Topic: New Member, Same Sickness

[seaweb11]

Welcome, looks like you have a better background than I did before I started my 1st restoration.
I can't imagine disassembling a bike and not feeling like putting it back together.

My 1st attempt at a 750 resto..got it torn down and just kept going.
http://www.world-playground.com/Bike/bike1.html
2nd attempt CL350 http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=4489.15 still going........

I think as someone already said, find a runner and go from there

Good luck.

[Paul Bater]

Well, I say now that I can take it pieces, but in reality...........probably not. I'll get attached to it and have to restore it.

That 750 is great looking! Nice work.

I'm not sure if I'd go for a 750 or a 500. I like both, but the 500 is more in my price range!

[6pkrunner]

eBay is just another avenue to use for locating items of interest to you. The old axiom Caveat Emptor reigns supreme. As anywhere you do get the percentage that are just out to rip as many and as much as they can from others. But there are good ones and for the most part I am happy with eBay as it is huge and you can have hundreds of options as opposed to tens. The entire outcome relies on your ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. I got stung about 6 times so far, but out of 400 plus transactions, I do not consider those bad odds. Emails and lots of pictures ease apprehensions. Most times you can tell who you are dealing with through emails. One main stumbling block is in each person's definitions. What some may consider mint, is others near-junk. Pictures help, but are not always foolproof.

[eldar]

well if you are going with the 500 size, I have heard the 550 is actually the superiour bike over the 500. It is supposed to have a better clutch as well as other things.

Of course the 750 is the best but it may not be for you. I personally would get a 650 if I did not have my 750.

[SteveD CB500F]

Hey Eldy...

Same as the later K's were an obvious improvement over the early ones eh? (lessons learned etc)

Only thing is, I love my 500 and sold the 550.  Don't care what anyone says about the technical improvements...   

[Paul Bater]

Yeah, I haven't really decided yet to be honest. I figured I'd start with a 500/550 as they were cheaper, but if I found a nice 750 for the right price, thats great too!

I've read that the 550 had some upgrades to the clutch and gearbox which would be nice, but its not a deal clincher for me. I'm looking more for overall condition of the bike, unless I misunderstood how bad the original 500 clutch and gearbox are? Its probably a few months away from happening anyway, plenty of time to do research....

I did see a nice looking 75 CB550 on the 'For Sale' part of this site. Light blue, 5500 miles, I'm guessing its expensive, no price listed. I'll have to give him a holler........I'm still hung up on being noble, and rescuing one from certain death!  

[bill440cars]

                 From what I understand, there were improvements on the later 500s. At least that's what
     I understand but, I don't know what year the improvements were done.  Anyone???
     I've got a 73' CB500K myself.
                                                         Later on, Bill

[Noel]

The clutch on my 500 is nearly worn out, thanks at least in part to the huge gearing the PO had on it. But then, the clutch has 40,000 miles on it, so I've got no complaints. It did its job. And frankly, it's still doing it. The only way I can tell it's near the end of its life is that I am out of adjustment room. I still doesn't slip, wail, or do anything else untoward.

The bike shifts very nicely. I can't say if the 550 is better as I haven't ridden one. The 500 transmission is smoother than some modern bikes that I've ridden, however, so I have zero complaints. (It's also smoother than my old '78 750F, although you can't really blame that poor abused bike.)

As for the CB750, my only real problem with it is that it's just so damn heavy. I am not a small man (6'1" and 220 lbs.) but I still got tired of lugging around such a heavy bike. The only time you forget how much it weighs is in a straight line at a steady speed. The 500, to me, is more enjoyable to ride in nearly every situation. It just fits.

[eldar]

only saying what I have heard on this very site. I suppose this may only apply to the early 500s. But you know, every bike has its own style of trouble that always has to be worked out. if they didnt, the model years would always be the same.

[Paul Bater]

I was thinking the same thing! I'm sure some of the 500's had problems which is why Honda chosen to fix it, but EVERY bike has a quirk or a problem. If I'm understanding correctly, its wasn't like the gear box would fall out just harder shifting? Isn't  that the elusive 'character' that everyone talks about!

My nighthawk shifts pretty awkwardly between 1st and 2nd and I tried to smooth it out, but in the end my left foot compensated for it much better than any mechanical fix I could perform! Problem is, when I jump on the VFR, the first time I shift into second I nearly tear the shifter off!

Whats all this about the 750's weighing alot? Do you think my Nighthawk 750 weighs about the same and handles about the same? I mean my bike doesn't handle like a sportbike, but I never really thought of it as heavy. Mind you, I did own a ST1100 and Goldwing for awhile. Any bike feels light after those two!

[DiscoEd]

Buy the 500!

The 750 guys will be here to pound their chests, and the 350/400 guys will be here to snivel about small packages or somesuch, but the 500 is the best! 

Yes! and the 550 is just a few CCs better than the best!


B.T.W. Welcome Paul... burn your credit cards now!

-DiscoEd

[Paul Bater]

I don't have to BURN the credit cards, I'm married with two daughters! They're fried already!

Thanks for the welcome, what is the crazy guy dancing about on your avatar 

[siter81]

Welcome Paul

Now run, run away fast.Seriously To me there is no greater satisfaction that bringing an old classic bike back to life.Yes it can get costly.Depends on how far you want to go with it,I have revived 3 bikes in the past 4 years.Didn't make a whole lot selling 2 of them but thats not my intention.I get a thrill looking at the progress i ve made as thing go along,Ok PRIDE.Hey i did that.Go for it you wont regret it and the compliments wont hurt your ego either.Classics rock. Good luck.

