Motorcycles » rec.motorcycles.tech » 1975 CB750 K5
1975 CB750 K5 [message #475550] Tue, 11 October 2005 20:40
Matt  
Thinking of moving to a '75 Honda 750 with 13K miles and would like to
know what good and bad points to look for with this model.
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475551 ] Tue, 11 October 2005 21:04
Gary Walker  
"Matt" <themattfella [at] xxyyyzzzz.com> wrote in message
news:QGT2f.9541$cg.7441 [at] news02.roc.ny...
> Thinking of moving to a '75 Honda 750 with 13K miles and would like to
> know what good and bad points to look for with this model.


Hold on there Matt, you're really climbing the scale on
the "state of the art" meter. <g>

So, let's see, depending on the bike's anniversary, it's
around 30 years old. At 13K miles, that looks like about
430+ miles a year. No sense in burin' up the road, I guess.

However, I suspect that rather than a linear 430 MPY, the bike was used more
consistently in its early years,
and then parked/abandoned(I'm only guessing) later.

If it's had long periods of inactivity, I would be looking
at bad tires, possible battery leakage/damage, and the
presence of rust.

I can't recall the K5, but I had a '73 K3. It was a four
pipe model, and they were notorious for muffler rusting.
Even back then.

I would also be looking at the fuel purity coming out of
the tank, as well as the same respect to the oil. Of course,
these items could have just been cleaned/changed. Might
want to drain a float bowl or two and check the gas there.

Carefully check all rubber condition(front fork covers, if
they exist, air intake tunnels, etc.). Put the bike on the
centerstand, fire it up, put it in some gear, and let spin the
rear wheel. Check the wheel for true. Run up the engine
and check for exhaust smoking. Listen to the chain for
and excessive noise or binding sounds. Listen to the engine for unusual
noises. My K3 was a single OHC.
Don't know when the DOHC models came about. It
might have a noisy camchain. Obviously, look for any
oil leaks, and if it's liquid cooled, and coolant leaks.

The check list is endless....


Gary
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475559 ] Tue, 11 October 2005 23:30
chateauSPAMKILL.murra  
Matt <themattfella [at] xxyyyzzzz.com> wrote:

> Thinking of moving to a '75 Honda 750 with 13K miles and would like to
> know what good and bad points to look for with this model.

Beyond the usual caveats when buying *any* old bike...

The bike itself, by modern standards, is utter crap. It's massively
heavy, requires enormous effort to ride any distance above about 80mph,
and has truly terrifying brakes.

It's detuned and slow. Expect 110mph top speed, or thereabouts (whatever
the speedo says).

I mean, there's a mount for an extra caliper on the 'other' fork leg,
and Honda didn't fit one as standard. It's like saying: :"We know the
brakes are crap, but if you want decent ones, you pay the extra, boy."
Harley tried something similar with their 'aftermarket' brakes, which
actually worked, unlike the ones they fitted as OE.

The throttle is heavy. The suspension is crude and the whole chassis is,
to be honest, completely at odds with the engine performance. It can't
cope above, again, about 80.

The lights are dire, the carbs need re-synchronising every 3000 miles,
and the chain would disgrace a modern 125 and needs adjustment every 500
miles and replacement every 5000. If neglected, it has a distressing
tendency to part, and in extreme cases, this takes out the crankcases.

The spokes in the rear wheel are not up to the abuse of the 60-odd bhp
engine and loosen off or snap, with interesting consequences for the
rear tyre.

The high bars make the thing impossible to ride for any distance above
(yep!) 80mph. There's a pattern emerging here, you know.

And yet......

It looks fantastic, if it still has a genuine 4 into 4 exhaust. It makes
a lovely noise. It's reliable and easily maintained. And it is an utter,
utter classic.

In short, it's great for riding around below (guess what speed?). It
turns heads. It has soul.



--
Trophy 1200 750SS TR65 GPz550 CB400F CB125S DT50MX
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475581 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 03:38
Shrub  
Matt wrote:
> Thinking of moving to a '75 Honda 750 with 13K miles and would like to
> know what good and bad points to look for with this model.

