'71 CB 750, first bike, first build.

[OGsmakdade]

Hey everybody, My name is Daryl. I'm new to bikes, but not new to forums. I own two 5th Gen honda preludes that are heavily modified, I admin and moderate two prelude forums.
I purchased this bike a few weeks ago from the second owner. It was jam packed with era correct accessories, but I could see through it all. I plan on doing a cafe style build, and enjoying this bike for years to come.
Here she is the day I picked her up.

I think she lasted two days before I started tearing the accessories off...
windjammer fairing, highway bars, bags, seat rest, luggage rack, gone!

First real purchase for the bike, a must have IMO

removing the fairing left me without a headlight. I realized that the headlight mounting rings and hardware were missing, along with the OEM headlight socket. I purchased them along with a new headlight.

had to fix quite a bit of botched wiring (solder, head strink, OEM pin connectors)

seat was the next on the list, but I had to have something I could fit a passenger on.
picked up this foam and fabric to fit to the stock pan.

after tearing the old cover and foam off the stock pan, I discovered some surface rust. I did a rust treatment on both sides.

primed and painted the bottom of the pan.

fitted the foam to the refurbished pan

fitted the cover over the foam, and I'm pleased with the results. p.s. I hate upholstry work haha.

painted the hinges, latch, spring, and installed new stainless hardware to hold it in place.

pic of new seat on the bike.

Parts purchased so far:
-Hanyes CB750 FOUR manual, my new best friend.
-New OEM replica side covers
-NOS OEM side cover bushings
-Footrest, kickstart, and shifter rubbers.
-NOS OEM front turn signal stems.
-NOS headlight socket.
-Deka sealed battery
-NOS rear shock bolts, nuts, washers.
-Male and female wire pins (to fix 40+ years of hacked wiring)
-Aftermarket tri bar, black dot headlight
-NOS headlight mounting bezel and trim ring
-black powdercoated mesh headlight cover
-cafe style seat
-Magnetic oil drain plug
-shock adjustment tool (since the bike already has the $300 progressive rear shocks I was going to buy).
-cafe style handle bars
-Shoei GT Air matte black helmet (most important purchase)
-rear LED turn signals (resistors also)
-rear brake light/ tag holder combo
-Flamenco black pearl paint (for tank, headlight bucket, side covers)
-Hella retro style horn
-new OEM air filter (until the pods are purchased)

Soon to be purchased:
-clutch and brake levers (shorter handles)
-slimline clutch master cylinder
-bar end mirrors
-hand grips
-Firestone vintage deluxe champion tires
-new 4-1 header
-K&N individual pod filters
-front and LED turn signals
-correct 69-71 gas tank (the one on the bike is a 72)
-more responsive throttle control

Maintenance to be performed:
-spark plugs
-coils
-oil change
-new brake pads and shoes
-brake fluid flush
-possible clutch replacement (on the original still, seems to be acting up a bit)

I'll be updating soon, feedback and comments appreciated!

 

[ILoveThumpers]

That's a really beautiful bike and a great starting point! Looks like it was well cared for.

-Deek

 

[OGsmakdade]

found some NOS side cover emblems, notice the little "HM" right below the wing, the only way to tell if they are legit as far as I know. They'll look good with the red metallic in the new paint.
I plan on plastic welding and flushing out the top emblem recess and only have the red diamonds.

new reproduction side covers, nos emblems, and bushings to install them.

new bars, to be installed once I acquire the new controls, grips, mirrors.

headlight gaurd.... most likely going to tint the stock headlight yellow and install it on that light... I like having options.

paint should be in by next week.
still trying to source the appropriate 69-71 tank (to replace the 72 that is currently on the bike.)
rear LED turns, tail light w/ license plate bracket in the mail.

next pictures should be the tail light and turns or the modified side covers.

 

[surffly]

That manual has a fair bit of misinformation in it, download the factory manual.
Watch out for low bars and stock pegs. Personally I see it as a detriment it the bike and only done for looks at the cost of performance, some disagree and others flat don't care.
Same goes for the Firestone tires. They are non DOT replicas of 1930s tires. Not suitable for a performance bike.
No need for a slim line clutch master as its a cable clutch, unless you are tabbing up a hydolic conversion or meant brake master. Search out "vintage brake" they have a master sizing chart. Many use a CBR600F3 master. Look into the dual disk upgrade too.

What do you gain by swapping in a 69-71 tank?
Many of the 69 parts are super expensive because they are rare and the sandcast resto guys want them.

