HOW "I" DO IT

FIRST OF ALL IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL RESTORER GET ALL THE LAUGHING OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM BEFORE READING BECAUSE I HAD AND HAVE NO TRAINING AT THIS. ALL I HAVE WORKING FOR ME IS MY OBSESSIVE/COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY MEANING THAT WHEN I START A NEW HOBBY I INVEST 150% OF MY TIME AND CASH IN IT. I HAD NO ONE TO ASK FOR ADVICE AND WASN'T AWARE THAT THERE WERE FORUMS AND OTHER COLLECTORS OUT THERE THAT WERE HAPPY TO SHARE TIPS AND TRICKS. I TRY TO PUT EVERYTHING I HAVE LEARNED HERE AT MY SITE TO ASSIST OTHER PEOPLE IN FULFILLING THEIR DREAM. BEING ON A TIGHT BUDGET I INCLUDE TIPS AND TRICKS THAT I USE TO SAVE MONEY.

I USE THE WORD RESTORATION A LOT BUT ACTUALLY WHAT I AM DOING IS A FRAME UP CLEAN-UP. I STRIP THE BIKE DOWN AND IF NEEDED STRIP THE PAINT FROM THE FRAME AND RE-PAINT. FROM THERE I EVALUATE EACH PART GOING BACK ON AND IF IT CAN BE CLEANED, REPAINTED OR POLISHED I WILL USE IT. IF THE PART IS INTACT BUT IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT I WILL USE IT UNTIL A NEW OEM PART IS LOCATED AND THEN REPLACED. WHAT I WIND UP WITH IS A PRETTY NICE LOOKING BIKE THAT IS AN ON GOING PROJECT UNTIL ALL THE LESS THAN PERFECT PIECES ARE REPLACED AND THEN IT IS A RESTORATION.  WHEN I STARTED THIS HOBBY MY INTENTION WAS TO GET A SHOWROOM QUALITY HONDA CB750 TO FULFILL A DREAM BECAUSE WHILE THE 69 TO 76 750 MODELS WERE BEING PRODUCED I DIDN'T HAVE THE CASH TO GET ONE. IN AUGUST, 2006 I DROVE TO ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI TO PICK UP A 74 AND 75 CB750 FROM TWO DIFFERENT GUYS AND WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE 74 HAVING SOME PAINT TOUCH-UP ON THE TANK AND OVERALL USED LOOKING. THE 75 WAS PICKED UP AT A QUICK TRIP AND WHEN WE WHEELED IT OUT OF THE VAN I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE SURFACE RUST FROM WHEEL TO WHEEL. HAVING SAID THIS AND IN KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW BOTH BIKES WERE PRETTY NICE. THE 74 IS COMPLETE AND NO DAMAGE OR DENTS ANYWHERE AND THE SMOKE THAT CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST WHEN THE GUY WAS SHOWING IT WAS JUST CARBON BURNING OFF THE PISTONS. THE 75 WAS COMPLETE AND THE SURFACE RUST WAS VERY LIGHT AND ONCE REMOVED, REVEALED A BEAUTIFUL, COMPLETE BIKE. RETURNING HOME AND STILL WANTING A SHOWROOM QUALITY 750 I WENT TO EBAY AND AMAZINGLY THERE WAS A "MINT" 76 CB750 AUCTION RUNNING AND THE PRICE WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND $5K. BEING ANXIOUS TO HAVE IT I MADE THE GUY AN OFFER AND AFTER SOME HAGGLING WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT AND CLOSED THE DEAL. THE 10 DAY WAIT FOR THE DELIVERY WAS MURDER BUT AFTER ROLLING IT FROM THE TRUCK AND DARK OF NIGHT INTO MY GARAGE FOR AN INSPECTION I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT MY DREAM "WAS" FULFILLED. I HAVE