Superbikes of the 70's...............

[3fan4life]

Some nice old bikes from the 70's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HESIjHvOjtw

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

Thanks for sharing . This brings back many great memories.

[Oldfishguy]

My 1973 CB750 K3

An awesome machine! 

[cookiedough]

Just missed that era darn it!  Some cool mostly 750cc sport bikes of their time that pretty sure when twisted the throttle can still keep up with today's more modern and fuel efficient 750cc range bikes am sure.  I only remember age 10 or so when the honda cbx 6 cylinder came out but did not get into bikes big time until the 1983 V65 magna came out and drooled over it but was only 13 years old not old enough to drive or for sure handle it.  In 1987 or 1988 when I was able to drive and got my cycle license,  I kept drooling and looking at slightly used v65's but was unable to afford one pushing 4 grand even slightly used only having say 2 grand to my name. 

Somewhere at my moms house when over there looking up in the mess upstairs,  I know there is a 83 to 1985 huge wall poster of all the Honda's lineup that I kept drooling over and would like to find it still. 

[f6john]

A 1976 CB 550 was as close as I got to a super bike. I loved the sound the inline fours made back then. I probably would have killed myself if I had gotten my hands on a 750 or larger bike.

[0leman]

Bought a basket case '73 750 in '81.  Took a bit, but after 6 months finding parts, got her on the road.   Had problems getting the electronics working.  When I got her she had no head/tail lights, turn signals, etc.  Seems the previous owner worked on her and replaced the wiring harness with one for a '79.   Plus she had a few dents in the tank and other places.  Lots of bondo. 

Rode her till 2004.   Did shed a tear or two when she went off into the sunshine with a younger rider.

[PA_1999Valk]

My 1973 CB750 K3

An awesome machine! 

Looks just like my 1st CB750, same color and sissy bar but I had high bars and the sissy bar pad.  Paid $1,849 OTD for it in August 1973.  Nine years ago I paid $2,000 for my 2nd one with 39K miles.  Still ride it to special events and it has 43.7K miles on it.

[Hooter]

I think still my favorite that I rode to death was my 900 Kaw. In fact I had 2 of em over time. Seat like a board but thought nothing of it.  My dad owned a sports shop and sold snowmobiles and Yamaha motorcycles.  I put more of them together (both sleds and scooters) than I can remember. Nice thing was, I test rode everything. Raced snowmobiles in the tri state area. Had a freakin blast!

[signart]

My 1973 CB750 K3

An awesome machine!  

Looks just like my 1st CB750, same color and sissy bar but I had high bars and the sissy bar pad.  Paid $1,849 OTD for it in August 1973.  Nine years ago I paid $2,000 for my 2nd one with 39K miles.  Still ride it to special events and it has 43.7K miles on it.

Exact same bike I bought new in Cookeville_Tn. I think same list price to the dollar, only I traded in my '72 cb450. The orange metal flake bikes were not discounted any at all, they were highly sought after.

[shortleg]

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=1982+honda+hurricane&id=196A182AF81D66430249EEC02E95D4030C6CA5ED&FORM=IQFRBA
  This is the first what I called a fast bike.
I went through a couple of CB 750s and road a V65 saber for a while.
  Man I don't know how I road that 1000 hurricane all bent over.
 First bike with 6 speed trans and hit 100 at the top of 3rd if I remember right.

[DIGGER]

Great video!!!     I had a Kawasaki H1 ....grreat motorcycle   ..

Video said the Honda CBX didn't sell very many....Wonder why.    It was awesome looking and ran great .  Wonder why they didn't sell many.    

[cookiedough]

Great video!!!     I had a Kawasaki H1 ....grreat motorcycle   ..

Video said the Honda CBX didn't sell very many....Wonder why.    I was awesome looking and ran great .  Wonder why they didn't sell many.     

too bad we did not have one of those cbx 6 cylinders today, fetching a TON of money for one right now.   There is one here but no way paying that kind of dough...

https://madison.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1982-cbx-honda/6718635341.html

they seem to be attempting to get 7-8K for them.  New, were they even that much????????

[hubcapsc]

My last bike with a kick starter was a 500 cc two stroke
Honda motocross bike. I could start it pretty easily, I
knew what to do and was willing to commit. Once when
my buddy Mark had to bring it off the track for me it ripped
his tennis shoe off when he tried to start it.

Anywho... how hard is it to kick start a CB750. I hung out constantly
at the Honda shop between 1970 and 73 or so, but I didn't
pay attention to stuff like that.