[DiscoEd]

what is the crazy guy dancing about on your avatar 

He just finnished rebuilding his CB550!


-DiscoEd

[Noel]

Whats all this about the 750's weighing alot? Do you think my Nighthawk 750 weighs about the same and handles about the same?

It's been an awfully long time since I rode a Nighthawk, but my recollection is of a bike much, much different from the CB750. But then, my 750 was set up on the sporty side and the one Nighthawk I rode was set up for cruising. When one bike is wearing clipons, aftermarket exhaust, performance cam, etc. and the other is wearing riser bars, a windshield, and bags, it's kind of hard to make meaningful comparisons. Having said that, no, I don't think the Nighthawk handled much like the CB750.

The Nighthawk is also about 40 pounds lighter than the average CB750, and about 40 pounds heavier than the CB500. I personally didn't mind the weight of the Nighthawk as much as the weight of the CB750. That may be due to the location of the weight, or that the Nighthawk weighed a bit less, or quite possibly simply due to pure human inconsistency.

At any rate, I really don't mean to bash the CB750, altho Eldar probably hates me by now. I like the 750 a bunch, and think you'd probably be happy with it. It's a great bike. My purely subjective preference, however, is the 500. (And heck, the 550 might be even better. I just can't comment, because I've never so much as thrown a leg over one.)

I will say one thing for the 750: they made a lot more of 'em than the 500. My experience is that, while parts availability is quite good for the 500, for the 750 it's just amazing.

[unlucky71]

I can hear this one screaming...

Ayuh. Looks like a lot of work though.

How to read an Ebay ad:

"The turn signals were removed." I fell over and broke the signals.

"a custom wiring harness was made for it." The old wiring harness melted. I replaced it at Radio Shack. All wires are now the same color.

"extra large sprocket on the back for great torque and acceleration." I redline this bike constantly.

"The carburetors are freshly rebuilt." Either --- I rebuilt the carbs. Now the bike doesn't run. So it's for sale. -- or -- I rebuilt the carbs knowing I would sell the bike. So you can imagine how much effort I put into it

"I took the air box out with intentions of putting on cone filters but never got around to it." I couldn't figure out how to put the airbox back on. So now you can check the condition of the cylinder walls with a flashlight.

"It was not run in the dirt without filters." It was run in the dirt without filters.

"The bike has a tachometer but no speedo, so i am unsure of the original mileage." The bike has 100,000 miles on it, and I didn't think it would sell if people knew that.

"It has the usual dents and dings from off road use but nothing that effects its riding performance." The bike looks like used tin foil. It still runs, though. Technically.

"It does burn oil on the #2 cylinder though it has for a while but doesnt seem to effect its performance in the least." The bike looks like dirty used tin foil. It does run though. Technically. Just carry a fire extinguisher.

"This is due to a leaking valve seal on the exaust valve." I haven't the slightest idea what it's due to.

"The rear tire is worn down pretty good and leaks air somewhere so it could probably use a new one or a patch." The rear tire is original. Just like the oil.

No charge for the translation. 

sheer perfection. 

[Noel]

I was giggling the whole time. 

[DiscoEd]

I think Glenn should consider putting that one in the FAQ section.

-DiscoEd

[SteveD CB500F]

I thought that as well.

But which FAQ?

[DiscoEd]

I thought that as well.

But which FAQ?

Steve,
 LoL! that may be a sicking point! Perhaps in the "Where can I buy parts for my SOHC?" section.

-DiscoEd

[SteveD CB500F]

Yeah!  We could have a "Hints and Tips on using eBay" FAQ - and put that lot in!  (there is no "tongue in cheek" smiley...)

[Paul Bater]

Couldn't you just post it on Ebay?  Might help a lot of people!!! Ebay listings are worse than real estate listings!

About the Nighthawk vs. the CB750, I would have thought they would be very similar! Interesting to read otherwise. Maybe they carry their weight higher, different rake or something, who knows. Thanks for the info anyway. I am kind of leaning more towards the 500/550 bike, don't really know why, and I'm getting pretty charged up about fixing one up. What are you guys doing to me! I have a perfectly great VFR in the garage that is up for sale so I can buy a rusty heap?!?!?!? HELP 

[Noel]

Bear in mind that my opinion about the Nighthawk vs the CB750 is, well, my opinion. Don't take it to the bank.

As for selling perfectly good bikes to make room for rusty old junk, my first "real" bike was a CB750. I soon "traded up" through a whole series of bikes, including all the latest and most powerful models from Japan and culminating in a Ducati "hypersports" bike.

I sold all of them.

I'm keeping the CB500.

FWIW! 

[Noel]

As to the Ebay FAQ, I always enjoy the tongue-in-cheek "How to read a ____ ad" pieces. Had fun doing my own, but have seen them done better.

If anything, I think a "How to read an Ebay ad" THREAD, open for anyone to contribute to, would be a blast.

[eldar]

Well the nighthawk has a lower center of gravity than the 750. A mid-90s - 2003 nighthawk was 463 pounds dry. 469 for an 85 nighthawk 700 and 475 for a 79 - 85 750 nighthawk. The 78 750 was 508. So it is heavier but the cg is where the big issue comes in. However if the 500 is almost the same height, it will have a high cg as well. Most bikes can go on diets however. You can remove the center stand cause really, how often do you use it unless you are working on the bike? I never do. Do work on the fenders. even swapping for lighter signal lights helps.

Sometimes you just have to throw a leg over multiple bikes before you find what you really like.