SINCE GATHERED ALL OF THE BROCHURES AND OTHER ADVERTISING MATERIALS PLUS A MINT OWNERS MANUAL. THE COOLEST THING OF ALL IS THAT IT HASN'T BEEN RESTORED EVER AND WAS JUST WELL TAKEN CARE OF. ON A COLD SEPTEMBER MORNING SOMEWHERE AROUND 2 AM I WAS SCANNING EBAY ONE LAST TIME BEFORE GOING TO BED AND HAPPENED ACROSS A NEW LISTING FOR A 69 HONDA CB750 WITH A BUY IT NOW PRICE OF $1400. I STARTED TO EMAIL A TON OF QUESTIONS BEFORE REALIZING THAT BY THE TIME I GOT AN ANSWER THIS CLASSIC WOULD BE GONE SO I HOVERED OVER THE B.I.N. BUTTON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GRABBED IT. RATHER THAN PLANNING A TRIP TO MAKE THE PICK-UP I CONTACTED THE SELLER, GASSED UP MY TRUCK AND WITHOUT ANY SLEEP HEADED FOR A LITTLE TOWN IN INDIANA JUST OFF THE TIP OF LAKE MICHIGAN. IT WAS A LONG DRIVE AND AFTER ARRIVING AND WHILE LOADING THE GUY TOLD ME ABOUT ALL THE EMAILS HE WAS RECEIVING FROM PEOPLE OFFERING QUITE A BIT MORE MONEY THAN I WAS PAYING. THANK GOODNESS HE WAS A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND LIVED UP TO HIS END. THE SUN WAS JUST GOING OVER THE HILL WHEN I LEFT HIS HOUSE AND IN ORDER TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT MY PRIZE AND DROOL A LITTLE I PULLED INTO THE FIRST MINI-STORE I CAME TO AND GASSED UP. I STILL REMEMBER STARING AT THE PIECES OF THIS BIKE THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE AMONG THE CB750'S. WHAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION MOST WAS THE 3400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND AFTER DOING A THOROUGH INSPECTION IN MY GARAGE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE MILEAGE IS ACTUAL. NOT LETTING THE GRASS GROW UNDER MY FEET MY NEXT ACQUISITION WAS IN OCTOBER AND WAS A 1980 CB750 CUSTOM. TO THIS DAY I CAN'T SAY WHY I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT ON MY LIST OF BIKES TO GET BUT I AM GLAD I DID. IT WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE WITH A 4 INTO 2 EXHAUST AND A NEW CORRECT PAINT JOB RIGHT OVER THE TANK EMBLEMS AND AN AFTER MARKET SEAT. THE TANK, SEAT AND EXHAUST OR THE ELEMENTS THAT I USUALLY WANT TO BE ORIGINAL SO MY WORK WAS CUT OUT. I LUCKILY FOUND A LIKE NEW SET OF 4 INTO 4 PIPES. THE TANK ISSUE WAS AN EASY FIX BY JUST STRIPPING ALL THE PAINT FROM THE EMBLEMS, POLISHING AND PAINTING IN THE BLACK BACKGROUND. THE SEAT WAS A LITTLE HARDER BEING A POPULAR ITEM AND USUALLY SELLING FOR MORE THAN I WANTED TO SPEND. I EVENTUALLY BIT THE BULLET AND BOUGHT A VERY NICE USED ONE. I REALLY LOVED THE EXHAUST NOTE OF THIS ONE AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 750-4 HAD A SOUND ALL IT'S OWN. I EVENTUALLY GAVE IT TO A FAMILY MEMBER TO MAKE ROOM FOR MY OTHER ACQUISITIONS AND I AM STILL WONDERING IF I SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT. IN NOVEMBER I ADDED ANOTHER ONE TO MY GROWING FAMILY OF HONDA'S. THIS TIME IT WAS A 1982 CB750K AND BOY DID I LUCK OUT. AT THE