If I was going to buy a 4-stroke I-4 built in 1975, I would look for a
Kawasaki KZ-1000. It's a much better engineered motorcycle. It wouldn't
matter if I had to pay more money for it.

I'm not much impressed with Honda's early I-4's. The center of gravity
is too high for the wheelbase. You can't remove the cylinder head
without pulling the engine out of the frame (unless you take a hacksaw
and cut the lower steering head braces out of the frame).
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475582 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 03:40
Nomen Nescio  
Look for a '69 model. Sometimes the prototypes are the best. As the years
progressed, the 750 got heavy and uglyfied. The '69 was lean and mean;
sveldt and pretty, if you know what I mean.

The mufflers were copies of the Bonneville, but who can complain about
that? From the rear, it looked like four 20mm cannons. For a nip bike, it
was the state of the art and still is in the design department. Today's
bikes don't even look like motorcycles should.

WTGLACS.
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475586 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 14:13
chateau.murray  
Gary Walker wrote:

<snip>

> Don't know when the DOHC models came about. It
> might have a noisy camchain. Obviously, look for any
> oil leaks, and if it's liquid cooled, and coolant leaks.
>

Errmmmmm, if you aren't sure whether a K5 is air or liquid cooled, SOHC
or DOHC, it might be better not to offer advice at all.....

I ought to add - parts availability for the engines is till good. Even
the OE 4/4 exhausts are available. Trim and cosmetic parts, like side
panels and so forth, can be nightmares to source. It all depends on how
original it is, and how original one wants it to be, I suppose.

You're right about the four cans rusting, mind. They all did that.
Squirting a load of oil down the silencers helped.

That reminds me: recently I bought an utterly immaculate Honda CB125S,
all original, clean as you will ever find, 1972 vintage. The OE exhaust
was still in superb condition (it had been dry stored in a heated
building). I discovered that these exhausts are now utterly
unobtainable, and that not even pattern ones have the right style of
silencer.

So I recently bought a pattern system for a pushrod CG125 (which bolts
straight on) and replaced the OE system wit this. The OE exhaust has
had a pint of oil poured into it, and swilled around, and the faultless
chrome has been coated in grease. It's sealed in a plastic bag, hanging
in my garage, and when/if I sell the bike, it'll go back on.
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475587 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 16:00
Gary Walker  
<chateau.murray [at] btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:1129119236.504667.300080 [at] g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Gary Walker wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > Don't know when the DOHC models came about. It
> > might have a noisy camchain. Obviously, look for any
> > oil leaks, and if it's liquid cooled, and coolant leaks.
> >
>
> Errmmmmm, if you aren't sure whether a K5 is air or liquid cooled, SOHC
> or DOHC, it might be better not to offer advice at all.....
>




Well, not recalling a bike's manufacture history event is a
lot different from not knowing of the that history. Did you see any text in
my suggestion(s) that would make you believe I don't know what I'm talking
about?




> I ought to add - parts availability for the engines is till good. Even
> the OE 4/4 exhausts are available. Trim and cosmetic parts, like side
> panels and so forth, can be nightmares to source. It all depends on how
> original it is, and how original one wants it to be, I suppose.
>
> You're right about the four cans rusting, mind. They all did that.
> Squirting a load of oil down the silencers helped.
>
> That reminds me: recently I bought an utterly immaculate Honda CB125S,
> all original, clean as you will ever find, 1972 vintage. The OE exhaust
> was still in superb condition (it had been dry stored in a heated
> building). I discovered that these exhausts are now utterly
> unobtainable, and that not even pattern ones have the right style of
> silencer.
>
> So I recently bought a pattern system for a pushrod CG125 (which bolts
> straight on) and replaced the OE system wit this. The OE exhaust has
> had a pint of oil poured into it, and swilled around, and the faultless
> chrome has been coated in grease. It's sealed in a plastic bag, hanging
> in my garage, and when/if I sell the bike, it'll go back on.
>
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475588 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 16:54
Shrub  
Nomen Nescio wrote:
> Look for a '69 model.

What the fuck are you raving about now, you idiot?

Why did you answer *my* post to Matt, instead of answering Matt's
original post? Then you advised Matt to buy the first year model, the
one with the sand cast cases, which has become a much sought-after
*collector's* motorbike. It would be an occasional Sunday ride, it
wouldn't be a daily ride.

