Topic: Don't know what to do

[xfactor]

In the near future I have got to make a decision I really don't want to make.

I bought my 750F this past winter and have ridden it as much as I was able to over the past few months. That being said it want nearly as much as I wanted to ride. Mostly because issues kept coming up with my bike that required money that I didn't have. That and the lack of technical knowledge and lack of tools really takes its toll, plus I always felt nervous about taking it on  really far trips.


So what I want to do is pick up a newer bike that I know is reliable and that I can drive on long trips with out worrying about an inevitable problem or having to always fix it. I have the chance to buy a Honda VTR1000 for a good price.

I can afford to buy the vtr no problem, but insuring both is a different story, plus I don't really have enough room in the garage I rent because I only pay for one spot, but the biggest challenge is my girlfriend. She will no doubt go insane if I bring home another bike, she got in a bad wreck on one when she was a kid.

So do I sell the F and buy the VTR? Do I keep the F?

I know it comes down to my decision in the end but I just need some help because in my eyes its a lose lose situation.

Croix

[754]

Get the 750 sorted out , and ride it fourever..


 at a fraction of the cost of Plan B..

[mick7504]

Get the 750 sorted out , and ride it fourever..


 at a fraction of the cost of Plan B..

+1 
Time and patience is the solution.
The 750 will look after you for years to come and as Frank mentioned, ät a fraction of he cost"
There's a truck load of help here when you need it and some good contacts for bits and pieces.
Mick

[DavePhipps]

There is something to be said for modern bikes. I love my (sorta modern) FZR, and would love a VTR. However, a properly fixed and maintained bike will last a long time without too much trouble. This is true for new bikes also. When not maintained they end up just as flaky as any old bike that needs fixed up.
If you go for the VTR there will be plenty of people here to help remove the 750 from your possesion. If you go for the 750, there will also be lots of people here to get help from to restore it to a well running state.

Sorry I'm no help. Myself I'd get the VTR and not get rid of the 750. Store the 750 at a friends if you can.

[gmonkey]

If you want to fix a bike, keep the 750.  You might just like digging through 70's technology.  If you want to get the hell on something and ride it already, get a newer bike with no serious problems.  You're probably going to have to do some work on the newer bike however so don't expect it to be paradise.  I've been working on my 550 for some time and just wanted to ride something already so I went out and got my FZR.  For me though, the CB is still in my basement so I kind of got the best of both which I guess you can't.

Dave, cool to see someone else here has an FZR600.  Does yours have the 2 piston calipers up front or is that an 89 only thing?

[DavePhipps]

Dave, cool to see someone else here has an FZR600.  Does yours have the 2 piston calipers up front or is that an 89 only thing?

That's an 89 only, they changed the calipers after that. Here's a funky thing I learned. The bolt holes on the FZR front disc pretty much line up with the 500/550 hub. that certainly got me thinking of a future mod

[Gordon]

Get the 750 sorted out , and ride it fourever..


 at a fraction of the cost of Plan B..

Yep.

Buying the tools and parts you need to bring the 750 back to its original glory will cost less than buying another bike (that will itself eventually need tools and parts to keep running), and the 750 will be as reliable or more reliable than any newer bike if you make it that way.

As far as insurance, though, I don't think insuring two bikes is going to cost that much more than one.  Obviously if you get full coverage on a newer bike it will cost quite a bit more than just liability on the 750, but it will cost that much regardless.  I'm with geico and adding liability on an additional bike generally only costs me an extra $15 per 6 month policy.

Then there's the girlfriend issue.  I realize she's had a bad experience on a motorcycle, but how does that affect the number of bikes you're allowed to own?  Are you able to ride more than one bike at the same time? 

[Stev-o]

Get the 750 sorted out , and ride it fourever..


 at a fraction of the cost of Plan B..

Then there's the girlfriend issue.  I realize she's had a bad experience on a motorcycle, but how does that affect the number of bikes you're allowed to own?  Are you able to ride more than one bike at the same time? 

If you are a dedicated rider, you'll have a bike long after she's gone! My wife doesn't like bikes either, she was in an accident too. But she just has to deal with it.

[754]

No "newer bike , is going to be any easier or any cheaper to work on than the CB 750..

 Very few bike engines are as dead nuts simple, as the 750..

 Besides that, do you think you will find such a great group of helpers (like this bunch).. for other makes and models..??

[Grnrngr]

I've got a couple bikes and a couple cars, having them all insured at the same time would be crazy expensive. With Progressive, I just call my agent and tell him, take this one off and put that one on. I only pay for one at a time (well, one car and one bike, seperate policies), and sometimes switch 'em up a couple times in a week. I'd think if you pay for a one car garage or parking space, you should be able to fit two bikes in there. Believe me, I understand the attraction of multiple vehicles, but it's true, get the F running right, it'll take you anywhere you want to go with as much reliability as any newer used bike..plus, once YOU get it where you want it, you'll have a much better idea of what to expect in terms of what might go wrong next, and the experience to deal with anything you might have to do a second time, which is seldom if you do it right the first time....except for wearing out tires..

[switchum]

Might be cheaper to get rid of the girlfriend and keep both bikes?


 Sorry.

[pidaster]

Might be cheaper to get rid of the girlfriend and keep both bikes?


 Sorry.

