CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

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Lucien Harpress
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Re: CB750 K-Whatever

#301

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Yeah, the 750s are fun. Affordable if you stay away from the early models, plenty of NOS and aftermarket parts support, (relatively) simple to work on, and very solid riders if you don't just want to look at them.

In other news, got my head as stripped as I want it to be.

Image

There's no reason to remove the cam tower studs, so I wont. Valves were actually in very good shape, so a simple lap job will be more than enough. I can already see cleaning and prepping for paint is going to be a joy. Lots of nooks and crannies, and between a head, tach drive, and exhaust leak at some point, MUCH more caked on grunge. There's also a lot more head gasket residue on the head than was on the bores, so that's going to be another batch of fun. I'm tempted to see if my machinist can mill the head just enough to take gasket crap off, but not so much to take much (if any) metal.

Ah well. We'll see.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#302

Post by Lucien Harpress »

After a bunch of wrangling, I finally managed to acquire one of the "showpiece" items for this bike. While the orange paint job was nice, and mostly due to it being the color it was originally, I don't think it's going to be that color anymore.

Blue is just... nicer.

Image

Image

It guess it's official, I'm going to end up with some kind of K0/K1 hybrid bike, and I'm okay with it. I ordered the full body set from Yamiya, so the headlight bucket, fork ears and airbox ARE included. I just haven't unpacked them yet because I'm not going to need them right away, and the box they came in are a great place for them for now.

They were... not inexpensive. But my GOD they are pretty. The photos don't really do the color justice- there's more green in them, really depending on how the sun hits it. I still need to swap some hardware over, like the petcock, tank lid, and tank trim (even though the trim is technically for a '71-later, but I think the black stripe on the chrome looks SO much better than the simple chrome), but all that I've got. I still need to get fork reflectors (easy once I figure out the correct size) and tank emblems (might be a BIT harder), but I'm over the moon with how these looks.

True, none of this is "period correct", even when I DO get my '71 frame sorted, but I just like the K0 styling SO much better.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Jonesz
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#303

Post by Jonesz »

Absolutely gorgeous Lucien!
Jonesz

1983 GL1100 Aspencade named "Freki" currently undergoing change to a standard. Sold
1999 Valkyrie CT 1500 goes by the moniker "Valerie"
1978 Gl1000 "Loki" new project going to be a Cafe Convertible
1979 Suzuki GS850. Sold
cfairweather
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#304

Post by cfairweather »

Very nice.
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Jonesz
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#305

Post by Jonesz »

OK Lucien how much is ¥242,000 in real money. Tried to get a conversion and no joy. :-D
Jonesz

1983 GL1100 Aspencade named "Freki" currently undergoing change to a standard. Sold
1999 Valkyrie CT 1500 goes by the moniker "Valerie"
1978 Gl1000 "Loki" new project going to be a Cafe Convertible
1979 Suzuki GS850. Sold
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#306

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Thankfully, because I live in the Great US of A, no VAT for me, so I "only" had to pay ¥220,000. Which, when you add the extra sidcover screens, various other taxes and one-week shipping from Japan, came to just over $2000 USD (which is about $2700 Canadian).

High, true. And by far the most I've spent on anything short of a whole bike. But the way I see it, a professional paint job is going to get you most of the way there anyway. Combine that with a BUNCH of hard, if not impossible, parts I'd need to locate, and that very quickly gets you the rest of the way. The final perk is that these aren't repainted originals- these are all BRAND NEW PARTS.

On the flip side, my first rebuild of this bike was very much a quick and dirty affair. I was curious how cheaply I could get a decent looking CB750 on the road, and I think I did pretty good. Once I had the engine out to fix the chain damage, though, I got bit by the "I might as well do this right" bug HARD. And the orange paint job I got, while decent, was also cheap. And it's already starting to fail in places after only a year or two. So if I was going to get it re-done, why not get something that looks like my favorite version of my bike, for about a tenth of the cost. I would love a proper K0, but I'm not paying $10 grand for the privilege.

