Topic: Forty Years Later

[CrankyOldGuy]

I have been following this forum for the past few weeks and I'm amazed at the number of people that have an interest in sohc's especially CB750's.

My unit is a 1971 CB750 k1 with a build date of 11/70.  I purchased it in April 1971 (I was 18) for the grand total of $1995 CDN.  After the trade of my 1970 CB450 K1 I had to fork over $1202 CDN.  It was candy garnet brown in colour although I had ordered candy ruby red.

After an accident in the late summer of 71 I was able to change the colour to candy ruby red.  I had another mishap with a dog in the summer of 72 which left a knee print on the top of the tank.

In 73 I broke a chain which in turn put a hole in the crankcase.  I removed the engine and took it to the local dealer.  They replaced the chain at no cost due to the fact that there was no chain cover over the front sprocket.  When I reinstalled the engine and started it up I soon realized why there were extra o rings in the gasket bag.  I soon had vast knowledge of the engine.  I tore it down and rebuilt it myself.  I still remember the effort it took to install the four pistons in the block by myself with two ring depressors.

The last year it was licensed was 1976.  Marriage and my son have occupied the interval time.  Believe it or not it has been in my mother-in-law's garage.  She has only threatened to sell it a couple of times.

After reading many of the articles on this site I have taken an interest in making the old girl roadworthy again.  I will post a few [ics when I have a chance.

The question is ... candy ruby red or candy garnet brown.

[Stev-o]

Welcome and great story!

My vote is for Ruby as that was it was to be originally.

Post some pics...

PS. You can buy the paint and decals here:

http://www.vintagehondapaint.com/Site/vintagehondapaint.com.html

[Johnie]

Candy Ruby Red for sure. Nothing against the brown, but the red just stands out hands down over the brown especially in the sun.

[MCRider]

The base coat for the brown was...red. So it's just an unfinished brown. 

[CrankyOldGuy]

Thanks to those who welcomed me to the forum. 

Attached is a picture of the Old Girl as I found her today.  Note that the sparkplugs and carbs were removed in 1976 when it was put up.

It does not look too bad except for a small hole in the seat and the side over is cracked.  The side covers were quite brittle back in 76.

I was incorrect with the build date which is 2/71.  It must have come over on the fast ship as I purchased it in 4/71.

Harry O

[HondanutRider]

Awww...get that ruby baby back on the road!    She deserves much more than lying there. 

[mystic_1]

Welcome!

Bike looks to be in good condition still, should not take too much to get it running, assuming that having the plugs out all those years didn't allow the cylinders and rings to rust up.

What's up with those pipes?  Looks like a crossover 4-2 system.

mystic_1

[CrankyOldGuy]

Mystic

The pipes are Hooker Headers 4 into 2.  The original pipes lasted about four years ... rusted out.  The headers were the least expensive alternative back then (poor student at the time).

I filled the cylinders with oil and plugged the plug holes with oil soaked rags.  My thoughts at the time were that the sparkplugs and the block would form a permanent dissimilar metal bond over a lengthy period of nonuse.  The intakes were also stuffed with oil soaked rags.

I will let you know how it turns out.

Harry O.

[mystic_1]

Very cool, if only everyone had such forethought, there would be a lot more of these things on the road today.

cheers
mystic_1

[seaweb11]

I truly believe that you think this is the best course of action, but really, wouldn't you rather be golfing, or down at the bocce ball courts?
Maybe having a cold beer at the local pub with the wife?

I'll just have a shipping company come over to the MIL's house and just clear it out of the way for you. Just consider this brief encounter with this forum as a story to tell your great Grand children now that you will still be around to tell them about it since you won't be out on a dangerous motorcycle at your age.

PM me your address and I will take care of all the details

[Stev-o]

Get her out of that garage now!

I believe Frankenbike [a member here] is making and selling the 750 sidecovers.

[CrankyOldGuy]

Seaweb11 et al,

The scary part is that I am currently reading the CB 750 Shop Manual.  The Mrs. has even agreed to my new "hobby" and will let me put her, the K1 that is, in our garage 

People always ask why I never got rid of the K1.  I always responded that if I did I would want to buy another motorcycle.  Upon finding this forum I now realize why I never sold her.  The day was always waiting when I would take this step.

As you may have guessed I have the gift of gab and a good memory.  That reminds me of the day after I owned her for a month and went into the high speed wobble .... found all the rear spokes were loose ... but that's for another day.

Thanks a lot to everyone for making me feel welcome here.  From my readings there are many technically knowledgeable people here.  I am sure that I will pick your brains now and again.

I have attached a pic of the VIN number (frame serial number) - CB750-1079146.

Harry O

[Johnie]

Can you toss us some more pics...we love pics!!! 

[seaweb11]

Have at er man    If you need parts put it up here, we are always willing to part with stuff to the right project

[mattcb350f]

Welcome aboard Harry!

Stories like this are great, thanks for sharing. Be sure to start a project thread for your resurrection.

 Matt.

[CrankyOldGuy]

Matt,

The word "resurrection" scares me    The way I look at it in quoting the Blues Brothers ... "I am on a mission from God".

I hope to open a thread in the Project forum in a month or so.  Prior to this happening I have to set up my work area and relocate the K1.  Unfortunately I have been caught up on reading almost every thread in this forum; there is a lot of information to digest.  Being an engineer (to quote my wife "you engineers tend to be quite anal") I have learned to do my research prior to grabbing the wrench so to speak.  So far I have downloaded the shop manual, which is an interesting read in itself  (see wife's quote), plus the parts manual.

Thanks again to all.

Harry O.

   

[CycleRanger]

As you restore your bike you will feel and see yourself getting younger and more vigorous!
The stamina you had in your youth will return along with your waistline and some of your hair...

On the downside you'll lose all the wisdom you've gained in the intervening years....

It's the CB750 of Dorian Gray!