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Hello all, I live in Texas and have been talking to a woman about buying her 1971 cb450, shown here:
We're negotiating but I think I'll end up with it. She said its been parked for 40 years, and only has 5600 miles on it!
plan on doing a cafe racer build, hopefully keeping the color on the tank and just cleaning it up, if it looks good up close. I've been lurking on this forum for a couple weeks now and hopefully I'm about to start my own build. I also have a custom Honda ruckus that I've ridden for the past hear, and will most likely keep, as its so much fun.
So what do you guys think of the cb450? Is it worth it if I can get it cheap?
Don't give more than $50 for it. It is in really bad shape. The barn was obviously damp, and there could be fatal corrosion inside the engine. Does the engine turn over? If it doesn't, I would walk away. Have you looked inside the gas tank? Does it have a title? (If not, walk away.)
is this your first bike? if so, i would pass, unless for some reason this particular bike had sentimental value to you. That thing is going to take a LOT of work to get it on the road. And a lot of cash.
For your first bike, or your first bike build, i'd recommend getting something that's running and as close to driveable as possible, and modifying it the way you want. This thing will be a complete tear down and you're likely to lose interest halfway through.
Just need to be aware / informed that is all. hate to see you pour your money down a rabbit hole. If the engine is seized it may only be useful for parts... and judging from the pics, the chrome pieces are shot so parts would be minimal. You may want to be there when she tried to turn it over, did it "break free" or turn easily from the first attempt...and squirt a little oil down the sparkplug holes first.
This is neither my only bike or needed mode of transportation. I'm interested for the challenge/build. A complete tear down doesn't frighten me as I've done it before.
Well then let me be the first to say if it's cheap, roll the dice. Side covers look OK, tank doesn't look to be dinged up and dented, fork ears might be straight, some stuff on there that is worth something to somebody somewhere. Plus it sounds like your ready, willing and able to tackle a project like this.
Where in Texas? Thing looks like it sat in a puddle for years. I can see lots of things wrong and a few things missing that would make me not want to pay much for it. I bought two piles of 450s three years ago with enough parts to build two bikes for 400$. One is almost done and the next will be started this fall.
That IF the motor will turn through without a lot force and IF the rest of the bike is there I would say something in the neighborhood of no more than 150 Bucks. You can part it out and get at least that back.
No offense against a Rukus, but the 450 engine was ahead of its time even compared to that Rukus. They are PAIN IN THE ASS to work on and fix should they be junk. They have about a million moving parts and any one of the cam chain rollers going bad can ruin the rest of the engine. Lots of internal parts are NLA, and the NOS stuff that is left is pricy. DO some research on the engine just by itself and see if it is something you want to take on. If not then pass on this bike.
Don't get me wrong I love my 450, but it has tested every ounce of my patience and every bit of my knowledge to get it back up to where I can ride it. I wanted a project, I wanted a 450. I got a 3 year long hobby and a nice hole in my wallet. It pulls like a train and runs and sounds like sewing machine. Rides great too.
Kruck,
Another thing to be concerned with is the tank. Everyone here can tell you how hard it is to find a tank without rust. That thing could be corroded to the poijnt that it leaks. Red Kote available at O'rielly or online is a great tank coating. But how is the inside?
I am stationed at Fort Hood. If you are close by, I would be happy to help when you find a project.
I'm in college station. And I won't be getting into this if I can't get the bike cheap. As for the engine being complicated, I'm a fast learner and an expert at researching.
The mileage means little ... I would rather buy a well maintained running 20,000 mile bike with a documented service history. The years of neglect , rust and dry rot have taken their toll on that one. You will quickly have $2k into that just to get it safe, legal, running well and looking decent ...
I recommend you find a much better example that runs well and needs very little if this will be your first bike
if you insist on buying this, you need to start looking for another 450 parts bike. maybe something untitled or wrecked. You're going to need a lot of parts, and i mean A LOT. add the cost of those two bikes together, then add another 2 grand, and that's what you'll spend getting a running drivable bike, that might look good. and that's assuming you're doing all of the work yourself.
As crazy as this might sound- check craigslist. I have seen a bunch of honda cb's in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and here in Killeen. Some were great deals. I bought a set of CB400 cylinders to overbore my 350f on CL. Deals are out there. Just have to keep watching.
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I say get it! I wouldn't pay more than $100 for it though...Good luck!
