Topic: Transitional K0 and K1 parts -- 1970 cb750

[Hondawggie]

Okay, I just bought a rust bucket K0, mfg. in 5/70, 1038xxx frame, I'm definitely green
regarding early 750s, so I have a couple questions about the parts on the bike:

- the airbox is from a later (72 or later) cb750, right?

- are the carbs correct, 4 cables, one per carb slide, for the K0?

- the front fender is single cut on the rear

- but the headlight bucket ears, while having the smaller K/K0 reflector (this reflector got bigger on later bikes), is *chrome* ??  I thought the K0 had a painted set of fork ears

- rear wheel was changed for sure, has a 16" on there

- seat shape (duckbill) looks correct but was recovered?

- engine # is 1038xxx, doesn't match the frame, has 10 bolts on the clutch cover -- thought there should only be 9 bolts on the K0?

- gauges look correct for a K0

Not sure about the mixture of parts on her, I think the carbs, gauges, front fender, seat, engine are correct, but the airbox, headlight ears are not correct? 

Here are pictures,  it is a rust bucket but the engine turns over:

[Stev-o]

Wow, she's had a rough life.

[Hondawggie]

Yep, you definitely gasp when you see it in person too.  Will need a heck of a makeover.
I would not have bought it if it was any newer like a 71.  This is the earliest 750 I have found so I went for it. 

However despite the look it really feels like it has great compression.  And the gearbox shifts smooth.   What happened is the owner needed a place to store it and for several years his buddy had a shed that he kept it in.  When he got it out of the shed a few months back they discovered there was a leak in the roof in that area.  So the whole bike's outsides were basically exposed to the elements for many months.

[Johnie]

Those are the correct KO carbs. You are right, the air box on there is for the K1 and up. The KO box is painted the same color as the bike. Front fender is correct. Fork ears are painted on the KO. That is the correct reflector on the fork ear. Gauges are correct. Engine number will not match the frame exactly. Usually close though. What are your plans? Restore to OEM? Nice to see another KO saved from the junk pile. Did it come with a title?

[Hondawggie]

Those are the correct KO carbs. You are right, the air box on there is for the K2 and up. The KO box is painted the same color as the bike. Front fender is correct. Fork ears are painted on the KO. That is the correct reflector on the fork ear. Gauges are correct. Engine number will not match the frame exactly. Usually close though. What are your plans? Restore to OEM? Nice to see another KO saved from the junk pile. Did it come with a title?

It came with a title so my plan is to get it running then incrementally do the cosmetics.  I think we all appreciate the folks who part out bikes, we need the parts, but I couldn't bring myself to do that kind of work.  But we need the folks who do that, absolutely no question. 

I will be looking then for a stock correct airbox, and correct non-chrome fork ears.  Probably have all the chrome pieces re-chromed eventually.  And paint to stock color.  But first I'm going to do a 3000 mile tuneup maintenance and get her going.

Eventually, I'll need the stock exhaust -- is the hm300 or the hm341 correct for this bike?  I bet it's the hm300.

[Stev-o]

You win, it is the hm300. May be hard to find...

[elsinore401]

How can yo tell the airbox is K2 and up? I have a K1 and need to find the right box, how is it different. Thanks in advance.

[Johnie]

You win, it is the hm300. May be hard to find...

You can get the HM300's from your Honda dealer. Cost will be around $1,300.

[Johnie]

How can yo tell the airbox is K2 and up? I have a K1 and need to find the right box, how is it different. Thanks in advance.

Actually that air box is K1 and up...my typo earlier. The K1 and up is black and has the grooves on the top and bottom of the box. The 69 & 70 box is painted.

[elsinore401]

So all the black K model airboxes are identical?

[wrenchmuch]

Airbox intake openings got smaller over time to quiet intake noise .There may be other differences as well .

[Johnie]

How can yo tell the airbox is K2 and up? I have a K1 and need to find the right box, how is it different. Thanks in advance.

Post that you need a K1 air box on the "wanted" section of this board. You may find one as a nice price.

