Topic: buying a 1975 cb 750f supersport with 47k good or bad?

[hlover750f]

Hi all,

I just looked at a 75' cb 750f ss with 47k on the clock. the guy wants $1,500 for the bike.

it has new tires, progressive front forks. it is overall VERY clean and as near to mint as I could imgaine. it does however have small head gasket and front right fork oil leak.

Would anyone recoomend I stay away from a bike wit this many miles or is it dependant on how well it was maintained? is it true these bikes can last up to 100k?

I really wanna get this bike but not if you all have something to say otherwise. please help me out!

thanks in advance

[Duke McDukiedook]

F's have been known to have valve and cam wear problems, otherwise they are good bikes.

[TwoTired]

F's have been known to have valve and cam wear problems, otherwise they are good bikes.

The above only applies to the 77-78 models with the black engines.

For any bike this old, how it was maintained and cared for are key to it's condition.  The non-black motor 750s reach 100k miles with descent treatment and regular servicing.

Cheers,

[hlover750f]

F's have been known to have valve and cam wear problems, otherwise they are good bikes.

The above only applies to the 77-78 models with the black engines.

For any bike this old, how it was maintained and cared for are key to it's condition.  The non-black motor 750s reach 100k miles with descent treatment and regular servicing.

Cheers,

Thanks for the advice, in addition would you consider this price fair if maintenance etc. has been kept up with ($1500).

It also has no turn signals (minor issue).

the rings were all replaced recently as well, I could not imagine this bike having valve problems soon but who knows.

it is the non-black engine.

Thanks again

[TwoTired]

Price varies with location and condition.  $1500 isn't way out of line for the right bike, but it is far above what I have paid for any SOHC4.
Consider if you have to add tires, tubes, chain, sprockets, battery, tune up items, lighting, electrical repair, tank cleaning, carb cleaning, and correcting or compensating for all the "improvements" that the chain of previous owners did to the bike.

Cheers,

[hlover750f]

Price varies with location and condition.  $1500 isn't way out of line for the right bike, but it is far above what I have paid for any SOHC4.
Consider if you have to add tires, tubes, chain, sprockets, battery, tune up items, lighting, electrical repair, tank cleaning, carb cleaning, and correcting or compensating for all the "improvements" that the chain of previous owners did to the bike.

Cheers,

it has new tires and tubes, tank is clean, only one previous owner before the guy i am buying it from.

he also told me the miles were mostly highway miles (but who knows)

bluebook put the dealer retail on this year at aroun $1098, so I may have to pass this sweet one up if $1500 is to high.

the chain looked like it could use replacement as well as possible new headgasket or fork rings.

[MCRider]

Hi all,

I just looked at a 75' cb 750f ss with 47k on the clock. the guy wants $1,500 for the bike.

it has new tires, progressive front forks. it is overall VERY clean and as near to mint as I could imgaine. it does however have small head gasket and front right fork oil leak.

Would anyone recoomend I stay away from a bike wit this many miles or is it dependant on how well it was maintained? is it true these bikes can last up to 100k?

I really wanna get this bike but not if you all have something to say otherwise. please help me out!

thanks in advance

I wouldn't let the mileage sway you too much. It can be an issue, if the bike shows other obvious signs of abuse maybe.


are the tires really new or just look new? Ask for the receipt or look on the sidewall for the DOT date code. Over 6 yrs old I'd subtract from the price.

I'm curious why the PO felt the need to re-ring it and not do a clean up valve job and why the head gasket is leaking if he just re-ringed it? A receipt for the rings would be nice. If a shop did it recently they should warranty the head gasket.

Fork Springs are a $50 item and at that age, a necessary fix. Doesn't add anything. I wouldn't dismiss the fork seal leak. You'll have to do both of them and the forks will need a thorough disassembly and cleaning. That's a good job for the DIY, but a shop would get $250 maybe.

I'd talk him down a bit. Don't let me be a buzzkill. You can have fun at $1500.

[hlover750f]

Hi all,

I just looked at a 75' cb 750f ss with 47k on the clock. the guy wants $1,500 for the bike.

it has new tires, progressive front forks. it is overall VERY clean and as near to mint as I could imgaine. it does however have small head gasket and front right fork oil leak.

Would anyone recoomend I stay away from a bike wit this many miles or is it dependant on how well it was maintained? is it true these bikes can last up to 100k?

I really wanna get this bike but not if you all have something to say otherwise. please help me out!

thanks in advance

I wouldn't let the mileage sway you too much. It can be an issue, if the bike shows other obvious signs of abuse maybe.


are the tires really new or just look new? Ask for the receipt or look on the sidewall for the DOT date code. Over 6 yrs old I'd subtract from the price.

