1974 CB750 for a first bike ?

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mstram said:
Hmm,

Shipping will be $700, he can have a driver going in about 2 weeks.

Seller is telling me this is great first bike.

I just replied about my concern about finding 49 yr parts.
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Seller wants to sell the bike. They don't care if it's a good fit for you. My first bike was more than 20 years old. It had more niggles and roadside repairs than subsequent newer bikes. Given that it is in good shape, I think it is a terrible first bike as the inevitable slips/tip overs will collapse the value of the bike and it will have a high total cost of ownership. The newer small bikes you are looking if they come pre-bruised have a total cost of ownership of a few hundred a year (obviously not including gas or insurance, this is looking at maintenance and depreciation only).
 
By reading your posts it's safe to assume you're not a young new rider. I don't think you have you M license yet?
This being said, if you want this bike, buy it and deal with the pitfalls (which you already seem to know)
But like many other have stated once the novelty wears off, you'll have some regrets...

I rarely listen to people when it comes to motorcycles, but I rarely ask questions that I know what the answer(s) will be.
I mean this with all due respect, if you are not licensed you're doing this all wrong. Focus on training and getting licensed (at least M2)
Then you'll find you're priorities on what bike you want may change.

Keep posting and asking questions!
 
Jampy00 said:
By reading your posts it's safe to assume you're not a young new rider. I don't think you have you M license yet?
This being said, if you want this bike, buy it and deal with the pitfalls (which you already seem to know)
But like many other have stated once the novelty wears off, you'll have some regrets...

I rarely listen to people when it comes to motorcycles, but I rarely ask questions that I know what the answer(s) will be.
I mean this with all due respect, if you are not licensed you're doing this all wrong. Focus on training and getting licensed (at least M2)
Then you'll find you're priorities on what bike you want may change.

Keep posting and asking questions!
Click to expand...
Maybe my OP .... which many / most ?? people on forums tend to "scan" but not really read might help

I actually sat on one (CB750) (many times) back in the late 70's at Cycle world on Dundas / Kipling,
when I was a teenager.

I'm not exactly sure what you're thinking when you write "if you are not licensed you're doing this all wrong".

I am working on getting licensed. Which means working on getting my ID docs, (lost wallet). Hopefully I will have my M1 by next week, might even be as early as this Fri !

Do you mean, I shouldn't even be looking for bikes before I'm licensed ?
And don't buy a bike on an M1 ?

As for "training", I might start another thread .... or not.. as it will just start flame wars.
I've ridden a CT70 around the block back when I was 14-15, shifting it no big deal.
~40 yrs later, went up to the Honda-rock-the Red, and rode the Grom round inside a
~50x100 'cattle yard', even managing to shift it up and down from 1st to second lol.
No "training", they just assumed I could ride it, since I didn't ask anybody. The only thing
I couldn't figure out, is why it wouldn't start until I put up the kickstand (another rider clued me in).


Similarly I bought a standard car, (sight unseen lol) from someone I trusted, and drove it home, having never
driven a standard car before. Maybe stalled it once. And drove it home.

But only because I read / taught myself how a clutch / throttle work.

I got a parking space with the car. It was the "parking space from hell" for a standard.
Down near College and Bloor, the underground garage went up about a 5' rise, maybe a 20-30 deg hill,
where you had to gun it up the hill before the door closed on you.

Then get on the brakes to stay short of the sidewalk ! to yield to pedestrians.

Then do the "dance on the pedals" to hold the car sitting not quite on top of the hill,
with the brakes, with the clutch in, still in 1st, and not stalling it, when the pedestrians cleared.

When I got my G, back in 1973, I had about 2-3 hrs of "driver training".
Learned about the mirror blind spot, and that intersections were the most dangerous things.
Learned to look ahead of the car(s) in front and anticipate.
Learned to parallel park in about 20 minutes.
A couple of days later went to MTO and got my license.
Drove for ~40 yrs before having a couple of very slow speed fender-bumpers.

