Restore & Ride or Keep as is?

[Ace77]

I have a CB750 K7 with 8,000 miles, very good condition. Verified the date code on the tires, they are the originals. Have started restoring so I could ride it, epoxied the inside of the gas tank. complete clean and rebuild of the carbs, new coils, plan to put new elec. ignition system, plan to have all the alum polished and put it back together. Original pipes are gone but I have 4 to 1 header black steel to replace them. Needs brake line and caliper for the front. So, do I put this bike on the road with new tires and just ride it or should I just put it back together dry and set on it for a collector to purchase some day? I would appreciate any and all good advice. Thanks, Ace77

 

[drgnrdr750]

Are you a rider or a collector? That should be the first question to ask yourself. Next would be do you own one or have rode one, if so then holding out for a collector might be a good choice.

 

[dirtdigger]

The late sohc really arent as collectable as the early years but if its in good shape and mostly original it would be a shame to destroy originality

 

[Ace77]

Thanks for your comments. I bought this cycle 23 years ago and started restoring it, the cost and progress was not moving fast enough for me so I got a Harly and moth balled the Honda. Decided to finish it when I retired, time to finish and I'm too old to ride. I'm thinking go ahead and make it ridable, do a nice detail, hold on to the original tires. I would rather see someone have it that would maybe show it and put a few hundred miles a year on it. I'm a old gearhead, got a 85 5.0 I drive every chance I get. What do you think?

 

[dirtdigger]

I wish I was closer I would jump on it as project. I have old hondas and hoard 750 motors and parts lol Im also a gear head have 2 mustangs myself. I guess if you want to find a new home for it I wouldnt do too much to it as the next owner might have different ideas on how they want to build. But running and rideable bike will always be worth more then a not rideable bike.

 

[Ace77]

I could not agree more. I've got a guy lined up to put it back together. I'm ready to start chasing parts. I got a pretty good list going, does anyone have an idea, other than eBay, to find most of this stuff?

 

[dirtdigger]

vintagecb750.com a sponsor on this site, 4into1.com for stock type stuff if you need engine or performance stuff go to cyclex. ebay is good to find oem stuff or stuff you cant find elsewhere.

 

[Ace77]

Thanks for the info, looks like these suppliers have a lot of parts. I'll keep you guys posted on the progress and problems as we go along. Thanks again

 

[mjc]

Thanks for your comments. I bought this cycle 23 years ago and started restoring it, the cost and progress was not moving fast enough for me so I got a Harly and moth balled the Honda. Decided to finish it when I retired, time to finish and I'm too old to ride. I'm thinking go ahead and make it ridable, do a nice detail, hold on to the original tires. I would rather see someone have it that would maybe show it and put a few hundred miles a year on it. I'm a old gearhead, got a 85 5.0 I drive every chance I get. What do you think?

You are never too old to ride. I am 69 and have 3 motorcycles in the garage.

 

[Ace77]

OK, I'm ready to order parts and get ready for this restore. I would like to get ahead of my mechanic on this project, are there any rubber seals or parts that must be addressed internally? This engine has not been started in 25 years, but it has been stored inside climate controlled and is full of oil and turns over freely. I'm getting a engine rebuild gasket and seal set to replace any we can get to. Thanks again for any advice you guys may have, I've been through this a few times with cars, but this is my first bike restore.

 

[Old_Crow]

You are never too old to ride. I am 69 and have 3 motorcycles in the garage.

In 2011, when I was 60, a new friend asked me if I had anything but "toys". At the time, between my wife and I, we had 2 Jeep Wranglers, 2 classic 50-60's trucks and 3 Harleys. I had to admit that I didn't have anything but "toys".
Today, at 74, I own a (different) Jeep Wrangler and my '79 CB750, and the 36' motorhome I live in. Guess I still own nothing but "toys".
I was okay with that back then, and I'm okay with it now. I don't do the multiple 400-mile-days-in-a-row rides anymore, but I still ride as much as I can. I have 4 sons who also ride, so riding companions are easy to come by.

 

[Ace77]

That's cool man, I definitely will ride this bike some! I can't find the gas cap for this tank, I haven't give up yet but in looking around I might have to buy an aftermarket locking cap? Does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks

 

[Trkdrvr1376]

In 2011, when I was 60, a new friend asked me if I had anything but "toys". At the time, between my wife and I, we had 2 Jeep Wranglers, 2 classic 50-60's trucks and 3 Harleys. I had to admit that I didn't have anything but "toys".
Today, at 74, I own a (different) Jeep Wrangler and my '79 CB750, and the 36' motorhome I live in. Guess I still own nothing but "toys".
I was okay with that back then, and I'm okay with it now. I don't do the multiple 400-mile-days-in-a-row rides anymore, but I still ride as much as I can. I have 4 sons who also ride, so riding companions are easy to come by.

Absolutely bad ass cool! Love hearing stories about long in the tooth riders as I am myself at 62. Have a 82 Yamaha I rescued from a barn ride everyday to work and on the side I picked up a80 750c to be brought back to life this spring.
As for riding with your sons those are memories you will have forever. Be safe and enjoy