Honda-SOHC

I just checked my photos from 2018 and discovered that my CB750 K1 had the later K2 sticker, nobody told me at the time!

Luckily the bloke who bought it didn’t know either 

Back at the time, I eventually (after getting away with it for a long time) got pulled on my 1977 Triumph for a black and white plate, you could buy a plate and stick on numbers from Jack Bottomley's in Salford. I used it because a (deliberately) dirty and undersize B/W plate was much harder for a cop or indignant passer by to read (no cameras then). In those days the cut off was meant to be 31/12/72.

I was pulled for my plate on a wet M6 by a Range Rover, he didn't notice the fact that I nearly ran into him because I had no front disc and twisted forks, I was recovering the bike home after an accident. I just got a bollocking over the plate, no further action. When I switched to correct yellow plastic ones, they kept splitting due to typical Brit bike vibration, I mounted them using rubber grommets in the end.

My 1974 Z1-A 'should' have a yellow plate to be original, but as it was in the USA then, and has used a B/W plate since coming to the UK in 1995 (a used plate was included in the kit of parts I built it from), sod it I'll use the B/W plate because I can, plus it's part of the bike's history, and cooler.

 I once noticed an outlaw type on a Sportster had a 'dry wipe' yellow number plate, and today's number of choice written on with a felt tip.

I’m impressed that the kickstart shaft is replated  (or new), lazy ass here tends to just paint the ends with silver undercoat and clear laquer.

Attention to detail.

The tax and postage on just a full set of shells for my CB750 from Yamiya was eye watering enough, but sometimes you have no choice these days.

An alternative to the body kit may be to do what I did - ordered a new replica tank and side panels from David Silver, and had them posted straight to Menno to work his magic. It worked out very well, but it was before the 'B' word that shall not be mentioned.

I’m definitely going, but if I haven’t sold my Z1-A by then I’ll be taking that for the 50th anniversary malarkey.

If not I’ll bring the CL450 and hang out with you guys.

I agree with what’s been said - nothing ever got rusty by being cold, it’s condensation that makes cold metal stuff in the garage get wet. I have one of those concrete garages as well, but I drilled air vents into the wooden gable ends. My attic used to get wet through, until I removed a large amount of old clothing stuffed into the eaves by the previous owner to cut draughts, never had a problem since. A customer who owns several houses told me that if he leaves a house empty he always cracks open a window to keep air circulating.

I have a dehumidifier in the garage but when it’s brass monkeys cold it doesn’t work at all. Sudden temperature change is the enemy.

As a kid I had a Venus Fly Trap for a while, I used to feed it flies and bits of sausage. I think it lasted as long as a fairground goldfish.

Lovely bike! My mate describes my blue one as ‘still as pretty as a picture’.

You asked me about my pattern seat, although it is perfect shape wise, your original cover looks better with the more rugged fake crocodile finish. Mine has a cheap Chinese flasher relay - the part is shared with the CB750 sandcast, so only available at silly money.

The chrome has come up nice, I think it’s better quality than people give Honda credit for. I couldn’t find an early alternator cover either, they get beggared up by the gear lever every time you fall off.

I hope you get a chance to use this one, I ride mine all the time for local journeys as it’s great for buzzing through the traffic as well as the country lanes.

As a student I used to regularly drop in to Sports Motorcycles in Manchester to lust at the bikes there.

I've never seen it reported, and the bike certainly doesn't have them now, but I saw with my own eyes that the original NCR Ducati that Mike Hailwood rode in his TT comeback had radially drilled discs, ie the holes went from the edge to the inside of the disc. They were beautifully done, with countersunk holes and done at an angle making an airscoop effect, no doubt saving unsprung weight as well as cooling. Proper 'works' bike stuff.

I've never seen this in any article or photo of that bike, and no doubt when they wore out or warped they got replaced with ordinary discs, I've seen the bike a couple of times and there is no sign. However I know what I saw, so just recording this for the reference of google and internet could be useful to someone. I wonder if the current owner knows?