-Mike

[signart]

My last bike with a kick starter was a 500 cc two stroke
Honda motocross bike. I could start it pretty easily, I
knew what to do and was willing to commit. Once when
my buddy Mark had to bring it off the track for me it ripped
his tennis shoe off when he tried to start it.

Anywho... how hard is it to kick start a CB750. I hung out constantly
at the Honda shop between 1970 and 73 or so, but I didn't
pay attention to stuff like that.



-Mike

I bought one new and have owned 4 other cb750 SOHC bikes and own 1 still. I have never kick started one.

[scooperhsd]

I kickstarted my 1976 CB750F just to see if I could do it if needed.
The bike was a beast - single disc front disc back, ran great - but my MPG was only about what I get on my Valk (~35 MPG) . I hated trying to set the points, and 8 valves weren't much fun either.

[Farside]

  I really enjoyed those links that some of you posted. Thanks for the memories and the education. 

[Jess from VA]

I had a 1978 CB750K.  (with Vetter Windjammer fairing, hard bags and tall adjustable sissy with luggage rack)

It was easy to kick start, though I only did it a few times (and might have done it when girls were watching  )

The four pipes rotted out in storage during my two tours in the Middle East. So as nice as they looked, they were replaced with a much better, lighter, and WAY cheaper four into one header.

[PJR]

Had a 72 350 triple Kawi. Would give the guys with 550 4s fits. Rode it from western Iowa to DC, thought I was all that and sliced bread!

[DIGGER]

Had a 72 350 triple Kawi. Would give the guys with 550 4s fits. Rode it from western Iowa to DC, thought I was all that and sliced bread!

That was a long drive for a two stroke 350.... gutsy

[Oldfishguy]

My last bike with a kick starter was a 500 cc two stroke
Honda motocross bike. I could start it pretty easily, I
knew what to do and was willing to commit. Once when
my buddy Mark had to bring it off the track for me it ripped
his tennis shoe off when he tried to start it.

Anywho... how hard is it to kick start a CB750. I hung out constantly
at the Honda shop between 1970 and 73 or so, but I didn't
pay attention to stuff like that.



-Mike

As far as Kick starting these machines . . . not easy.  The rear passenger pegs kind of get in the way a bit; I doubt it was used by very many owners.  The tougher part is the seat height is actually a little higher than our Valks so it is difficult to get your full energy into it and balance the bike on the other leg.

These early CB750's changed the game for motorcycles.  Introduced in 1969 for about $1750 they were about $500 cheaper than the top of the line BMW's amd Harleys of the time.  And just as important. they were reliable.

I presently have 4 1970's Honda's of  variety.  I find them in various states of disrepair and try to bring them back to life.  I've bought and sold 15-20 older Honda's over the years, not making much money (but a lot of friends).  Yes, the pipes rusted out on many of these machines.  My theory is they were not run long enough to get really, really hot  and burn any moisture out of the pipes.  Pipes and other parts are widely available  on Ebay (pipes in good condition are pricey though)

For those of you  looking to collect a CB750, the early models are the desired ticket. Especially a 1969 model with a production number less than 7000 (Sand Cast models).  Seeing how Honda made 38,000 in 1973  for worldwide distribution and peaking production in 1974 with 60,000 produced there are a lot of these machines and parts in barns around the country.  This keeps prices reasonable. Just do not expect to make any money on the machines though  unless you find a Sand Cast 1969 model.  But they are easy to work on: adjust cam chain, set valve lash, set timing,and clean the carbs and your off riding.

I had a Kawasaki H1 in high school and have had opportunities to buy barn find models that I turn down.  The H1 is just not a very good riding machine where as the CB750 is a phenomenal riding machine.  These machines bring me back to my early riding days with no wind screen and no amenities.  If this is for you, find one.

And no, this one is not for sale. 

David

[hubcapsc]

The tougher part is the seat height is actually a little higher than our Valks so it is difficult to get your full energy into it and balance the bike on the other leg.

"Willing to commit" on my CR500 meant standing on the pegs, positioning
my foot on the kick starter and with a co-ordinated move (I used to could
do those) shifting all my weight and momentum onto the kick starter...
It would most often crank right up...

-Mike

[Willow]

Kick starters ...

The 305 Superhawk had a kick that rotated forward rather than to the back.  If my foot slipped off at the bottom it would snap back to strike my shin sharply.  Bad design.