NO mechanical knowledge!

[Classic Love]

As my only form of transportation, I'm very lucky! No problems. BUT....I need to replace my original turn signals (left side) - can anyone tell me the best / least expensive site to order them from? Also, I desperately need some high quality, expandable saddlebags....where's the best place to purchase those? Finally, I'd like to keep the bike as original as possible, but I'm ready to paint the tank & a few other small worn parts.....what's the best paint to use and again, where do I get it? Thankfully, I'll have experienced help wit the painting. Also, feel free to explain to me (like I'm 5) how to find info & tips on my particular bike. It HAS to be easier than what I'm NOT doing! HELP!

[LukeM]

Hello, and welcome.

Since you're admitting that you have little or no mechanical ability, but still want to work on your bike, I'd recommend staying good friends with your bike mechanic.  Perhaps you can work with him/her on the bits and pieces, and support his/her mechanic job with a little moolah. This way you get to learn stuff about your bike, and as you get more familiar with how things work, you can take on bigger projects for your bike.

As far as buying stuff, there are many places:  EBay, bikebandit, vintage750, or if you have one around you, a motorcycle junkyard.  Here in Columbus we have Iron Pony, which does a lot of mail order as well.

Painting the tank can be a fun project or an ordeal, depending on how you want to tackle it.  If you're going to take the paint off, that would be the time to pop out any dents or dings in the metal.  Prep work on the tank takes the longest time, but pays the best benefits when it's all done. Also, if the inside of the tank is rusty at all, you can take it to a radiator shop to get it boiled out, and then get some sort of tank sealer (POR-15 or Kreem) to keep the rust away.

Feel free to reach out on our little forum here.  Remember the SEARCH bar at our home page is your best friend.  I think over the years we've touched on just about every portion or part on a CB750, so chances are it's already been discussed.

Luke M

[Classic Love]

Thanks Luke!

I am friends with my mechanic, but he stays pretty busy, I try not to bother too much AND I have limited $$. 

My boyfriend helps a lot, but travels all the time. This is my "Baby," I'm fairly handy & learn fast. Just need a way to find info fast. I've spent HOURS on the forum....just can't seem to find the basic info I need on OEM parts (original) & ordered saddlebags that I had to send back, Bcuz they were too big!

I painted my old scooter (so I could buy this bike) and it turned out great! Just cant find what the best paint for the '81 CB750F would be. Or the cheapest place to buy  turn signals!

Many thanks, Erika

On Apr 26, 2013, at 8:37 AM, "LukeM [via Honda CB750'S]" <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hello, and welcome.

Since you're admitting that you have little or no mechanical ability, but still want to work on your bike, I'd recommend staying good friends with your bike mechanic.  Perhaps you can work with him/her on the bits and pieces, and support his/her mechanic job with a little moolah. This way you get to learn stuff about your bike, and as you get more familiar with how things work, you can take on bigger projects for your bike.

As far as buying stuff, there are many places:  EBay, bikebandit, vintage750, or if you have one around you, a motorcycle junkyard.  Here in Columbus we have Iron Pony, which does a lot of mail order as well.

Painting the tank can be a fun project or an ordeal, depending on how you want to tackle it.  If you're going to take the paint off, that would be the time to pop out any dents or dings in the metal.  Prep work on the tank takes the longest time, but pays the best benefits when it's all done. Also, if the inside of the tank is rusty at all, you can take it to a radiator shop to get it boiled out, and then get some sort of tank sealer (POR-15 or Kreem) to keep the rust away.

Feel free to reach out on our little forum here.  Remember the SEARCH bar at our home page is your best friend.  I think over the years we've touched on just about every portion or part on a CB750, so chances are it's already been discussed.

Luke M

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NAML

[TOOLS1]

When I paint my bikes I use Acrylic Enamel. It has a great shine, will hold up to gas, is really tough, but if it does get scraped/dull it can be buffed out. Also there are auto paint supply places that can mix any color, and put it into a spray can.
For the bags check out JC Whitney, cycle gear, motorcycle superstore, or look around at local motorcycle shops.
Turn signals will be a little harder if you want to stay stock. You can check with a Honda dealer, e-bay, or post in the parts wanted/for sale area here.
TOOLS  

[sgtslag]

I found replacement turn signals for my '79 750K on e-Bay several years ago, for a reasonable price.  They were new, knock-off's, but they looked/mounted/worked like OEM.

For affordable saddlebags, go with plastic (sounds bad, I know, but they won't rot, they won't cost a fortune, and they wear like iron; they also look like leather, without the vulnerabilities/maintenance issues).  I ordered a set off of Willie & Max:  great quality, but at a higher price.  I would suggest checking into LeatherUp.com:  they sell genuine leather, as well as vinyl(?) bags, all shapes and sizes; stay away from metal conches, as they will rust over time.  I've ordered riding jackets from LeatherUp, with great results (my older, $80 cordura armored jacket saved my son's arm in a low-side, at 40 MPH -- sleeve elbow armor was ground way down, but his arm never had a scratch, no ER visit needed), and very affordable prices.

Make sure to download the Factory Service Manual (FSM) from the home page.  That is a lifesaver.  Cheers!

[Lucky 1]

You have the most powerful tool in the world at your disposal. Your computer.

You have many choices on the turn signals.

[barelycompetent]

Are your turn signals the round ones of the rectangular ones?  I have a complete set of rectangular ones, both sides that I took off my bike when I cafe'd it, that I can let you have for a very reasonable price.  I have both sides and front and back, and they are in great shape.  Let me know.

[Classic Love]

They ARE the rectangular ones! And I was planning on trying to replace all of them (even though just the 2 left side broke) so it would look more uniform. I'm just starting to look for replacements this morning, so let me know what you want for them!

Thank you very much!!!

Erika

On Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 7:59 PM, barelycompetent [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]> wrote:

Are your turn signals the round ones of the rectangular ones?  I have a complete set of rectangular ones, both sides that I took off my bike when I cafe'd it, that I can let you have for a very reasonable price.  I have both sides and front and back, and they are in great shape.  Let me know.

I know enough to get me in trouble.

1981 CB750K, current project (code name Winter Blues)

2009 USA Choppers Bad Boy, rigid frame custom chopper.

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NAML

[Classic Love]

You are so right!!!! Unfortunately, I have a severe lack of TIME!

Thank you. I'll keep plugging along!

On Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 2:15 PM, Lucky 1 [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]> wrote:

You have the most powerful too in the world at your disposal. Your computer.

You have many choices on the turn signals.

Working on a CB750 Digger named Rover

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NAML

[barelycompetent]

I will take a picture of them and send you an email so you can make sure they are what you need.

[Re-run]

For my 78, I got a signal off of partsnmore.com. I cant tell it from the originals. It was cheap too. Something like $12 or so. looks like for your bike, if the lights match, about $18 and you have a choice of either 2 or 3 wire but get whatever your bike has, these will plug right in usually.