Author Topic: lester wheel? (Read 5804 times)

octagon · « **on:** September 03, 2011, 03:23:13 PM »

anybody know if this is a lester wheel?

ekpent · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2011, 03:52:23 PM »

Looks like one from a distance but if it is real it should be marked.Get down on your knees if the bike is available and see if you can find it.

MoMo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2011, 06:21:31 PM »

Photo is too fuzzy but as Expent said Lester is marked somewhere on the wheel...Larry

octagon · « **Reply #3 on:** September 04, 2011, 06:36:37 PM »

it is a lester wheel after all - on a 1970 750k. here's the craigslist ad:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/mcy/2575855130.html
i bought it this evening for 400 dollars. back wheel is also lester, 16 inch. check out the glamorous whitewall tire.
it seems to have stock exhaust headers but they're sawn off under the bike. i'll post a picture in the morning. the motor has strong compression, the frame has been raked unfortunately.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #4 on:** September 04, 2011, 06:53:28 PM »

Hey, 400 bucks is pretty good for a K0 mate, well done! Has the frame definitely been raked? Anyway, you'll get most or all of your money back selling the engine, carbs, oil tank, gauges etc on EBay, (I want the forks....) so you've scored a set of Lesters for free! Cheers, Terry.

octagon · « **Reply #5 on:** September 04, 2011, 07:39:16 PM »

thanks terry - pretty sure about the rake - just looked quickly on the way home - we are having lots of rain out of the gulf of mexico just now and i got here in the dark and wrapped the bike up while still on the truck. more info tomorrow though.

ekpent · « **Reply #6 on:** September 04, 2011, 07:50:54 PM »

Pass along the engine and frame numbers to us nosey folks please ,be fun to see how early she is.

754 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2011, 08:13:11 PM »

in order four us to continue speaking to you we need the numbers..last 5 numbers..
if its like this 43,***.. that is even fine..

I am thinking it is soon time for a KO registry, we can get somewhat of an idea how many survived..

ekpent · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2011, 08:40:16 PM »

Also pop open the gas cap and look at the interior ramp under the filler and see if you have a wrinkle tank or if the metal is as smooth as a babies behind.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #9 on:** September 04, 2011, 10:01:48 PM »

And don't forget about the super rare upper triple clamp!!!! Lets see pictures of it and make sure you still have the washers in the clamp zone!!!

Rookster · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2011, 08:18:52 AM »

Super rare triple clamp:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Used-Top-Triple-Tree-CB750-K0-69-72-750-Bridge-/320740743597?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aada359ad

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-NOS-Top-Triple-Tree-CB750-K0-69-72-750-NICE-/220808060327?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item33692f9da7

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage-1969-70-Honda-CB750-CB-750-Gauge-Mount-Top-Tree-/250885703431?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a69f40707

There's 3 of them on ebay right now! Not to mention the one that xsmooth put up on the for sale board which I think is still for sale. That's 4 of these things for sale right now. They aren't that rare. They were tons of K0 - K2 built with that same triple clamp. How many are sitting in sheds, garages, barns or in back yards right now?

I think this board has driven the prices of those triple clamps up by claiming how rare they are. A few months ago you could get one buy it now for $150. Now everyone seems to think they are like wrinkle tanks.

Just my opinion
Scott

mrbreeze · « **Reply #11 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:24:53 AM »

Yeah..............and look how much they sell for. I don't argue that they made alot of them but they don't make em anymore. People leave the washers out and they crack. They go to get a new one but they find out that they are hard to come by at a cheap price. Outa the 3 you listed....only the last one is up for bid. I put it on my watch list.The last one I saw for bid went for around $250 and had multiple bidders.

octagon · « **Reply #12 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:33:53 AM »

the front end of this bike has been hammered. don't know what's going on with the gauges - the top clamp might be from a 750f? the tank has wrinkles but it's rusty. odd choices on this build.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2011, 08:21:50 PM »

Yeah mate, she's a "bitser" (bits of this, bits of that) alright, but for 400 bucks, still a bargain to me. over here I'd have to pay a lot more for one as good(?) as that one.

