Topic: What exactly is a "restoration"?

[fendersrule]

This answer is going to differ between people.

I feel like I'm cheating when I say that my CB750 is a "restoration" since many people ask about it when I take it out. It's faster to say that then to overburden the listener of what all I did and didn't do, but I don't feel like I'm using the right word. I technically call it more of a refurbishment, though in some minds it's "restored."

So what does a restoration mean to you?

A restoration to me means what the word implies: It's been "restored" to the condition that it was when new, but not necessarily have to be the same exact specifications (I believe you can have different handlebars, paint scheme, etc and still stay "restored" but not "original").

That means the engine must be at full compression. I didn't touch my CB750 engine. That also means that the frame should also be repainted (or powder coated) which I didn't do. Or maybe my bike is truly "restored" but it isn't a "frame off restoration", which is another term.

[Retro Rocket]

Restoration only means one thing, to take it back to how it left the factory..

The process of repairing or renovating a building, work of art, etc., so as to restore it to its original condition.

[Xnavylfr]

As RR said RESTORATION= rebuilt to FACTORY SPECS with ALL part numbers matching OEM parts from HONDA!!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[madmtnmotors]

I believe anything less was summed up best by member Magilla as a "Refreshtoration"

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113511.msg1278252#msg1278252

[BobbyR]

I guess it is somewhat subjective. I tell people mine is a rolling restoration. It looks stock,  4-4 exhausts etc. Where you can't see I am over jetted, electronic ignition and hot coils, roller steering head bearings. I have some new side covers from Frankenbike and I will use repro decals when they are painted. All of these would cause a  "purist" to call it reasonable facsimile I suppose.   

I personally don't give a crap. I broke my ass getting it in shape and improving it.

[BeSeeingYou]

I personally don't give a crap. I broke my ass getting it in shape and improving it.

Exactly! Let the purist complain over nuts and screws as can you ever really restore it to "as it came from the factory"?  Not unless you can make sure all the parts have zero miles on them.  I really don't give a crap about some "show" bike that get's trucked around to bike shows.  They are there to ride and if you don't ride your bike it don't mean sh!t to me no matter how nice it is.  Fresh paint in the right color, everything functioning as it should, new chrome if needed, correct parts as much as possible...that's enough for me to call it a restoration.

It's like arguing over what the meaning of the word is is.

[fendersrule]

Good comments.

See, I don't necessarily agree with the has to be 100% original parts. Reason being, what if one went to the far superior bronze swing arm bushings? It isn't stock (but better). I'd still say they had a restoration.

I also agree that it doesn't matter. But it's an interesting topic.

[madmtnmotors]

I personally don't give a crap. I broke my ass getting it in shape and improving it.

Exactly! Let the purist complain over nuts and screws as can you ever really restore it to "as it came from the factory"?  Not unless you can make sure all the parts have zero miles on them.  I really don't give a crap about some "show" bike that get's trucked around to bike shows.  They are there to ride and if you don't ride your bike it don't mean sh!t to me no matter how nice it is.  Fresh paint in the right color, everything functioning as it should, new chrome if needed, correct parts as much as possible...that's enough for me to call it a restoration.

It's like arguing over what the meaning of the word is is.

I tend to lean towards the looser interpretation as well. To restore the intended functionality of each component is typically my primary goal, and if I can improve on the original component with newer, longer lasting, stronger materials then so much the better.

To restore it to "as it came from the factory" would have to include the epithelials from the factory workers that assembled it!

[Xnavylfr]

Any changes made will only IMPROVE what was built in the 70s..

Like one of our X Presidents said" Depends on your definition of SEX"

It's still the same but a little different???


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[DH]

IMHO, you can never "restore" anything completely, only to a certain degree.
Too many variables. Correctness, functionality, and cleanliness will get ya close tho..Wonder how many sandcasts have original air from '69 in the o.e. tires?

[Retro Rocket]

IMHO, you can never "restore" anything completely, only to a certain degree.
Too many variables. Correctness, functionality, and cleanliness will get ya close tho..Wonder how many sandcasts have original air from '69 in the o.e. tires?

Air fuel and oil aren't part of the bike, that wasn't the best example i've seen....

[bikerbart]

Doesnt Vic World restore the sandcasts he builds correctly with all OEM parts?? Then again we all know how much he gets for those , what 25K + ??

