Hi all!

[DocHoliday]

Hi all,
I'm from central Pennsylvania, in the U.S., and I recently lucked out and picked up a 1980 CB750 Custom for next to nothing.
It's in amazing shape (the chrome & forks look new) & it rides great.
I'm planning to café it and look forward to reading past posts to find advice.

[TOOLS1]

Welcome. My advice would be to find a bike in rougher shape to cafe. That bike is way too nice, and nice ones are getting hard to find.
TOOLS

[free2ride]

agree with Tools, that's a nice looking bike as it is.

[DocHoliday]

It is really in nice shape & because of that I considered finding one in bad shape to café but doubt I'll find one, even a rough one, for what I paid for this one..... ($600)
I may just restore this one (new bars, seat, seals, mirrors, etc...) and keep it but I'd still like to find a nice old CB to café.

[TOOLS1]

That sounds like a good plan to me. There are still a lot of CB 750s out there, and most are in rough shape, you should not have any problem finding one. You might even find a SOHC bike, which is the preferred base for a classic cafe bike. You might want to check out Shinys "Waterbuffalo build" thread. He built a really nice SOHC cafe bike. Where are you located? Someone might be able to help you locate a CB 750 that would be perfect for your cafe project.
TOOLS

[DocHoliday]

Central Pa. How hard is it to find parts for the older CB's?

[TOOLS1]

You can just about build an entire SOHC bike from aftermarket parts. DOHC bikes are a different story though. Check out the parts supplier thread at the top of the home page here.
TOOLS

[Truck]

You can build one of these bikes from scratch (SOHC or DOHC) from Ebay.

[DocHoliday]

Yes but it'd cost an arm and a leg. Right now I have a very nice bike that doesn't actually need anything.... a blank canvas so-to-speak.
If I go with an older bike in rougher shape I'll end up having to replace parts which wouldn't be an issue with the bike I have now.
Decisions decisions......

[Truck]

Depends on your time frame. I got my 900 for $700. The only thing wrong was a charging problem. a new stator, a can of contact cleaner and some elbow grease and she runs great. You have a nice bike to ride until you find the right one to cut up. But it is your bike and I look forward to what you go with either way.

Good luck!

[DocHoliday]

Thanks. My daily rider is an '06 Triumph Bonneville and the reason I bought this CB is because I know if I don't café something soon I'll tear my Bonnie apart lol
I can't afford to replace the Triumph so I thought this CB would be a good project.
right now the carbs are off her and I'm planning on rust proofing the tank

[Truck]

Nice, if I had the money for a new bike it would be a Triumph America or Speedmaster.

[DocHoliday]

Thanks, I picked this one up for $1200
It's a single owner, garage kept, "Black" edition with 10k on it.
I can't wait to get it back on the road.

[TOOLS1]

I would chop/cafe that Triumph way before that CB 750.
TOOLS

[DocHoliday]

I can replace the CB much more easily than the Bonneville.

[TOOLS1]

I seriously doubt that. 45 year old CB 750s in that good of shape are really hard to find, and are becoming collectors items. As for that late model Triumph, I can't throw a rock around here without hitting at least two of them. And one of them will have clipons or clubmans on it.
TOOLS

[DocHoliday]

Every modern Triumph I've seen for sale around here in central Pa has gone for at least $3200 and those aren't Bonnevilles.
I see CB's being sold for around $1200-$1600.
I admit though that I am in an area that doesn't have a lot of non HD bike riders.
65% of the population in this town are college kids who ride crotch rockets or store bought café's.

[DocHoliday]

Tools, On one hand I know exactly what you mean when you say that the CB I have is in too good of shape to café, I recognize that is in exceptional condition.
On the other hand, I want to build a café racer and have been looking for one for the past several months.
Today I saw an ad for a '74 CB750 for $750 and I think I may buy it. (I really would prefer a SOHC model rather than a DOHC)
So here's my question; if I decide to sell the 1980 CB to fund whatever bike I buy as a project is it worth doing any restorations to first? It (the 1980) has after market grips and a few other minor cosmetic issues but I don't know if "the squeeze is worth the juice". Ya know what I mean?
Also, I'm sure you can appreciate how badly I would like to simply keep the '80 but I don't know if I can rationalize keeping it AND the Triumph AND any future project bike I might get.
*** When I say "I don't know if I can rationalize it" I mean I don't know if I can make my wife appreciate my desire to keep them lol

[TOOLS1]

LOL. I have been told that wives approval is sometimes needed before men can do certain manly activity's. On the CB, the small things like the grips are no big deal. Original replacement parts like that are pretty cheap. However small parts like grips and mirrors will not really affect the value of the bike. It is the hard to find parts like the exhaust, side covers, headlight brackets/fork ears, condition of the paint, and if anything on the bike has been butchered, especially the wiring. Another thing that is great to have with an old bike is the tool kit. I get really excited myself when I find an old bike that still has the tool kit, or the owners manual under the seat. Another thing to think about is that the aftermarket does not have the support for the DOHC bikes like they do the SOHC bikes. You will not find original or reproduction parts like exhaust, seat covers, or wiring harnesses for the  DOHC like you can the SOHC bikes.
A 1974 K-4 for $750.00 I would definitely be checking that out.
TOOLS    

[DocHoliday]

Thanks for the input. I offered the guy $550 for the '74 and he said he'd take it.
I'm waiting to hear back from another lead on one but it's farther away, in Pittsburgh, so unless it's an exceptional deal I doubt I'll get it. Although, he described himself in an email as an "extremely motivated seller" so it's worth looking into.