Honda CB175 Vs. Yamaha DS7?

Lucas Denton

Lucas Denton

New Member
Hi everybody my names Lucas,new to the cafe world. I have two bikes in mind for my first build a 1972 Yamaha ds7 with a rd350 motor or a 1972 Honda CB175. The Yamaha has a larger engine and all but the condition is no where near as nice as the Honda. I mean the Honda has 1,125 original miles! Super nice bike but not sure which way to go... Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. If no one answers to this post I will just go with the flow and see what I end up with. But i Definitely will be posting alot on here and would love the knowledge and thoughts of others. Thanks guys and gals look forward to hearing from everybody! p.s I'm going to put links to the post on craigslist so everyone can have an idea of the two bikes.

Yamaha: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/mcy/3838855584.html

3I53Jd3N75Lf5N45E3d5u238dae9025c01a3e.jpg


Honda: http://auburn.craigslist.org/mcy/3849221602.html

3Ea3K53Ff5I95Ha5J8d64603b4d40f1171e59.jpg
 
100% complete opposite ends of the spectrum as far as bikes are concerned.

What are you looking to do with it?
 
I'm looking to go towards the cafe style getting rid of unneeded parts, making a fiberglass or steel seat, rear-sets, clubman/clip-ons. I'm just looking for a fun project to work on and ride while doing it.
 
In that case the yamaha wins hands down. It's faster and no need to worry about spoiling such a nice little CB175. No CBs need to be harmed in making a cafe racer. :)

The RD has a decent motor in it but that fat front tire has to go. I'd keep the DG pipes and tracker seat. Get some Phat bars and an RD disk front end and go ride it like you stole it. It also needs fenders but you can get a nice little TZ style rear from Airtech TZRD1 http://airtech-streamlining.com/yamaz/RD3501973-79.htm
 
In all honesty I figured it was best for the cafe style. As far as reliability of the rd350 goes are they an engine known for toughness? I've been reading many builds on here and it seems the little Honda engines are bulletproof, but i haven't really read any on the builds of the rd's. Also would you have any clue what a rebuild would cost on this engine?
 
TheRD is a damn good engine, can be touchy at times but I ride mine hard and put it away wet every day. Just don't run it lean or out of oil, if you do then you have had a bad day.
 
I think it will come down to how you want to ride.
If you're looking to cruise around towns t 45 and just enjoy the scenery and cruise the cb is a better choice IMO (although I wouldn't get one that small for a daily rider)

If you want to go balls to the wall and make old ladies piss themselves as you drive by full throttle then go with the rd.
 
RD already has some mods done, and it would be a shame to destroy such a nice cb. If you want a cb, get one wich looks not that clean. Will save you a lot of money and kudo-points.
 
I have frantically been trying to get in touch with the owner of the Yamaha to set up an appointment to check it out/buy it. I hope he has not already sold it :-\. I will let everyone know what i find out.
 
The RD would smoke the Honda in a race of any type.
Its already really cool looking, so you wouldn't need to much or Anything to it.
2 strokes are noisy and obnoxious, smokey and you will smell like smoke after a ride.
If you like to have fun at others expense then this is a great bike to piss people off, fun in underpasses and tunnels.
I suspect that it looks better than it actually works as it has been customized, you dont know what shortcuts the previous owner took when building it, or the history of the motor


The Honda is a good bike for a beginner to toot around town or slow back roads.
This is a fairly nice looking example of the bike so it does not need to be customized or cafe'd, it will be fairly reliable and easy to live with, it wont smell. The motor makes a quite respectable sound, people will not notice as you quietly dash by.
Working on them is simple and there are lots of interchangeable parts with other Honda bikes. This would be good for a beginner wrencher as well.


I would get the RD any day of the week.
 
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