Topic: '76 750K: Project Gunfighter

[Stev-o]

I bet he likes the bars. I have the same bars on my K5, just did 200 miles on Sat and very comfortable.
This was the TX portion of the zilla relay.

[Greggo]

Bummer about the cruddy caliper. I've got one in my parts stash with a piston so stuck even a grease gun won't push it out! I wouldn't mind doing dual disks on my K6 some time in the future.

Really enjoying your project. How do you like the lower bars so far? I really like the look of lower bars on a 750K but I wonder how comfortable it would be for longer distances.

Thanks Hoo!  Today's caliper was definitely a pain in the ass, and if I wasn't doing this work in a real shop, with access to real tools like a welder, I would be shopping for a new caliper right now.  I've got a 500/550 caliper whose piston won't budge either!  I think I may try soaking some liquid wrench on the inside of the caliper to see if that will free it up. 

The lower bars are great (IMHO).  I'm only 5'7", and the supersport bars fit me perfect.  Only thing that ever bothered me on long trips are the stock Honda seats..no fun after an hour.  I've got big expectations for this Corbin seat, so I hope it lives up to the hype.

[Greggo]

Stev-o, I sent you a PM about the side cover emblems.  Need to know which color you need.

[Greggo]

Lifted the bike and mounted it on a stand, then pulled the entire front end.  Need new fork tubes, or good used replacements as one is BADLY pitted just above the seal.  Punched out my old steering stem bearings, and replaced those with tapered bearings.  Repainted the triple trees.  Added a second disc to the wheel, replaced those bearings, and attempted to install the speedo drive adapter, but something isn't right inside there just yet. 





Here's how I left it today...

[Stev-o]

Bummer about the tubes. 

[somesuch]

Looks like it is a perfect time for a GSXR front end conversion     I have a line on 2006 GSXR forks for only $175 in perfect shape, I have been thinking about it for a while.

or maybe a GL1000 front end ? almost a straight swap, smaller and lighter disks, beefier and longer tubes so you can raise the whole bike for more clearance and better swing arm angle, better caliper mounting giving you options on possibly using different calipers with better pad material?

Those disks look heavy......drill, drill, and some more drill

[geminimotors]

Hmmm... Might not be news to you, but the sfbay cl has a recurring listing for cheap Goldwing parts in San Leandro. At the very least you could use an early dual-disc GW master cylinder...

[Greggo]

Thanks guys.  I've got a couple options: Use the shorter length CB500 forks that I've got, but then I can't do the dual disc set up until I find a 550 right leg that has the caliper mount.  I wish I could use the decent CB500 tubes in the 750 lowers, but I'm almost certain that won't work because they're too different.  I could look for decent, used forks, or even just a RHS fork.  Or, I could spend the dough for new tubes...on a bike where they're never seen.

Opinions?  Anyone have a spare RHS CB750 fork, or a set of forks?

I've already got some money and time in these CB750 parts, like rebuilding the second caliper, the dual disc conversion kit (speedo drive adapter, longer bolts, and double banjo bolt) and new bearings in the current front wheel, so I don't think I'll be changing course too drastically for now.  In a year or two, if I still have this bike I'll think about doing it then.  The GSXR front ends look extra sweet on bikes with gold paint to me. 

[somesuch]

I do not think that shorter forks is a good option, CB750 needs extra clearance, plus with the lowered front they really do push bad. about an inch longer with longer shocks seems to work really well. You could always sell the parts you have cleaned up and change your course

[Greggo]

I do not think that shorter forks is a good option, CB750 needs extra clearance, plus with the lowered front they really do push bad. about an inch longer with longer shocks seems to work really well. You could always sell the parts you have cleaned up and change your course

That GSXR front end is very tempting at that price, just to have for later.  I may take that up if you pass on it.  I just in the last hour got to formally apply for a job I have a very very good chance of getting at the company where I already work.  So, I basically have thirteen days until my life probably gets flipped around, and I won't be able to visit the shop on weekdays.  So, I have less than two weeks to finish the bike if I want the expert advice available from my dad's shop partner.  I think I'll throw the 500 forks on there for now, and go with the single disc set up for this bike.  It may be motivation to do the full swap in the future, and it lets me finish the project NOW.  I'll just have to pull the extra rotor, bolts, and the drive adapter.  I'll save those for a turbo project, I'll probably need more brakes there anyway   I know the 500 shocks are shorter, but I'm not a tall guy at 5'7" and I won't be road racing this bike.

[joe29]

Good work Greggo.  You get it registered yet?  I need to figure out how to register one of my 750s without a title.

[Greggo]

Good work Greggo.  You get it registered yet?  I need to figure out how to register one of my 750s without a title.