TIME I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE DUAL CAM 750'S AND REALLY WASN'T THAT FOND OF THE LOOK. I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE EBAY AUCTION SEVERAL TIMES OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD BEFORE DECIDING ON IT. IN THE PICTURES IT LOOKED TO BE IN ORIGINAL, GOOD CONDITION AND I WASN'T ALL THAT EXCITED ABOUT THE DELIVERY BUT HAPPY THAT THE OWNER HAD REPLACED THE TIRES AND A FEW OTHER THINGS. WHILE WAITING FOR IT TO GET HERE I BEGAN HAMMERING AWAY ON THE LEARNING CURVE FOR THIS BIKE AND THE MORE I READ THE MORE EXCITED I BECAME. THE COLOR LOOKS LIKE COBALT BLUE WHICH IS MY FAVORITE COLOR AND BEING THE LAST OF THE "K" SERIES OF 750'S I WAS INTRIGUED. WHILE DOING MY USUAL INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE NO DENTS IN THE TANK AND NO CRACKS IN THE SIDE COVERS WHICH WAS NICE. THE EXHAUST LOOKED NEW AND THE DOWN PIPES WERE FLAWLESS AND MY INTEREST WAS GROWING. THE SEAT COVER WAS AFTER MARKET BUT NICELY DONE SO I WAS OK WITH THAT. I GOT OUT THE POLISH AND WAX AND AFTER GIVING IT A GOOD GOING OVER INCLUDING THE FRAME AND A COAT OF HONDA SILVER ON THE ENGINE MY INTEREST WAS REALLY GROWING. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NOT YET A COLLECTORS MARKET FOR THE 79 TO 82 "K" AND THE REASON IT SAT ON EBAY THROUGH SEVERAL AUCTION CYCLES WAS THE HIGH PRICE. THE BIKE HAS BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITES IN MY COLLECTION AND I HAVE SINCE BROUGHT IT TO NEAR MINT CONDITION BY REPLACING THE GAUGES MODULE WITH A LIKE NEW SET, REPLACING THE SIDE COVERS WITH A VERY NICE USED SET AND FINALLY REPLACING THE SEAT WITH THE OEM ONE AND THE TANK WITH A BRAND NEW IN THE BOX TANK. I HAVE ALSO INSTALLED THE OEM VIBRATION DAMPENING MIRRORS AND THE FORK EAR ASSEMBLY AND GRAB BAR THAT CAME OFF OF A BIKE IN WICHITA, KANSAS. THE REASON I DROVE SO FAR FOR SO LITTLE IS THAT WHEN HIS BIKE WAS NEW HE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, TURN SIGNALS AND GRAB BAR IN ORDER TO INSTALL A FARING AND SADDLE BAGS. THE TRIP WASN'T WASTED BECAUSE ALL THE PARTS LOOKED BRAND NEW WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TURN SIGNALS WHICH HAD THE WIRES CUT. I HAD ENOUGH OLD DAMAGED SIGNALS LAYING AROUND SO SCAVENGING THE WIRES WASN'T A PROBLEM. JANUARY, 07 ROLLED AROUND AND I ADDED TWO MORE BIKES TO MY COLLECTION. A GUY IN EAST INDIANA WAS PICKING UP USED BIKES AND SELLING THEM ON EBAY. MOST LOOKED PRETTY RATTY INCLUDING THE TWO I BOUGHT BUT MY INTEREST IN THE 79 TO 82 DUAL CAM 750'S WAS GROWING AND ADDING A 79 AND ANOTHER 82 SEEMED LIKE THE THING TO DO. RATTY ON EBAY AND EVEN RATTIER IN PERSON THE ONLY REASON I BROUGHT THEM HOME WAS BECAUSE OF THE TROUBLE I WENT THROUGH JUST GETTING THERE. DURING THE TRIP I WASN'T AWARE THAT INDIANA AND PART OF ILLINOIS HAD RECEIVED A FOOT OR SO OF SNOW AND DURING A DAY OF MELTING THAT RESULTED IN A LAYER OF ICE ON THE HIGHWAY THAT NIGHT. I WAS PULLING A U-HAUL TRAILER AND BY THE TIME I REACHED INDIANA I WAS POOPED AND CHECKED INTO A MOTEL. THE NEXT MORNING MY TRUCK WAS SO COLD THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER AND I HAD TO LET THE RISING SUN SHINING ON IT HEAT IT ENOUGH SO THE OIL WOULD THIN ENOUGH TO START. