Topic: Questions of Identity - 750F2

[Orcinus]

This is my first post, so sorry if it's another noob question...  I own a 77 750F2, it's shabby and needs alot of work and so far I've been unable to work on it, but it's day is coming soon and I'd like to eventually do a full restore as I feel the F2/F3's are great.  However I've just notice something that I find confusing.  While everything I've looked at so far has conformed to stock on a F2, my engine serial number is CB750E-2604614.  The one list of motor serial's that I've seen indicates that all F2 motors should start off with CB750FE and there's no F.  Is this not etched in stone, or has some PO switched motors on me?  Also, while I appear to have a F2 front fork, I've got a chrome headlight bucket and rectangular front signals.  (round on the rear though)  Are the rectangular ones easily switched?  I can't find a photo of the mountings on the fork, but on my bike, it looks like the fork was made for these lights.  What (if any) CB750s came with chrome headlight buckets?  Oh, one last question... Is there anyway of identifying what color this bike was originally?  It's currently under a cheesy coat of Krylon's best gloss black (not my doing, the PO did it.) but while looking at my sidecovers (which are also toast) it appears that this bike has swapped from black to maroon and back to black at least a couple times.  I'm not sure what it's original color was... although I'm sure it was one or the other, that's all there was right?

Thanks in advance.

[78 k550]

Is you engine Black?  I just got a 77 750F and it just say's CB750EXXXXX


Paul

[MrZxp]

You are not alone! My engine number has no "F" in it either... I found it most helpful to use the facility provided at:
http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/ (click on the Identify my bike link) where they will email you back with the year and model of your machine... (mine came back as a 1978 CB750F2).
Not sure on the chrome headlight bucket.. mine is certainly black... as for the original colour... David Silvers will let you know that also when they email you back. (Mine is candy presto red - here for pics: http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/MrZxp/)
Have you visited the SOHC4 website for info also? Here: http://sohc4.us/bikes/cb750

Hope this helps. 

Cheers, Phil

[CB750F2]

G/Day. I have an Australian 1978 F2. Th engine number is CB750E-2615475. My F2 parts listing is applicable for engine serial numbers CB750E-2610038 to CB750E-2616276 - no "Fs" in the engine number. The colour options for the plastic side panels, duck tail and fuel tank were candy presto red or black. The rest of the bike - including the motor was black. The points cover, clutch cover, headlight ears, headlight rim, kickstarter and gear shift lever were chrome. The two foot peg alloy mounting blocks and the outer face of the alternator housing were polished. The headlight bucket was black as was the rear mudguard and lower front forks. The front mudguard was chromed. Hope this helps, Pat from Australia.

[Orcinus]

Thanks for the prompt answers...  Yes, my engine is black (except for the numerous chips in the paint).  I've sent in my info to David Silver spares, thanks for the suggestion.  I think most of my bike is original, it's been debadged and repainted numerous times, the badge area has been filled on the tank, but it's mostly original.  I just sort of freaked when the Motor serial didn't seem to match up.  The only pieces that don't seem to match up are the Headlight bucket, front signals and the 2 rearview mirrors, everything else looks correct for this model. (so far)

[SteveD CB500F]

It's not unusual for the headlamp bucket to split and quite possible that a PO has replaced it with a chrome item. Same with the indicators - there are loads of aftermarket indicators available and some people think they look better...  same with mirrors (aftermarket are cheaper if you've taken a spill and scraped mirrors, indicators etc)

Easy enough to replace with OEM if you want - I bought mine from David Silver but they do come up on eBay every now and then.