750

C

CallMeJarob

New Member
Everyone,

Thought I would begin to document my '78 CB750 SOHC Cafe build. The bike currently resides in Dallas and I am living in Maui until early November so I am planning and ordering parts as of now.

I am going all out on this build. My last bike, a '74 CB360 was completed half-assed and had a lot of problems. Not this time!

I will be doing a full engine rebuild,using a lot of MotoGadget parts and accessories, BCR tank/seat combo, and pay extra attention to the paint and color scheme.

My inspiration came from spider-man on this forum and his amazing build "Bonita Applebum" http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=8998.0
As well as several bikes built by Kott all shown below.

My starting point is a great running 1978 CB750K I snagged up off craigslist before moving to Hawaii several months ago. Practically stole the bike as it came with a dyna ignition, carpy 4-1 exhaust, stand, and several other accessories for $1200. Hawaii isn't exactly the place for me so we are moving back to Dallas in November where I will tear apart the bike.

So far I have bought:
- My CB750 book
- full cycleX gasket set/oil seal set
- cam chain/tensioner/roller/guide
- primary chains - no primary tensioner yet
- piston rings (hoping that's all I need)
- HD studs

Still need/want:
- electronics tray
- tail loop with integrated LED break/blinkers from CognitoMoto
- CognitoMoto triple tree with integrated MotoGadget speedometer
- MotoGadget m-unit, m-button, m-lock and some others
- clip-on's, rearsets, and a bunch of cosmetic parts
- BCR Pinas fiberglass tank and seat combo

I'll update this periodically before the build starts and routinely once it begins.

Advice and criticism is always appreciated!






My inspirations:







 
Have you gotten your parts from Benji yet? Hope they're better than pretty much every set I've heard of in the past. Look forward to seeing what you come up with. Just pay more attention to functionality than some of your inspiration bikes and you should be golden.
 
Great plans man! Can't wait to see where it goes. Kott builds some gorgeous bikes.

PS Is that YOUR magnum PI Ferrari!?!?
 
Step 1: Donate that Ferrari to me...

Step 2: Bookmark vintagecb750.com and treatland.tv . You will find LOTS of parts there for the 750. Treatland is a scooter parts retailer, but has lots of universal fit parts (like headlight ears, blinkers, etc)

Looks like a great starting bike, certainly in better shape than most of our project bikes.
 
VonYinzer said:
Have you gotten your parts from Benji yet? Hope they're better than pretty much every set I've heard of in the past. Look forward to seeing what you come up with. Just pay more attention to functionality than some of your inspiration bikes and you should be golden.
Click to expand...

Nope, haven't ordered the BCR stuff yet. Ive heard a few bad stories but also seen a lot of beautiful finished bikes with his products on them. I'm not too worried about having to finish it up to make it work, my family owns a paint and body shop so it will be done professionally.

As for that '79 Ferrari 308 GTB, its not mine but my father-in-law's (along with the bentley behind it). It is in the will for me though... One of my favorite classics (along with a countach), surprisingly cheap too!
 
Alright so I think I'm going to pass on the BCR tank after contemplating the quality of fiberglass tanks. Now I plan on having a custom aluminum tank/seat made from one of our sponsors here, Retro Moto. They are local to me too which is nice.

Custom oil tank is being ordered this week too. Work on the bike starts in 10days!
 
Hey Jarob-

I built an identical '78 CB750 a few years ago, and used a Suzuki GS450 tank. I lived in the desert, so I was able to get away with stripping the paint and polishing the steel.
The tank was hard to find, but nowhere near the expense of an alloy tank!

Sherm
 

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CallMeJarob said:
Haha yea that's what I thought but the pace of life is a little too slow out here!
Click to expand...

I love a slow pace so that's where we differ haha. Big island for me :) We are insanely busy, too busy for me to finish a single build apparently, but at least it's because we call our own shots. Can't imagine running the rat race for someone else. So, off my rabbit trail, back to your bike.
 
Bigsherm said:
Hey Jarob-

I built an identical '78 CB750 a few years ago, and used a Suzuki GS450 tank. I loved in the desert, so I was able to get away with stripping the paint and polishing the steel.
The tank was hard to find, but nowhere near the expense of an alloy tank!

