Topic: CB750F diet.

[JohnPayne]

Hey guys, I searched around and didn't really find anything on the subject of weight lose. What are some of the ways you guys lightened up your bikes? I know lose of the stock exhaust is one, stock seat as well. I am only 170lbs, so this bike is quite a handful. It makes my 883 Sportster seem like a toy.

[Lou N]

Ge rid of the center stand.

[Gordon]

I'm only 150 and can handle my K1 very well.  It's all a matter of perspective.

[scottly]

How serious a diet are you considering? If you convert to kick-start only, you can knock-off about 8 lbs with the starter motor and associated drive. A smaller battery will remove another 8 lbs, maybe. I replaced things like steel axle spacers with aluminum, but at this point it is ounces. Still, it all adds up. It just depends on how much you are willing to give up, or work, or pay. 

[Don R]

My 75F has a different feel than my 70K, the K seems much more nimble and light although I don't think they are really that much different. What if you slid the forks up in the triple clamps a little? Opinions?

[BeSeeingYou]

The F is 20 lbs heavier and has a different frame geometry.  At 156 lbs I have no trouble with my F1.

[vern401]

I weigh 135 LBS and have no problem handling the 750F that I have. Making it into a cafe bike will lower some of the weight. They are heavy bikes compaired to allot of others I have ridden. The Cb750's are stillone of my favorites to ride.

[Frankenkit]

yeah I'm 115 and my 650 is ok. The weight distribution is just different from a Sporty.  The sporty has its CoG way lower, so it 'feels' lighter.  They're actually very close, though.

[CB750Ken8]

Don't feel bad I'm 275 and can't get my k8 on its center stand. As for making your bike weighing less most of the stuff said so far is about all you can do without doing some major and rather crazy stuff.

[KRONUS0100]

i'm 285 at 6-2 and have problems getting BABY on her center stand.  But i can still flat foot her at a stop tho and she has been raised roughly 4 inches over stock thanks to the GL1000 suspension. She dont handle like my old GS500E...but she handles well for her bulk.

[MCRider]

yeah I'm 115 and my 650 is ok. The weight distribution is just different from a Sporty.  The sporty has its CoG way lower, so it 'feels' lighter.  They're actually very close, though.

That's right the sportster is about 540lbs+/-, same as CB750s maybe a tad more. Carries it lower.

To the question, peel off some bits, drop the fork in the trees about 1/4 to 3/8 inch (perks up the low speed handling and parking lot shuffling) and do some push ups.     Use a low wide bar.

Freddie Spencer was a lightweight, hustled them around pretty good. Faster than any Sportster could ever go.

[Silverback]

I am assuming you mean 78F based on your signature. I removed those huge aluminum peg support plates and brake lever. Replaced with a custom set-up. I did this with numerous other non-required items (i.e. starter, replaced stock seat with cafe seat, handle bar controls, switched to a mini tach only). I think I must have shed a good 40-50lbs off the bike. The spare parts box is heavy!!

[BeSeeingYou]

I think getting them up on the center stand has a lot to do with "torso to leg length ratio".  With long legs even my puny 156lbs has no trouble with the center stand.

[MCRider]

I think getting them up on the center stand has a lot to do with "torso to leg length ratio".  With long legs even my puny 156lbs has no trouble with the center stand.

Centerstands are as much technique as strength, maybe more so. Here's a girl putting her 600lb 650 Burgman on the stand.

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[Frankenkit]

lowered bikes are harder to center stand, though, the angles are all wrong for her method, so I put mine up on a board to get it.

[MCRider]

lowered bikes are harder to center stand, though, the angles are all wrong for her method, so I put mine up on a board to get it.

That would be true, and the board is a good trick.

[CB750Ken8]

I just keep telling myself its the 16" lester on the rear that's giving me the hard time with the center stand.

[nowhere_fast]

I too am looking to slim down my 76 F1. I went the route a few guys would probably not be too fond of, cut off everything i didnt need. Ive already replaced the stock tank and seat set up with a bcr fiberglass kit, so thats a lot of weight there.  I also decided the rear sets didnt need to be there, seeing as how I will never have a passenger.. snip. The center stand was too big and heavy, so i decided that needed to go too. I replaced the exhaust, bars, air box.. any little thing i can do. 

[MaaseyRacer]

The wheels are fairly heavy on these SOHCs. I am going to dirt bike hubs and rims. This is going to require a bit of time at my machinists shop, but I am hoping to shave close to 50lbs.

Also if the bike seems like a handful, send the swing arm to HondaMan for new bushings, upgrade the head bearings, drain and replace the fork oil, and new rear shocks are never a bad idea. 

[JohnPayne]

yeah I'm 115 and my 650 is ok. The weight distribution is just different from a Sporty.  The sporty has its CoG way lower, so it 'feels' lighter.  They're actually very close, though.

That's right the sportster is about 540lbs+/-, same as CB750s maybe a tad more. Carries it lower.

To the question, peel off some bits, drop the fork in the trees about 1/4 to 3/8 inch (perks up the low speed handling and parking lot shuffling) and do some push ups.     Use a low wide bar.

Freddie Spencer was a lightweight, hustled them around pretty good. Faster than any Sportster could ever go.

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_cb_750_f_1_1978.php

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/harley-davidson_xlh_sportster_883_standard_1991.php

According to this the Harley is 55lbs lighter.

[MCRider]

They are both wet weights, but the Honda holds twice as much gas, so about a 20lb give there. I got my weights from the Harley  website for a 2010 model at about 540lb.

What a neat website BTW!

Its got a 2010 883cc Sportster at 562lbs...dry!

I'm suspicious of the 1991 weight, but there you go.

[JohnPayne]

Both weights say "Weight incl. oil, gas, etc:". I am just saying, the CB750 is a heavy bike, with a higher center of gravity that makes it feel even heavier. 55lbs is a big difference on a bike, but the comparison of 883 Sportster vs. CB750 wasn't my question at all. I just want to know what my bike can do without. Does anyone know what the stock Comstar wheels weigh?

[Rosinante]

In the video, the tongue that sticks out from the center stand is much longer, and that is how she is getting that great leverage.  Lowered bikes would have a very different geometry.  I learned more than three decades ago that putting a bike on the center stand is not a matter of lifting the bike.  It is a matter of getting the center stand to go underneath.  Getting the bike to roll backwards onto the stand.  The trick......is in the foot.  Push DOWN on the stand.

[MCRider]

Both weights say "Weight incl. oil, gas, etc:". I am just saying, the CB750 is a heavy bike, with a higher center of gravity that makes it feel even heavier. 55lbs is a big difference on a bike, but the comparison of 883 Sportster vs. CB750 wasn't my question at all. I just want to know what my bike can do without. Does anyone know what the stock Comstar wheels weigh?

Yes both wet, I corrected myself. Key is how they carry it. Even a lightened CB750 will feel top heavy compared to a Sporty. So part of it is acceptance and riding style.

To your question it depends on what you want from the bike. I would hardly give up the centerstand if I was doing weekend, overnight touring. I want the stability of parking it solid on the centerstand in gravel parking lots, who knows where i might be.

If you just go short rides, day trips, do all your maintence at home. then ditch the centerstand. And so forth.

My guess is spoked wheels are lighter than comstars, but i really don't know.

[Don R]

I rode my F0 about 130 miles round trip today, the only thing I can compare to is my 70K but I really enjoyed riding the F, it's like riding a new bike. I added double disc on the front otherwise it's stock. I guess it's what you're used to. There's nothing I would remove from it.