Who am I - A newbie and my mission

MB-5 Joined: Sep 05, 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Norman, OK

I posted some of this on the 750C site before I discovered this 'F' forum but now that I've posted a few questions here, I thought I should introduce myself and the '81 CB750F I'm rebilding. (sort of a long story, sorry). Actually registered here a long time ago before I ever had the CB in my hands

One of my best friends bought it new in high school in '82. He (and this bike) inspired me to get a motorcycle but my parents wouldn't allow it. So I worked and saved money in college planning to buy an Intercepter. Then I got engaged and all my motorcycle money went to the ring (so far that has still been a good investment). Honestly I wasn't mature enough then and would have cause myself a lot of harm if I was riding in my 20's.

Somewhere in the 90's friend freshened up the bike a bit and repainted it yellow to match his Ducati 900SS. The CB wasn't running too well and sat a lot by the late 90's and early 2000s. Friend died of cancer 10 years ago and his wife gave the CB to a mutual friend who has had it stored the past 10 years, not running, and I've begged him to let me work on it. Meanwhile I took up riding 6 years ago and have put around 40,000 miles on my Triumph Street Triple.
Still the CB was calling me and I feel an obligation to put it back into it's 1980's near stock condition. I kept bugging the mutual friend to let me restore it and I would split the costs. Eventually he gave it to me. (to keep) so I've had it just a few weeks now.
Thus far I've turned it over by hand (after soaking in penetrating oil a few days), replaced 12 valve shims, new battery, spark plugs, new valve cover gasket, cleaned and partially rebuilt the carbs. Now working on brake calipers and master cylinders front and rear, both sprockets and chain, and front forks. Thanks Tom K who just sold me the rear turn signal brackets. I eventually plan to paint and put on OEM replica stripes to put it back to it's high school glory days. I plan to start it and sync the carbs in 2 weeks.

I have September as a goal date to have it running well for the Distinguished Gentlemens Ride.

So thats my story. Thanks for all the help any of you have provided so far. I usually spend some time searching before I ask a question and I've found many of the answers I was looking for.

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 3:00 am

Welcome aboard! And post pictures... lot of pictures!
We love pictures!!

MB-5 Joined: Sep 05, 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Norman, OK

Here she sits the day after I got her home. Currently there are a lot of parts and tools scattered around her. Unfortunately we have company coming in a few days and I won't get much more work on it this week, but I'm taking a vacation day a week from Friday and should get a full day of work on it. This is not going to be a frame off restoration. This is already the biggest mechanical project I've undertaken. And one thing I've learned about myself pretty quickly...I am NOT patient enough to do a frame off restoration!
It has an aftermarket oil cooler. I have pod filters - the OEM air box is long gone. But I do know that it once ran great on the jets it has now so I'm optimistic I can get it tuned reasonably well. It also has stainless steel front brake lines. I'm not sure if that was a standard feature or not. I will keep the aftermarket clip on style bars and I will re do the heat wrap tape on the Supertrapp exhaust and I'm keeping the engine and wheels painted black. But I plan to put the paint back to black with OEM stripes.
I'm wanting the look it had in the mid 80's that was near stock but some cosmetic mods that are still there now.

Edit - a few other things that stay : Sticker on back fender from the original dealer that went our of business over 20 years ago, and the state inspection sticker from 1987 - the year I was college room mates with the owner and year after i met my wife. (Our state hasn't required inspection since then and the bike spent the last 25 years in Texas.

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 4:31 am

Welcome to the board! Looks like it's in pretty good shape for having sat for so long. Definitely a shame the mutual friend didn't let you have the bike sooner. If you end needing a different set of calipers, I might have a pair I'll be selling soon (so long as the set I bought mount properly).

Best of luck with meeting the deadline.

MB-5 Joined: Sep 05, 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Norman, OK

Sorry its been awhile since I posted. I read more than I post and I hadn't had any eye candy to put up...till now. Parts are back from paint. Carbs are back from Mike Nixon (not yet installed) .

What I've done so far:
Valve adjustment, rebuilt front calipers and replaced master cylinder, replaced speedometer cable, replaced choke cable, repainted wheels and engine (as they were painted by the original owner in the 80's), Replaced spark plugs, oil change, Replaced valve cover gasket, replaced oil pan gasket, replaced broken stud on exhaust header, painted exhaust and re- heat wrapped it, powdercoated center stand - rear swing arm and brake stay arm, replaced rear turn signal brackets, replaced front and rear sprockets and chain.
I also made a half assed attempt to rebuild the carbs on the rack which let to shipping them off to Mike Nixon to have it done right. (If there isn't time to do it right the first time there's always time to do it over)
And not parts are back from paint with an factory replica stripe kit.

Paint is not as good as I would have hoped for - looks good from 4 feet but closer than that you can seea few bubbles in the stripes and orange peel. But I paid a cheap price and got what I paid for. I'm not going for a perfect bike but rather, what would the original owner have done with it. He would have spent money on the mechanical and cheaped out on cosmetics. So it's still true to the plan.

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 3:40 pm

looks great man good work

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:28 pm

Bubbles in the stripes will settle if you park it in the sun for a few days. I had to get all mine out before I clear coated over the decals.

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:58 pm

Welcome aboard.
Thanks for sharing your mission statement

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:49 am

Good back-story, and a great job. You'd have to be happy with that.

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 2:04 pm

Ha, you're hooked. Welcome aboard. Check rides and rallies for ride starting in Miami OK.

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 1:00 am

OKStriple wrote:

Paint is not as good as I would have hoped for - looks good from 4 feet but closer than that you can see a few bubbles in the stripes and orange peel...

The stock paint wasn't always that good.