CB750 Complete Newbie in AZ

[SilkySmooth750]

Hey all. I've been trolling this site for a few months now and finally decided to join now that I have my very own project bike. A couple weeks ago, I bought a 1979 CB 750 rolling chassis and bottom end of the motor for $150.

I know very little about motorcycle mechanics, but I've loved motorcycles all of my life and am very excited to actually say that I own one now (even though it's only half a bike!). I've ridden friends bikes and used to own a Honda 400ex ATV, so I have some experience riding, and I did replace the rear axle on my 400ex and did the oil changes so I'm not afraid of getting dirty.

I'm sure I've bitten off way more than I can chew on this project, but I love to challenge myself, and I couldn't think of a greater challenge than to build my own motorcycle and make it safe enough that even a seasoned rider wouldn't be afraid to take it around the block.

I look forward to sharing my progress, and more importantly, being able to ask stupid questions, which I already have hundreds of.

I am fortunate enough to live about 5 miles away from one of the country's largest Japanese motorcycle salvage yards, and I go there a lot and get ideas. The motorcycle community seems very tight knit and very much a club, so more often than not, I feel like a poser trying to weasel his way in. Hopefully, I'll earn a place in the community after I've shed enough blood and sweat trying to rebuild this broken 30 something old project into something beautiful and functional. Thanks everyone!

Here's how she sits now:

p.s. don't laugh too much at my screen name

 

[pat english]

thats a sweet deal..lot of work though..what are the plans for it?

 

[bwald]

Try to stay motivated, find a shop manual, take your time, and ask questions. Do one thing at a time and it will feel less intimidating. By the time this bike is done, you will have a wealth of knowledge.

 

[bwald]

Oh, and even if you're a newbie, nobody can call you a poser if you build this thing yourself.

 

[SilkySmooth750]

mr. english - It is a great deal! I also got a brand new gasket kit and a four into one exhaust! The guy who sold it to me was a nice older gentleman who loves bikes but said he's getting too old to crouch down and work on these things anymore. It was a parts bike for a restoration he did. I felt bad for paying the price he gave me, but it was so cool to have this older gentleman who was clearly a lifetime wrencher tell me he hopes I do something with it. My inspiration is this fellow http://anatomyofacaferacer.blogspot.com/ his bike is so amazing. Clearly, my budget isn't as large as his, being able to buy parts from the famous Benjie's cafe website are just not in my cards, but I hope to do something close to what he's done. The rear hoop is beautiful! I hope that mine is half as nice as his.

bwald: I try to take every challenge in my life one piece at a time. Eveytyhing is a project to me. I have great ideas and aspirations for this old girl and I know some day, with time and patience, she'll be my own little custom. I actually get so sidetracked at work, looking for parts, etc that a lot of people wonder what I do all day! I can see how this becomes an addiction and an obsession. Not to mention the obsessive personality I was born with.

I'm so happy to have found this site, to know there's so much knowledge out there and so many bikers, mechanics, machinists, engineers, builders, paninter, etc who have something to help me out with. Even just words of encouragement. I waited all afternoon to see the responses I might get, and was a bit worried, but I'm glad and grateful for the positive attitudes so far! I feel like, I'm hanging out in a garage full of billiant bike makers and picking their brains.

I love hanging at the salvage yard in my area, but I can tell they know I'm just a poser and are a bit stand off-ish. Thanks everyone! I'm so stoked to start this project up!

 

[SilkySmooth750]

Here are some more pics of the tear down:

Any advice on next steps would be greatly appreciated! Yes, those are peanut butter jars balancing it...have yet to stop at lowe's and get some wood blocks.

 

[Deadlogic]

Like bwald said, just do one thing at a time and enjoy the build. I'm in the middle of restoring/refitting a junkyard special myself, though progress is halted due to insufficient funds... It's easy to get overwhelmed, when that happens you just need to stand back and take a breath, then dive back in with both feet. Don't let the guys at the salvage yard discourage you or put you off, it seems to be a common attitude for pick-a-part lots. Before you know it they'll know you by first name and will be cutting deals with you on parts, haha.

Back on the bike, looks like a solid base for your project, and you've definitely got some good inspiration. When you're looking at bikes built on a seemingly unlimited budget, look over what they did and see if there's a way you can build it yourself. The DTT crew is amazing at helping out with ideas on custom parts, and there's a lot of talent around here for fabrication, as you well know.


p.s. Apologies on any jumping around, been a little too long without sleep now.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Welcome and nice score SilkySmooth750 !
I too am up to my lower lip in a DOHC 750 build. Judging from your pics, you have a '79 "K" model because of the wire wheels, and a hinged seat. Mine is an '81 "C", very close other than cosmetics. You can follow along on my build it's the "Rock-it" linked in my sig.
There is manuals online for free, and I can link you too them if you want. Also don't think for a minute you are a "Poser" unless you act like something you're not. You are a builder... and thats better than any store bought piece of chome-n-billet biker any day!
So where's this massive bone yard? I might just be having you scope out some parts next time your there. I'm on the watch for a 79-82 CB750, 900, 1100 "F" models tank in decent shape.