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY OLD 91 GMC SONOMA MADE NOISES I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE AND I WAS SURE SOMETHING WOULD BRAKE BEFORE I RETURNED HOME. ANYWAY I HEADED FOR MY DESTINATION ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IS WAS A RURAL LOCATION AND THE ROADS HADN'T BEEN CLEARED YET. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, I WENT PASS MY TURN AND IN ORDER TO GET TURNED AROUND MY INTENTION WAS TO MAKE 3 LEFT TURNS THROUGH A HOUSING BLOCK ONLY TO FIND IT WAS AN UNMARKED DEAD END. NOW I HAVE NEVER BEEN VERY GOOD AT BACKING A TRAILER AND THAT DAY I HAD TO BACK THE U-HAUL AT LEAST A HALF MILE BACK TO THE HIGHWAY WHILE BEING CAREFUL NOT TO PUT IT INTO A DITCH. I FELT SO GOOD AFTER GETTING BACK ON THE HIGHWAY THAT WHEN I SAW THE BIKES I REALLY DIDN'T CARE HOW AWFUL THEY LOOKED. BOTH LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD BEEN LEANING AGAINST A BARN FOR 30 YEARS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE BITTEN OFF MORE THAN I COULD CHEW. THE TRIP HOME WAS UNEVENTFUL AND AFTER TAKING A PICTURE OF THE BIKES IN THE TRAILER I WENT TO BED. I STRIPPED BOTH BIKES DOWN TO THE FRAME AND HAD MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A FRAME UP RESTORATION. I ALREADY HAD A BUNCH OF NICE PARTS LEFTOVER FROM THE OTHER 82 THAT MADE THE NEW 82 PROJECT MUCH EASIER BUT THE 79 WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. THE 79 HAD MANY PARTS UNIQUE TO THAT YEAR AND LOCATING USED AND NEW ONES WAS A REAL PAIN. FORTUNATELY THE TANK HAD NO DENTS AND WAS LIKE NEW INSIDE BUT THE EXHAUST WAS SHOT AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO FINALLY LOCATE A DECENT SET. THE ENGINE SMOKED SO I GOT ANOTHER THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAD A STRIPPED OIL LINE BOLT AND I HAD TO USE THE ORIGINAL CRANKCASE  WITH THE REPLACEMENT CYLINDERS AND HEAD TO MAKE A USABLE ENGINE. NEITHER BIKE IS RUNNING VERY GOOD YET AND I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE ON THE ELECTRONICS SO I PARKED THEM WITH THE INTENTION OF TRYING AGAIN LATER. I GAVE THE 82 TO ONE OF MY KIDS AND CONCENTRATED ON MAKING THE 79 LOOK AS GOOD AS POSSIBLE. I STILL HAVEN'T TRIED TO GET IT RUNNING BUT HAVE ACQUIRED A BUNCH OF PARTS THAT I SUSPECT ARE KEEPING IT FROM RUNNING SMOOTHLY. IN JULY OF '07 I FOUND A 72 CB750 IN ST. LOUIS FROM THE SAME GUY I GOT MY 74 FROM. I DROVE THERE AND AFTER A LITTLE FINAGLING I LOADED IT IN AND HEADED HOME. I TOOK A CHILDHOOD FRIEND WITH ME BECAUSE HE HAD THE FIRST 750 I SAW BACK THEN AND IT WAS A 72 AND I THOUGHT HE WOULD GET A HOOT OUT OF SEEING ME ADD ONE LIKE IT TO MY HAREM.  