An original CB750 K Zero would be just too fragile for daily service,
as many riders learned when the chain broke and took out the engine
cases.

> Sometimes the prototypes are the best.

A first year production model is NOT a frikkin' *prototype*, idiot! If
any "prototypes* ever came to America, they were tested by American
Honda riders and then returned to Japan, run through the crusher at AH,
or they are in somebody's collection. Matt's NOT going to find a
frikkin' *prototype*!

I used to talk with a Honda service rep at the donut shop and he told
me what American Honda used to do with their test bikes. They would
park them in front of the crusher hopper, start the engine up and run
the engine with the throttle wide open until it started smoking and
then they'd kick it into gear and launch it into the crusher. That kept
any oddball prototypes out of the hands of the public so Honda wouldn't
get product liability lawsuits and warranty claims.

Another guy told me that he worked for a temp agency and his job at
Honda was destroying new old stock. He told me about cutting up SOHC
6-cylinder Honda cylinder heads ten years before anybody ever heard of
the DOHC CBX.

So Honda must have been testing *prototype* SOHC CB-1000's in the
1970's, but who the fuck ever *saw* one?

> As the years
> progressed, the 750 got heavy and uglyfied. The '69 was lean and mean;
> sveldt and pretty, if you know what I mean.

CB-750's were always butt-ugly and stupid looking. They were too tall
and too short, they *never* had any style or grace.
>
> The mufflers were copies of the Bonneville, but who can complain about
> that? From the rear, it looked like four 20mm cannons.

WTF are you raving about now? Bonnevilles had peashooter mufflers.
Maybe somebody installed an aftermarket tapered reverse cone Dunstall
bit. Honda mufflers were unique thin walled stamped metal imitations of
a reverse cone
megaphone.

> For a nip bike, it
> was the state of the art and still is in the design department.

So. Tell us all about Honda's current crop of SOHC CB-750's, Mr. Know
It All...

> Today's bikes don't even look like motorcycles should.

So, who made you into a motorcycle styling expert? And why aren't you
in Hamamatsu designing the next crop of nostalgia UJM's?

Riders got BORED with I-4 UJM's in the late 1970's/early 1980's. They
wanted Honda, et al. to deliver on their GP dreams of the late 1960's.
That's what riders fell in love with, GP machinery of the 1960's.

They heard the sounds of the shrieking Honda GP bikes on records or
tapes, and saw magazine pictures of Honda's GP bikes on the racetracks
of Europe, and that's why they demanded inline 4's. If they were really
really really lucky, fans got to see a *film* of a motorcycle roadrace.
They creamed their jeans over those movies. They *lusted* for the GP
look.

So Honda gave them the Ugly Duckling CB-750 instead and the GP fans
quickly started making them look as much like a GP racer as anybody can
make a dumpy Fat Girl look. There were all kinds of kits out there to
at least use the
CB-750 motor, but to put it into a nicer race-styled kit bike.

Dunstall and Rickman made such kits. I disremember who else was
supplying kits and specials to overcome the CB-750's Terminal Ugliness.

Nowadays, you can buy a CBR1000RR that not only resembles a MotoGP
RC211, it even has the same Repsol graphics as are on Nicky Hayden's
machine. A guy who works at a local warehouse grocery store parks his
Nicky Hayden Replica there and I lust for it.
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475589 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 18:47
chateau.murray  
Gary Walker wrote:
> <chateau.murray [at] btinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:1129119236.504667.300080 [at] g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > Gary Walker wrote:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > > Don't know when the DOHC models came about. It
> > > might have a noisy camchain. Obviously, look for any
> > > oil leaks, and if it's liquid cooled, and coolant leaks.
> > >
> >
> > Errmmmmm, if you aren't sure whether a K5 is air or liquid cooled, SOHC
> > or DOHC, it might be better not to offer advice at all.....
> >
>
>
> Well, not recalling a bike's manufacture history event is a
> lot different from not knowing of the that history. Did you see any text in
> my suggestion(s) that would make you believe I don't know what I'm talking
> about?
>
>
Oh, the general advice applicable to old bikes is great - agree
totally. But the answer to your question is, when it comes to this
specific model, "Yes".
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475590 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 19:03
Shrub  
Gary Walker wrote:

> I can't recall the K5, but I had a '73 K3. It was a four
> pipe model, and they were notorious for muffler rusting.
> Even back then.

