82 CB 750

[powerhammer]

I think this is the right place for this,

Anyone know much about 80's honda engines?  looking at a dirt cheap bike for school and don't know anything about these.

Thanks!!

[Scottish]

I think this is the right place for this,

Anyone know much about 80's honda engines?  looking at a dirt cheap bike for school and don't know anything about these.

Thanks!!

I got a '78. I don't know how similar they are but I know mines been pretty bullet proof any problems I've had have come from other systems.

[Popeye the Sailor]

My first bike was an '81 Honda CB650.

Terrific bike-easy to work on, parts available-funnnnn given what it is.

Was pretty damn dependable too.

[ducpainter]

I think this is the right place for this,

Anyone know much about 80's honda engines?  looking at a dirt cheap bike for school and don't know anything about these.

Thanks!!

Actually this should be in the General forum.

You are actually talking about motos.   

[bdfinally]

My first bike was an '81 Honda CB650.

Terrific bike-easy to work on, parts available-funnnnn given what it is.

Was pretty damn dependable too.

I had one of those too, bulletproof and friggin over engineered by a bunch. Rode it for 3 years and sold it for what I paid for it.

[powerhammer]

sweet, thanks for the info.

I'd like to find something bigger but found this on craigslist and would be a blast for mobbin around town:

Dude wants $1999 for it but no doubt he's playin on the chopper/bobber craze.  prolly gonna check it out in person.

Anything I should look for or ask about specifically regarding engine maintenance/issues?

Thanks again!

[Popeye the Sailor]

If it's currently working fine.....it'll probably continue to do so.


Those things really are bulletproof (btw-I still have mine-I bought it for $100 three years ago).

[psychochild]

my buddy just got a DOHC 750 for 100$ that runs (needs rear tire and charging system)  best advice I can give for buying old Japanese bikes is take your time,  there are millions of them out there and so many people want to get rid of them,  its not uncommon to see them go for pennies,  next Saturday im going to pick up a 79 cb350 thats been sitting in a field for a year and ran in 2007!  its free too.

[AndrewNS]

I've got one! ('82 CB750F, that is). Mind you, mine doesn't even remotely look like the one you are interested in...

They're pretty bulletproof. Main weaknesses are the cam chains and tensioners. The chains sometimes stretch so far the the adjusters run out of travel. Result is lots of rattling at start-up and between 3 and 4000 RPM. Also, they have shim-over-bucket valve adjusters, and a lot of them tended to be neglected because it's a fairly involved thing to get the valves set properly. Really bad examples can develop burnt exhaust valves because of this.

Do you really want a flat black Japanese bobber?

[powerhammer]

Do you really want a flat black Japanese bobber?

hell yes.  i mean hell why not?  i'd go for any style bobber just to mob around town on, triumph engine/harley engine/I4 engine whatever.  I've only owned a monster and a husky in my lifetime so any experience on any other style bike/engine would be fun.

also to add:

no i don't plan on slickin back my hair getting forearm tattoos and wearing black sunglasses to ride.

i'd rather wear a suit coat with tails and top hat on a bobber than follow the rest of the expected douchebaggery

[swerdna]

Two grand seems a bit rich to me.

[powerhammer]

was thinkin the same thing.  of course i'd low ball for fun.  people love to be insulted as a general rule when selling bikes.  i know i do.

[Popeye the Sailor]

I'd agree that the price seems steep.

$1500 I could see.

[mxwinky]

That thing is seriously bobbin your wallet for $1999.  If you can grind him down to something in the sub-$1000 bracket, maaayyyybe.  Those Honda 750 motors, both the '70s SOHC and the '80s DOHC, are fantastic and super bulletproof.  The problem here is that in the trickledown to bobberdom you have virtually no idea of its true condition.  Is the guy that built the thing any good at all?  Has the motor been molested or is it stock?  Has it led a reasonable life that included oil changes or did it get dragged out of a dumpster and then find its heart transplanted into this flat black project bike?  I don't really mean to bag on it, but way too many projects turn out to be rattle monkeys that shed parts and oil and handle like a wheelbarrow with a flat tire and an uneven load.  I had a guy GIVE me a '76 Honda 750 that was absolutely cherry a couple of years ago.  Kinda wish I'd have kept it.  Point is, there are a ton of them out there way cheaper than this unknown entity.  Be smart, ride safe, protect your wallet.

[powerhammer]

superb advice my man.

i'm gonna take a look at it this weekend see if it fires and try to get a feel for the dude sellin it.  he didnt seem to know too much about the engines history but is seemingly (seemingly, yes seemingly) straightforward and honest.  only real details is that it's inspected and registered in TX.