I have not, and I was just discussing this with my dad last night.  If you truly have no registration/pinkslip/title the DMV will most certainly tell you to go have the CHP verify the VIN before you can even think about registering it.  They basically want to make sure you're not trying to register a fictitious vehicle, so you could slap the numbers on a stolen one.  My dad and I agreed we will likely just truck the bike over for an appointment to do that business, and then try to navigate the DMV's trickery.  Either that, or lien sale it to my dad's shop somehow (he's had to do it a few times in the past, so he knows how.)  I'll let you know how it goes, and it should be soon.

FYI, before putting any money/time into this bike, I called the CA DMV's 1 800 #, to verify it wasn't stolen.  I said some magic words to the automated clerk to get a real human being, and by being very sweet to her, got her to check a national database for stolen vehicles, and she said it was NOT stolen.  This bike has never even been registered in California as far back as their records go..

[rickmoore24]

If thats the case you'll have no issues registering the bike with the CHP and DMV under your name. I went through the same process on my build and didn't have a hitch, a hassle yes, but no worse than a dental appointment. 

[Stev-o]

+1, I would not put the shorter forks on it. Start shopping for a good, used frt end, or parts bike. You needs more parts, man, more parts!

[Greggo]

+1, I would not put the shorter forks on it. Start shopping for a good, used frt end, or parts bike. You needs more parts, man, more parts!

Heh heh, a parts bike would be nice, but I don't think I can cram any more stuff/bikes into my dad's storage spaces. 

How much shorter are the 500 forks vs the 750's?  Aw, come on, it can't be that bad an idea.  I see guys dropping their forks down the tree to get that lowered look.  I don't care about that, it's more of an I wanna get it done thing, and I have these parts that will work.  I understand that I'm slightly altering the stock geometry, and it won't be the perfection that Honda engineers achieved 35 years ago, but I think I can make it work for my situation.  Remember, I've always had front end conversion dreams in the back of my mind for this bike...just not yet!

[somesuch]

... I understand that I'm slightly altering the stock geometry, and it won't be the perfection that Honda engineers achieved 35 years ago, but I think I can make it work for my situation.  Remember, I've always had front end conversion dreams in the back of my mind for this bike...just not yet!

1" is a lot .....it is not slightly. you will see the push I am talking about. it only takes about 1/2 hour to swap the forks in, so try them, In a turn you'll find pushing out on the inside bar to make it, bad in many ways. Just do the GL1000 thing. cheap, and it is a direct bolt-on (almost) you will like it a lot. You can get all the parts from that guy in san leandro.  and later you can put racetech emulators in, and really like it.

[Greggo]

... I understand that I'm slightly altering the stock geometry, and it won't be the perfection that Honda engineers achieved 35 years ago, but I think I can make it work for my situation.  Remember, I've always had front end conversion dreams in the back of my mind for this bike...just not yet!

1" is a lot .....it is not slightly. you will see the push I am talking about. it only takes about 1/2 hour to swap the forks in, so try them, In a turn you'll find pushing out on the inside bar to make it, bad in many ways. Just do the GL1000 thing. cheap, and it is a direct bolt-on (almost) you will like it a lot. You can get all the parts from that guy in san leandro.  and later you can put racetech emulators in, and really like it.

I don't want to get into semantics with you.  I hear what you're saying, but if I was going to do a full conversion, after already having put new bearing races in my frame before this conversation began, I'd be trying to do the GSXR swap.  I suppose it's possible the GSXR parts are exactly the same length as the 750 forks, but I doubt it.  So, there's a change to the suspension geometry right there.  And, after a little research, it seems that GL1000 forks came in a few different lengths over the course of the model, so in order to keep the suspension geometry exactly the same, I'd have to research, and find the right year parts.  We're neighbors.  Let's not fight over an inch of forks.  I've got a set of 550 forks too, so I'll pick the best of the two sets to get it on the road.  I am interested in those GSXR parts if you're passing too, if I didn't mention it

[Retro Rocket]

If you lower the bike allround, geometry won't matter a great deal, its the loss of cornering clearance thats the problem, i find it relatively easy to scrape the pegs at standard height, i also remove the center stand because it hits also, if i rode a 1 inch lower Honda i would start to worry about the stator cover hitting the road in corners. If its a bar hopper then lower away, if its an every day rider i wouldn't do it. Low may look good but it has its drawbacks...thats my 2 cents worth....  

[Really?]

Haters! 

[somesuch]

... I understand that I'm slightly altering the stock geometry, and it won't be the perfection that Honda engineers achieved 35 years ago, but I think I can make it work for my situation.  Remember, I've always had front end conversion dreams in the back of my mind for this bike...just not yet!

