Opinion on 78 CB750

[Six8cal]

Hey everyone! I'm new to the forum and just picked up a 78 CB750F for the great price of Free.99.

I have a good friend that's been working on cycles of all years for the past 3 decades. He tells me that the 78 is the worst year to have due to changes made for the last year of the SOHC and lack of parts available. He also mentioned the carbs are not the greatest on the 78.

Can anyone confirm his statements or is it just one of those things where you can get a good one or bad one?

Thanks!!

 

[Dave]

Welcome new guy!

I haven't worked on those carbs myself but I'm sure someone will come along who has. Looking at pics it looks like they fixed something that already worked, damned engineers.

It's all really perspective. Can you fix it yourself or plan to learn how? I myself enjoy working on my bike as much as riding it.

If it just needs some TLC that's in your skill set to give, then gratz! If you plan on letting your freind do all the work, then his opinion is more important then ours.

 

[madmtnmotors]

I've had my K8 for thirty years and I still like it:

The naysayers are just jealous because the 78's were the fastest!

 

[Six8cal]

Welcome new guy!

I haven't worked on those carbs myself but I'm sure someone will come along who has. Looking at pics it looks like they fixed something that already worked, damned engineers.

It's all really perspective. Can you fix it yourself or plan to learn how? I myself enjoy working on my bike as much as riding it.

If it just needs some TLC that's in your skill set to give, then gratz! If you plan on letting your freind do all the work, then his opinion is more important then ours.

Thanks! Most everything it needs is within my skill set, however I'm sure there's stuff he will help me with. The person I got it from is kind of a role model to me so opinions good or bad mean nothing because I'll keep it regardless. I am more just fishing for information on stuff (if any) I should be aware of with this certain year.

 

[amc49]

If that year the carbs are the Mikuni smoothbore clone wannabes then they are more complicated parts wise but still a good set of carbs. I love the same smaller version ones on my 550, piece of cake and they hold sync rock solid. The added accel pump is easy enough to understand.

 

[dirtdigger]

yes the 78 does use the pd carbs. Nothing wrong with this year of 750. For the most part the engine is the same as the early years, the head, pistons and cylinder are different but basically everything else is the same. They did have some issues with the cylinder heads but there are ways to fix it. I did do a long explanation on a post on here about the cylinder head, do a search on this site, should find a lot of info.

 

[amc49]

By that pic them carbs run good enough to get a 500 lb. bike off the front wheel LOL.

 

[dirtdigger]

I have never had an issue with these carbs, they are just less friendly when it comes to tuning the needles and the pressed in pilot jets other then that I like having the accel pump.

 

[K2750tracy]

I have never had an issue with these carbs, they are just less friendly when it comes to tuning the needles and the pressed in pilot jets other then that I like having the accel pump.

+1 on the carbs and the 78F. I love the look of this model.

 

[K2750tracy]

By that pic them carbs run good enough to get a 500 lb. bike off the front wheel LOL.

And that is a K model. The F model has the F2 engine that runs even better.