[754]

Your headlight ears are probably originals, that got chromed. There was no law against choming them back then, and it was CHEAP..
 Blast carefully, prime & paint if they are good, and have no frost damage..

[elsinore401]

Is there a difference between the k1 and k2 fork ears other than chrome. I looks like maybe the k2's were smoothed out where they were welded, but I have not seen up close. Thanks for the airbox tips by the way.

[CB750faces.com (Lecram)]

Nice buy! Great project to restore this as many parts seems to be original.

Only the Sandcast clutch cover does have 9 holes (the first 7400 built engines)

I think that your engine belong to the frame as the number are very clos. My K0 has 10400.. and the engine 1039...

[Hondawggie]

Nice buy! Great project to restore this as many parts seems to be original.

Only the Sandcast clutch cover does have 9 holes (the first 7400 built engines)

I think that your engine belong to the frame as the number are very clos. My K0 has 10400.. and the engine 1039...

I think I probably paid way too much for the bike for the stuff needing rechromed, the overall poor condition, the incorrect airbox, the wrong pipes, etc.  Paid about $500 bucks for it, not running, no key.  I have a 'buyers remorse' because the $$ I'll spend to make it nice will be a big deal on my income.

I really like your K0 in the condition you bought it.  Really, really nice bike you have there.

The only saving grace is I can get my K0 running on the road for a nominal amount, then very incrementally work on the cosmetics.  I guess we're both lucky to own pieces of history, however I think if I offered less the guy would have taken it, he was fully aware of the poor condition due to rain exposure but for certain reasons I didn't want to bargain hard (overly enthusiastic was a factor).

Then again lifes way more important than money, and so are vintage cb750s!
Thanks for the info about the clutch cover, learned something new.
Don't get me wrong I really like this bike.

[CB750faces.com (Lecram)]

Nice buy! Great project to restore this as many parts seems to be original.

Only the Sandcast clutch cover does have 9 holes (the first 7400 built engines)

I think that your engine belong to the frame as the number are very clos. My K0 has 10400.. and the engine 1039...

I think I probably paid way too much for the bike for the stuff needing rechromed, the overall poor condition, the incorrect airbox, the wrong pipes, etc.  Paid about $500 bucks for it, not running, no key.  I have a 'buyers remorse' because the $$ I'll spend to make it nice will be a big deal on my income.

I really like your K0 in the condition you bought it.  Really, really nice bike you have there.

The only saving grace is I can get my K0 running on the road for a nominal amount, then very incrementally work on the cosmetics.  I guess we're both lucky to own pieces of history, however I think if I offered less the guy would have taken it, he was fully aware of the poor condition due to rain exposure but for certain reasons I didn't want to bargain hard (overly enthusiastic was a factor).

Then again lifes way more important than money, and so are vintage cb750s!
Thanks for the info about the clutch cover, learned something new.
Don't get me wrong I really like this bike.

I paid much, much more than you did. $500 is not bad at all. When you rechrome all the chrome parts and buy used or new parts for it, you can have a very nice and rare bike that only will increase in value.

I would have paid it with pleasure. Here in Europe, the K0 is rarely being offered.

[Johnie]

I spent just over $1,000 for the chroming on my KO from a very good plater 40 minutes away from my house. The candy ruby red was about $800 from a reputable professional shop 5 miles from my home. I never did tally up the parts I put into it...HM300 pipes, sprockets, chain, tires, etc. However, I know I should be able to triple+ my money if I ever sell it. So look at it as an investment. Good luck with your find...

[754]

72 Light ears have bigger hole for the reflector..

[Hondawggie]

I spent just over $1,000 for the chroming on my KO from a very good plater 40 minutes away from my house. The candy ruby red was about $800 from a reputable professional shop 5 miles from my home. I never did tally up the parts I put into it...HM300 pipes, sprockets, chain, tires, etc. However, I know I should be able to triple+ my money if I ever sell it. So look at it as an investment. Good luck with your find...

Thanks dude, and thanks to everyone, the cool thing is the vintage ride experience, didn't really buy it as an investment but based on your feedback, well I guess I won't lose any $ on her.  But the vintage riding you cant put a price on that.   I feel lucky to have this cool machine.