CB750 project pics

Eric 951 · 11-02-2009, 06:58 AM

Almost embarrassed to post these after seeing tangerine's finished pics, but since there was no Steelers' game this Sunday, I spent some time in the garage working on the 78. I still don't know what direction to take with this bike. When I got it on trade it had just about every late 70's doo-dad added to it, "grab-on" bars and foamy grips, chrome backrest/luggage rack, crash bars with highway pegs, king/queen seat and for some reason, crap EMGO pods...I have a Dunstall fiberglass Cafe seat that I was going to use on my 76, but decided not to, so I was going to use it on this, but I'm still up in the air--I also have drag bars that are going on it, but don't know how far to take the cafe look on this bike-as it is big and heavy.
In the meantime, I am cleaning the swingarm/back of the case, batt. box, etc. as the PO allowed battery acid to drip over everything--so I am on the cleaning phase..some pics so far:
ugh--acid everywhere, but no structural damage

a bit cramped--would help if I built the bench I have sitting in the carboard box..

a very prelim. look--lots of pieces to come off if I go with the Dunstall seat..

tangerine911S · 07:16 AM

Keep it up Eric and stay motivated, mine was worse than that starting out. Lots of people cafe the 750's even though they are heavier. You could probably get it down to the 430-450 lb range if you kept it really stripped. One guy was able to get his CR replica down to 396 lb but that went to the extreme. I wieghed mine at 420 lbs wet with 3/4 tank of gas. Stock is 425 lb dry so I'm a bit lighter even though my tank and seat are a bit heavier and I have a frame addition on the back.

I have Emgo pods also and they aren't too bad. I was limited because they are the only ones short enough to fit behind that frame tube on the 550's. Make sure you rejet the carbs before any riding though because they will lean it out, especially with the '77 and '78 PD style "lean burn" carbs that came on the later cb's.

Eric 951 · 11-02-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangerine911S

Keep it up Eric and stay motivated, mine was worse than that starting out. Lots of people cafe the 750's even though that are heavier. You could probably get it down to the 435 lb range if you kept it stripped. I wieghed mine at 420 lbs wet with 3/4 tank of gas. Stock is 425 lb dry so I'm a bit lighter even though my tank and seat are a bit heavier and I have a frame addition on the back.

I have Emgo pods also and they aren't too bad. I was limited because they are the only ones short enough to fit behind that frame tube on the 550's. Make sure you rejet the carbs before any riding though because they will lean it out, especially with the '77 and '78 PD style "lean burn" carbs that came on the later cb's.

Thanks Brian--love your bike it is sweeet. The 78 has the stock 4 into 1 and factory jets, so needless to say it ran like crap when I got it--I have a factory airbox I am going to swap in when I forgo the pods and see if that improves the running issues. I am just up in the air about what direction to take with this bike--it would only get occasional use, as here is the 76 that I regularly ride--I just got some clubman length brake lines which are getting swapped out this winter. I was thinking of doing a Zach Reynolds' tribute treatment to the 78, but just don't know.

tangerine911S · 11-02-2009, 08:19 AM

Thats a nice looking '76, Eric. Did you restore it or is it original? With that in your stable, I would go all out cafe'ing the '78 and maybe put the stock handlebars on the '76 and put the clubmans or clip ons onto the '78.

NICKG · 11-02-2009, 08:31 AM

i have a set of REALLY nice clubman bars that i will be taking off my new Buell 1125cr shortly that I will be selling(the bars) if anyone wants them

tangerine911S · 11-02-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NICKG

i have a set of REALLY nice clubman bars that i will be taking off my new Buell 1125cr shortly that I will be selling(the bars) if anyone wants them

A search reveils that those clubmans are 1 1/8" at the clamps. These cb's are 7/8" at the clamps.

Bill Douglas · 11-02-2009, 11:07 AM

Wow, nice to see these pics. I love those bikes, and the 550.

Eric 951 · 11-02-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangerine911S

Thats a nice looking '76, Eric. Did you restore it or is it original? With that in your stable, I would go all out cafe'ing the '78 and maybe put the stock handlebars on the '76 and put the clubmans or clip ons onto the '78.

Brian,

Thanks for the compliment. I have nowhere near as much work in it as you do in your 550. It had an original 16K miles when I got it, it had a charging problem and was basically stock. I did some plug and connector replacements, rewiring and stator clean-up, did the clubmans, and new tailight/signals--that's pretty much it--the PO had it pretty well polished and clean--he was selling because he got a Harley and couldn't source the charging problem.(the main plug from the stator was toast, and one of the wires from the stator was broken where it came out of the cover).
My original intent was to totally cafe it with the Dunstall/clubmans, rear sets, etc., but it was in too nice of shape--it is pretty comfortable to ride in its current set-up with the stock length seat--so it is staying as-is.

Speaking of--how is the riding position on your 550? I love the rear-sets/seat/bars configuration you are running.

tangerine911S · 11-02-2009, 12:13 PM

The riding position isn't all that bad. I wouldn't want to go 6 hrs on the thing but for around town and commutes, its fine. I would lower the rearsets a bit if I could but I would have to fab an extension plate from the frame clamps and I would have to remove the exhaust/passenger footpeg brackets and tubes to keep the rear brake linkage from interfering. It looks like your passenger footpeg mounts aren't part of your frame so you have some options there. It's definitely a sporty position though and not what I would consider "cushy". I am used to being bent over though on my road bike and I'm young.