Just picked up a 78 CB750

[cafeben]

I just picked up a 78 CB750 today. I want to do a cafe build, but want to ride it for the rest of the summer and do major projects over the winter.

Any suggestions or ideas are welcome. Maybe a suggested starting point? As of now, the front brake squeals and I need to get a new battery(PO said the battery wasn't holding much of a charge)

Edit: It's a CB750K with an F seat and tank. I have another f tank and the very bulbous stock tank, along with a bunch of assorted parts.

It runs and rides alright, but the front caliper will need to be rebuilt or replaced, new jets(falls on its face initially when you give it throttle-too lean?)

I like the look of this http://youtu.be/mTX9iQP4nRs bike and want to get as close to it as possible.

 

[surffly]

Dont worry so much about the look, worry about making the bike work and then improving the way it works as a motorcycle, the look will come after that.
bonus points for not being the newbie that posts pictures of a motorcycle but then turns it into a pile of parts in the second picture.

just to let you know your bike is a "bitsa", bits of this and bits of that. its a K frame (i think) but an F seat and tank for sure.
So take the time and figure out what is what so that you dont order the wrong parts.
Get a FACTORY manual
Tune the bike 100% stock first before you start modding it. I see you are missing the stock airbox, his makes things harder, not sure how much experience you have tuning old bikes. but the SOHC4 bikes HATE pods, but on the positive side they are not emgo junk pods
drag bars are about as low as you can go with the stock pegs. Clubmans and stock pegs are a bad idea as you lean to far and lose leverage and on a heavy bike thats bad
Look into modding that pipe. The supertrap is cool but looks like it drags on the ground so thats bad

Few things to keep in mind
-dont lower the bike, its not a civic. The sweet spot for handling is on inch up (DOHC) shocks
-Dont ditch the front fender. It acts as a brace and is important to the forks.

 

[cafeben]

I've decided to start ordering parts- jet kit, front brake caliper, clubman bars, new grips..

I'm going to start looking for a few things I want to do towards the winter- rearsets, CBR front end, a new seat, ways to put the battery and electronics under the seat, new oil lines..

Haven't decided if I want to try to convert the back to disk brake, or just stick with drum. I think the drum needs to be redone, so I will have it apart anyway..

It falls on its face when you open the throttle. So from what I've read, I need to change the main jets to something a little bigger.

Front brake caliper squeals horribly, PO said he thinks it needs to be rebuilt or replaced due to the piston hanging up.

The drag bar that's on there is ok, but I like the look of the clubmans. Clipons will come with a new front end.

Also going through the electronics will be on my list-I want to get rid of the stock dummy light cluster.

Edit: A sealed battery will be ordered asap..I just forgot to list it.

 

[rockcitycafe]

work on the mechanicals before the look as mentioned above, my bone stock ugly as hell but carefully tuned (getting faster with each small adjustment) 750k will pretty much max out the stock speedo, my guess is it's about 130 actual ground speed. there's not a lot of point in looking fast if it isn't fast, and it takes a lot more careful work to make it fast than to make it look fast. you mention it needed new jets because it wasn't running properly... it's doubtful it needs new jets, but likely needs a careful and thorough tuneup complete with a proper carburetor cleaning and rebuild, also, if the battery voltage is lower than it should be, the ignition can be working like junk and causing it to run poorly. again, don't go messing about when the ideal stock running conditions haven't been met yet, you'll just be causing yourself massive frustration and take away from riding enjoyment.

 

[rockcitycafe]

also, yeah... put the stock airbox back on or buy one from ebay and install it, your bike will never develop the power it did stock with those pods, at the very least you need to install the stock rubber stacks with the pods on the ends or your bike will be left in the dust by a well tuned cb350 and frankly, that's just embarrassing...

 

[cafeben]

Carbs cleaned and back together. Now I'm just waiting on 2 new manifold boots to come in and It'll be back on the road. Have a bid on some R6 rearsets, still looking for a lower profile seat that will fit like stock(not chopping the end of the frame off yet). Decided to keep the drag bar on there for now(save the ~30 dollars and put it toward a modern front end conversion over the winter). Going to start looking for material to redo the electrical panel and major/questionable wiring over the winter. I have a gsxr tail light I'm going to mock up and try to fab a mount for, and start looking for smaller/led turn signals. I would post pictures but there is nothing really too interesting developing yet..