70s Honda Twins and Fours - resource for pricing, clubs and forums

[mello dude]

I'm researching typical pricing of '70s Honda's - twins and fours, the whole range produced.

Can you suggest some good resources for fair prices, bikes in various conditions

- assuming someone would buy, do some  or major resto work and then sell to make a few bucks.

Kinda of a what if -- a barn find situation...

 Kinda been doing the Google thing, but there has to be an old Honda junkie group/blog/forum or other somewhere...

 Wahtdya know? 

[hubcapsc]

If you find them and refurbish them nicely, you can
find a willing market at "bringatrailer"... there's a
nice 750 there right now, it will bid way up past the
current $3,000, I'm sure. Scroll down past the couple
of currently for sale ones and see the already sold
ones... a recent one went for $8,000...

https://bringatrailer.com/search/honda+750/

-Mike "they have to be nice..."

[Oldfishguy]

I'm researching typical pricing of '70s Honda's - twins and fours, the whole range produced.

Can you suggest some good resources for fair prices, bikes in various conditions

- assuming someone would buy, do some  or major resto work and then sell to make a few bucks.

Kinda of a what if -- a barn find situation...

 Kinda been doing the Google thing, but there has to be an old Honda junkie group/blog/forum or other somewhere...

 Wahtdya know?  

Are you on Facebook? If not, join.  There are quite a few groups that specialize in those machines.  Hunt around and find a few that appeal to you and join them.
Here is one group I like:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/185595442016587


I've been doing this a long time and I can tell you there is typically not a lot of money in fixing up old Honda's; it has to be a passion.  The problem is in an odd way that these old Honda's run forever.  So as soon as the prices climb a bit a few more are pulled out of the barn and that keeps the prices down.  Can you make a few hundred? Yes.  But unless you find a Sandcast CB750 (1969 model, first 7400 produced) your doing the restoration for passion, not money.

And Bring a Trailer auction site (BAT) is a place to sell machines these days, they seem to bring about 25% above market value.

1971 CB500  (a simply awesome time machine)


 

[Alpha Dog]

It could be the Japanese driving up the prices.  I use to regularly go to a warehouse, special project building for Honda Automotive up until a year ago.  In one section they had the large containers for shipment to Japan.  There was always a Honda four on the floor to be crated for shipment to Japan.  Man I saw a lot of sweet Hondas that looked showroom new, including a couple of the Honda inline 6 CBXs.

[hubcapsc]

It could be the Japanese driving up the prices.  I use to regularly go to a warehouse, special project building for Honda Automotive up until a year ago.  In one section they had the large containers for shipment to Japan.  There was always a Honda four on the floor to be crated for shipment to Japan.  Man I saw a lot of sweet Hondas that looked showroom new, including a couple of the Honda inline 6 CBXs.

I saw a CBX that was new, still in the crate, for sale the other day. I guess it
was on bringatrailer, though I have been on ebay some (but not looking for
stuff like that)...

-Mike

[Patrick]

There are 2 350-4 cylinders in the area and a friend has 2 CBXs. I don't know they know just what there are worth.

[old2soon]

         Y'all got me thinkin bout my old CB 500-4. Danged interesting scoot fer 4 cylinders and 500CC. Have NO Idea how many times I wound her past the red line and She continued to live. Used to luv givin 883 iron twins heck!  RIDE SAFE.

[semo97]

Back in the mid 90s I was buying cb750 sohc  to make choppers out of. I got a mint 69 sohc with 27K miles for 500. I kick my self for chopping it. There is a web sight for only cb750 sohc if you post something about a dohc they delete it. That was  back in the 90s they may have gotten more tolerant.

[Oldfishguy]

It could be the Japanese driving up the prices.  I use to regularly go to a warehouse, special project building for Honda Automotive up until a year ago.  In one section they had the large containers for shipment to Japan.  There was always a Honda four on the floor to be crated for shipment to Japan.  Man I saw a lot of sweet Hondas that looked showroom new, including a couple of the Honda inline 6 CBXs.