1" is a lot .....it is not slightly. you will see the push I am talking about. it only takes about 1/2 hour to swap the forks in, so try them, In a turn you'll find pushing out on the inside bar to make it, bad in many ways. Just do the GL1000 thing. cheap, and it is a direct bolt-on (almost) you will like it a lot. You can get all the parts from that guy in san leandro.  and later you can put racetech emulators in, and really like it.

I don't want to get into semantics with you.  I hear what you're saying, but if I was going to do a full conversion, after already having put new bearing races in my frame before this conversation began, I'd be trying to do the GSXR swap.  I suppose it's possible the GSXR parts are exactly the same length as the 750 forks, but I doubt it.  So, there's a change to the suspension geometry right there.  And, after a little research, it seems that GL1000 forks came in a few different lengths over the course of the model, so in order to keep the suspension geometry exactly the same, I'd have to research, and find the right year parts.  We're neighbors.  Let's not fight over an inch of forks.  I've got a set of 550 forks too, so I'll pick the best of the two sets to get it on the road.  I am interested in those GSXR parts if you're passing too, if I didn't mention it

No fighting was intended, was just trying to help.

On the GSXR front end you would use the extensions that replace the top cap, and you can lengthen the fork a bit by playing with the top out spring/etc

75-76 GL1000 forks are the simplest to use, and are longer than CB750 of your year, so you can go stock ride height or raise the bike. Raising CB750 is beneficial in a few ways. You are welcome to ask me all the info as I have done that swap.

I'll tell my friend about you wanting to buy his GSXR forks. He has offered them to me when I was talking of using them on one of my CB750s. Because of the lack of time I never did it. I am still hoping to do it in the future though

[Old75_ratafe]

Haters! 

Seconded... At 5'8" I can't flat foot my bike and just bought 3/4" lower rear springs and am doing the front as well.  If your really hitting the corners that hard on these old bikes get some emulators and progressive springs (or a gsxr front end).  As far as scraping the stator get a cheap set of case savers.

[Retro Rocket]

Haters! 

Seconded... At 5'8" I can't flat foot my bike and just bought 3/4" lower rear springs and am doing the front as well.  If your really hitting the corners that hard on these old bikes get some emulators and progressive springs (or a gsxr front end).  As far as scraping the stator get a cheap set of case savers.

Hey Rat, i scrape my pegs doing u turns, its quite easy,  it wasn't a performance orientated reply, and Really was saying that tongue in cheek. I often wonder if some of you guys actually know how to ride properly....   I am 5'9

[Greggo]

No worries Somesuch, I appreciate the input, and hopefully in a few months I'll be able to afford all the conversion parts for the GSXR.  I'm going to call my local vintage Honda shop to see if he's got a used leg, or set I can buy.  People don't take good enough pics on ebay for me to shell out $100 with any confidence they'll work, so I'm going to put on the 500, or 550 legs (whichever are nicest when I look at 'em) because they're there, and I've already paid for 'em...it's just a temporary solution.  I've just put myself in the poor house by buying some Yoshimura pistons for another project. 

Really?  Is your '75K lowered?  Or maybe I just remember seeing it parked on grass, and it looked like it was slammed

Old75, this won't be my canyon carver (that's my soon-to-be-turbo 500), and boy do I think those big case savers are ugly

Retro, thanks for the input.  I'm only 5'7", but with the Corbin on this bike, I can flat foot it on both sides.  I removed the center stand on my 500, as that's been my 'fun in the mountains' bike for a few years..I just slip it back on for regular maintenance.  I'm lowering it as a temporary fix to my pitted stock fork, and I know it's not a great solution.  I've already been hunting for a decent used set.  New tubes, at $200+ is a waste for a bike where they're never even seen.

[Greggo]

I talked to my local Honda shop owner (Charlie) who I generally can't say enough nice things about for a vintage bike shop owner.  He has a fork he'd sell me, it's not perfect, but when I asked what he thought about using the 500 or 550 forks, he said I'd probably be happier with that set up.  He knows me, I'm short.  I will have to use the 500 brake caliper and (drilled) disc I have to work with those forks he informed me.  I guess I rebuilt and painted two 750 calipers for nothing...maybe I'll just save them for another 750 someday.  Here's hoping the 500 caliper's piston isn't pitted too badly (it's stuck good)

[Retro Rocket]

Retro, thanks for the input.  I'm only 5'7", but with the Corbin on this bike, I can flat foot it on both sides.  I removed the center stand on my 500, as that's been my 'fun in the mountains' bike for a few years..I just slip it back on for regular maintenance.  I'm lowering it as a temporary fix to my pitted stock fork, and I know it's not a great solution.  I've already been hunting for a decent used set.  New tubes, at $200+ is a waste for a bike where they're never even seen.

No problem Greggo, i wasn't "hating" on your bike mate.....