[DH]

IMHO, you can never "restore" anything completely, only to a certain degree.
Too many variables. Correctness, functionality, and cleanliness will get ya close tho..Wonder how many sandcasts have original air from '69 in the o.e. tires?

Air fuel and oil aren't part of the bike, that wasn't the best example i've seen....

         just bein' fecetious. I'm guilty of overusing the word restoration too. Refurbished is
probably a better word. Brought back to a similar condition the bike was in
at some point earlier in it's life, the closer to new the better.

[Retro Rocket]

IMHO, you can never "restore" anything completely, only to a certain degree.
Too many variables. Correctness, functionality, and cleanliness will get ya close tho..Wonder how many sandcasts have original air from '69 in the o.e. tires?

Air fuel and oil aren't part of the bike, that wasn't the best example i've seen....

         just bein' fecetious. I'm guilty of overusing the word restoration too. Refurbished is
probably a better word. Brought back to a similar condition the bike was in
at some point earlier in it's life, the closer to new the better.

Understood....

[fendersrule]

Unlike the Swingarm bushings, another example is Hagon shocks. I typically have put those on all of my "restorations" or "refurbishments". They are much better than Honda shocks.

I think you can still call it a restoration if there are a few "upgraded" parts, and even maybe some slight customization. When it's 100% original, I've seen "100% original Restoration"

I prefer restoration to mean condition, not exactness. Everything has been brought to new condition for restoration IMO not necessarily 100% new parts. But yea, it's a pretty loose word.

[Retro Rocket]

Fenders ,  When I comment on my semi restored bikes, I have had over 40 bikes over nearly 35 years, {and i'm no expert at all}, you've had 2? and only recently so it would please me {and others} if you would stop trying to make yourself sound like some all knowing expert. Its nice you have an opinion of what you consider a restoration to be, but a quick look at a dictionary or a talk to someone that actually does restorations would clear it up in a minute. When i was working for a bike shop in Sydney  in the 1980's, my boss {who was Japanese}used to buy up 750 Honda's, "restore" them {to factory original specs} then crate them up and sell them for good money back to Japan, that was the only way they would buy them at the time, they had to be restorations, not resto mods or partial restorations like you refer too. You "preferring" a restoration to mean something else means exactly nothing, its like trying to say that you prefer calling a mountain a plain or a river... 
 Now Mr expert, maybe you should go and put your swingarm on the right way as you have put it on upside down....

[mick7504]

Fenders ,  When I comment on my semi restored bikes, I have had over 40 bikes over nearly 35 years, {and i'm no expert at all}, you've had 2? and only recently so it would please me {and others} if you would stop trying to make yourself sound like some all knowing expert. Its nice you have an opinion of what you consider a restoration to be, but a quick look at a dictionary or a talk to someone that actually does restorations would clear it up in a minute. When i was working for a bike shop in Sydney  in the 1980's, my boss {who was Japanese}used to buy up 750 Honda's, "restore" them {to factory original specs} then crate them up and sell them for good money back to Japan, that was the only way they would buy them at the time, they had to be restorations, not resto mods or partial restorations like you refer too. You "preferring" a restoration to mean something else means exactly nothing, its like trying to say that you prefer calling a mountain a plain or a river... 
 Now Mr expert, maybe you should go and put your swingarm on the right way as you have put it on upside down....

Not the old upside down swing arm trick again.
Geez that chain guards a bastard to get on when that happens.
It's enough to piss ya off. 
It doesn't impress ya. 

[Xnavylfr]

Doesnt Vic World restore the sandcasts he builds correctly with all OEM parts?? Then again we all know how much he gets for those , what 25K + ??

I would even doubt his is 100% OEM because some Sandcast parts are = Unobtainium!!

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[pangloss]

epithelials....!!      ...zing..! What was that went overhead 

[BobbyR]

I am 100% Original Parts and I wish i had some new ones. 

[bikerbart]

Me Too. How about some organ stealing. I heard they do that in certain 3rd world countries.

[Retro Rocket]

I have some new parts Bobby, the rebuild was pretty bloody rough though...

[BobbyR]

I have some new parts Bobby, the rebuild was pretty bloody rough though...

Thanks for the advice, I guess I will keep what i have working!