I can recall the K5, my buddy had about a 1971 K1, and that was
totalled in a crash with a taxi cab, so he made the insurance company
buy him the K5 or he would sue them for the injuries sustained in the
accident.

Hey, a CB750 could be bought for as little as $1750 in those days of
the Carter Recession. Such a deal! Everybody bought 'em, even people
who didn't know how to ride...

But this kid I knew was a real operator. He had an XS650 and he let a
guy ride it and the guy hit a brick wall, so he demanded enough money
to get the K1, which was wrecked in the taxi cab accident. Then he had
the K5 for a few months and it was mysteriously stolen and he wound up
with a Volkwagen. Yamaha to VW in less than a year. Hmmmm....

> Don't know when the DOHC models came about.

CB750F was in 1979. There may have been 1978 DOHC's, check
www.partsfish.com
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475593 ] Wed, 12 October 2005 20:29
chateauSPAMKILL.murra  
krusty kritter <kriyamanna [at] aol.com> wrote:

> An original CB750 K Zero would be just too fragile for daily service,
> as many riders learned when the chain broke and took out the engine
> cases.

Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.

Damn nearly happened to me - it popped the spring link on the weedy
chain, lost the sideplate, and the two halves of the link wre just
opening out when I decided to stop for fuel and give the chain a lube at
the same time =:O


--
Trophy 1200 750SS TR65 GPz550 CB400F CB125S DT50MX
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475595 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 00:19
Matt  
The Older Gentleman wrote:
> krusty kritter <kriyamanna [at] aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>>An original CB750 K Zero would be just too fragile for daily service,
>>as many riders learned when the chain broke and took out the engine
>>cases.
>
>
> Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
> K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.
>
> Damn nearly happened to me - it popped the spring link on the weedy
> chain, lost the sideplate, and the two halves of the link wre just
> opening out when I decided to stop for fuel and give the chain a lube at
> the same time =:O

What are the details and mechanism of crankcase damage when the chain
breaks?
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475600 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 04:01
Shrub  
Matt wrote:
> The Older Gentleman wrote:
> > krusty kritter <kriyamanna [at] aol.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>An original CB750 K Zero would be just too fragile for daily service,
> >>as many riders learned when the chain broke and took out the engine
> >>cases.
> >
> >
> > Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
> > K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.
> >
> > Damn nearly happened to me - it popped the spring link on the weedy
> > chain, lost the sideplate, and the two halves of the link wre just
> > opening out when I decided to stop for fuel and give the chain a lube at
> > the same time =:O
>
> What are the details and mechanism of crankcase damage when the chain
> breaks?

The chain breaks a hole in the crankcases around the countershaft
sprocket.
The sand cast cases certainly can't be heliarc welded, and the die cast
cases probably can't be repaired either.

By comparison, Kawasaki's 900cc Z-1 and the KZ-1000 are built like
brick houses...
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475604 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 05:22
Matt  
The Older Gentleman wrote:

> Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
> K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.

Could I replace the chain and sprockets with stouter parts? Maybe some
previous owner has done that already?
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475605 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 05:51
Matt  
krusty kritter wrote:

> Riders got BORED with I-4 UJM's in the late 1970's/early 1980's. They

I understand UJM == Universal Japanese Motorcycle. Why do they call
them universal? Maybe it means something like "general purpose".

While I'm at it, what is 'supersport'? Onelook.com doesn't help.
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475606 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 06:18
Shrub  
Matt wrote:
> krusty kritter wrote:
>
> > Riders got BORED with I-4 UJM's in the late 1970's/early 1980's. They
>
> I understand UJM == Universal Japanese Motorcycle. Why do they call
> them universal? Maybe it means something like "general purpose".

The motorcycle magazines coined the phrase "UJM" to describe all the
I-4's that were so similar you could jump off a Kawasaki onto a Suzuki
onto a Yamaha onto a Honda and you couldn't tell which bike you were on
without looking at the badges or the speedo and tach faces.