If they're all genuine K0 parts the carbs are worth $300-400, $100+ for the oil tank, $100+ for the fork lowers, $500+ for the gas tank, $100+ for the swingarm, $500+ for the engine, plus some other stuff that I probably forgot. Not bad for a $400 investment, and you get to keep the wheels which are worth up to $700. Well done! Cheers, Terry.

octagon · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2011, 09:38:29 PM »

hi terry this bike is so sad really, if you like stock. just check out the rear fender. i pulled the rear wheel off this afternoon. the swing arm has an outrageous amount of play. i can shake it and it sounds like somebody knocking on a door.
not to mention the pipes, or the way the front end is cut up. but somehow it seems like a lot of care went into it. the speedometer needle is stuck on 95 mph. more power to the guy i guess. don't know the story, but i
bought the bike from the po's nephew, who told me he inherited it. the nephew was a nice guy and he had some really interesting muscle car projects going on in his shop.
regards, harvey

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:08:11 PM »

Ha ha, thanks Harvey, and I kinda like that rear fender, I had a "Tombstone" tail light on my K1 when I was 21, and I thought it was the ducks nuts! (Really cool)

Don't let the damage put you off, everything is fixable, so either do it up or sell it, either way you'll do ok. Cheers, Terry.

KingCustomCycles.com · « **Reply #16 on:** September 06, 2011, 02:58:56 AM »

I had a full early 71 frontend on eBay for $49.99 and it never sold. I decided to keep it, just sayin'

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2011, 06:31:31 AM »

Quote from: KingCustomCycles.com on September 06, 2011, 02:58:56 AM

I had a full early 71 frontend on eBay for $49.99 and it never sold. I decided to keep it, just sayin'

Yep, you'll remember that I PM'd you about it at the time mate because you thought it was from an earlier model, the K0 forks are slightly different, but much harder to find than K1-K2 forks, so command a higher price. Cheers, Terry.

DedHed · « **Reply #18 on:** September 06, 2011, 06:53:22 AM »

Back to the Lesters....
DANG!!!!
I bought my 750K4 with Lesters already on it... for $500 - RUNNING! I saw what folks are trying to sell the Lesters for on the Fleabay WHAT?!?!?!?!?

I'm keeping mine on there... I know things are only worth what people are willing to pay, but are prople really buying those things for $400 - $500 a rim?

? Sounds crazy to me.....
Phil

754 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 06, 2011, 10:01:07 AM »

The 18 rear lester is the bigger money rim. myself I like Morris much better..
Terry just buy 70 450 legs, same thing as you need.. but you knew that right? (and yes they are KOrrect part #, I checked before I sold a set to a buddy for 50 bux....now I need them..

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #20 on:** September 06, 2011, 05:01:25 PM »

Quote from: 754 on September 06, 2011, 10:01:07 AM

The 18 rear lester is the bigger money rim. myself I like Morris much better..
Terry just buy 70 450 legs, same thing as you need.. but you knew that right? (and yes they are KOrrect part #, I checked before I sold a set to a buddy for 50 bux....now I need them..

Hmmnnnn, that's interesting Frank, considering that the 1970 450 didn't have a disc brake? Cheers, Terry.

754 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 06, 2011, 09:49:47 PM »

70 is first year of the disc for 450, you can swap entire fork assembly but spring rate is less and tubes are about 3/4 inch shorter.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2011, 10:33:04 PM »

DAMN!!!!............see I'm glad you guys know this stuff but I don't. Wish we had a thread that would just tell ya stuff like this straight up!!!! If I see a part someone is selling off of a 500/550 that would just bolt right up to a 750 or 450 or whatever..............that would be cool but having to trace stuff down through the parts fisch (sp).............pain in the a$$.........450 blah,blah,blah is the same damn part that will work on a 750......I tried to start a thread like this and everybody tries to kick you into a MotoGrid or Service Honda website. WTF is compatable between our bikes that people know for sure..............450 drums are the same as 750's.....550 gauges are the same as 500's, etc. Back on track..............I'd totally rock that Lester wheel (or wheels)....you really gotta good deal man!!!!!

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #23 on:** September 07, 2011, 03:52:56 AM »

Quote from: 754 on September 06, 2011, 09:49:47 PM

70 is first year of the disc for 450, you can swap entire fork assembly but spring rate is less and tubes are about 3/4 inch shorter.

Sorry Frank, it looks like we're both right. The CB450 K2 which finished production in mid 1970 had a drum front brake, but the K3 model (late 1970) had a disc, and yep, the forks do look like CB750K0 items. Thanks for the tip. Cheers, Terry.

http://www.livablelandscape.org/CYCLES/450use.htm

ekpent · « **Reply #24 on:** September 07, 2011, 05:43:11 AM »

I have also noticed that the 450 and early 750 do seem to share quite a few tid bits.

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Author Topic: lester wheel? (Read 5804 times)

KingCustomCycles.com