1978 CB750K VS. 1979 CB750K.

[patches]

Greetings, all. I am going to look at a '78 and a '79 today for my first bike, and was wondering what you guys think? Do i want the SOHC in it's last year (with all the kinks worked out) or the first eyar of the DOHC (potential kinks)? Both bikes are advertised as bieng in strong running condition. The '78 needs some more cosmetic work, but the price difference reflects that.

[seestheday]

What do you want to do with it?  If you want to make a cafe racer and/or run pods then SOHC seems to be the way to go.

I have a DOHC and I actually think I prefer it based on the types of questions I see a lot of here.

[TOOLS1]

I would definitely go with a SOHC before any DOHC. However just to clarify things. There never were any kinks in the SOHC design.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

I am somewhat biased as I have a 78. But the sohc has a greater availability of parts I feel as you can draw from 69-78 for almost anything. Plus the the number of mods to you can do to the engine if you so desire.
Not to say the dohc is bad by any means. Look at them and sit on them and see which fits better.

[sgtslag]

With regards to "kinks", the '79 had none that I know of (I think it had maybe two factory recalls, and they likely have been taken care of by now).  My wife and I rode, two up, around Lake Superior, on our '79, back in 2009...  The bike was 30 years old, and we had it loaded down with two full saddlebags, a full trunk, and a full tank bag, with a Vetter fairing.  It was just the two of us, no one else riding with us, 1,935 miles total, in nine days.  No problems, whatsoever, other than the throttle grip coming off, in Thunder Bay, Ontario (fresh glue, from a Harley shop, and 20 minutes wait, and we were on our way).  Even though it was the first year of the DOHC, it was, and still is, a rock-solid engine.

If the '79 was well maintained, it is a reliable bike and engine.  The '79 had the classic, tear-drop design, great colors, beautiful lines.  It is, IMO, the epitome of the tear-drop design.  My two-cents-worth.  Cheers!

[shinyribs]

I love my SOHC. If I were to buy a bike and not plan to work on it or modify anything I might buy a DOHC. They have a fair amount more power. But the SOHC's are extremely easy to work on compared to a DOHC. Not that either of them is terribly complicated. The biggest difference between the two are the carbs and the valvetrain. The SOHC carbs are SUPER easy to clean and tune,but the DOHC's are very doable as well,just a bit more complicated. Adjusting valves on a SOHC requires you only remove the rocker adjustment covers and adjust a set screw. The DOHC's require quite a bit more. Use the search bar here and look for DOHC valve adjustment/adjusting...something along those lines.You will see what I mean.

As far as looks goes,I think the SOHC's have a nice classic look to them,whereas the DOHC's are much more modern looking. It is really just personal choice there.

I really dont think you can wrong with either! They are both great machines!...but Ill never leave my SOHC's!