Question for my elders (Which is pretty much all of you)

[Reb]

As some may already know, I've been slowly accumulating a variety of 70's Honda motorcycles for restoration projects.

Since finishing the CB350F. I've moved onto a 68' CL175 in hopes to complete before Christmas as a retirement gift to my pops.



I recently stumbled across a 77' CB750A in perfect "rustic" condition. The one major item that sold me on the 250$ price (see image below)



That fairing phone though!!!!!!!
Is that someone's Jerry-rigged technology enhancement? Or was something of that nature a legitimate aftermarket accessory back in the day? I know some outfits made accessories for the Vetter fairings, but I've never seen a phone before...  Excuse me for any ignorance on aftermarket products, these pre-date my existence by a good margin.

any assumptions or insight out there?

Also, I'm not too familiar with the Hondamatic 750. I read that Honda tuned them down in comparison to their 5 speed counterparts. I think they have CB550 carburetors on them from the factory. Wondering if the tune down was to better the life of the transmission?  Curios as I planned to put a set of larger carbs on.

[Robert]

Is that someone's Jerry-rigged technology enhancement? Or was something of that nature a legitimate aftermarket accessory back in the day? I know some outfits made accessories for the Vetter fairings, but I've never seen a phone before... 

 

No its somebody's mod and not a bad one at that. No motorcycle much less very few if any cars came with one. Along with the lack of water proofing on the handset much less the electronics of the unit I doubt that unless ridden only on a sunny day it could survive.  Looks like a great project and I love your work space very nice 

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-audiovox-car-cell-phone-bc-474886035

Took another look at the pic of the dash and the guy who owned the bike must never have ridden it on a rainy day and was probably an electronics lover. The radio mounted there is old, but it was a high end one and also has no water proofing.

[Reb]

Is that someone's Jerry-rigged technology enhancement? Or was something of that nature a legitimate aftermarket accessory back in the day? I know some outfits made accessories for the Vetter fairings, but I've never seen a phone before... 

 

No its somebody's mod and not a bad one at that. No motorcycle much less very few if any cars came with one. Along with the lack of water proofing on the handset much less the electronics of the unit I doubt that unless ridden only on a sunny day it could survive.  Looks like a great project and I love your work space very nice 

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-audiovox-car-cell-phone-bc-474886035

Took another look at the pic of the dash and the guy who owned the bike must never have ridden it on a rainy day and was probably an electronics lover. The radio mounted there is old, but it was a high end one and also has no water proofing.

Damn

Here i thought I stumbled across a high end special edition aftermarket product 

[scooperhsd]

That looked very close to my first cell phone - a bag phone from Radio Shack.

[Oldfishguy]

Ummmm.  I would do a hard, hard pass on the 750A machine.  The automatic version is really not a coveted machine by collectors/anybody.  And that one has a lot of “extras” on it, lights, electronics etc.  That wire harness has got to be a mess.  

Try to find an early K model.  69-72 is the best collectible, followed by The 73-76.  The 77-78 models are not really collectible as the look changed so much from the prior machines.  And then 79 and after we’re the DOHC models and not worth much either.  And of course the first 7414 machines of 69 are pure gold and know as “Sandcast” machines.

Since you did such a fantastic job on the 350F a 750 would be a perfect choice to move into; as they were the machine that revolutionized the industry.  I have bought and sold quite a few Honda’s over the years; I especially like the 4”s.  I have a love/hate relationship with carburetors.

My 73 CB750K3



71 CB500



73 CB350F, (that I sold his summer)

[Reb]

Ummmm.  I would do a hard, hard pass on the 750A machine.  The automatic version is really not a coveted machine by collectors/anybody.  And that one has a lot of “extras” on it, lights, electronics etc.  That wire harness has got to be a mess.  

Try to find an early K model.  69-72 is the best collectible, followed by The 73-76.  The 77-78 models are not really collectible as the look changed so much from the prior machines.  And then 79 and after we’re the DOHC models and not worth much either.  And of course the first 7414 machines of 69 are pure gold and know as “Sandcast” machines.

Since you did such a fantastic job on the 350F a 750 would be a perfect choice to move into; as they were the machine that revolutionized the industry.  I have bought and sold quite a few Honda’s over the years; I especially like the 4”s.  I have a love/hate relationship with carburetors.

That's a beautiful collection

I'm not a coveted collector,  just an enjoy-er of making old things new again...

[Jess from VA]

I'd listen to Oldfishguy.  

I can understand if your motivation is more about the process and work of restoration than the finished product for riding or collecting.

But the process of restoration on that bike looks more like headache than fun (to me, but what do I know?).  And for an automatic?  

The last easy thing on that bike is the $250 price tag.    (If you hold out, I bet he'd pay you $50 to take it away  )

[scooperhsd]

Interesting thing about the 750 Automatics - they were the basis for the CB400A / CB450A models. ANd, fun fact - the DOHC CB750 fours did have the space / mountings available for the Hondamatic as well - but Honda was smart enough to not put it in.

[Reb]

I'd listen to Oldfishguy.  

I can understand if your motivation is more about the process and work of restoration than the finished product for riding or collecting.

But the process of restoration on that bike looks more like headache than fun (to me, but what do I know?).  And for an automatic?  

The last easy thing on that bike is the $250 price tag.    (If you hold out, I bet he'd pay you $50 to take it away  )

It's an each to their own thing. I understand the 750A wasnt a highly sought after consumer/collector model of the late superbike era. That same statement could be said about the beloved Valkyrie of the late 90's/2000's era.

"You'll think differently when I'm calling hot girls from my motorcycle phone"  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Listen hear youngster ! PAY NO ATTENTION TO THESE GRUMPY OLD MEN.  

