Is this a good buy/price?

[driveallknight]

Buddy of bike has a friend selling his 71 CB750. I live in Lubbock, so there isnt really much in terms of people trying to sell. Here are a few pics. Alot of original parts and other than new battery, oil change, etc normal easy stuff it is in great shape with recently rebuilt carbs. I am wanting to do a cafe build like Seaweed & Gravel; pretty good amount of great shape original parts I would like to sell off (hopefully)

Guy wants $1750

Inspiration:

The bike:

 

[coyote13]

That's not a bad deal these days, if it runs, rides, and stops like it should with clear title

 

[cklamer]

I would go for it.
Getting harder to find those older SOHC models.

 

[coyote13]

Make sure you check inside the tank for rust, that surface rust where the chrome trim should go along the bottom is making me a little uneasy...

 

[carnivorous chicken]

Make sure you check inside the tank for rust, that surface rust where the chrome trim should go along the bottom is making me a little uneasy...

I believe that is just the strip peeling away.... but yeah, worth checking to see if the tank is rusted out.

Check compression -- if it's tired and worn out, not such a great price if it needs a top end. And see how it shifts and stops too. And yeah, title is important.

And before you get it and strip it down, that's a decent and somewhat-original model in good shape, kind of a shame to reduce it to photo fodder (never mind those ridiculous tires...). Obviously your decision if you buy the bike, but consider spending some time getting to know it before you make the decision to permanently butcher... I mean alter... that thing. But good god, ditch them ape hangers.

 

[driveallknight]

I was planning on tossing (selling) the tank and seat anyway so that rust isnt a problem. The kickstart feels notchy so compression seems good, but turns over nicely (good also). Crazy that that is the original seat in such good shape

 

[carnivorous chicken]

I was planning on tossing (selling) the tank and seat anyway so that rust isnt a problem. The kickstart feels notchy so compression seems good, but turns over nicely (good also). Crazy that that is the original seat in such good shape

Dunno what notchy is, but the only accurate way to test compression is with a decent gauge. Relatively inexpensive tool, worth checking before you buy.

I'm sure someone will pay a decent amount for that seat if it is in nice shape underneath.

 

[98kellrs]

Fuck man, don't toss anything away!! You can sell that stock stuff and use the cash to pay for upgrades!!

Oh and if you don't buy it I'll buy it and ship it back to Australia, those things cost upwards of $9k in that condition over here

 

[driveallknight]

Fuck man, don't toss anything away!! You can sell that stock stuff and use the cash to pay for upgrades!!

Oh and if you don't buy it I'll buy it and ship it back to Australia, those things cost upwards of $9k in that condition over here

haha I guess by toss I meant sell. Good on you for shelling out cash like that in oz man!

 

[teazer]

Looks pretty clean apart from the silly high bars and odd looking mufflers. It's not exactly rare but always a shame to hack up a good stock bike - that's why I prefer to start with a pile of parts an other dogs.

For the Hill Country, fit a decent tires, superbike bars, a decent 4 into 1 pipe and just ride it for a year. Low bars make heavy bikes really hard to ride and riding on those crappy tires or without fenders is just not happening. That "inspiration" bike is an art project and not a rider. Make the bike work better than stock and have fun riding it.

 

[driveallknight]

Looks pretty clean apart from the silly high bars and odd looking mufflers. It's not exactly rare but always a shame to hack up a good stock bike - that's why I prefer to start with a pile of parts an other dogs.

For the Hill Country, fit a decent tires, superbike bars, a decent 4 into 1 pipe and just ride it for a year. Low bars make heavy bikes really hard to ride and riding on those crappy tires or without fenders is just not happening. That "inspiration" bike is an art project and not a rider. Make the bike work better than stock and have fun riding it.

I definitely agree with you. I want to get to know motorcycle riding and culture before embarking on a path of creating something just because its looks badass. Definitely want to know if I truly love being a motorcyclist first.

 

[teazer]

Motorcycling is mainly about the bikes. To some of us it's about creating something and to others it is ALL about riding. It's nice to find like minded souls to talk and hang with but I find the "culture" to be a bit of a myth. It's all a bit reality TV if you will.

Example: I race bikes and love to talk to people about their race bikes and what has been done to them, but I'm all about the modifications and technology and problem solving and many racers are not. I also find that once we get past the bikes, there is nothing I have in common with them and run out of things in common to chat about, so the conversations tend to be about the bikes and it's never about how cool it is to be a racer or any such BS.

Many decades ago when I rode a bike, I found that other riders had things in common that we could talk about - weather, shitty cage drivers, the weather, rotten roads, the weather, great places to ride and so on, but outside of riding and the shared experiences there really was no "bike culture". It was always affirming to know that you were not the only person on the planet not smart enough to get a car, but at least where I lived we didn't hang out at the local cafe soaking in the "culture" let alone being one with nature or the machine or any of the BS I read about today.

Sure it was nice sometimes to ride with others but most of the time they were either too slow or too fast or wanted to go somewhere I had no interest in going.

Motorcycling is something you do for yourself because you enjoy something about the tactile response or the feeling of just being out there doing your own thing. It's a solitary activity that if we are lucky we get to do with friends and strangers (new friends) from time to time.

Get the bike running safely and reliably and learn to ride safe and have fun with it. You will experience the bad and the good and I think you will get a lot out of riding from fun and exhilaration to an awareness of your own vulnerability.

Enjoy it for wat it is and feel free to ignore anyone else's idea of what it's all about - including mine