I'm curious why the PO felt the need to re-ring it and not do a clean up valve job and why the head gasket is leaking if he just re-ringed it? A receipt for the rings would be nice. If a shop did it recently they should warranty the head gasket.

Fork Springs are a $50 item and at that age, a necessary fix. Doesn't add anything. I wouldn't dismiss the fork seal leak. You'll have to do both of them and the forks will need a thorough disassembly and cleaning. That's a good job for the DIY, but a shop would get $250 maybe.

I'd talk him down a bit. Don't let me be a buzzkill. You can have fun at $1500.

MCRIDER: thanks for the great advice!

the tires are definetly new (still have little rubber nubs on them)

the leak from the front fork is minor but if it really is a hassle to replace I would like to hear more about that and I will do some research on the difficulty for myself (an average mechanic) to fix this,

I admit I should have asked more about the head gasket. I believe he did it himself but I have just inquired as to a warranty.

he seems pretty set on 1500 (which is what he got it for before adding a bunch of new stuff).

do things like the excel ignition and progressive front forks bode well for this bike?

the turn signals also dont work (the switch is stuck almost like ti's superglued, but isn't)

thanks again

[MCRider]

Hi all,

I just looked at a 75' cb 750f ss with 47k on the clock. the guy wants $1,500 for the bike.

it has new tires, progressive front forks. it is overall VERY clean and as near to mint as I could imgaine. it does however have small head gasket and front right fork oil leak.

Would anyone recoomend I stay away from a bike wit this many miles or is it dependant on how well it was maintained? is it true these bikes can last up to 100k?

I really wanna get this bike but not if you all have something to say otherwise. please help me out!

thanks in advance

I wouldn't let the mileage sway you too much. It can be an issue, if the bike shows other obvious signs of abuse maybe.


are the tires really new or just look new? Ask for the receipt or look on the sidewall for the DOT date code. Over 6 yrs old I'd subtract from the price.

I'm curious why the PO felt the need to re-ring it and not do a clean up valve job and why the head gasket is leaking if he just re-ringed it? A receipt for the rings would be nice. If a shop did it recently they should warranty the head gasket.

Fork Springs are a $50 item and at that age, a necessary fix. Doesn't add anything. I wouldn't dismiss the fork seal leak. You'll have to do both of them and the forks will need a thorough disassembly and cleaning. That's a good job for the DIY, but a shop would get $250 maybe.

I'd talk him down a bit. Don't let me be a buzzkill. You can have fun at $1500.

MCRIDER: thanks for the great advice!

the tires are definetly new (still have little rubber nubs on them)

the leak from the front fork is minor but if it really is a hassle to replace I would like to hear more about that and I will do some research on the difficulty for myself (an average mechanic) to fix this,

I admit I should have asked more about the head gasket. I believe he did it himself but I have just inquired as to a warranty.

he seems pretty set on 1500 (which is what he got it for before adding a bunch of new stuff).

do things like the excel ignition and progressive front forks bode well for this bike?

the turn signals also dont work (the switch is stuck almost like ti's superglued, but isn't)

thanks again

The point I'm trying to make with the tires is that age is an issue. It wouldn't make any difference if they had all their nubs and not a single mile, if they are 6 years old or older, tire manufacturers and safety experts say beware to don't use them.  Google about "tire safety and age" and you'll see.

You don't really have progressive forks. You have progressive fork springs, which are $50 to $80 and take about 20 minutes to install. They are good to have but don't add to the price IMO. Because of the age, to fix the fork seal leak, you'll have to do both fork legs to get them both clean and operating equally. You can't just clean one, and they need cleaning internally, believe me. You can do it on a Saturday, but ask a shop what they charge and deal on that.

I think the Excel Ignition is a plus, but others may differ. Likely not a negative anyway. The rest is just part of the deal.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Leaky head gasket for a re-ring is a little suspicious if it was done recently.

Sounds a little high for what he is offering, nubs on tires is no gauge for age, check the tire code.

Sounds like several hundred dollars to get up to a roadworthy state.

[hlover750f]

Leaky head gasket for a re-ring is a little suspicious if it was done recently.

Sounds a little high for what he is offering, nubs on tires is no gauge for age, check the tire code.

Sounds like several hundred dollars to get up to a roadworthy state.