That dude sure had some wild accessories.   I don't think Honda came out with those wheels for another 5-10 years though. Is the rear the same ? I never rode the 750 Auto, but the 400 auto was definitely de tuned. I'm not sure if it was to accommodate the transmission or not. I always assumed Honda did it to gear the bike towards a market of beginners.

(I wish my son had rebuilt a CL175 for my retirement)  

[hubcapsc]

That 750 would be something if you shined it up like the others... I wonder
if the phone is 5G?

-Mike "or just how many Gs it might have  "

[F6Dave]

I saw this 750 at a dealer's service department a few years ago.  Other than the tank dent it was in awesome condition and appeared to be 100% original.

[Patrick]

  That shop is WAY WAY too clean ! 

How the heck do you do that !  Nice shop.

[..]

I hope you will be removing the fairing and that beyond fugly seat thing.

[Pluggy]

The front wheel is from a Yamaha Virago.  The fairing is a Pacifico.  Similar to a Vetter fairing, it also came on a touring version of a Yamaha, probably around 1980. 

In the early 80's the Honda dealer in Glen Burnie Maryland changed from a car and bike store to all cars.  They sold leftover bikes at auction.  There were several new 750 automatics sold, I believe they were 1978 models.  It was my understanding the 750A only had two forward speeds.  They went for $1,100-1,300.  They had a list price around $2,100.  It was probably an adequate motorcycle, but Honda developed a product that there was little demand for.

[The emperor has no clothes]

The front wheel is from a Yamaha Virago.  The fairing is a Pacifico.  Similar to a Vetter fairing, it also came on a touring version of a Yamaha, probably around 1980. 

In the early 80's the Honda dealer in Glen Burnie Maryland changed from a car and bike store to all cars.  They sold leftover bikes at auction.  There were several new 750 automatics sold, I believe they were 1978 models.  It was my understanding the 750A only had two forward speeds.  They went for $1,100-1,300.  They had a list price around $2,100.  It was probably an adequate motorcycle, but Honda developed a product that there was little demand for.

Good catch on the wheels and fairing. I thought something looked different about it. Are the bags and trunk also from the Virago ?

[Oldfishguy]

Just like the Valkyrie has a kind of a cult following, so does the 750.  Here is a guide to determine year and originality:

http://honda750expert.com/

Although year and titled year can vary.  Odd things  happened in those early 1970’s years with titles.  Sometimes bikes were titled with the year they were sold, other times some were titled with the engine VIN not the frame.  Overseas bikes sold were notorious with wrong year of titles.  But the VIN’s never lie, or I should say most don’t.  On the left side of the neck will be a stamped VIN, trust that.

As I said before I’ve sold quite a few bikes over the years and I have yet to see a buyer physically match the title VIN and the bike VIN.  I wait for them to look at it . . . but not yet!  I looked at a Honda CL450 this summer and was ready to make an offer but had the title in hand and did the match . . . no match. In fact, no VIN tag and the head tag had been ground away.   I walked away immediately, the seller I believe was unaware.

[Oldfishguy]

I saw this 750 at a dealer's service department a few years ago.  Other than the tank dent it was in awesome condition and appeared to be 100% original.

1969 or 1970 machine teal blue above is a top money machine.

1969 Sandcast $15,000- $35,000
1970 machine $7,500- $15,000

My 1973 750 above flake sunrise orange, probably about $4000 as is. It is a nice rider, not a show bike.

[The emperor has no clothes]

If I recall, the Touring Yamaha was an accessorized 1100.  Virago was sold as a stripped bike.  I rode a few and they were great.  Can't comment on the bags, as most of them were similar in shape.  A brand called Bates Bags was popular before Vetter brought out bags.  That trunk looks like what guys would get from JC Whitney.

If you should ever see an automatic 750, look at the engine.  At first glance it looks like the old Honda Four.  However, it was substantially different and little of it interchanged with the popular 750.  Prior to that 750A was the Moto Guzzi "Guzzimatic".  It was sold as a Deluxe luxury bike.  That brand was highly regarded and rarely purchased.

I remember the Guzzi's. Never saw one in person though.

[old2soon]

     Would absofrikkinlutely LUV to have my old 73 CB500/4 back. It only stayed brindle s it brown and black til the first snow flew. Wish I'd taken pictures of the custom work she ended up with.    Fer as this old guy goes-you want thar 750A go for it!  RIDE SAFE.

[sheets]

Back in nineteen and ninety-six, I carried a Motorola "bag phone" in the trunk of my GW.  

[cookiedough]

wishing you good luck on this new project bike.  Hope you get it up and running and looking well in next year or so.  If  you do,  definitely want pics of before and after.  Looks like  you have  your hands full for sure on this one, but like said 250 bucks is not much as long as do not have to stick another 1 grand into it.  Am assuming for only 250 bucks it does not run currently?    My kid just bought a 1982 honda CM450c
 for 600 in decent running condition, and he was born in year 2000 so double his age.  So far, runs well and he is loving it putzing around 100 miles or less on it and sips gas at 65 mpg only about 19K miles on it.  I told him to go buy some cheap turtle wax chrome polish and he did and showed me before and after pics of the front crash bar and chrome front fender and is night and day difference.  He was impressed at how CLEAN an old and neglected cycle can become near new again as well like you are doing.  Now if only he can find a better conditioned used blue side cover since the one on it is looking pretty bad.   Is a good beater round town cycle newer battery and tires and chain on it so at least some things were not neglected the basics anyways.  Heck,  the previous owner put on a $100 windshield on it so that alone is worth 100 of the 600 he paid for it right?    I have been looking and have not found a running conditioned cycle under 500 bucks so far most in that 800-1K range in running condition.