Motorcycle Restoration Projects

[Oldfishguy]

Does anyone else have a restoration project?

1973 Honda CB350 Four
1973 Honda CB750K

And the Valkyrie

[hubcapsc]

Needs bigger pictures... your bikes already look restored in those...

-Mike

[Oldfishguy]

Needs bigger pictures... your bikes already look restored in those...

-Mike

Yes, just finished the 350 this spring.  I guess I shouldn't say "finished", as those of us that do this know one is never really finished. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

3 sweet bikes  (maybe when I retire)

[f6john]

I only have one. My 99 Valkyrie. After sitting for 4+ years it needs a lot of love!

[J.Mencalice]

Got a 1967 CL450 in the bomb shelter just itchin' for restoration before I die.  MY original ride at 18.
Wish me luck.

CB750.  The bike that changed it all.  Nice.

[3fan4life]

I've picked up quite a few projects over the years.

My most recent is a 1983 V65 Magna.

There's also a 1982 GL1100 Goldwing waiting to be brought back to life.

[Chrisj CMA]

I’ve always wanted a 750/4 like that one. Jealous 

[Dusty]

 Just picked up a Yamaha  XJ750RL that needs some TLC.  Only 800 made worldwide. 600 in Canada and 200 in Australia. Just put Metal rescue in the gas tank a couple of hours ago to get rid of the rust patches.

Dusty

[f6john]

Not a resto but probably my favorite 750 Chopper.



Built by none other than Denny Berg, the same guy who built the yellow custom Valkyrie “chopper”.



They wrote an article about this bike in Cruiser magazine around 03-04 and commented it was enjoyable to ride. I guess with a hard tail that was not for cross country duty. Either way I like it

[Oldfishguy]

3 sweet bikes  (maybe when I retire)

Yes, start hinkimg about what you want now though.  For me, they are bikes I couldn’t afford as a kid but coveted.  I have a friend that does pre WWII Indians; each to there own.  And the hunt is really half the fun for me. 

[Oldfishguy]

I only have one. My 99 Valkyrie. After sitting for 4+ years it needs a lot of love!

The good thing about Honda’s is . . . they never really die; unless an accident or such.  I bought a basket case 1975 CB360 last summer and brought it back to life after sitting 23 years.  When that engine starts breathing again it really is quite the thrill.  Take one section of the bike at a time, I’d recommend the tank first and workyour way through.  Get the machine running before the cosmetic fixes.  Best of luck.

[Oldfishguy]

Got a 1967 CL450 in the bomb shelter just itchin' for restoration before I die.  MY original ride at 18.
Wish me luck.

CB750.  The bike that changed it all.  Nice.

Oh yes! The Big Scrambler; actually a very collectible bike.  A lot of CL350’s sold, very few 450”s.  Get to know these guys on YouTube: Common-Motor Collective.  They do a great series of instructional videos on these machines and sell parts too.  I envy you in having your first real machine.

[Oldfishguy]

I've picked up quite a few projects over the years.

My most recent is a 1983 V65 Magna.

There's also a 1982 GL1100 Goldwing waiting to be brought back to life.

I’ve always admired the early naked Wings, very distinctive.

[Oldfishguy]

I’ve always wanted a 750/4 like that one. Jealous 

Well, there are a lot of them out there.  My 1973 CB750 was one of 60,000 that rolled off the assembly line that year.  Yes in one year 60,000 for worldwide distribution.  So they are out there.  The early years command more money, especially the 1969 Sandcast models (first 7400 produced). 

[Oldfishguy]

 Just picked up a Yamaha  XJ750RL that needs some TLC.  Only 800 made worldwide. 600 in Canada and 200 in Australia. Just put Metal rescue in the gas tank a couple of hours ago to get rid of the rust patches.

Dusty

Nice, rare machines no doubt.

I’ve used Metal rescue too.  Pour the gallon container in, fil to the rim with water, let it sit for 24 hours, and presto!  Clean tank. 

[Oldfishguy]

Not a resto but probably my favorite 750 Chopper.



Built by none other than Denny Berg, the same guy who built the yellow custom Valkyrie “chopper”.



They wrote an article about this bike in Cruiser magazine around 03-04 and commented it was enjoyable to ride. I guess with a hard tail that was not for cross country duty. Either way I like it

Waaaaay Cool!