Good option. Use both bikes to pick up girls that like them.
Or, I can store the 750 for you. I can send you a picture every month and will house it for free. 

[Stev-o]

Might be cheaper to get rid of the girlfriend and keep both bikes?


 Sorry.

Bad option. Can't sleep with your bikes! [actually you can, but not nearly as much fun!!]

[Shenanigans]

You can be set on tools for a couple hundred bucks. Get a good socket set, a good wrench set, a decent impact driver and some JIS screw drivers and then go buy everything else at harbor freight. Just sayin' at most your looking at 300 bucks if you go that route and you should be set.

[switchum]

Bad option. Can't sleep with your bikes! [actually you can, but not nearly as much fun!!]

   Kung-fu grip

[Skunk Stripe]

Do you want to wrench or ride? Which do you like the looks of better?
YEAH! I get to have the unpopular opinion. There is NO guarantee that fixing the 750 will be cheaper, none whatsoever. No one can truthfully make that claim because A: they do not know what all the bike needs. B: they don't know your level of mechanical skill. Will you need a mechanic to do some of the work?

So really 2 options present themselves.
1: get the vtr and keep the 750. Put insurance on the vtr only and as you can afford to, work on the 750. If you decide you can't do it, you can still part it out or sell it as a whole bike. You still get to keep your tools, which will be useful on other things. The GF can get over it. As said before, you can only ride 1 bike at a time so how is 2 more dangerous?

2: get the vtr and just forget about the 750. Can it be a good bike? Of course but how much work will it take and can you do said work?

This is not going to be a popular opinion on a site for the sohc but then most people here are going to have a biased for the 750. You need to look at what is best for YOU. An sohc is not for everyone and may not be the bike for you.

I go with #1 BUT you said the cost of repairing the 750 was hard to bear while you can afford the vtr, sounds like fixing the 750 WILL cost more than the vtr.

[Gordon]

YEAH! I get to have the unpopular opinion. There is NO guarantee that fixing the 750 will be cheaper, none whatsoever.

There are no guarantees in life, but in this case the likelihood is very high.  


And besides, he's asking this on a sohc4 forum, so he wants to be talked out of it.

[Skunk Stripe]

Maybe but maybe not. What if he needs to get new carbs? Hell even used banks have sold for 200. What if it needs engine work? Even a simple re-ring will cost a fair amount unless he can do it by himself and not everyone can or is comfortable in doing so. So bottom line is there is no guarantee that the 750 will save him anything.
He could get the vtr and with basic maintenance, might not have to do any real work on it for years.

So he shouldn't base his decision on popular opinion.

[Gordon]

I agree, if you're not comfortable working on your own sohc4 then you shouldn't own it. 

[Skunk Stripe]

Exactly. Hell there are even times I don't like working on mine.

[Damfino]

Hell, there's no guarantee that members here won't continue to sign up under new user names to escape unpopular opinions they expressed in earlier incarnations.  

[xfactor]

Thanks for the opinions and what not guys.

I would love to own both because I love working on my 750, even if i dont know how. I am still new to the whole mechanical world and it does take me alot to get work done, I learn more by doing and watching then reading, so while I learn a lot from this site and reading books, it still becomes hard for me to completely understand some stuff without actually seeing it.

The VTR is in great shape and all it needs now is a valve adjustment which I can get done over the winter for a very reasonable price. I know its in great shape because they guy selling it is from a local vintage group and he is just an all around good guy and it has a bunch of extras with it.

There is a part of me that wants to be talked out of it, sure, but there is also a part of me that wants to just hop on a bike and blast around for 250 miles with out worrying about the weeping head gasket, a mystery oil leak or the fact that the carbs arent synced the valves need to be adjusted,and the cam chain, the timing is off and im running rich. Sure these are all pretty easy fixes, but I need help in doing them, because I have never done something like this before.

I guess I am just going to have to work on my girlfriend and get her to let me buy both, we have been together for close to 6yrs so I think I can probably convince her to let me do it, but I will have to try pretty hard.

I love the look of both bikes and I want to own both without a doubt but this is a hard decision for me to make.


Croix

[Alan F.]

Six years is a long time and that's something special.  With that said, bikes don't mind having other bikes around. The spirit of Soichiro will still be with you if you ditched the F. 

True you can fix the known and future isseus with the F cheaply and effectively, and that solution has my vote personally.  It's likely that you have other SOHC/4 members in your area, have you gotten to know them?  In the past few years I've gotten to know a bunch of the Boston members, they're a great bunch of guys, and they know a TON about these bikes.  If you don't know anyone nearby, I'd suggest starting a thread looking for members in your area. Throw a BBQ! get people interested and show off your bike, help will materialize out of thin air in no time!  Boston has a great group, KC and Seattle come to mind too and I'm sure I'm missing lots more.  We're all on the same team here, keep the F and get some help.

Alan

[Skunk Stripe]

As I said, if you do keep both, you can always try your hand on the 750 and if it does not work out, I am sure someone would buy it from you. It was my #1 suggestion after all!

[754]

Correct me, if you feel I am wrong..
 BUT..
 I will suggest, if you can/are not comfy working on a sohc 750, you wont be on any of the, more modern Japan fours..

 Whether the cb750 turns your crank for the long run or not, it may be a stepping stone, to raising your comfort/confidence level as far as working on bikes goes..

  FWIW... free advice, is worth what you paid for it...