Topic: New Project-Maybe-Hope So-Fingers Crossed-To be Continued Hopefully

[britman]

I spent the day getting the garage ready for a potential new project.  I am not going say anything further until I pull into my driveway next week with it in the back of my truck.  It will involve a long drive, waiting for folks to be cleared from Covid 19 quarantine, and a very very pissed off Wife.  The way 2020 has gone so far, I am scared to death the deal won't happen, so I am doing my best not to jinx anything.  Found a place to park the small herd so I can have room for the "Horrible Freight" lift. Anybody here old enough (besides me) to remember Tennessee Ernie Ford's saying at the end of each show, "See you next week if the good Lord is willing, and the creek don't rise."




 

[goodtryer]

Never knew where it came from but I use that saying all the time. 

[rocket johnny]

with some time ,,,   wife will get over it 

[scunny]

What have you got in the garage ?
750 chop
Honda twin
Guzzi
Duc Diavel ?

[britman]

What have you got in the garage ?
750 chop
Honda twin
Guzzi
Duc Diavel ?

750 Chopper   
65 CL77 305 Scrambler
2014 Moto Guzzi California Touring
2005 Triumph Rocket 3
Keepers one and all for different reasons......

[MauiK3]

Make peace with your wife, very important

[britman]

Make peace with your wife, very important

We have been married 34 years today.  It is the second time around for both of us so we both learned a lot from the first one, it also shows how "Long in the Tooth" we both are since by coincidence both of our first marriages lasted 16 years.  She is my best friend and knows there are certain things that will never change in both of us, that is why it has been 34 years.  She may never comprehend why I would drive 500 miles one way to pick a piece of rusted two wheel metal, nor will I ever understand how she can pay so much money for a piece of old furniture with a mouse hole and bird droppings that is a labeled a "Primitive". We are fat, happy, secure, and will celebrate this evening, all is good........

[britman]

Pull out at 4:30am to pick up a project.  Total trip going and coming is 900 miles.  Going to try and do a a turn and burn and be back home in one day.  I truly enjoy the excitement of picking up a new bike regardless of condition and circumstances.  Nice to have a little joy in this lovely year of 2020.  Will post some shots if all goes as planned...... 

[Alan F.]

Can't wait to hear what adventure you're off on.
Best of luck!

[Don R]

 Good luck and be safe!

[Kelly E]

  I truly enjoy the excitement of picking up a new bike regardless of condition and circumstances. 

I feel the same way every time we get another bike.

[britman]

906.7 miles in one day.  Got in about an hour ago.  One owner since new 1974 Honda CB750.  Of course it is rougher than expected, more shots and information to come.  Right now bed, I am unloading in the morning, and yes my old also one owner digital camera doesn't like the dark.

[HondaMan]

Most excellent!
It's a keeper, i can tell even in the dark photo. contact me if you need parts, I probably have some.

[newday777]

Congrats on the successful trip.

[britman]

My first question is "How in the hell do those Iron Butt" riders do a thousand miles in one day on a motorcycle?"  I certainly have renewed respect for them. After unloading and doing a quick assessment, I am satisfied but not jumping over moon, with my purchase.  It is a 1974 with a shade under 17 K on the clock, and yes it has had the same owner since being bought new.  Of course it has spent the last 15 years or so living in a conex shipping container and shows all of the signs of a bike sitting for too long.  I found the bike on FB Marketplace and the seller and I communicated for quite awhile over price, but he held out and I relented, probably paying too much for the bike in the long run, but dammit it is a one owner machine.  I drove to TN. to pick the bike up and had to wait for the seller to come out of Coivd quarantine procedures to complete the purchase.  Needless to say I was overly careful during loading and even used some hand sanitizer in my beard leaving his driveway.   

Now for the good, the bike is very complete.  All lights, horn, and goodies function when temporarily hooked up to a battery, and it does turn over nicely.  The motor seems to have decent compression, hard to tell by kicking on a 750, so I will put a gauge on it after I pull the carbs, which believe or not are free. The clutch is also free and smooth and bike goes through all of the gears easily. The bike has a clear title from 1974 and the inside of the tank looks good, although Kreem has been applied, I really hate that product.

The bad, PO had the bike repainted blue, from the OEM green years ago and it probably looked good back then, but not so much now. The rear wheel is toast, a couple of broken spokes and it looks like an attempt was made to repair them by loosening the remainder.  Since re-spoking a wheel has always seemed like some type of Voodoo magic to me I will probably look for a good used wheel.  Seat and mufflers are not original, and yes I checked to see if he kept them rusted or not, no such luck. The front caliber will have to be replaced.  It apparently froze, repair method, drill a hole in the back side to relieve pressure and repair with a washer, screw, and piece of inner tube.   