 

[SilkySmooth750]

Deadlogic: I will certainly follow your advice and just cut the project into smaller mini projects and take breathers if I get too overwhelmed. I think with more time spent at the salvage yard, they'll be a bit more friendly, since I'll actually know what I'm looking for and at, rather than just roaming acres of carcasses. Good luck on your rebuild and let me know if you have link I can follow to see your progress!

Hoosier Daddy: As a matter of fact, I've been watching your build for a few weeks now because of all the knowledge you have so it's awesome to hear from you! Thank you so much for the information on what model I had, since I couldn't be sure. I have a Clymer manual, but it doesn't specify which model is which. Can you send me those links to the manuals online? My Clymer is pretty awesome, but I can tell it's not going to be sufficient enough for the engine rebuild. It will cover most of my chassis questions. If you know of anything more robust and in depth for the DOHC 750, let me know. I'm basically going to split the case and start from ground zero which terrifies me, but, you've seen the pictures, and I feel like I don't have much of a choice. The bone yard is called (almost comically so) "Bob's used motorcycles" in Phoenix, AZ. It's in a pretty crummy neighborhood, but I live pretty close, so it's easy for me to stop in. When I make my way back, I'll take a picture of the yard, because words just don't do it justice. It's one of those yards that doesn't allow tools, so it's pretty much pristine. I could spend an entire day there. On my first visit, I was actually told the yard was closing and got shooed away. But I digress. I am also in the hunt for a tank, so I will let you know what kind of options I find and send you some pictures, etc.

Before I continue, I need to organize my garage and find a way to stand the bike up a bit further off the ground. I've looked at a jack and a small lift at Harbor Freight, just need to get to the Harbor Freight store. I've begun building my tool kit. Any suggestions for me to take with me to Harbor Freight?

Once I've done that, I plan on separating the motor from the frame and having the frame media blasted. If it wasn't for terrible luck, I wouldn't have any at all, and though living in Arizona does make rust a non-issue, I do want to make sure there are no cracks, stress, etc. to the frame before I invest a ton of money on it. Then, I'll mock up the rolling chassis to get it in the stance I want. That alone should keep me busy for quite a while. Do you plan on putting a rear hoop on this one? In looking at this bike, it doesn't have the perfect round tubing that older and smaller model Hondas have, it's a bit oval where a new hoop would go, not to mention the (I don't know the technical phrase) reinforcement wedges welded on. I really want a clean looking hoop, like it was meant to be there.

Thanks again for your advice and I look forward to picking your brain a whole bunch about everything I can possibly think to ask! Just let me know when you're getting annoyed! LOL.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Sent you a PM about whats available on www.CB750C.com
Now before you get in too deep on your build here in the Members Introductions section here, maybe you ought to start a build thread in the Big Arse Projects section here on DTT. You'll probably get more activity there. Be sure to post a link here to it so we know where to find it!
Another member here just put a hoop on his and it turned out AWESOME!...
Ijohnny18 here http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=33689.msg421134#msg421134

Bob's used motorcycles huh? Did a google search... DAMN!!!!

.

 

[SilkySmooth750]

HD: I'm laughing so loud right now, my girl is like "what the heck is so damn funny!". I told you it was rediculous. I've only been through about 1/4 of the entire yard! I will post these last pics and then try to figure out how to start a new thread in the Bigarsebuilds section. I am a 12 year vet of all things technical, but sites like this are certainly not my forte, so once again, yet another learning experience. I cleaned out my garage today, found some old jackstands I used to have to keep her at least a bit balances until I can get a jack. Took off the front forks today, they are in amazing shape, I believe I will start with these forks as my first rebuild project because they look so nice.

Here's the pile of stuff (minus the forks and wheels and swingarm which I took off myself, the nice older fellow gave to me, try not to laugh too hard at the jiffy containers that are most likely holding golden parts too tiny to keep anywhere, but too important to lose):

Here is how she sits now, triple tree left to take off, need some tools I don't own to do it, I'm having so much fun doing this!

The front wheel on the left is my Step Son's 2011 Green Machine. He's got two bike at the age of 6, so I'm a bit behind. I'm sure some of you remember the Green Machine from the 80's. I'm so jealous of his ride! LOL

 

[SilkySmooth750]

Hey all, I moved my build over to the Big Arse Build section on Hoosier Daddy's advice. Here's the link to that: http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=38954.0

I am amazed at all of the 1979+ CB750 builds that are just popping up recently!