The magazine writers were all hyped up on V-twins about that time, too,
they were saying that the solution to the vibration problem was a
90-degree V-twin, and that nobody really needed the I-4's that
enthusiasts had lusted for during the period when Honda was winning GP
races.
>
> While I'm at it, what is 'supersport'? Onelook.com doesn't help.

Chevrolet started calling high performance certain V-8 models
"supersport"
in the 1960's. "Supersport" caught on quickly. The guy that sold me my
first Honda told me that it was sort of a "supersport" because it had
two---count 'em, TWO! ignition coils.

But then he said a *real* "supersport" had a carburetor for every
cylinder. So the first Honda Superhawks were "supersports" by that
definition...

In 1976, Honda started building CB400/550/750 "supersports" with
4-into-1 exhaust systems and longer, narrow "breadloaf" gastanks more
reminiscent of their GP motorcycles. Californians loved the 4-into-1
systems which had more ground clearance on the left side, and they
leaned harder to the left than to the right anyway.

However, the older 4-into-4 exhaust systems sold better in other parts
of the country that didn't have canyons, just long straight roads.
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475609 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 08:19
chateauSPAMKILL.murra  
Matt <themattfella [at] xxyyyzzzz.com> wrote:

> The Older Gentleman wrote:
>
> > Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
> > K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.
>
> Could I replace the chain and sprockets with stouter parts? Maybe some
> previous owner has done that already?

I don't know if the chain and sprockets from the later models will fit.
I don't see why they shouldn't, but it's not a conversion I've ever seen
done.


--
Trophy 1200 750SS TR65 GPz550 CB400F CB125S DT50MX
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475614 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 17:04
thesewiv  
Matt wrote:
> The Older Gentleman wrote:
>
> > Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
> > K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.
>
> Could I replace the chain and sprockets with stouter parts? Maybe some
> previous owner has done that already?

I ride a K5 as a daily driver (well, I did until the base gasket
started
leaking. Can't show up at work with my right pantleg oil-soaked, so
it's
parked for the moment). I've got a Tsubaki 530 O-ring chain on it, and
aftermarket sprockets. No problems with the install.

I agree on the brakes, weight, and looks comments, too. I ride it
because
I like the "classicness" of the bike, and don't mind working on old
bikes.

80 mph is about the top you'll want to ride it without a windscreen.

You'll want to look at www.vjmc.org, and wherever SOHC is hanging out
now, I
think it's www.sohc.net.

It's a fun bike, IMO. Far from perfect, just fun.

--
Sandy
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475616 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 17:30
chateau.murray  
thesewiv wrote:
> Matt wrote:
> > The Older Gentleman wrote:
> >
> > > Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
> > > K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.
> >
> > Could I replace the chain and sprockets with stouter parts? Maybe some
> > previous owner has done that already?
>
> I ride a K5 as a daily driver (well, I did until the base gasket
> started
> leaking. Can't show up at work with my right pantleg oil-soaked, so
> it's
> parked for the moment). I've got a Tsubaki 530 O-ring chain on it, and
> aftermarket sprockets. No problems with the install.
>
> I agree on the brakes, weight, and looks comments, too. I ride it
> because
> I like the "classicness" of the bike, and don't mind working on old
> bikes.
>
> 80 mph is about the top you'll want to ride it without a windscreen.
>
> You'll want to look at www.vjmc.org, and wherever SOHC is hanging out
> now, I
> think it's www.sohc.net.
>
> It's a fun bike, IMO. Far from perfect, just fun.
>

I think that's fair....

I've owned most of the SOHC Honda fours at one time or another. The
very best, from a riding point of view, was the CB650 (believe it or
not). Faster than all but the very fastest 750s, and handled and braked
infinitely better.

The 550s are a good compromise, but they're really thirsty, except for
the four-piper K.

I've still got a 400, which is (IMHO) the best of the lot. It
completely outhandles all the others (with the possible exception of
the 650), is smoother than the others, more economical, and looks just
fantastic (again IMHO). However, it's a finicky little bike, and
requires more frequent maintenance, especially oil changes and carb
balancing. And it doesn't suit the large rider.