Well I have a project and will throw some shots up as I progress. I have given it a bath and that really didn't help a great deal.  I will have to say that apparently the price of vintage Japanese motorcycles is on the rise, finding project bikes at a decent price is almost impossible now days, probably another thing that I enjoy impacted by Covid 19.  A lot of folks are still at home looking for something to keep them busy. 

Here are some shots, feel free to comment, offer condolences or congratulations, at my age you can't hurt my feelings anymore......

[Shtonecb500]

love the color, thats going to be a nicer rider.

[newday777]

That cleaned up pretty good. Too bad it was creamed....

[754]

I would get  a seat on it  that you can live with and ride it for a while.
 They  had to be looking at a Kawi  LTD seat when they made that..
 We can help you fix the rear wheel, not a huge problem.. we can walk you thru it..
 The caller that US very strange, all they had to do is put a 2x4 against it and he it it with a hammer.
 To fix it , just for giggles drill and tap for pipe thread , intall a aluminum or brass plug, tigjten it up , then grind off flush..

[Stev-o]

Nice story, congrats on the purchase.

I may have a nice seat but you prolly have other priorities.

A leak down test will give you better info on that engine that a comp test.

Good Luck!

[britman]

Nice story, congrats on the purchase.

I may have a nice seat but you prolly have other priorities.

A leak down test will give you better info on that engine that a comp test.

Good Luck!

Thank You, will shoot you a PM on the seat....

[wolf550]

Looks good!
Im about to get a set of those 2into1 exhaust pipes for my 550 from Bobcovintage on Ebay.

[MauiK3]

Ahh the twisted square stock highway pegs, I remember the days.
Also, the backwards wing on the side cover.
You've got a nice project bike there, I'm envious
Keep us posted
I, too may have a good condition K3 seat, I put a 20mm lowered Yamiya seat on mine, I think I'm getting shorter!!
Scary repair to the caliper.

[rb550four]

  Nice find.  I have noticed the prices climbing for the past 2 years, It used to be allot easier on the wallet to come home with a project .
   I kinda like a seat like that... my wife never rode much  , and doesn't do well on a factory Honda seat. Every time I downshift or stop she slides forward on the seat making any ride so much less than pleasurable. That seat design would keep the passenger firmly in place during a stop , both saving the family jewels and making for a more pleasurable ride. Now, if I could only get her to lean into the turns instead of the opposite direction.
  So , I'm only guessing that you'll bring it back to stock since you already have the chopper? That chopper looks interesting from what I can see of the back end of it, can we get a couple pics of that too please.

[Johnie]

Enjoyed your story. Great find...best of luck with the project!

[britman]

  Nice find.  I have noticed the prices climbing for the past 2 years, It used to be allot easier on the wallet to come home with a project .
   I kinda like a seat like that... my wife never rode much  , and doesn't do well on a factory Honda seat. Every time I downshift or stop she slides forward on the seat making any ride so much less than pleasurable. That seat design would keep the passenger firmly in place during a stop , both saving the family jewels and making for a more pleasurable ride. Now, if I could only get her to lean into the turns instead of the opposite direction.
  So , I'm only guessing that you'll bring it back to stock since you already have the chopper? That chopper looks interesting from what I can see of the back end of it, can we get a couple pics of that too please.

There are a couple shots of the chopper on my various threads concerning its arrival.  I took it out yesterday since it hit the upper 60's here.  Hell of a lot of fun for about 10 miles, then the back says enough.  I going to keep it though, I just like the look of the impractical beast.

Currently the tall back rest, twisted highway pegs, are laying in a pile on the garage floor.  Nice catch on the reversed Honda Wing side over badge, I had not noticed but was looking for some K4 repoductions since both are missing on the oil bag side.  Saves me ordering the wrong one since I can reverse it.  I did check spark today with an auxiliary battery, good and strong, at least there is some good news.

 I did also find out today the original title is missing one number from the actual gooseneck vin.  I found the last registration card from the PO under the seat and it also matched the title so it must have been an error from TN. DMV in 1974. If it has lived that way for 46 years down there, it is going the same way in Virginia.  Of course I will maintain a copy of the original title when I transfer it. I just quickly glanced it the numbers before loading the bike, so it is on me.  Still on fence about a good buy or not, but at least I have a project before the snow flies, just under the wire since they are calling for it here in a couple days....