Stick with the stock air box.
Search out "hondaman" on the sohc4 forum and read up on what he says will impove the way the bike functions

 

[OGsmakdade]

That's a really beautiful bike and a great starting point! Looks like it was well cared for.

-Deek

Thanks! It's a pretty nice bike for being 40+ years old, but it does have its issues. Turns out, the guy I bought it from worked with my father for almost 30 years.

That manual has a fair bit of misinformation in it, download the factory manual.
Watch out for low bars and stock pegs. Personally I see it as a detriment it the bike and only done for looks at the cost of performance, some disagree and others flat don't care.
Same goes for the Firestone tires. They are non DOT replicas of 1930s tires. Not suitable for a performance bike.
No need for a slim line clutch master as its a cable clutch, unless you are tabbing up a hydolic conversion or meant brake master. Search out "vintage brake" they have a master sizing chart. Many use a CBR600F3 master. Look into the dual disk upgrade too.

What do you gain by swapping in a 69-71 tank?
Many of the 69 parts are super expensive because they are rare and the sandcast resto guys want them.

Stick with the stock air box.
Search out "hondaman" on the sohc4 forum and read up on what he says will impove the way the bike functions

-I will be sure to download the factory manual, thanks for the heads up!
-I'll give the low bars and stock pegs a shot, hopefully I like it.
-Crushing news about the firestone tires, I really love the look. Any particular rubber you recommend?
-I certainly meant brake MC, but wasn't sure which (if any) other bike parts would work. I'm mostly interested in GP style shorty levers for clutch and brake, and a brake MC. Any more info would be greatly appreciated.
-I plan on getting a set of wheels where I can utilize a dual disk setup at some point, it's on my radar.
-I mainly want the 69-71 tank because of the shape, I love it. I know they are really expensive because of the sandcast models share the same tank, this is why I've yet to purchase one. I found a company that will cut me OEM style 69-71 tank stripes in red, and I'm excited about that because they weren't produced in that color, only black and gold.
-I've read about the advantages to the stock air box on the DOHC 750's, but read that there were gains to be had with pod filters, carb jetting, and better exhaust on the SOHC's. I'll look up Hondaman's posts and see what I can find.

thanks for the helpful post, I haven't had this kind of luck on cb750.com.......

 

[Ichiban Moto]

I wish I had something to contribute... however I just have a question: where did you buy the new seat cover?

 

[surffly]

Only losses with pods. On either.

The 69-71 tank has the same shape as the other years, just different paint.
There is an uber rare sandcast tank that was slightly larger, but you can't tell by looking at it.

Cb750.com is more DOHC and choppers.
Sohc4.net is great.

Avon tires or gt501s

 

[OGsmakdade]

I wish I had something to contribute... however I just have a question: where did you buy the new seat cover?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB-750-CB750-CB750K-K7-K8-1977-1978-slim-cafe-racer-seat-/221265278271?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item338470353f&vxp=mtr
check the sellers store for different styles, colors, models, etc. I chose to buy just the foam and cover, but they have an option of buying it with a pan and already put together.

Only losses with pods. On either.

The 69-71 tank has the same shape as the other years, just different paint.
There is an uber rare sandcast tank that was slightly larger, but you can't tell by looking at it.

Cb750.com is more DOHC and choppers.
Sohc4.net is great.

Avon tires or gt501s

-I'm glad I didn't pay $120 for K&N pods yet... I almost want to buy pods and try this stuff on a dyno to make sure, but I'd rather spend the money on parts I want that are proven to work. ;D
-from everything I see the tanks have a slight difference in shape, but very subtle. I've probably looked at hundreds of pictures of early cb tanks over the last few weeks. could just be the graphics and paint playing tricks on the eye, but I swear they're different. The petcocks are on the right on the 69-71 tanks, and left on 72-76(?)
-I'll check out sohc4.net asap.
-I'll look into the tires, thanks for the tip.

 

[surffly]

Yeah they changed petcock side, but the rest is all the same.
K&N pods are better, emgo is crap. But still a tuning nightmare.
Can't open the "triangle" up on a 750 anyway so just keep the stock air box and ride the wheels off it.

Motogpwerks for a yoshi rep in SS
Want power? Spend the money on porting the head.
The weak link is how the head flows, not intake or exhaust parts.
One inch longer shocks in the back and a GL1000 fork swap.

 

[OGsmakdade]

Yeah they changed petcock side, but the rest is all the same.
K&N pods are better, emgo is crap. But still a tuning nightmare.
Can't open the "triangle" up on a 750 anyway so just keep the stock air box and ride the wheels off it.