Never ridden a 350, nor a 500.
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475617 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 17:34
Ed Cregger  
"thesewiv" <thesewiv [at] gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1129215876.035198.185130 [at] g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Matt wrote:
>> The Older Gentleman wrote:
>>
>> > Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2 and
>> > K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.
>>
>> Could I replace the chain and sprockets with stouter parts? Maybe some
>> previous owner has done that already?
>
> I ride a K5 as a daily driver (well, I did until the base gasket
> started
> leaking. Can't show up at work with my right pantleg oil-soaked, so
> it's
> parked for the moment). I've got a Tsubaki 530 O-ring chain on it, and
> aftermarket sprockets. No problems with the install.
>
> I agree on the brakes, weight, and looks comments, too. I ride it
> because
> I like the "classicness" of the bike, and don't mind working on old
> bikes.
>
> 80 mph is about the top you'll want to ride it without a windscreen.
>
> You'll want to look at www.vjmc.org, and wherever SOHC is hanging out
> now, I
> think it's www.sohc.net.
>
> It's a fun bike, IMO. Far from perfect, just fun.
>
> --
> Sandy
>


Add a can of radiator stop leak in your crankcase next oil change. I
guarantee it will stop leaking. <G>

Just kidding, folks. DON'T DO AS I SUGGESTED.

I actually heard of a woman doing that to her leaking automatic
transmission. No, I didn't suggest it, either.

Ed Cregger
Re: 1975 CB750 K5 [message #475618 ] Thu, 13 October 2005 17:35
Ed Cregger  
<chateau.murray [at] btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:1129217412.953249.160270 [at] f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> thesewiv wrote:
>> Matt wrote:
>> > The Older Gentleman wrote:
>> >
>> > > Actually, that was a problem that dogged *all* CB750s until the F2
>> > > and
>> > > K7 came along with beefed-up O-ring chains.
>> >
>> > Could I replace the chain and sprockets with stouter parts? Maybe some
>> > previous owner has done that already?
>>
>> I ride a K5 as a daily driver (well, I did until the base gasket
>> started
>> leaking. Can't show up at work with my right pantleg oil-soaked, so
>> it's
>> parked for the moment). I've got a Tsubaki 530 O-ring chain on it, and
>> aftermarket sprockets. No problems with the install.
>>
>> I agree on the brakes, weight, and looks comments, too. I ride it
>> because
>> I like the "classicness" of the bike, and don't mind working on old
>> bikes.
>>
>> 80 mph is about the top you'll want to ride it without a windscreen.
>>
>> You'll want to look at www.vjmc.org, and wherever SOHC is hanging out
>> now, I
>> think it's www.sohc.net.
>>
>> It's a fun bike, IMO. Far from perfect, just fun.
>>
>
> I think that's fair....
>
> I've owned most of the SOHC Honda fours at one time or another. The
> very best, from a riding point of view, was the CB650 (believe it or
> not). Faster than all but the very fastest 750s, and handled and braked
> infinitely better.
>
> The 550s are a good compromise, but they're really thirsty, except for
> the four-piper K.
>
> I've still got a 400, which is (IMHO) the best of the lot. It
> completely outhandles all the others (with the possible exception of
> the 650), is smoother than the others, more economical, and looks just
> fantastic (again IMHO). However, it's a finicky little bike, and
> requires more frequent maintenance, especially oil changes and carb
> balancing. And it doesn't suit the large rider.
>
> Never ridden a 350, nor a 500.
>


I still want to get my hands on a gray market 250cc inline four. I'd pull
the mufflers and then revel in the sound of the little four cylinder revving
up to 17k before shifting. That should make the hair stand up on (among
other things) for any red blooded engine enthusiast/freak, such as myself.

Ed Cregger
Vorheriges Thema:Lubriplate products
Nächstes Thema:A question on chains
Gehe zu:
  


aktuelle Zeit: Wed Jan 7 22:35:14 CET 2009

Insgesamt benötigte Zeit, um die Seite zu erzeugen: 0.13861 Sekunden
.:: Startseite - Hinweise - Impressum ::.

Powered