Topic: 1976 CB750 Project Creamy Classic

[cptnCanada]

Hello All,

I have been a long time lurker, I have been learning a lot watching everyone elses projects and reading all the posts here at SOHC4.net.  This is such a great place and below is proof it is all you need to bring a piece of turd old crapper destined for the junk heap back to a decent classic bike.

A bit of history on my bike.  I got it last July (09) as basically a rolling chassis and a couple boxes of parts.  The bike had not been run in years and the previous owner started tearing it down years ago because it had a stuck ring.  Good thing for me, he was a Honda tech at a local Honda dealership so the bike came with a ton of NOS stuff waiting to get put on.  Pretty much everything was there sans a few small bits and pieces.

This is what she looked like when I pulled it home.  $500.  I think the price was reasonable considering there was at least that in NOS parts.







A little bit of sexy time

[cptnCanada]

I have always liked the look of these old CBs, but once I got looking online of the possibiities for the resto, I decided that I had to do a cafe racer.  It is amazing how much a project with morph once you get going, because the final bike is not so much a cafe, more so a stockish shape with clubmans.  

First order of business was to tear what ever was left on the frame off so I could re-paint the frame.  I used chemical stripper to remove the paint and an angle grinder & dremel to wire brush all the rust off.  I ended up going with a metallic silver paint with clearcoat for the frame.





The engine was actually quite easy to work on I found.  I had the valves re-ground and other than that she only received a new gasket set, rings, a honing, and some hi temp paint.  

[cptnCanada]

I also buffed up the shiney bits on the engine using a bench grinder with a buffing wheel.  First I sanded them down with 320 grit -> 600 -> 800 grit, then hit them with the buffing wheel.  I think they turned out pretty nicely. I suggest enyone to do their own buffing as it is super easy if you are patient, and the results are worth it.

Here is the sproket cover in original shape


Here it is after the sandpaper


Here it is after the buffing wheel, the camera doesnt give it justice.

[cptnCanada]

Next was engine installation.  Easy breezy with the bike on its side.  I also painted the lower forks and fork ears gloss black as by this point in the build I decided I would make the bike look retro, kind of like an old Triumph or Norton.

[cptnCanada]

Next up I needed to deal with the shoddy wheels that were on this thing.  The spokes were completely rusty and tires were from the mid 80's.  I decided to go with Gloss Black for the rims and plated spokes.  I would have loved to use the stainless spokes, however the budget didnt really allow for that.  I also used paint instead of powdercoat on the rims to save money.  We'll see how it holds up.  Tires are stock size Bridestone spits.  The rotor also got the drill treatment.





I ended up still going with the cafe clubmans, in gloss black.

[cptnCanada]

Next, it was time to paint the tank, side covers, fenders and other small bits.  I fell in love with the scallops gearhead57 did on his 750, so I kinda mimicked his paint job a bit and went with a gloss black and cream paint scheme, with copper accents.  I think this was the hardest part of the build, anyone who has painted their own will tell you its all in the prep.

Here it is all done.  I had a local upholstry shop do the seat, as I cant sew worth a darn.  I would have never thought that the bike would have ended up looking like this when it was done, but Im happy with how it turned out.

Couldnt have done it without sohc4.net

Thanks y'all!!!

[CBJoe]

Welcome.... Looks good.

I'm definitely digging the tank and covers... Coloring has a Triumph feel to it..... Seat looks pretty comfy 

Cheers, Joe

[ratty750]

Very nice bike. I'm into it.

[hondaface75]

Great work. Love the the whole thing. Just thinking, maybe decals?

[cptnCanada]

Thanks guys!

Hondaface, I agree.  I have a set of little round black and silver Honda Wing decals, kind of like the Black Bomber.   I think I may put them on the tank between the two stripes, or on the sidecovers.

That points cover is one of those plastic ones Frankenbike made.  I love it!  Build quality is second to none and it goes with the whole bike.

[KB02]

Sweet looking ride, buddy. Well done.

[SohRon]

Wow! I am impressed! Very nice work...  I love the retro look! Welcome to the club

[kap384@telus.net]

Like it!  Always nice to see another Canadian bike.

[traveler]

Welcome, and congrats on the GREAT bike build!

You, Sir, have saved yet another bike, and put back on the road one of "ours".

Your bike has a distinctly "english" look about it....I think it is the fenders....but the front disc gives it away.

VERY nice bike....tell us, how does she ride?  Power, etc.?

~Joe

[cptnCanada]

Thanks guys for the wonderful comments.  It means a lot, especially when I see some of the amazing iron you folks are building.

From what I can tell, the bike I got was/is a 76, but it also has some older 750 parts i think.  The guages on the bike are green faced and read 13000 Miles.  Im not sure if the 76's have the green guages or blue as it also came with a set of blue faced guages that read somewhere like 22000 Miles.  Hoping the green ones are the originals as 12K miles is pretty sweet!

This was my first true build, and to tell you the truth I have never even ridden on anything remotely similar to a CB before I bought this.  My last bike was a KLR250 enduro!

I must say I am impressed!  These bikes are a riot to ride around on.  It handles a lot better than I ever imagined considering it clocks in at 500 lbs.  Not to bad for a 40 yr old design.

I pretty much have the bike set-up the way I want it.  I am using 135 Main jets, however I think I may have went a little to big.  When I punch the throttle from around 4K RPM it will bog a bit until it gets to 6K and the its lightspeed ahead.  Also, any suggestions on needle clip positions would be great.  Im using pods and a MAC 4 into 1.

On another note...who can stand the turn signal buzzer!  Waiting a a light for over a few mintes makes me want to throw that thing under a MAC truck!  Damn its loud