Stupidly I've let my license expire and now have to go through the whole G1 / g2 b.s.
Ya I'm ****** about it. I wrote to the MTO minister's office to try to get an "exemption" based on
45 years of (almost ) (two minor) accidents. No dice.

I *might* go to one of these over priced m2 exit schools, if insurance reqs merit it,
otherwise I'll just my M1 and go to MTO for the M2.

So not to (overly brag), but I do think I'm at least a bit above the average beginner rider.
I've read / watched a lot of videos, and have done the equivalent in my mind of already doing
the m2 exit course.
I actually went up to one of them, and watched what they were doing.
Watching one poor soul taking 2-hrs to learn how to feather / release the clutch without stalling.
I probably would have done just as badly with the Grom, if I hadn't educated myself before hand on
how the clutch / throttle / brakes / gears all worked.

I'm self taught in my day job too. Retired now.

When I teach myself, or get instruction from others, I go for the "meat", and skip the "fluff".
That always makes learning something much faster.

Mike
 
Performance and weight are minimal concerns. I don't really consider anything under 500lbs heavy, and a SOHC 750 like this would in theory be making ~68hp. The last time I rode a CB750K, the main thing I noticed setting it apart from modern bikes was how the brakes were not nearly as good. It was certainly still quick enough.

What your concerns are is stuff breaking on a 50 year old bike, greatly dependent on how it was stored, how often it was ridden, etc. Getting parts is a bit wrinkly - for context, I run into problems with parts being discontinued for my 2006 Honda 919. However the CB750 was very popular, and there was a lot of common parts between models and years, so I believe you can get aftermarket just about anything for them. Know that if the bike rode 200km "with no issues", a seal or gasket could easily start leaking on the 201st kilometer. If you don't plan on working on the bike yourself, be aware that not every shop around will work on vintage bikes. I'm sure there's still some that would be happy to, but then it could be a matter of waiting for shop availability (not a joke here - sometimes getting free time, good weather, and a co-operating bike to line up can be tough).

Could you do it? Sure, and you may still have a lot of fun doing it, even. Just be aware that $7000 could easily buy you a modern bike that will be much easier to use, will always start when you want it to, will be easier to insure, be easier to get serviced, etc.
 
For a "first bike" ...

I gather that you are, ahem, more "mature", perhaps even more so than I am, and this is good.

But it is still going to be a "first bike", and all that it entails. Poking around on dirt bikes for a total of a few minutes of riding time isn't enough time to learn all the lessons that you are going to learn the hard way ... and there will be some.

Figure on your first bike falling over. More than once. Hopefully not at speed, but it could be. If you break a turn signal and a mirror for (let's say) a Yamaha R3, they're readily available, both used and new. If you break those parts on this supposedly pristine old bike, now it isn't pristine any more (ouch), and now you're going to have to find those parts. The dealer will laugh at you.

The bike may have been able to complete a 200 km journey yesterday, but that doesn't guarantee that it will do the same tomorrow. Let's suppose something goes wrong with it. Do you have the mechanical and electrical know-how to diagnose and fix? If so, that's good. If not, and you'll be paying the professionals to work on it ... A lot of shops won't work on vintage bikes because they know they can't get parts to replace anything it may need. I'm not talking oil changes and the like; I''m talking actual repairs. What mechanics these days know their way around carburetors? YES there are specialist shops and individuals who do work on these bikes ... but waiting for parts, or waiting while searching for parts made of unobtainium, is still going to happen.

Save getting something like this, for the time when it can be a "second" bike, after you have learned to ride on something that is small, light, cheap, and lightly-used but still new enough to have parts availability.

There is also a distinct possibility that after you get used to modern tires, brakes, suspension, driveability, smoothness, etc., you'll not want to go back.
 
mstram said:
Seller is telling me this is great first bike.
Click to expand...