Love the color and styling!  Seriously, that is way more skill level than I will ever have.  And then the old DOHC 750 motor . . . awesome!

[J.Mencalice]

Got a 1967 CL450 in the bomb shelter just itchin' for restoration before I die.  MY original ride at 18.
Wish me luck.

CB750.  The bike that changed it all.  Nice.

Oh yes! The Big Scrambler; actually a very collectible bike.  A lot of CL350’s sold, very few 450”s.  Get to know these guys on YouTube: Common-Motor Collective.  They do a great series of instructional videos on these machines and sell parts too.  I envy you in having your first real machine.

Thank you, sir, I signed up for their site.

[signart]

This is my '75 sohc cb750 project pictured with '73 tank (loosely laid on frame)



I'm going to go with an earlier version cb750 paint scheme I already have done. I pinstriped a flame job outline on a Mustang drag car for a body shop. He had some House of Colors candy red left over so we traded work. He brought it back and I put the gold stripes on, then he cleared over them.

[f6john]

Love that candy red!

[Pappy!]

Would absolutely love to own a 350/4, 400/4 or a 550/4. Lesa loves them as well. She would have an ear to ear grin if we ever got one!

[f6john]

Would absolutely love to own a 350/4, 400/4 or a 550/4. Lesa loves them as well. She would have an ear to ear grin if we ever got one!

My second bike was a 550/4 which I dearly loved but still lusted for a 750. This shot is from about 1976.



4 inch extended tubes, 6 inch higher bars and shock brackets to lower the rear. Killed the handling but it was cool for the day. Next would have been a Harley rim laced to the Honda hub and that would have been killer.

[Oldfishguy]

This is my '75 sohc cb750 project pictured with '73 tank (loosely laid on frame)



I'm going to go with an earlier version cb750 paint scheme I already have done. I pinstriped a flame job outline on a Mustang drag car for a body shop. He had some House of Colors candy red left over so we traded work. He brought it back and I put the gold stripes on, then he cleared over them.



Awesome!

Would love to see a few pictures posted up when completed.  You are probably ly already aware of this site as they have collected a lifetime of data on and he SOHC 750’s:

http://honda750expert.com

Best of luck.

[Oldfishguy]

Would absolutely love to own a 350/4, 400/4 or a 550/4. Lesa loves them as well. She would have an ear to ear grin if we ever got one!

Actually I have seen a few 550/4’s for sale in very nice condition for not a lot of money ($1500-2000 range).  They seem to be in that middle ground of machines that is kind of ignored.  Hence, great value.  If your looking though really a third of the value is in the exhaust pipes of these machines.  The originals had a tendency to rust out quickly; a clean set of pipes takes the sting out of restoration costs.  Best of luck hunting.

[phideux]

Does anyone else have a restoration project?

1973 Honda CB350 Four
1973 Honda CB750K

And the Valkyrie

Do you do all the work yourself, or farm it out?? I've done several bikes and the only thing I don't do myself is machine work. i do all the disassembly, cleaning, prep, painting, mechanical, electrical, re-assembly. I could probably do the machine work, but I don't have the machines.
I started out my adult life as an A&P mechanic, made me sort of a jack of all trades with car and bike work.
I had several Hondas growing up, 350, 450, 550, 750. plus some yahamha and Kaw stuff. Also had Triumph, CZ and Harley. Bobbed and painted my Valk last year, I'm getting ready to do a custom job on my FatBoy, want to have that done by summer. After that I sort of have my eye on a Shovelhead I can get at a great price. After that I would love to get an old(70s) Wing. So many bikes, so little time.

[Oldfishguy]

Does anyone else have a restoration project?

1973 Honda CB350 Four
1973 Honda CB750K

And the Valkyrie

Do you do all the work yourself, or farm it out?? I've done several bikes and the only thing I don't do myself is machine work. i do all the disassembly, cleaning, prep, painting, mechanical, electrical, re-assembly. I could probably do the machine work, but I don't have the machines.
I started out my adult life as an A&P mechanic, made me sort of a jack of all trades with car and bike work.

