Motorcycle Restoration

[markjenn]

How much for the cb750?

As I said, I paid $1500 for it 15 years ago. It looked really clean, but when I started going through it, it was one thing after another and soon I had it in pieces and the frame off to the powder coater. $3K in parts and a couple years later, I had a nice bike, but it was a LOT of work. The big hits were NOS instruments, pipes, and getting the engine professionally rebuilt.

I suspect its worth $5K today.

- Mark

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

A note to ya'll thinking about restoring: See if you can source any OEM parts as-soon-as-possible -- they're rapidly disappearing from the parts shelves. I have a friend who needed mufflers for his original CB500/4 and I checked with the parts guy at the local dealer and they were still available from Honda. He bought them and was later told that they were the last set (in normal parts inventory). Honda once said, of old bikes, that they'd continue making parts as long as there was a market for them. But, as these bikes get into the hands of collectors (as opposed to riders) the factory parts tend to dry-up; as the bikes are no longer in regular use and needing parts.

There are, however, sources for obsolete parts -- companies buy-up dealer stocks and save them for re-sale to restorers, etc. But, sometimes they want even more $$$?

Just sayin'..... Check on those needed parts, ASAP

 

[radman]

A note to ya'll thinking about restoring: See if you can source any OEM parts as-soon-as-possible -- they're rapidly disappearing from the parts shelves. I have a friend who needed mufflers for his original CB500/4 and I checked with the parts guy at the local dealer and they were still available from Honda. He bought them and was later told that they were the last set (in normal parts inventory). Honda once said, of old bikes, that they'd continue making parts as long as there was a market for them. But, as these bikes get into the hands of collectors (as opposed to riders) the factory parts tend to dry-up; as the bikes are no longer in regular use and needing parts. There are, however, sources for obsolete parts -- companies buy-up dealer stocks and save them for re-sale to restorers, etc. But, sometimes they want even more $$$?

Just sayin'..... Check on those needed parts, ASAP

Case on point. My engine uses 4 crank seals. The right side seal is still available from Suzuki, about $8. Left seal and 2 center seals have been unavailable from Zook for many years now. I found an NOS set, including all 4 crank, an output, a shift shaft (avail), a clutch actuator shaft (unavail), and a kick shaft (way unavail), on Ebay from a well known NOS supplier, 10 minutes after he put them up, Buy It Now, for $99. The next set he put up on regular auction, they went for $245. A guy has sold 2 sets of the center seals only, 100 bucks a set. There is a guy in Britain, making that 4 into 4 mj has on the CB750, for about $2200, and selling them. CBX? $3600 IIRC. It's a crazy world out there when ya look. John has the right idea, restore with nice oe parts while you can, once the stuff gets rare, it's party time for the hoarder.

 

[Jarmo]

I got this 67 Honda 305 Scrambler

 

[racer157]

I have restored everything from cl90s to honda gold wings. I always start with the basics, compression test, charging system test, and last but not least brakes. All of these can cost alot and if you don't care and are just saving the love of your life then burn the wallet and full speed aheaed. EBAY is our your best bet but don't for get your local shopper papers. My most ambitios job was my 2005 fjr , I am currently riding. If you have any questions on Hondas, I have been a mechanic on them since 1968.

 

[clutchless1]

I got this 67 Honda 305 Scrambler

Jarmo, that has got to be one of if not the nicest Scrambler's I have ever seen. When I was a kid I rode an old 305 Dream and an old 160 through the woods as a big nasty trail bike (didn't have any money for the newer lighter stuff, but there were lots of these older bikes around) Your bike and some of the others I've seen here in this Forum really make my mouth water for re-doing an older bike. But right now I've got an older 84 GMC 4X4 I'm in the process of welding sheetmetal in and getting ready for paint in the Spring, so looking at your's will have to keep me entertained for a while until I finish my truck. Damn, I forgot about the wife's 83 Fiat Spider (2 seater convertible) I also have to do some work on. Trust me, I will get something though.

But a beautiful bike indeed.