Hello everybody
I am new to this CB750 group, but I have been around 60 + years and riding on and off for 47 years.
I live on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with the little woman, dog and six bikes and a CB750 as of last
Saturday.
Here is the story (a little long but), I have restored three bike with the fourth on the lift now. The
first was a 1975 Honda GL1000 which I ride all the time, next was a 1966 Honda CA 110 for show only,
then came the 1973 CB 175 which I ride all the time also, on the lift is a 1972 Suzuki GT 750 which I hope will be done this summer. My next project will be the 1978 Honda CB750.
I was lucky to see an auction add in a local periodical selling a 1978 Honda CB 750 with 1500 miles and
that the sale was schedule for this past Saturday, knowing I had to work (I’m a motorcycle Safety Instructor for MSF & Maryland's Motor Vehicle Admin.) I called the Auctioneer at 7:00 am Saturday
morning and asked a couple of questions about the bike. I could tell he did not know much about motorcycles, so I asked if I could bid over the phone he said yes. Well we (his son and I) connected at approximately 12:00 on the phone and the bidding started I think somewhere around $ 200.00.
Oh, Oh, Oh, I forgot to mention that the mileage was confirmed by the auctioneer on the phone when I spoke with him that morning and he further explained that the bike had not been run since 1978 and has been sitting in the owner's garage since then. The story told to me was that a young man bought the bike because he had been diagnosed with leukemia and wanted to ride a motorcycle to Florida. ( " Then came Bronson " & " Easy Rider " where still on the minds of many young men at the time ) .
He convinced his parents to let him buy the bike and take the ride.
I was told he bought the bike in May of 1978 on a Friday and left for Florida on Saturday, he rode to the Florida state line turned around and came home parked the bike in the garage where it has been sitting ever since. I'm told the young man died later that same year.
Now, I asked while on the phone early that morning if there was a title, the auctioneer said " Yes, clear and in my hand " and then he said something that was music to my ears and the best news I had heard in the last month. With a disappointed low tone voice, the auctioneer said I am sorry to say the motorcycle keys can NOT be found. My silent reply was YES, YES, YES, YAHOO, HURRA, THANK YOU, once I regained control of myself, I said your kidding aren’t you ???
Back to the 12 o'clock auction and me on the phone with the auctioneer's son; I asked the boy a few questions about the bike such as, what color it was, what kind of damage it had if any and what over all condition it was in ??? The boy paused for a second or two and then said “ I don’t know much about motorcycles but it looks okay to me and then he asked " have you seen this bike " ??? My reply was " no not yet " !!!! I was quick to bid after the opening bid, I think I was in at $ 250.00, but I wasn’t sure ( I don't hear very well and on the phone with the background noise consisting of the auctioneer, the people at the auction, the son chewing tobacco and spitting, the phone static and eleven motorcycles riding an exercise 20 feet away I knew I was just along for the ride .
I, like many people, got caught up in the excitement of the moment and I kept asking the son “AM I IN” and then I'd bid again and then I heard what I though was another bid and I'd ask " AM I IN, AM I IN " ??? and I would bid again. " AM I IN, AM I IN " ??? there was never a reply from the boy . So, I shut my big mouth and stayed on the phone because I wanted to know what the bike sold for.
The last auction I attended where a 1978 CB750 was sold went for $ 850.00 and all the carburetors on it had gray paint peeling off them. *&^%$@#.
I heard the auctioneer holler " SOLD " and the boy on the other end of the phone said “ congratulations you just bought a motorcycle. I then asked “ What price did I pay for it “ ??? He said " $ 525.00 , hold on for my mother, she'll get your name and stuff ".
And, now the rest of the story. After the motorcycle training class that afternoon I drove 2 hours to look at my new addition for the first time and to pay for the bike. I got there and the auctioneer met me at the back of his enclosed trailer where he had put the bike until I arrived. Well let me tell you, this bike is unmolested, complete - nothing missing, a broken tail light lense, tank & side cover paint in great shape, 1537 miles, clocks not faded at all, chrome parts need to be re-chromed ( I expected that ) but all in all what a jewel. I also found the owners manual and the original bill of sale ( May 1978 $ 2,199.80 ) from the Honda dealer under the seat in the document compartment. I'll need a shop manual, parts book and a key made and I’m sure help in the future as the project moves along.
Anyway, it’s nice to be here and I am looking forward to meeting & making new friends.
Your servant
M. Webster McAllen
Preston, Maryland
Locked
Thats a heck of a deal you got there! I'm glad to see you bringing her back to life,though it doesn't seem she is in too bad of shape.
