Author Topic: Am I the only one on the African continent? (Read 28550 times)

kjr4honda · « **on:** January 04, 2011, 03:42:09 AM »

Come on, there has to be more of us out there! I'm in the Johannesburg area - 1700m above sea-level.

Cqyqte · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2011, 03:43:35 AM »

Where did everybody else go too?

rhos1355 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2011, 05:12:38 AM »

There was one bright spark a couple of years ago, can't remember his name but he claimed he had about 20+ rare bikes in his garage and would anyone like to buy them? After continious requests to see pictures of what he had, he quietly disappeared.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2011, 10:47:40 AM »

Look up TTR400 I believe

Hush · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2011, 11:25:15 AM »

I've seen posts from Sth Africa on this site, maybe you are not the only SOHC4 owner on that continent?

kjr4honda · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2011, 02:45:13 AM »

Thanks, all, for the insight! lol
People disappearing without trace is not an uncommon phenomenon in these parts! As are those Nigey 419 scams - have a peep at www.419eater.com for a good laugh.
TTR400 is indeed a local - I have bought some stuff off him for my CB500Four classic race bike, which is still under construction.
I though some of the SA CMC members might lurk here as well.

ttr400 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2011, 02:57:17 AM »

Hi, kjr

I'm here. how's that bike coming along?

Kevin

happyogre · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2011, 02:09:47 AM »

Quote from: kjr4honda on January 04, 2011, 03:42:09 AM

Come on, there has to be more of us out there! I'm in the Johannesburg area - 1700m above sea-level.

Greeting kjr4honda. Fellow Joburger here saying 'Hi'.

kjr4honda · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2011, 06:59:40 AM »

Quote from: ttr400 on January 08, 2011, 02:57:17 AM

Hi, kjr

I'm here. how's that bike coming along?

Kevin

Last parts I got from you still in the cupboard! Dropped the 750 in Gilloolies in June and buggered up my left knee in the process - only just walking properly again now. I'll be contacting you soon with my new shopping list! Will you be at the RedStar opening on Saturday?

kjr4honda · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2011, 07:05:08 AM »

Quote from: happyogre on January 17, 2011, 02:09:47 AM

Quote from: kjr4honda on January 04, 2011, 03:42:09 AM
Come on, there has to be more of us out there! I'm in the Johannesburg area - 1700m above sea-level.

Greeting kjr4honda. Fellow Joburger here saying 'Hi'.

Hi there happyogre. Where abouts in Jozi?

happyogre · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2011, 11:56:51 PM »

Quote from: kjr4honda on January 20, 2011, 07:05:08 AM

Hi there happyogre. Where abouts in Jozi?

Currently in the South. Lenasia.

oldman prof · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2011, 09:39:14 PM »

Quote from: kjr4honda on January 04, 2011, 03:42:09 AM

Come on, there has to be more of us out there! I'm in the Johannesburg area - 1700m above sea-level.

Morning,been of the net for a while,and been of this site so long I nearly forgot the password but the are those of us who still love these motors,I just got my 1978 sohc back from my son after some wanker pulled out in front of him and all I could salvage was the motor and the part of the frame around the motor and I've had a wrecked Ducati lying in the workshop so I've transpanted the front-end and back end onto the Honda,well I had a GS750 Suzuki front and back end on to but this looks a lot better,I'll try and post a pic but just letting you know we are here in SA,few and far between but here.

charlatan · « **Reply #12 on:** September 19, 2011, 02:55:34 AM »

Another Capetonian here with a '76 550F... at the moment trying to decide on whether to mod it or restore it.

Hush · « **Reply #13 on:** September 19, 2011, 03:17:45 PM »

I'd do a restore, mind you not a lot of time and Sth Africa is a big area to cross on the Godzilla SOHC4 world tour.

charlatan · « **Reply #14 on:** September 26, 2011, 01:08:58 PM »

Far as I could tell, landing an OEM exhaust here will cost me in the region of R13000 (~$1800US)... and that was before the Rand took a dive. I could not find any OEM/NOS 4-into-1 setups, but I don't really like them much anyway and I don't expect those to be any cheaper. Considering that I'd probably be able to sell a fully restored bike for max R15-20k here, it just doesn't make sense. (Bought it for R6.5k and there's plenty else to spend on)

To me, an exhaust is one of any bike's defining features. Without it, there's no point to restore the rest to stock... it will always bug me that an essential piece is missing.

Ultimately, an original restoration is much more special & rare than any back yard cafe racer, but I have to be realistic as to (A) my appetite for continuing with the work and (B) my budget. I'm much more likely to continue spending time working on an interesting resto-mod that fits my budget. I don't expect to turn a profit when I sell it again some day, but I don't want to over-spend either.

And I aim to keep it reversible should anyone after me attempt to do the noble thing...

BobbyR · « **Reply #15 on:** September 26, 2011, 02:06:33 PM »

Well I guess you are not the only South African here. Welcome from NY.

kjr4honda · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2011, 03:12:30 AM »

Restoring is a lengthy (and expensive) process in these parts, but worth it in the end. Bike Hospital has lots of used stock for the SOHC range, just don't expect perfection. You have to scratch around in some pretty dark corners to unearth what you need sometimes - wear old clothes. There are also some pretty good (expensive) restorers around the JHB area, if you are that way inclined. Or you could join the CMC, they have containers of spares available, albeit mostly for Brit bikes, with more and more Jap stuff being sourced monthly.

BobbyR · « **Reply #17 on:** September 29, 2011, 05:52:56 AM »

Quote from: charlatan on September 26, 2011, 01:08:58 PM

Far as I could tell, landing an OEM exhaust here will cost me in the region of R13000 (~$1800US)... and that was before the Rand took a dive. I could not find any OEM/NOS 4-into-1 setups, but I don't really like them much anyway and I don't expect those to be any cheaper. Considering that I'd probably be able to sell a fully restored bike for max R15-20k here, it just doesn't make sense. (Bought it for R6.5k and there's plenty else to spend on)

To me, an exhaust is one of any bike's defining features. Without it, there's no point to restore the rest to stock... it will always bug me that an essential piece is missing.

Ultimately, an original restoration is much more special & rare than any back yard cafe racer, but I have to be realistic as to (A) my appetite for continuing with the work and (B) my budget. I'm much more likely to continue spending time working on an interesting resto-mod that fits my budget. I don't expect to turn a profit when I sell it again some day, but I don't want to over-spend either.

And I aim to keep it reversible should anyone after me attempt to do the noble thing...

You are correct the exhaust was the defining design feature. Also your writing style appears to be American. No offense.

ratrap · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2012, 06:47:48 AM »

Busy with a CR750 build in Cape Town

Stev-o · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2012, 10:09:03 AM »

Thunder is in Cape Town...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=103445.msg1157972;topicseen#new

ratrap · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2012, 11:05:15 AM »

Thanks Steve o!

Mr.Paynter · « **Reply #21 on:** May 17, 2012, 01:20:12 PM »

First Post!

New to the forum, (I recognise happyogre from thinkbike though, I am Smellentino on there) I will also go find the introduction tab again and say hello!

I am in Durban and I am in deep k@k to put it in Saffrican!

I bought a '73 CB500 K2 yesterday and it's running with papers (A miracle in Durban) 95% complete but rough and hacked by other owners and poor local shops but I love the CB's and I'm determined to save her if I can!
I know I'm in for blood, sweat, tears and some serious cash but I want to do my best to do the noble thing as charlatan put it!

So yep, I'm looking to get some serious help on how to clean, restore and hopefully the best places to find what I need to replace what I need to!

It's a tough life out here for older bikes indeed so I'm pretty happy to see other guys out there looking to save or even just look after some!

charlatan · « **Reply #22 on:** May 18, 2012, 03:28:04 PM »

Photos, Mr P... or it didn't happen

PS - Did you see the '79 550K for sale on Jhb Gumtree for R45000?

Mr.Paynter · « **Reply #23 on:** May 20, 2012, 10:10:54 AM »

Okay, here are a few the previous owner had taken before I picked her up.
Like I said, she's rough but I am going to try get her a more stock again!

I hadn't seen that on gumtree either! I have a bad habit of only checking the Durban ads! That bike is neat!
I need to find these miraculous survivors in retirement homes and not the running rescues, ha ha.

Also, I saw your blog, one of the best project blogs I've seen, especially out of South Africa!
Definitely going to keep an eye on that! Also, I may set my own up, it will keep me thinking about her and I'm sure it'll be a cool look-back once she's done.

PS - What did you sand and polish your triple-clamp with?!? Looks awesome!
These are the little things I have no idea on, I don't want to go sanding willy-nilly and do any damage...

As for the bike:

I am still very fresh on mine, nothing's happened yet, I've just sold my house (inherited) so I am going to leave her running as is til I know where she (and I) are going and I can move her completely and more easily. I've just been downloading all of the factory owner's and repair manuals as well as wiring diagrams etc. and figuring out what I actually want to do! Oh and I've had the first big (expensive) surprise, the "1 year over-due licence" seems a little fanciful and sorting the licence and change of ownership will cost me R1795 which is going to severely limit any expenditure for a wehile but it's one of those things you just have to do before it gets even worse.

Those rear indicators kill me but luckily the previous owner still had the originals.
Tail-lights kill me too so I am looking around to source an original right now. He had a tatty more-original looking tail-piece but from what I can see in photos it's still not the original.
The Bars are SHOCKING, riding her home was an adventure to say the least.

I think I have also sourced a second CB500 which is 80% or so complete with no papers as a donor for a few grand which I may also be able to pay off over some time which I'm sure will be a great help!

So yep, hopefully I will have some more to talk about and some more questions to ask soon!

charlatan · « **Reply #24 on:** May 20, 2012, 12:11:31 PM »

Thanks for the pics. Doesn't look like you're in for too tough a time. Those bars and the trailer lights on the tail slay me

, but the rest look fairly complete, if you can find the indicators. How's she running?

My project's on hold... we're trying to sell our house so everything's in boxes while strangers tramp through here in droves. If all goes well, we'll be moving to a place with a double garage though, so hold thumbs!

Thanks for the blog compliment. Don't expect any updates soon though! The polishing is very satisfying... you should definitely give it a go. I sanded the rough spots with 180, then 400 and 1200 (all wet with WD40). Also used those flexible plastic Moore's disks (try jewellery tool suppliers) on a Dremel for the tight spots until I had a uniform satin finish. After that, polishing wheels (mounted on my drill) and rouge from Builder's Warehouse (Torque Craft, about R50 for a pack with 5 sticks). Used the black for cutting and the pink for final polish. The sanding took the bulk of the time... polishing itself is relatively quick.

News:

Author Topic: Am I the only one on the African continent? (Read 28550 times)

rhos1355