Motogpwerks for a yoshi rep in SS
Want power? Spend the money on porting the head.
The weak link is how the head flows, not intake or exhaust parts.
One inch longer shocks in the back and a GL1000 fork swap.

I need to buy a tank, as I'm not modifying the factory one I have, same reason I bought repop side covers. I'll try and find one that isn't too beat up, Im trying to stay under $200. I'm painting it so the paint doesn't matter to me.

I have a K&N filter for the stock airbox, but part of the airbox is hacked up. If I can't source that top plate that the filter seats to, I'll have to make something.

I was hawking the motogpwerks yoshi rep, but they are sold out atm... they are set to do another run soon.
I'll consider the head work somewhere down the line, but for now I'd like to keep the motor in tact.

I have progressive shocks and springs in the rear, but the bike is still about an inch - 1 1/2 too tall. I'm only 5' 8'', and I would like to be able to have both feet flat on the ground while stopped.

 

[OGsmakdade]

new tail light, tag bracket combo. Goodbye rear fender!

paint has finally arrived........ I guess I can start working on some parts
Flamenco black pearl 97-98 prelude color, and a catalyzed hardening clear coat.

 

[surffly]

Don't ditch the front Without adding a brace.
Tarozzi makes some nice ones, and they have bolt on rearsets too.

 

[OGsmakdade]

I plan on keeping the front until I find a brace I like. I did see some of your tarozzi parts in your thread, but haven't been able to find anything from them accept tripple tree parts. I'll do some more searching, looks like they make quality stuff. I'd like to run a smaller front fender at times, I'm on the hunt for one.

thanks for the advice, you're spot on per usual.


p.s. motogpwerks has ONE yoshi rep available atm...... the wife is absolutely going to kill me if I buy it, I guess I'm dead. ;D

 

[surffly]

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/StoreFront

This is a friend, great stuff
http://www.tannermatic.com/

Airtech and glass from the past also have some nice fiberglass options.

GP pipe is awesome. Super light and well made.

 

[OGsmakdade]

someone beat me to that exhaust, guess I'll have to wait until they make the next batch.

I plastic welded the top emblem recess on of my new reproduction side covers. I coat or two of poly body filler and she will be smooth as glass

This showed up today, well a pair of these, but only one is going on the bike

 

[OGsmakdade]

first coat of filler on the 1st welded cover.

2nd cover welded

2nd cover grinded flush

both have the second coats of filler drying.

 

[OGsmakdade]

New spark plug wires arrived in the mail on friday, new wires arrived in the mail yesterday, new resistor caps today.
I installed them all (with the new rubber boots I got last week) and the bike is firing on all 4! I'll change the oil tomorrow if time permits. I forgot the gaskets came in last week, so fresh oil should make her run even smoother.

I'm still working on the side covers, and the new (to me) tank will be here next week.

I've yet to figure out the color code for the paint I want. I have to stop by the acura dealership.




pile of parts that arrived last week

new coil

removed the gas tank to make the fastest patio chair ever!

removed the old coil, and you can see the yellow spark plug wires, yuck!

new coil installed, new NGK iridium plugs, new black wires, new ngk resistor caps, and new rubber boots on everything.

one side cover complete, primed and ready for paint!

saw this last week, on my way to a job. early 70's CB550.

 

[surffly]

Love that green of the 500.
Did you add the resister when you went with the 3.0 ohm coils?
Hondaman sells a kit for it.
Stock is 5.0 ohm.
The resisters are mentioned in the paperwork with the coils, but no one makes them or installs them. Some claim to never have and issue, others wouldn't know an issue if it kicked them. Read up on it.

 

[OGsmakdade]

I too love that green, I considered it for my bike but I'm going another direction.

The xs performance coils were on the bike when I bought it, I just replaced one because cylinder one wasn't firing. I'll do some reading on the resistor. I'm in the category of people that wouldn't know an issue if it kicked them :-[. I'm learning as I go and having fun in the process. p.s. this new coil didn't come with paperwork ???
Thanks again for the help.

I'll be stoping by the acura dealership sometime by next week so I can nail down my paint color. color chips on the internet haven't helped, I have to see it in person.

 

[surffly]

Fun is key.
And knowing your limitations is the best place to be.
I mostly recommend people run a bike stock for a while. Helps give a baseline. Also lets you know if your mods are improving or hurting.
Keep it simple and make simple steps.
You still running points or are you swapping to a dyna s?

Sohc4 has a great write up on the resistors.