And besides, if eventually a correct K0 frame comes along (either 1969, but more likely 1970), I've got no problem swapping everything over. Heck, at this point I could probably strip this down to the bare frame in an afternoon.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Jonesz
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#307

Post by Jonesz »

Ya I wasn't thinking it wasn't money well spent. Just curious to know how much your body parts cost in real money. Have been thinking about a 750 for quite awhile. Up here in the cold hinterlands it is hard to find parts and most of the CB750's I see online that are affordable are need a lot of work/parts. Thanks for the link where you bought your parts. That info will be stored away in my memory bank. If I ever find a suitable contender it will have to look like a great bike and the parts you ordered look to be part of that equation. As you say it would be easy to spend a similar amount locating pieces and having them professionally redone.
Looking forward to seeing them on your bike.
Jonesz

1983 GL1100 Aspencade named "Freki" currently undergoing change to a standard. Sold
1999 Valkyrie CT 1500 goes by the moniker "Valerie"
1978 Gl1000 "Loki" new project going to be a Cafe Convertible
1979 Suzuki GS850. Sold
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#308

Post by Lucien Harpress »

It's all good. Heck, most of it's probably still convincing part of MYSELF it was a good idea. :lol:

Yamiya is a godsend for these bikes. They also sell reproduction pipes if I recall (Busso does as well, if you'd prefer an Italian flavor), for a similar price. While it's getting more and more expensive, because the 750s are so collectable there is a WEALTH of options when it comes to getting one back to factory fresh.

I obviously love mine. Look great, run great, just fast/heavy/light/maneuverable enough and, for the most part, a cinch to work on. Prices are creeping up even for the non-collectable models, but so far, still worth it.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#309

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Not a whole lot to add. I just got a pair of reflectors for the new fork ears, and I'm really liking both the slightly smaller size of the early ones, and the contrast with the blue color is REALLY nice.

Image
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
cfairweather
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#310

Post by cfairweather »

Looks really good.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#311

Post by Lucien Harpress »

After too much futzing around with cleaning the head, I got tired of messing with it, got it as good as I could, and got fed up without any engine progress. So I masked off the parts that needed it, and started slapping paint.

Image

I've got all I need to get the head on. Gaskets, o-rings, etc. I just need to lap and install the valves, then drop it on, get the cam sorted, and the engine is done. Good thing, because spring is coming fast.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Rednaxs60
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#312

Post by Rednaxs60 »

Looking good! With a project you need to switch it up every now and then and do something different. Beating the same dead horse all the time gets exhausting. This is supposed to be fun! :lol: :lol:
"When writing the Story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen."

Ernest

1985 GL1200 Limited Edition
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT LE
2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan
1995 GL1500 SE CDN Edition (sold)
2012 Suzuki DL1000 VStrom (sold)
Ontario 1985 GL1200 Limited Edition (sold)
2008 GL1800 (sold)
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#313

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Paint, clear, valve lap, valve seals, and valve install. I would've thought about getting the head on as well, but the head gasket that came in my gasket kit didn't lay flat enough, and I might have ruined it trying to enlarge a couple of the holes. Thankfully, head gaskets are easy enough to get.

Image

Image

Image
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
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Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#314

Post by Lucien Harpress »

I'm gradually assembling the trim parts to all my bodywork, so I figured I could treat myself with a (mostly) complete parts unwrap.

Image

Image

The tank trim is technically incorrect for the K0, but the black stripe just sets off the black Honda emblems SO nicely (which are in the works). It's a crime Honda never combined the two.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Oldewing
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Re: CB750 K0/K1 Hybrid

#315

Post by Oldewing »

Nice stuff Brother...very nice indeed.
82 GL1100 Interstate-Oldewing October 23 BOTM
06 GL1800 Road bike, as in Rode alot...
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Other times we just hug.......

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