I agree I am attempting to find out when the job was done.

the tires were purchased last march so they are good to go.

is a minor head leak managable or would it have to be replaced immediately?

from your advise it sounds like I may need to let this one go, I am not looking for a bike that I will need t o work on immediately.

thanks for your help.

here is a link to the criaglist add if interested:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/mcy/1794314957.html

[jdubb1977]

$1500 doesn't sound too bad.  i bought my '76 750F last year for $1600 (27k miles).  I live in SoCal, and everything costs a little more here.  It sounds like the bike is in good shape and has some mods.   I say get it. 

[MCRider]

The headgasket leak by itself is not a deal breaker in my mind. It was not uncommon and many were taken apart for the sole purpose of fixing the leak. If its not leaking to where it drips on the ground or on you, you live with it or fix it.

The suspicious thing is the re-ringing. Why would he re-ring it, should not have been necessary if its all highway miles, oil changed regularly etc. They are good for 100k. So if it needed rings legitimately, when assembling they should have done a new headgasket and with attention to detail it should not be leaking.

The bluebook may be a little low depending on area and how hot you are to trot. But, $1095 is better than $1500 all things considered.

[hlover750f]

thanks for all your guys help

I think considering the headgasket I will try to either get some more info from him or have him knock a couple hundred off the price.

what should be my worry if he did a new ring job and it has a minor leak?

could this be something more major?

thanks again

[Really?]

That looks like a nice bike.  You could get that price down this way.  I have seen much worse go for that price and a bit more.  Up north, it is a whole different ballgame.  Those bikes are much cheaper up north and plenty to pick from.  Slim pickin's down this way.

[Duke McDukiedook]

If he performed a ring job recently logic follows he should have replaced the head gasket and if done properly shouldn't leak for 20 years or so if maintained properly.

He could have bought a crappy head gasket on the rebuild though, never know or not replaced it at all.

You never know sometimes, PO's do crazy #$%* to their bikes.

[MCRider]

thanks for all your guys help

I think considering the headgasket I will try to either get some more info from him or have him knock a couple hundred off the price.

what should be my worry if he did a new ring job and it has a minor leak?

could this be something more major?

thanks again

Probably nothing just me being cynical. As Dukie sez, ring job requires a new headcheeze and done right it shouldn't leak. But he could have honestly tried and it still leaks, got hold of an old stock gasket, or maybe didn't get it torqued down all the way, which would let it leak, but not really hurt anything else.

But for a shop to fix it, maybe $400+. You could do it in a few days, couple of weekends in the winter.

[Stev-o]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a bike with 47K miles.

[Steve F]

The headgasket leak by itself is not a deal breaker in my mind. It was not uncommon and many were taken apart for the sole purpose of fixing the leak. If its not leaking to where it drips on the ground or on you, you live with it or fix it.

The suspicious thing is the re-ringing. Why would he re-ring it, should not have been necessary if its all highway miles, oil changed regularly etc. They are good for 100k. So if it needed rings legitimately, when assembling they should have done a new headgasket and with attention to detail it should not be leaking.

The bluebook may be a little low depending on area and how hot you are to trot. But, $1095 is better than $1500 all things considered.

I re-ringed mine just because I had to pull the top end to fix a leak with the rubber pucks and a valve cover leak...it was apart, so why not?  Took an extra 4 hours to hone and re-ring it, with a new base gasket too.
[edit] offer him $1200 an see what he says.

[nowhere_fast]

I would say keep searching, I know a nice bike is hard to pass on, but I bought my 76 F1, with 19k miles and a flawless motor, body and suspension for $1000. I did have to buy new tires but it was worth it in my opinion due to the deal on the bike.  I got all the original paperwork, manual, tool kit and all.. The previous owner took very good care of it, even wrote down every oil change and all other maintenance in the manual.. Thank God haha..  Well, best of luck bike shopping, hope ya stumble across a good deal!

[Don R]

I got my 75F for $750 which was an exceptional deal. Low miles but-  It came with new brake parts and I had to re build them front and back, the carbs were screwed, someone drilled jets and no muffler which I made. I still need a sidecover and there are dings in the tank but I love riding it. I probably ended up paying what this bike costs.

[bluesmoke69]

I bought a 1976 CB750F for 700.00. It need brake work, and a side cover is leaking a little. I think it is matter of if you want a project to work on. If that not what you want then spend more money and get a mint one! Hope this helps.

[Cuts Crooked]

I recently bought a 78K with 52 on the clock, and fairly recent upper end rebuild for $400. Minor stuff needs done...fork seals, chain & spockets, replace screwed up factory breather...rebuilt the carbs and now it runs great.

But I think I'd pass on that kinda money fer a bike that old, with a leaky upper end.

Of course, different folks have different ideas concerning "real value". If it's what you want and you are willing to take on the needed fixes...go fer it.