What's the risk factor in buying a restored cb750?

[Barrett]

To start, I love the look of old bikes. The cb750 is just a classic style bike. Beyond that, stuff like sport bikes and even most regular cruisers just aren't my style. So I'm looking to move up from my 250cc Rebel next spring. It's still a ways away, but I like to have a dream to focus on, since I'm saving money for this. I'm really wanting to spend $3,000, maybe $4,000 tops on something. Which sucks because very few bike manufacturers still make bikes with this look. There's Triumph, Honda has the RS, and a few others, but what sucks even more is that these bikes are all priced in the 7 grand range. A bit out of my price point.

So my dilemma is to settle and get a regular cruiser like a Honda Shadow or V-Star 650, or buy a restored cb750. I should add that this bike is what really turned me on to motorcycles, just from the pure look of it. I know most of you guys are probably good with engines and will tell me to just buy a bike and if it breaks, fix it. I know next to nothing about engines, and while I don't mind learning, the cashflow wont always be coming in (taking a year off school, but I'm going back so I'll be limited again after that). My fear is that I'll buy one of these bikes, "restored", and have it break within a few months, rendering me a useless bike that needs a thousand dollars worth of repair before it runs again. On the other hand, I know that these bikes are known for their reliability. So I'm leaving it up to you. I'm seeing some very nice cb750s on craigslist and ebay. Should I take the risk and go for it, or perhaps settle for a newer, and probably more of a sure-thing bike?

[wvhardtail]

Most of us on here love these bikes and we do our own wrenching. I have owned just about everything. You have to watch out for what some people called restored. A paint job does not equal restored. If it is in good shape and low mileage then these are pretty trouble free bikes. There is some maintenance on these bikes that you don't have to do on more modern bikes, ie. valve adjustment. Most of the maintenance is not that hard to learn. Find someone you know who is pretty good with bikes to go look at them with you so you don't get ripped off. And good luck.

[nyraised]

I bought my bike this past summer, and I knew nothing at all about bike repair, but am pretty handy with cars. But I am finding the repairs are easier than cars, parts are readily avaiable and for the most part cheap, and there are plenty of good repair sources (with pics) for the do it yourselfer...and even noobs like me..Trust me If I can do it, anyone can. Just ask questions here if you're not sure and these guys will always steer you in the right direction and offer lots of good advice. Oh and by the way, I absolutley love this bike, the feel ,the ride and style and the power and the way it handles aint nothing to be ashamed of, very respnsive bike, you can find some good deals on ebay in your area or check out Craig's List...you can get them fairly cheap...test drive it and ask lots of questions..But make sure the charging system is working..take a voltmeter with you..put it across battery terminals and rev the bike up to around 3,000 rpm ..you should get a reading of around 14 volts or more...quick check is is the headlight getting brighter when it revs up?

[mamalo65]

 bought mine about a couple months ago. Had one years ago that belonged to my husband and it was stolen in the 80's. I am only semi mechanical and really wanted another 750 so I got one. My present to me.

I have done all the work to clean her up and tune her. Had the carbs rebuilt in at a shop. The shop did a bad job and with help of these guys I rebuilt them. She runnin pretty good thanks guys.

These bikes are reliable, clean no oil on the garage floor, pretty easy to work on and most of all fun.
 
By the way when you pull up on a restored 750 people really freak out. They look at them more than the newer bikes I don't know why. I have sat and watch people walk down a line of bikes and they always stop in front of a nicely restored 750. At least here in Texas.

If it is fully restored and running good you will be very happy with it. Just do the maintence and keep her clean.

I love this bike and will never own anything else.

[sirreal1]

I too have a great love of the Honda CB750 Four, having owned a new one back in 1970.  Now I have the bug again and cannot find any other bike that compares in style, comfort and performance. I am looking for one but have been told several times that a bike that old (30 years or so) will be nothing but ongoing trouble and parts and service will be hard to find.  A big concern is that some of those available have been sitting up in storage for 15-25 years and what all that time has done to the bike.  I been told that most if not all the rubber parts will be bad, that there could be electrolysis that has affected the engine as well as other parts.  I guess what I am asking the group is...what kind of problems have you all had in this regard?
Is it better to buy a bike with more miles that is ridden regularly or a bike with few miles that has maybe been in storage for 20 years?   Also,  what are the most common problems you've experienced and how has it been finding parts (like a front brake caliper) and getting service for jobs you cant do yourself.  I am quite handy so can do some work.  Ive called the dealers here and they wont service any bike over 10 years old.  What has been your experience and what would you advise?  Thanks for your replies.

[sgtslag]

I bought a 1979 CB750K four years ago, with 9,600 miles on it (21,600 miles currently).  It looked maybe a year old.  Since then, I have done fluid changes throughout; replaced the plugs with iridium's -- startled me the first time I started it with these, as it was running almost instantly, instead of the usual grinding required to get it to fire; had the valve shims gone through, one needed replacing (at 15,000); installed a thermostatically controlled oil cooler with a spin-on oil filter adapter; added both a voltmeter, and an oil temperature gauge; added floor boards for the passenger; added soft saddlebags with brackets; added Vetter Lowers (came with a Vindicator fairing); replaced the suspension, front and back, with Progressive fork springs and 412 Shocks with Heavy Duty Springs (rides like a modern bike...).

My wife and I rode it two-up last year, 1,935 miles around Lake Superior, with a heavy load of luggage.  The only mechanical failure we had on that entire trip, was that the throttle grip came off in Thunderbay, Ontario, on day 2 of 9:  borrowed some grip glue from the local Harley shop, and we were back on the road in 30 minutes.  We love this bike!  I planned to keep riding it for years to come, but we found a 1993 Kawasaki Voyager XII touring bike.  Now our beloved 750 is up for sale (SE Minnesota).

I've gone through my bike, replaced all of the fluids, the plugs, wheel bearings, and the tires.  I would ride my 750 anywhere, two up, fully loaded, without hesitation.  It is remarkably reliable, an absolute blast to ride, and it is one of the prettiest bike's I've ever seen.  It just is not a dedicated touring machine like the Voyager, which has more room, greater comfort, and more storage space.  If you want a fantastic motorcycle, reliable, and oh-so-fun-to-ride, the Honda CB750K's are an excellent choice, regardless of age, as long as they are in good condition.

With regards to shops not working on them, that has never been a problem for me.  I go to a shop which doesn't owe its soul to any brand -- they fix them all, old and new.  Parts are available from sources like BikeBandit.com, and others.  If I wanted to replace the factory 4-into-4 exhaust system with OEM, it is still available from Honda...  For a cool $1,800 + installation!

If you find one you like, look it over carefully, try it out, and if satisfied, buy it!  They are a fantastic bike.  You might be able to pick up a good one for less than $2,000, depending on your local market.  I'm asking $1,800 for mine, which needs nothing, at present.  Prices on used bikes from the 70's-90's are a little crazy right now, as there is a number of people wanting bikes from these periods.

If you have the cash, Kawasaki is coming out with a retro 750, the W800 (http://www.kawasaki.eu/W800).  It is beautiful, but spendy:  around $8,000.  Not sure if it will be released in the USA, either...  It is a Inline-Twin, with fuel injection, but it has spoked rims, knee pads on the tank, and a drum brake on the rear.  It is perrr-ty, but spendy.  Cheers!