got the significant expense of engine rebuilds and replacing worn or damaged parts, and you can sell the bits you dont need or want to change like fenders, seats, clocks, bars, etc to fund your build.
1978 honda cb400f supersport

Offline messeduptriple

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Re: Re: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2012, 12:32:08 AM »
My advice, regardless of what people say regarding chopping up a complete bike, is to get the best most complete bike u can afford. That way u havent got the significant expense of engine rebuilds and replacing worn or damaged parts, and you can sell the bits you dont need or want to change like fenders, seats, clocks, bars, etc to fund your build.
that sounds about right.  Cool

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Offline Boulevard_beck

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Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2012, 03:07:10 PM »
If you're doing a cafe build, get in the mindset that you're trying to purchase the best engine, carbs and frame you can. The rest will likely get thrown out or replaced or modded in some way.

Also, the 78 CB750k is the best one. But I'm biased because that's the one I have :P have fun with the build!

Offline marknpb

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Re: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2012, 05:55:06 PM »
I bought a '74, but it was too nice to cafe.....so I guess soon I will have a second bike. I like the older ones because they have the kickstart. :) I think for the cafe, I'm just going to look for a frame with title and start from there....maybe with engine included, after all, I'm just going to completely tear it down anyway and put a bunch of new cafe style parts on it.


So im on the lookout for a 750 honda to cafe out. My?  Is are there some bad year bikes to stay away from and or what are some good year bikes that were made? I know there's more to just this question  when factoring my next project but just curious if certain years had some bad issues in the bikes. Thanks for any help
- cristian
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2
1974 CB750
too nice to cafe, going to make it nice and ride it,
looking for second frame with title to cafe out

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Looking to start 750 cafe build ..any good years?
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2012, 06:24:13 PM »
I have a K7 and a K2.  The availability of some parts is better for K0-K6.  The K7-K8 also uses a 630 chain/sprocket compo (very heavy) and many people convert to a 530 since chain technology has improved vastly.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold