Topic: IS IT WORTH IT???

[Buccalaba]

I came across a CB750 K5 in a salvage yard:

1) The frame and engine cases are lightly rusted
2) The engine is seized, but complete (including carbs)
3) Spokes and wheels are trashed
4) No gas tank
5) Has been sitting outside in all kinds of weather, since 1987
6) A real snotter

Do you think it's worth the $150?

[ekpent]

Hard to tell without a pic but by the sounds of it I think you would do better to spend more and find a running snotter or at least one that has a little more going for it. Unless you needed a few parts it sounds like a real money pit.Bikes that have been stored outside like that for that long are basically scrap metal.

[jaguar]

also you have to factor in your skills as a tech and builder.

the most expensive bike is a cheap one....
off the top of my head using gorilla math you would need this to get on the road
-engine rebuild $600-2000 depending on how locked it is.
-wheels $200-500 used or new rims and spokes
-tires $200-400
-chain, brake parts $150-250
-new tank and seat  $150-1500
-fork rebuild and other seals $100
and thats just 2 min of thinking and assuming that everything needed is there undamaged and able to be taken apart.
and also that doesnt factor in labor if you cant do the work yourself.

if your plans are to strip the frame, powercoat it and get a BCR seat and tank then its not a bad deal.
but thats if you have the money to do that kind of build.

if the idea is to learn about bikes and build it over time on a small budget then this is not a good deal.

if you look around you should be able to find a sohc4 that runs and rides around $1000-1500.

things to think about a barn find are that it will take a few hundred bucks to even get it on the road. so if you buy a cheap "parts bike" and spend a grand on it just to get it on the road and it still looks like hell you will not be having much fun.

better to spend a grand on a runner that has good tires and such.

does the bike at the salvage yard have a title?  i dont know if its a big deal in your state but it can be a real pain in some.


buying old honda bikes is like riding the bus,  If you miss one another will be around in 5 min.

Im not saying that the bike has no hope but you need to be honest about what you can and want to do.  if you lie to yourself about budget and skills you will not be having any fun and thats what old bikes are all about.

im assuming that since you are posting here with that question that you are new at this.
take a look at alot of the newbe build threads here and on other sites  they all kinda read like this
-hey I bought this bike for almost no money
-i dont have tools or experience working on stuff but want to learn
-i took everything apart on the bike.
.....no more posts......

keeping an old bike running will teach you alot over time and get you ready for a "full" build.
looking at a pile of parts will not...

i hope that this helps and that it gives you something to think about.

[jaguar]

also where are you?

some local people might post stuff that they have for sale that might be better for you or keep and eye out

few things to help the search
what are your plans with the bike?
budget?

[MoMo]

add to jaguar's post cost of title if there isn't one-possibly as high as 400 or low as 100.  The few I have been able to get have cost me 275...Larry

[fmctm1sw]

What I learned is to assess what the cost of repairs will be...  then double it.

[ekpent]

OK Guys all together now----------The answer is ---------- Nope----unless there is one part still alive you have to have. 

[Retro Rocket]

For 150 just buy it for parts, its easily worth more regardless of its condition...

Mick

[ekpent]

Better wait for a pick Mick. Its a junk yard remember and here in the US the streets are littered with these machines,though the price may be creeping up a tad-  He may have to get the first one first before parts and may be on a very limited budget like some other of our very creative and innovative members.  Eric

[jaguar]

yes it might be worth $150 in parts to someone that has a few other bikes but really not worth anything to someone that has
no room
no time
no tools
no experience
or wants to daily ride the thing
or build it into some cafe

the only thing that will happen in a thread like this is everyone that could help will chime in with good help and then argue with everyone else thats saying the same thing.

what it boils down to is there is not even close to enough info or pics to give a true honest and good answer and just the action of asking tells me that its not worth it to the OP.
for one of the other builders here maybe.

also with so much missing its really not worth it to buy it and part it out.
big sellers online like the tank and such are gone or shot.
no one buys frames or motors online or ebay

[Stev-o]

OK Guys all together now----------The answer is ---------- Nope----unless there is one part still alive you have to have. 

+1....No, not worth it. You can do better, keep looking.

[Retro Rocket]

no room
no time
no tools
no experience
or wants to daily ride the thing
or build it into some cafe

Nice assumptions you make there mate, i didn't see the OP mention that anywhere, why assume he has no skill...Anyway he asked if it was worth 150 and it is.....

Mick

[jaguar]

No no no
I'm not assuming that about the OP.  I feel that with those trates the bike would not be worth the $150 to that type of person,  unless of coarse they were going to use it as a parts bike to another bike they had.

Like I said there is not enough info to tell.

All I'm trying to say is that skill level makes a difference is value of a bike.

Myself I don't have the money or the skills to do a factory resto on a sandcast so that changes what a sand cast is worth to me and me alone. 

[noahspop]

He could always buy it for parts knowing what model of bike he needs to be on the look out for. Also he could sell off parts of it to fund his future build, etc.
I just hope nobody scared him away.

[Buccalaba]

Thanks for the input guys; I wasn't expecting so many replies . . .

Okay, so I went back to the salvage yard and fork-lifted the thing out of the holler it'd been sitting in and the side closest to the ground was totally rusted through.  The forks weren't any good either; didn't take a picture.  From what I saw and the unanimous response - it's definitely not worth it.
The good news is I found another one, a K8 in much better condition.  The engine is locked, it's missing a seat, stator, field coil and cover - not nearly as much rust on this one.  He's asking $300, no title . . .

I realize there wasn't enough info in the OP, so here is a little background info: 
1) Not a motorcycle expert by any means, but not too shabby when it comes to mechanical repairs
2) I have a good supply of tools & time
3) The plan is a complete rebuild, having the engine work outsourced to a local (Alabama) Honda expert - he's charging $1,100 for top & bottom. I'm supplying the pistons, gaskets, springs, valves, etc.  The only major engine upgrade for sure is an electronic ignition, I'll consider others only if needed or if cost effective.
4) My budget is not strict, but I would realistically like to keep it under $3000 - don't really care if the bike runs when I buy it because it's definitely going to be rebuilt anyway.
5) I don't want a daily driver or a show bike, but I would like to have the reliability to ride it to work a couple of times a week.
6) Yes, I am very new to this and consider all advice 
6) Not easy to scare away, so if something is stupid just tell me 

I'll have a couple of pics to show you guys when I go back to the place Monday -- 

[noahspop]

Glad you found another bike.
This is the best site for advice and info on your bike. Everyone here loves pics.

[fmctm1sw]

I didn't really give you a soild "yes" or "no" opinion.  Like I said, the lesson I learned is that it's going to take about twice what you budget for to get it done...  You can do anything really from finding something nearly ready to picking up a titled frame and going from there.  +1 on pictures!

[OneWheelDrive]

My honest opinion... if your budget is in the $3k range, spending $500-$1k on a TITLED and near-running bike with save you thousands in the rebuild in parts and hours of headaches as you discover parts that are missing, broken, not original, rusted through, etc.  You could easily spend $5k and a painful year resurrecting a $150 snotter, or you could spend $2k and 6 months happily restoring a $800 complete that you got a deal on. 

My advice, be patient, find something that hasn't been out in the elements for 3 decades.  There are thousands sitting dusty in garages, sheds, and barns all over the country waiting to be brought back to life.  Why not start your rebuild with a good clean frame and motor?

[fmctm1sw]

Oh yeah 3 g's should get you a decent bike.  You could even get one shipped to you from anywhere and still get a decent starting point at least.

[Stev-o]

+1 on spending more on a good bike as a starting point.
If your patieant, you can find a nice 750 for $1K.
These motors are very reliable and can easily run for 50,000+ miles w/o a rebuild.
Also, broaden your search area. I had my 550 shipped from Iowa to Tx for $500.
Have you seen this site?
Plug in your zip code...


http://www.searchtempest.com/results.php?location=57234&maxDist=2000&region_us=1&search_string=cb750&keytype=adv&Region=na&cityselect=zip&page=0&showeb=1&category=8&subcat=sss&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max&sortby=stateanddistance