I do the work, A&P myself.  Yes, jack of all trades master of none.  But I owe much to just growing up on a farm and improvising as you go.  Machining and painting I will farm out, that is real specialty niche areas (art really).  I hunt for projects with nice original paint though, just my thing.

[signart]

Does anyone else have a restoration project?

1973 Honda CB350 Four
1973 Honda CB750K

And the Valkyrie

I bought a new '73 Sunrise Orange (metalflake not metallic). Looks like that is what yours is. I had to wait till late in the year for a Sunrise Orange metalflake to come available at my closest dealer, as they would be snapped up over list and never discounted anywhere. $1850 less my trade ('71 cb450 dohc). You could get any other color a hundred even 2 hundred below list if you shopped & traveled.

[Pappy!]

Would absolutely love to own a 350/4, 400/4 or a 550/4. Lesa loves them as well. She would have an ear to ear grin if we ever got one!

Actually I have seen a few 550/4’s for sale in very nice condition for not a lot of money ($1500-2000 range).  They seem to be in that middle ground of machines that is kind of ignored.  Hence, great value.  If your looking though really a third of the value is in the exhaust pipes of these machines.  The originals had a tendency to rust out quickly; a clean set of pipes takes the sting out of restoration costs.  Best of luck hunting.

We are always looking. We recently went to the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle show at the fairgrounds in Eustis and there were a few there for sale but out of sight numbers for them. Lesa fell in love with a blue 400/4.

[Oldfishguy]

Does anyone else have a restoration project?

1973 Honda CB350 Four
1973 Honda CB750K

And the Valkyrie

I bought a new '73 Sunrise Orange (metalflake not metallic). Looks like that is what yours is. I had to wait till late in the year for a Sunrise Orange metalflake to come available at my closest dealer, as they would be snapped up over list and never discounted anywhere. $1850 less my trade ('71 cb450 dohc). You could get any other color a hundred even 2 hundred below list if you shopped & traveled.

Yes, that is what the 750 is: Flake Sunrise Orange.  Still a highly desirable color.  I hunted for it, found one a seven hour drive away on Craigslist, taught the 72 year old owner how to use FaceTime on his IPad as we walked around the machine 462 miles apart.  We negotiated the price and I was on the road at midnight.

The seller also bought the bike new.  Kind of tuff when you find that out; selling a long time friend and all knowing there are no other machines in the garage. 

[Oldfishguy]

Would absolutely love to own a 350/4, 400/4 or a 550/4. Lesa loves them as well. She would have an ear to ear grin if we ever got one!

Actually I have seen a few 550/4’s for sale in very nice condition for not a lot of money ($1500-2000 range).  They seem to be in that middle ground of machines that is kind of ignored.  Hence, great value.  If your looking though really a third of the value is in the exhaust pipes of these machines.  The originals had a tendency to rust out quickly; a clean set of pipes takes the sting out of restoration costs.  Best of luck hunting.

We are always looking. We recently went to the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle show at the fairgrounds in Eustis and there were a few there for sale but out of sight numbers for them. Lesa fell in love with a blue 400/4.

Searchtempest.com is your friend. Buying at shows and auctions are the easy way but expensive way. That and fall/winter in the north; prices drop substantially once the temps start to drop. Best of luck in your hunt.

[0leman]

In 1983 bought a '73 cb750 for $400.  I had been without two wheels for nearly 2 years as my '70 cb450 had been totaled in an accident. 

The cb750 had been in an accident with some restore done.  The previous owner had sort of chopped it  with high rise handle bars, no electronics (turn signals or starter button) on handle bars, and no mufflers.  The turn signals were gone.  Tank was scratched and dented, wheels were bent.  But the frame was good as well as the engine.  I spent 8 months getting parts from a place in Denver (lived in WY at the time) when ever DW would let me have a few $$.   Took about 6 months to collect  parts needed to get her running.  Did have a bit of an issue as the person, who was starting to restore her, replaced the wiring harness with a '79 one, lot of differences.   Filled in the dents and had the tank painted by neighbor (gear head that built hotrods and knives) along with the side panels. Won't say she was restored to original condition as the tank was painted black with reddish flames and the parts were from several different years.

Road that bike as a daily commuter during warm periods till I sold her in 2006.