Sherm
Click to expand...


Beautiful bike and that's a great looking tank, something I may need to consider.

I do LOVE the shape of BCRs Pinas tank so I may just have a custom tank built similar to that but still my own. Who knows we'll see!

While I am on a budget, I will not let cost dictate this build. If I need to spend a lot on something, I'll spend a lot on it. I want this to be the best build I can do.
 
Back from Hawaii and started on the bike today! I will spend an hour or two after work this week taking apart the engine and sending in the cases for vapor blasting.

Contacted Retro Moto twice to get underway on a custom tank and seat but have yet to hear back. Maybe Ill stop by their shop later this week.







There is another picture of the engine on the floor thats not working, but more to come this week!
 
I know of two people that used the BCR fiberglass gas tanks. One being myself recently.
Do not use them is all I can say because the one I had cracked all of the way around the gas cap.
Caused the liner to fail and the fiberglass to get saturated with race fuel.
Nothing could be done to save it. Could not get paint to not bubble.
But they are extremely thick and very heavy. At least 5-8 pounds heavier than the alloy tank.

Now if you like that style of tank contact Sean at Roc City Café he made mine after I shipped him the tank that cracked.
He may have a mold of it now if not he can have mine to make it from. He made a beautiful tank for me.

My recommendation to you is just go ahead and spend the money and get an alloy tank.
Just stay away from the fiberglass gas tanks. Granted some are okay but the alloy tank will last longer
Plus no liner needed for the alloy tank. If you use gas with ethanol you will need to add some Stabil or Sea Foam.

That is my two cents on Benji.
I did email him a video of the gas tank under pressure and leaking through the cracks and he never responded.

Good Luck
 
mAd mOrdigan said:
awesome, will definitely follow your build since mine is similar. btw benji makes steel tanks as well
Click to expand...


I know for a fact that Sean at Roc City hand makes each of his tanks to order.
Can't say that for Benji not sure he makes anything in house.
If you want to get everything from Benji at least go with an alloy tank.
Make sure you know what size petcocks you will be using also.
If you are using stock or after market Pingel petcocks they need to know.
 
cklamer said:
I know of two people that used the BCR fiberglass gas tanks. One being myself recently.
Do not use them is all I can say because the one I had cracked all of the way around the gas cap.
Caused the liner to fail and the fiberglass to get saturated with race fuel.
Nothing could be done to save it. Could not get paint to not bubble.
But they are extremely thick and very heavy. At least 5-8 pounds heavier than the alloy tank.

Now if you like that style of tank contact Sean at Roc City Café he made mine after I shipped him the tank that cracked.
He may have a mold of it now if not he can have mine to make it from. He made a beautiful tank for me.

My recommendation to you is just go ahead and spend the money and get an alloy tank.
Just stay away from the fiberglass gas tanks. Granted some are okay but the alloy tank will last longer
Plus no liner needed for the alloy tank. If you use gas with ethanol you will need to add some Stabil or Sea Foam.

That is my two cents on Benji.
I did email him a video of the gas tank under pressure and leaking through the cracks and he never responded.

Good Luck
Click to expand...


Thanks for the heads up! I've already decided to both go with alloy and with a custom builder anyways but thanks! Maybe I'll contact Roc City, which model from BCR did you have?
 


This is the Coi Combo for the CB750K DOHC.
Now I do like his rear hoop and battery pan for the 750.
 
Made some progress breaking the engine down today, Ill finish up tomorrow so I can send off the cases to get vapor blasted.







 
Great choice to avoid BCR.
Real hipster bait junk. Heavy and carved from bondo.

RocCity does some KILLER work and actually knows a thing or two about how motorcycles work.

Did that apple butt CB450 ever actually run?
Know its not something that works as a motorcycle, but last I saw it still didnt run and was pushed through some video.....joke.
 
CallMeJarob said:
Haha yea that's what I thought but the pace of life is a little too slow out here!
Click to expand...
I managed 2 years on the big Island, loved loads about it but the whole dawn to dusk life style and constant sunshine got to me in the end. I like 4 seasons, shitty weather and life after mid night!
 
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