Topic: 1975 CB750F Rescued from an abusive home

[bcart82]

I scored this 1975 CB750F about a month or two ago from a really nice guy that needed to clean out his garage. As the story goes, he got it from a guy who had it in a barn forever. It was missing all brake parts, it is/was caked in mud and rust, but it started - mileage unknown.

When it started, it would immediately fill up the carbs with sediment and slowly choke it out. Clean out the carbs, and it starts back up... So I kinda knew where this was heading.

Anyways, after cleaning the years of mud off the bike, it was clear to me the someone resembling the Simpson's character Cleetus had been working on this thing. Incorrect bolts used to mount almost everything, missing bolts, 'T'-taps on the wires, insect nests everywhere, mud, crappy parts... the list goes on. Within minutes I knew that to create a proper bike I was going to have to tear it to the frame.

That's where I'm at today. I've got the bike stripped, the frame is cleaned, and I just need to decide which direction to go first - i.e. do I make a roller first? do I do the engine first? Do I attack the front end first? - just not sure yet. The metal looks like it'll polish up just fine, and I know I can get the tank cleaned up (even though I hate the F tank), so there's nothing left to do but get to work - I plan on accessing this site a lot for that.

And now... the current pics.

[brandEn]

That tank looks like a late model (77-78) K tank. Your off to a good start though!

[BeSeeingYou]

Yeah someone abused that F by putting a bunch of K bike parts on it.  That is not the F tank which does look better than that K tank and works better for the Cafe look if you are going that way.  You are also missing the seat cowling but the seat looks right and you have a K bike rear fender.  Turn signals are wrong for a stock bike and who knows if that fork is original or off a K bike.  Seems to be a bit of a mongrel.   But it does seem like the good basis for a project.

[bcart82]

How interesting! I was hoping to swap the tank, but was hesitant about taking away an original... Now that I know it's not original, I don't feel bad

The cafe look is the idea. I'd love to lighten it up and get it over the 100mph mark.

Good stuff.

[Terry in Australia]

Well of course, both the F/F1 and K7/8 were the red headed step children of the mighty CB750 family and the least desireable, but at least you've got a good basis for a custom bike. (you wouldn't want to restore one, they were pig ugly out of the box, I bought one new and still regret it..........)

The best parts of the F were the engine and the forks, and the rear disc. Personally, I'd buy a K1-K6 with a clagged engine and transfer those parts across, and build a nice custom K, a much more desireable bike. I restored my F2 and lost a heap of bucks on it, and sold my K2 "Mongrel" last weekend and almost doubled my money. (it only lasted 8 hours on EBay before someone did the "buy it now" thing)

Resale value should never be your primary concern of course, but it's always nice to know that you're not pisssing your money away either. By the way, I love your Ducati Monster, I'm tempted to use the proceeds of my K2 sale to buy a good used S4, I love those DOHC Dukes! Cheers, Terry.  

[bcart82]

Hah! When it comes to projects, I always end up with the red headed step child... The last Honda I did was a CB500T... That's the child that was more likely to be chained to a pipe in the basement.

So the replies here have been great, and it got me thinking... I went out and got the engine number, and looked at the number sheets on the sohc4 home page and I'm puzzled...

The number is CB750E-2512540 and unless I'm having a major blonde moment, I don't see where that number fits into any of the model serial numbers. Anyone know?

And Terry, thanks for the compliment on the monster! That's a 2011 796 - awesome bike, and I highly recommend it

[KB02]

Yeah, I would say you've got a late model K bike, not an F. Not a bad thing, I've been having great fun with my 78K cafe. And there have been several people on this board that have made that style tank look damned sexy to the point that I almost wish I had kept mine instead of peddling it off on ebay (check out Beveldrive's bike in the Bike of the Year thread - July 2011 winner - http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=98000.0). Someone else painted one up in the interceptor colors - I can't remember who, though - and it was just drop dead gorgeous.

Looks like you've got a great project ahead of you. Keep us updated with lots of pics. 

my bike:

[tortelvis]

Hah! When it comes to projects, I always end up with the red headed step child... The last Honda I did was a CB500T... That's the child that was more likely to be chained to a pipe in the basement.

So the replies here have been great, and it got me thinking... I went out and got the engine number, and looked at the number sheets on the sohc4 home page and I'm puzzled...

The number is CB750E-2512540 and unless I'm having a major blonde moment, I don't see where that number fits into any of the model serial numbers. Anyone know?

And Terry, thanks for the compliment on the monster! That's a 2011 796 - awesome bike, and I highly recommend it

That engine number denotes a 1975 CB750F0 according to my Honda ID Guide. CB750E-2500004 and following. A 1976 CB750F engine starts from CB750E-2515094 and following.

[bcart82]

KB02 - thanks for the inspiration. All the research shows that this bike is truly an F, but some bozo put a different tank on it while he was mucking up the bike.

Tortelvis - thank you!! You're the second person to confirm the engine, and both confirmations match. That makes me happy - so glad the PO managed to at least swap the right motor.

The motor work starts today!

[bjatwood]

Good Luck 

[Stev-o]

What motor work are you doing? If it runs, why spend time/money on that first?
I'd get a proper roller and get it operating condition and then go from there..

Good luck!

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Yeah, that's a March '75 CB750F according to the engine serial number and appearance. They only built a few in April before they switched to '76. They stopped at CB750E-1015054 for 75. And don't mind Terry. Anyone that paints a perfectly good K model dayglo lime green can't have proper taste.  He knows the F rules! I do like his F exhaust though. Tank is 77/78 K or A. Headlight stuff is not correct. Bars and turn signals are not stock either. If it's running top notch you can see 100mph in 3rd gear in the redline. 

[bcart82]

Got the motor tidy and buttoned up.