[signart]

I sold this '72 last summer I bought at an estate auction along with an '80 dohc 750K and a 250cc Suzuki. All had been sitting out since the owner passed and was court ordered sale, appears he had no family. The eng. turned and all eng. components looked good shape along with a solid frame. Had Harley wheel laced up to the Honda hub, a common mod back in the day.
Young guy pulled up on a sohc hooligan/café/bobber type with different year model parts & alloy wheels, very nicely done I might add, and jumped on it @$400. I paid $75 & had to tag it to get title + tax on $75.
I did better on the '80 dohc but is was complete & original. I still have the Suzuki if anyone needs parts, would make a good parts buke.

[¿spoom]

Not a resto but probably my favorite 750 Chopper.



Built by none other than Denny Berg, the same guy who built the yellow custom Valkyrie “chopper”.



They wrote an article about this bike in Cruiser magazine around 03-04 and commented it was enjoyable to ride. I guess with a hard tail that was not for cross country duty. Either way I like it

That is so fine   Pretty low profile tire for a hardtail with my back, but I can still do burger runs with my '72. Springs front & back, but no shocks. AMEN Savior "springtail" frame and Jammer springer front from a Sportster. I miss my factory days where I had a good lathe available that I could turn stems & sleeves down to use a H-D front with a Honda neck & vice versa.   
 

Harley rim laced to the Honda hub, as Signart mentioned, Drag specialties used to have the rims & special length spokes in stock at all times

[¿spoom]

For all us "higher mileage" SOHC CB750 fans, how many of you remember these? Made of solid unobtanium, last one I saw surface went for over $2k;


These are for my next trike build....someday

[signart]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LAWD. HAVE. MERCY!

Here ya go...

[Tx Bohemian]

So what is so great about the "Harley hub laced to a Honda rim"?

[f6john]

So what is so great about the "Harley hub laced to a Honda rim"?

Bigger tire on a wider rim.

[signart]

So what is so great about the "Harley hub laced to a Honda rim"?

Bigger tire on a wider rim.

Mostly saw that on a chop. Easiest way to get a fat tire there, and you gotta have a fat tire on the back of your choppa. Plus a little better ride on a hard tail.

[rocketray]

An original Kawasaki Concours--the original sport tourer --in black w/red pinstripe--F1 pipes and the last factory new front fairing piece in a box

[¿spoom]

So what is so great about the "Harley hub laced to a Honda rim"?

Bigger tire on a wider rim.

Mostly saw that on a chop. Easiest way to get a fat tire there, and you gotta have a fat tire on the back of your choppa. Plus a little better ride on a hard tail.

'zactly. To carry it forward, the biggest reason is that there really weren't a lot of off the shelf chop parts for metric bikes in the 60's. The CB750 was such a radical new thing compared to the vtwins that there was immediate interest and aftermarket companies like AMEN, Santee, SB&F, Corbin-Gentry and others quickly started to tool up 750 SOHC Honda items like frames, seats, rpl. clutch & ign. covers and more like the finned ones in my earlier pics. Everybody made custom rims for Harley, different widths, chromed, whatever, and there were a lot of tires that would work. A huge reason to re-lace a Honda rear hub to an H-D rim was the diameter. I can't remember the original 750 rim sizes, but believe it was an 18" rear and 19" front, while the Harley Big twins took a 16"  The tall, narrow 750 wheel/tire set was great for the stock bike, but on a hardtail chopper, the rear suspension is 3 pc.-your butt, the seat, and the tire. Going to a smaller, wider rim meant you could go to a taller tire running lower air pressure. You could always tell on a hardtail when the rear tire was going down-the ride got comfortable for around 20 seconds before the fishtail set in 
Prior to the spoke kits, you had to shorten and re-thread the OEM spokes and it was a real PITA. Snipping them with a lineman's pliers left a slight wedge shaped end, and you had to square them off with a fine grinding wheel, then chamfer the edge with sandpaper in order to get the small die to start onto the spoke cleanly.
The original SOHC CB750 ran from 1969-'78 and was really only the king of the hill for the first year or two performance-wise, but it sold a LOT of units and that is what makes it worthwhile for the aftermarket to risk tooling up new items. The 750DOHC Kaw did well also, and the 650~750 British twins fell back in the dust.