Back in the era when this bike was actually being sold new ... it was not normally considered a first bike. Too big and heavy, too powerful (!) ... on the one hand, little did they know back then, but on the other hand, perhaps it was too powerful for the brakes, tires, chassis, and suspension of the era ... which are still what it has now.

My first one was a 1984 Honda 450 Nighthawk. I have no shame whatsoever in saying now, that it was a rubbish bike. Cold-blooded (cold starting was an adventure - and I didn't know enough about carburetors back then to do anything about it). Crap tires. Crap brakes. Crap suspension.
 
TwistedKestrel said:
Performance and weight are minimal concerns. I don't really consider anything under 500lbs heavy, and a SOHC 750 like this would in theory be making ~68hp. The last time I rode a CB750K, the main thing I noticed setting it apart from modern bikes was how the brakes were not nearly as good. It was certainly still quick enough.

What your concerns are is stuff breaking on a 50 year old bike, greatly dependent on how it was stored, how often it was ridden, etc. Getting parts is a bit wrinkly - for context, I run into problems with parts being discontinued for my 2006 Honda 919. However the CB750 was very popular, and there was a lot of common parts between models and years, so I believe you can get aftermarket just about anything for them. Know that if the bike rode 200km "with no issues", a seal or gasket could easily start leaking on the 201st kilometer. If you don't plan on working on the bike yourself, be aware that not every shop around will work on vintage bikes. I'm sure there's still some that would be happy to, but then it could be a matter of waiting for shop availability (not a joke here - sometimes getting free time, good weather, and a co-operating bike to line up can be tough).

Could you do it? Sure, and you may still have a lot of fun doing it, even. Just be aware that $7000 could easily buy you a modern bike that will be much easier to use, will always start when you want it to, will be easier to insure, be easier to get serviced, etc.
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Ya "7K" for a modern bike, is exactly what I was thinking.

A new(ish) Honda Rebel 300 looks like the most likely destination for my $7K.

Though, I wouldn't mind paying more like $3k for a slightly older one ...or a Suzuki 250

I'm going to go down to the dealer, for a "sit test"... It looks more comfortable to me than the CB300.

The seller is trying to tell me there "is no problem getting any part for this bike".. I've replied asking him from where.

I gave him this thread's url, and invited him to participate.

I also said that I am probably more on the "not buying" than buying side, and if he gets an offer from someone else then he should take it.

Mike
 
Me:
Do you ever run across CB750's from the 90's --2000's ?

Seller:

I don’t want a huge dealer name and shop, I retired last year for 25 years as a real estate agent investor landlord and I’ve been doing this as a hobby for bike sales 35/40 years.

This is strictly fun for me as I usually keep 25 to 30 motorcycles in my shop.

I’m not a mechanic, I’m not that smart I’m not a mechanic, I’m not that smart with engines, however I do live next-door to a friend and current owner of a Honda dealership for 40+ years

of service is all my bikes so when they leave they are inspected with fresh oil changes and ready to ride. The only thing I’m good at is keeping them clean lol. I don’t have a storefront and I don’t want one.

This is why it is a fun hobby for me. I have a new home with my shop which is 40 byI have a new home with my shop which is 40 x 40 room for about 35 motorcycles.

My business name is Trading Metal Auto Sales and I have a dealers license and registered with the Province of Prince Edward Island.

I hope this answers your questions.

If you want to know more about me you can Google Roger Wells realtor and you’ll see that I’ve been a realtor for 25 years in Summerside Prince Edward Island where I live.

I usually don’t get newer 90s motorcycles, I strictly love vintage bikes.

If you text me your email address I’ll send you a video of my shop and what I currently have for sale.

My cell phone is 902-888-9466.

I hope this gives you a clearer picture and I’ve answered your questions to make more sense Thanks for your interest
===================================

Me:

The one question you didn't answer was where I would find parts (in Toronto) for the 49 year old bikes. That's the same question the guys on the gtam forums have raised. It would be great if you could pop in there with the answer, or you can just text me.


