Hello all,
I have just won a nice 77 CB 750 on da'bay. Will be making a trek out to the midwest to trailer it home next week. I am pretty excited!
My bike autobiography:
1st street bike was a 72/73 CB350Four that I pieced together out of a partial bike that a family friend gave me to get out of his shop and a complete on that I paid $50 for and drug it out of the waist-high weeds in a guy's yard...with title! It was primer gray and the exhaust was only silver because I painted it with silver grill paint..but I rode it all over for a couple of years.
2nd bike was a 82 CB750 Custom that someone had chopped the pipes below the foot pegs. I just used ear plugs when out on the highway. It was a trade for services at a friend's body shop. I think I paid $400 for it. I ran that thing all over the east coast. My brother rode the 350 for awhile then I gave it to a friend that wanted to learn to ride.
I gave away the 750 before moving out to Idaho because I convinced myself there would be no riding season out there...WRONG!
I quickly learned my error and bought my 3rd, a Vulcan Classic in '97. I took it on a 7000 mile solo trip around the country that same year. Thought I wanted a cruiser, but never really found them as comfortable for distance as everyone else seems to.. I gave that to my brother a couple of years ago after it spent too many seasons sitting in the garage with rare rides to work and such.
As you might guess if you are still reading, I get attached to and have a hard time selling things that I feel have character and that I have bleed over. I prefer to give them to someone else that will enjoy them. Last vehicle I sold was a 58 Apache out in Boise. I felt sick as the new owner drove it up on his trailer and drove away. The cash in my hand meant nothing.. Since then I have given away 2 jeeps, a S-10, and the Vulcan to family and friends.
Anyway, I always loved the CB's. I guess that first bike never really gets out of your blood. Always wanted the little 350's big brother. My bride caught me looking at them online several times and commented on how she was sure I would end up with another bike..
Almost bought one from CL while I was in Iraq a couple of months ago but found out I was coming home and decided to wait. I did miss out on a couple of very nice low mileage originals, but I think I found a nice one that will fit the bill.
If anyone is still reading, I have 1 question: How many miles are generally expected before engine rebuild is warranted? Trust me, I know it is largely dependent on the individual vehicle, how it was maintained, etc. just looking for a ballpark. The bike I just bought has 39K on the clock. The PO appears to have done just about everything to the bike but rebuild the engine. He indicated he adds a qt of oil about every 1000-1500 miles. Doing some online reading, the rebuilds seem to be all over the place, but I have seen several references to the 40K mark.
I intend to ride and enjoy this thing. It will not be a window decoration. I expect to have to rebuild eventually, just curious what others have experienced.
This appears to be a great forum! I have read through several threads and not run into any of the junk I often see on other forums. I look forward to learning from you good folks.. and hope to share the road with a few of you in the days to come.
de'bay pic of my new toy attached
Bryan
