Which CB to buy

1KDS

1KDS

New Member
Lookin at doing my first cafe build. Just wanted some input from the board on what bike to start with. Currently on my local craigslist there is a clean, ride-able CB350 with CL tank and pipes for $850; a pair of 74 CB500T's that have been sitting in a barn for years for $500/pair, a clean 79 CB400 for $800 and a bunch of 80's CB's. I don't have to buy anything that is out there right now, just trying to gauge what bikes are worth and what I should be looking for. Are the 4 bangers more desirable for some reason than the twins? Any to stay away from? I am fairly mechanical but this will be the first older bike I've had.
 
johnny gaijin said:
a 350 is gonna be pretty small for someone your size.
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yep.. there you go.. at the very least, go with the cb500's..
Better yet, cb550F or a cb750... you are gonna outgrow the cb360's real fast...
 
CB550! better bike overall then the 750.. and cann be built to make some serious go power.
 
The 750 motor looks too wide for the frame doesn't it, maybe it's just me.
<goes back to google infinite Cb pics>
 
What about vintage, is there any generations or series that are better or worse than others? Seems like most of the builds here start with early to mid '70s bikes
 
1KDS said:
What about vintage, is there any generations or series that are better or worse than others? Seems like most of the builds here start with early to mid '70s bikes
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cb350 is better than cb360; 360 had head oiling problems... cb450 is better than 500 because parts are easier to come by... cb750 DOHC werent as good as the early SOHC motors, but they are both decent bikes with parts available. CB350 Four/ CB400 four were dogs compared to the CB350, parts are somewhat available but more pricy. i say avoid them. CB500/550 were both good bikes... not sure on parts but there should be plenty.

truth is, get what you like. avoid pre 1969 honda unless if you love to wrench and scavenge for parts, and the bikes from that era are usually too pretty to chop up in the first place.
 
Given your size, I would go with a 750, but I am partial to them. You can find them cheap, there are tons of parts available. If you don't "mind" the K7 (1977) or K8 (1978) you can find them with pretty low miles. There are some diffences, both good and bad with the later K7 and K8's, but in my experience with the K8, you can't beat the power of the 750.

I think they look pretty good either mild.....

IMG_0874.jpg



Or a bit more.....

caferacer.jpg


In the end, its what you want out of the bike, and what speaks to you. Sure the 750 motor is a bit wide, but I personally don't feel it's too wide. When the covers are polished, they "stick out" in a great way.
K8 bought with 8K miles, and NO regrets.

Hope it helps...
 
Those bikes look sick! Seems like the motor only looks too wide from certain angles, most of the time it looks totally normal and I'm sure if I had one it would become the norm.
 
"those bikes" are one in the same, just over a winter, TONs of hard work and some new parts.
Here is what it looked like in all its 70's glory from the PO.

IMG_0779-1.jpg

IMG_0775.jpg


I will try to dig up some better pics for you of the width of the motor in the frame.
 
the smaller the bike the cheaper the parts I reckon. Take that into consideration. Im 6'2 & am used to mopeds. So right now Ive got the 175 & 350. Smaller bikes is where Im at right now. Im light though 165lbs, & slinky.

Get a 550 or 350twin. So common. I got a bike that this site could really help me with, cause I suck at tuning etc. 350 & 175 flood this site.
 
Rocan said:
cb350 is better than cb360; 360 had head oiling problems...
AGREE

cb450 is better than 500 because parts are easier to come by...

AGREE


CB350 Four/ CB400 four were dogs compared to the CB350, parts are somewhat available but more pricy. i say avoid them.

NO WAY. CB400F was a giant killer back in the day. Easily the best of the SOHC 4 and streets ahead of poxy CB twinns in terms of style and cool factor.

CB500/550 were both good bikes... not sure on parts but there should be plenty.


AGREE

truth is, get what you like. avoid pre 1969 honda unless if you love to wrench and scavenge for parts, and the bikes from that era are usually too pretty to chop up in the first place.
CB77 305 is a classic that is easy to work on but a shame to chop.
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ok fine.. i take it back, the 400f was nice... :D

i just cant justify a small displacement 4 cylinder... id rather get a 550f. :p
 
The CB400/4 was maybe one of the most amazing bikes of its day my man. An absolute terror on the street, and would give a 550 a run for its money anywhere anytime... Seriously.
 
There is a CB400 locally for 800 not sure if it's a twin or a four, not sure if they made both. There is a 75 500T for $900 that is a one owner, it doesn't run but I think the one owner part is pretty f'n cool.
 
1KDS said:
There is a CB400 locally for 800 not sure if it's a twin or a four, not sure if they made both. There is a 75 500T for $900 that is a one owner, it doesn't run but I think the one owner part is pretty f'n cool.
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its a four. buy it. no cb400 twin, unless if its a late model.
 
The CB450 and the CB500T are practically the same damn bike. Some gearing changes, a bit of head work on the 500T, more stroke on the 500T.

Airbox arrangement and exhaust on the 500T are different from the 450, but you can swap between the two - bolt-on.

gearing between the two are different, but you can drop the whole transmission into one or the other.

You can drop the engine for a 500T into a 450, and vice versa.

They both use the same gasket and seal sets.

I believe that pistons are not a direct swap, as I believe there are skirt differences (longer 500T stroke).

There were differences between the 2 models - but pretty much every other part that can bolt on a 450 will bolt onto a 500T.
 
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