IT WAS A NICE ACQUISITION BEING COMPLETE, WELL MAINTAINED AND HAVING A NEWLY PAINTED FUEL TANK AND SIDE COVERS. I DID MY USUAL CLEAN-UP AND INSPECTION AND ALL THAT WAS REALLY NEEDED WAS FORK SEALS AND AFTER REPLACING I SPENT THE REST OF THE SUMMER DRIVING IT ALL OVER THE PLACE. IN SEPTEMBER, 2007 MY FATHER PASSED AWAY AND WITH THE MONEY HE LEFT ME I STARTED SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE ONCE AGAIN LOOKING FOR MORE BIKES. NOW MY FATHER WAS AS GOOD AS THEY COME AND IF YOU HAVE EVER WATCHED "LEAVE IT TO BEAVER" THEN YOU HAVE SEEN THE KIND OF MAN HE WAS IN THE GUISE OF WARD CLEAVER, BEAVERS FATHER. HE HAD ALWAYS KIND OF FROWNED ON MY PAST HOBBIES BECAUSE THEY HAD NO SALE VALUE EXCEPT TO ME BUT WHEN HE SAW MY FIRST COUPLE OF 750'S IMMEDIATELY SAW THE INVESTMENT VALUE IN WHAT I WAS DOING. I WAS GOING TO INVITE HIM TO MOUNT ONE OF THE 750'S AND TAKE A RIDE BUT HE PASSED BEFORE HE COULD GET UP HERE FOR A VISIT.  I DECIDED THAT SINCE I HAD ENOUGH CASH TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT ACQUISITION I WOULD SET MY SIGHTS A LITTLE HIGHER. I HAD BEEN WATCHING A FULLY RESTORED TO MINT CONDITION 1969 "SANDCAST" CB750. THE GUY SELLING IT WAS IN FLORIDA AND HAD SCOURED THE WORLD FOR NEW OEM PARTS IN ORDER TO BUILD WHAT WAS VIRTUALLY A NEW BIKE. I DROPPED A DEPOSIT ON HIM KNOWING MY DAD WOULD APPROVE OF THE SANDCAST 750 I WAS LOOKING AT AND I IMAGINED HE AND I TRAVELING TO BIKE SHOWS TOGETHER TO SHOW IT OFF. BY THE TIME MY INHERITANCE CAME IN I HAD CALMED DOWN SOME AND REALIZED THAT FOR WHAT I WAS PAYING FOR THE 69 I COULD BUY 5 OR 6 OTHER BIKES. I BACKED OUT ON THE DEAL AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR BIKES I DIDN'T HAVE BUT HAD CONSIDERED IN THE PAST LIKE THE CBX. I HAD DROOLED OVER THE BROCHURE I HAVE OF THE 79 CBX AND TRIED TO EDUCATE MYSELF AS FAST AS I COULD BEFORE GOING ON THE HUNT BUT AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT ONE TURNED UP FOR SALE IN ILLINOIS AND I GRABBED IT. LUCKILY THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE IN MISSOURI IN ROUGH CONDITION NEAR THE ROUTE I WOULD BE TRAVELING TO MAKE THE ILLINOIS PICK-UP AND I GRABBED IT ALSO. WHEN I ARRIVED TO MAKE THE ILLINOIS PICK-UP THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER SEEN A CBX IN PERSON AND AFTER THROWING MY LEG OVER THE SEAT WAS STRUCK BY THE SIZE OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL TANK. I STARTED IT AND DROVE IT UP ONTO THE TRAILER, STRAPPED IT IN AND HEADED FOR THE OTHER PICK-UP. I HEADED SOUTH OFF I-70 HALF WAY INTO MISSOURI THINKING IT WOULD BE A SHORT TRIP AND THEN I COULD GET HOME BEFORE DARK.......NOT TO BE. I FOUND MYSELF ON SMALLER AND SMALLER ROADS AS I WOUND MY WAY THROUGH THE MISSOURI HILLS AND WHEN I ARRIVED AT DUSK I THOUGHT I WAS IN HOOTERVILLE. THE REST OF THE TRIP HOME WAS UNEVENTFUL AND I QUICKLY LEARNED THE REAL VALUE OF THE CBX.