That is correct. And they are being shipped to Europe and Australia by the ship container full. I have two buyers in my area buying every Old metric they can and shipping them overseas. They do not need titles and don’t care if they run. They do not work on them, just scooping them up and packing them in tight in a container. Although, I believe they prey on the ignorant and poor by buying these things in barns for very little money to the old owners. I have met the buyers, they are not bikers but opportunist. Big difference.

Soooo many of these old Honda’s were sold in the US in the heyday. Not so much in other countries so they are in higher demand overseas. If you look in almost any Craigslist area under Motorcycles you will find someone advertising to buy these old metrics. The good thing is there are still a lot in barns all over the US.

[Oldfishguy]

Back in the mid 90s I was buying cb750 sohc  to make choppers out of. I got a mint 69 sohc with 27K miles for 500. I kick my self for chopping it. There is a web sight for only cb750 sohc if you post something about a dohc they delete it. That was  back in the 90s they may have gotten more tolerant.

Nope, not any more tolerant. Just like the Valkyrie is a semi cult group, so are the SOHC group. Although it has all transferred to the Facebook groups now. And don’t feel bad about chopping it, many many were back in the day; it simply was the cool thing to do.

My 73

[mello dude]

I do lust for a green 500/550 in minty condition, and curiosity got the better of me.
I bumped into an older gentleman, who was a Honda dealer in the '70s and OMG, my head is spinning.

Facebook? I have been wondering if I should join up or not, I have been reluctant because of security/privacy concerns.

[3fan4life]

There are 2 350-4 cylinders in the area and a friend has 2 CBXs. I don't know they know just what there are worth.

If he ever wants to sell one of the CBX's send him my way.

[signart]

Back in the mid 90s I was buying cb750 sohc  to make choppers out of. I got a mint 69 sohc with 27K miles for 500. I kick my self for chopping it. There is a web sight for only cb750 sohc if you post something about a dohc they delete it. That was  back in the 90s they may have gotten more tolerant.

Nope, not any more tolerant. Just like the Valkyrie is a semi cult group, so are the SOHC group. Although it has all transferred to the Facebook groups now. And don’t feel bad about chopping it, many many were back in the day; it simply was the cool thing to do.

My 73

Do you still have this '73?  I assume that is Sunrise Orange metal flake. I bought the first one available at Cookeville Honda in TN. Had to pay full list price because of the color. $1800

I'd do it again ifn' you are interested I still have the matching helmet.

[Pappy!]

Another neat site is bike curious.....

https://www.bike-urious.com/

Lesa has her 1982 Suzuki GS550L and for most of her riding it is her go to bike. She has a few to choose from too !
She loves the vintage bikes.

[Oldfishguy]

Back in the mid 90s I was buying cb750 sohc  to make choppers out of. I got a mint 69 sohc with 27K miles for 500. I kick my self for chopping it. There is a web sight for only cb750 sohc if you post something about a dohc they delete it. That was  back in the 90s they may have gotten more tolerant.

Nope, not any more tolerant. Just like the Valkyrie is a semi cult group, so are the SOHC group. Although it has all transferred to the Facebook groups now. And don’t feel bad about chopping it, many many were back in the day; it simply was the cool thing to do.

My 73

Do you still have this '73?  I assume that is Sunrise Orange metal flake. I bought the first one available at Cookeville Honda in TN. Had to pay full list price because of the color. $1800

I'd do it again ifn' you are interested I still have the matching helmet.

Yes I still have it, and unfortunately it is not for sale.

Search Tempest web site will be your friend in this regard.  It will search a lot of Craigslist sites quickly for you.  I looked for a 750 for a good year before finding this one 500 miles away.  A lot of junk out there as these things were abused and worth little for so long.  You need to find one that was loved but yet at a reasonable price. At that though, expect to do some work on them.  I had to source the exhaust and a few other items, and then of course you have old carburetors one needs to be comfortable digging in to.  This time of year prices are sky high; my thought would be to start looking in earnest August, and be willing to travel for the right machine. 

But yes, they are AWESOME machines . . . and worth the effort.  Best of luck.

[signart]

I have one, ('75) waiting in a long line for roundtoits. Sold a '72 last year to bump it up one spot.
I have had the paint work bartered out complete for some time. Still, it's a big job maintaining the running fleet. Wouldn't stop me from a nostalgia buy though.