Seller : (Roger Wells)

I’ve bought a new seat, carb boots, brakes, new exhaust I can buy anything online today or from any honda dealership.
Buying parts is not an issue
 
I bought a 40ish year old, low mileage CB550 as my first bike. It can be done, but if your main goal is riding, I think the idea of looking for a newer 300 would be way better. You can learn to ride on it, maybe drop it, get your M, and sell it for similar to what you paid for it. There are always people looking to buy them.

In terms of the CB750, for a vintage bike, you could do a lot worse for parts availability. There are tons of these bikes around and quite a few vendors. I’ve never had any issues finding parts. Unfortunately I have had to buy quite a few parts, as old rubber hardens and stops sealing, gaskets start leaking, or you discover creative ways that a previous owner “fixed” things. These bikes are simple enough that just about anyone could have a go at fixing them, which is great if your goal is learning about motorcycle repair (there is a sohc4 forum that’s an amazing resource for these bikes). However, it also means that there’s a decent chance of finding some surprises when you get your hands into it. These could range from small annoyances, like finding JIS fastener heads rounded out by Phillips screwdrivers to more serious ones. I was thrilled when I had to replace a leaking head gasket and found that a PO had previously made an attempt to do the same and managed to bend all the valves when reinstalling the cam cover. I learned a lot in the time I’ve had mine, but I learned way more about riding when I bought a newer bike just before my M2 was about to expire.
 
Just buy the newest and least ridden, best maintained 250-300cc you can find. Get your license and do it.
 
klr_guy said:
Just buy the newest and least ridden, best maintained 250-300cc you can find. Get your license and do it.
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Seriously, OP, you are overthinking things. It's your first bike, buy a 250-300, get your feet wet, then sell it in a season or two when you have an idea of what you want.
 
You asked some questions, and got some answers from very qualified riders. But i get the feeling you don't like the answers. So i think the next step is to go down the road of "learn from experience". You may find a 70's Honda 4 that gives you no problems whatsoever. Or you may learn and be wiser. But had fun doing so.
 
Wingboy said:
You asked some questions, and got some answers from very qualified riders. But i get the feeling you don't like the answers. So i think the next step is to go down the road of "learn from experience". You may find a 70's Honda 4 that gives you no problems whatsoever. Or you may learn and be wiser. But had fun doing so.
Click to expand...
I have to agree.
OP, do what you want to do, make your own decisions (and possible mistakes) - let us know how it all works out.
 
How many bikes for sale have we all seen that are old bikes that were running when last parked and just needs carbs cleaned etc.


So many options out there for a modern FI machine at a budget of $7k.

If the OP really knows what they are getting into, by all means go for it. But, if it’s to get out and ride, there are better options.

Even if their heart is set on getting a nice clean CB750, I’d look for one that can be viewed in person and even ridden etc.

Hobbiest that own and ride know what’s involved with these machines. They are enjoyable and easy to maintain. You can join forums and clubs to find out the local shops that can work on them. Where to source parts etc.

But, as a first bike and a daily riding machine. You might expect some issues that just come from a classic or vintage machine that need attention from time to time.

I’ve owned a few like a 73 CB 500 and a Kawi 550 Zephyr etc.

Personally, I’d look at something like this. It’s a little more than $7k but, wouldn’t need to ship from out of province. So, it’s within the budget and I’m sure if the offer is reasonable….


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Edit: marketplace has a listing for a 2022 Kawi 650RS for $7900 if you have a look. Low mileage, vintage look. Nice performance.

second edit, also noticed the ad for the CB750, seller has multiple bikes for sale. All look nice but, I think they are a fix and make nice to sell and post ads to the GTA to move inventory.

Not sure if they have any reviews etc. But, I’d just let patience be your guide and find something in province as a first ride. Also check out the CVMG and look for some vintage events, listings etc.

CB750 and in particular sand cast engine models are commanding high asking prices.

I saw a few bikes that appeal to me from the other listings. Namely the 1100 Katana and some Kawi ZR machines.
 
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