Post by: cbxman on October 08, 2021, 10:39:33 AM
I'm Jerry. I have 3 bikes currently none of which have a single overhead cam!
I am selling a classic car shortly and am looking to buy 750-4 with some of the proceeds. I have always admired these bikes and just maybe it is time to enjoy one. Having 'nut and bolt' restored a couple of bikes (CBX1000, CB500-4)over the past few years, finding a complete one in good condition is the best way forward now parts are so hard to find.
Please excuse my lurking until I have absorbed enough info to start asking sensible questions.
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: Nurse Julie on October 08, 2021, 11:25:36 AM
Post by: Johnny4428 on October 08, 2021, 11:31:50 AM
Post by: SumpMagnet on October 08, 2021, 12:32:19 PM
I must agree.... for a first restoration of any model, having the thing as complete as you can get and in one piece makes life a lot easier. Basket cases always seem to lack small but expensive and hard to find knick-knacks that don;t manifest themself until you try and bolt it all back together. Having a rusty worn out part means you can always repair or refinish.
Plus I find making rough old parts live again is so rewarding!
Post by: paul G on October 08, 2021, 12:34:05 PM
You forgot to add expensive to the hard to find having just completed one :o
Post by: Moorey on October 08, 2021, 12:43:50 PM
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on October 08, 2021, 12:51:26 PM
I watched the auction on TV of the "Broughs of Bodmin Moor" held at Stafford Bike Show in 2016 by Sotherby's - over £300k for a double rear wheeled pile of rust Brough - an Austin 7 engined example I think it was.
New meaning to "hard to find" parts.
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on October 08, 2021, 01:09:12 PM
You can’t write about CBX and 500/4 restorations without providing pictures!
You need 5 posts to add pictures so just post a few replies on here.
Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: cbxman on October 08, 2021, 02:51:32 PM
welcome aboard!
I must agree.... for a first restoration of any model, having the thing as complete as you can get and in one piece makes life a lot easier. Basket cases always seem to lack small but expensive and hard to find knick-knacks that don;t manifest themself until you try and bolt it all back together. Having a rusty worn out part means you can always repair or refinish.
Plus I find making rough old parts live again is so rewarding!
I too like restoring parts. Chrome parts are something I have tried to avoid as there are few places local to me. Most other things come up well in the bead blaster and then paint. Attention to detail makes this sparkle I find.
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: cbxman on October 08, 2021, 02:55:23 PM
Hi Jerry and welcome to the forum.
You forgot to add expensive to the hard to find having just completed one :o
Paul,
Indeed. I've been checking out prices for original pipes for the Suzuki and hoping that the ones on the bike will last.!!
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: cbxman on October 08, 2021, 02:57:14 PM
Welcome Jerry to the forum there is a raft of expertise here.
I watched the auction on TV of the "Broughs of Bodmin Moor" held at Stafford Bike Show in 2016 by Sotherby's - over £300k for a double rear wheeled pile of rust Brough - an Austin 7 engined example I think it was.
New meaning to "hard to find" parts.
I know a bit of patina is regarded as preferable to stock shine these days, but that is crazy!
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: cbxman on October 08, 2021, 03:01:05 PM
Sorry Jerry but that’s just not good enough
You can’t write about CBX and 500/4 restorations without providing pictures!
You need 5 posts to add pictures so just post a few replies on here.
Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Steve,
OK. Fifth post I think. I'll put some photos on here shortly.
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: cbxman on October 08, 2021, 04:32:07 PM
Here are a few photos of my CB500-4 and CBX.
CB500-4 purchased from eBay in 2009. It was sold as a pair with a really scabby 550-4 '78, which I thought might it yield some spare parts. I don't have many photos of it in poor condition, but one is attached. The bike was a smooth, but a little lack lustre performance wise, and sold it on to another VJMC member.
I used very little of the 550-4 so I disposed of the large parts and kept some of the smaller ones. I guess these are available to someone who is interested. I would have to have a rummage in the loft though. I know I have a tank and crankshaft (same as 500-4 I believe). Just ask.
The CBX I bought from a dealership in Colchester in 2001. It was rough, but most it was there. I spent a few grand with David Silver, eBay globally and many happy hours putting it all back together. The engine and running gear was really worn out, so service hone rings crank and big end shell etc......yada...
I hope that relieves Steve's anxiety :)
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on October 08, 2021, 05:51:01 PM
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Post by: JamesH on October 09, 2021, 09:40:44 AM
My best advice (having restored a couple of 750’s to concours condition) is find the most complete bike you can and find one where replica 4-4 exhausts are available.
I believe DSS still has the replica HM341’s in stock (for K2-6 bikes. Genuine NOS Honda are £2000+ for a set now, if you can find them. The HM300 replicas (Yamiya) for Sandcast, k0-K1 are now £1850/set (NOS Honda £3000) and are out of stock and sporadically available.
My advice would be start looking for. k2 onwards bike to restore.
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on October 09, 2021, 09:46:26 AM
Yours looks well neat - a crowd pleaser when parked up!
Post by: Andrew-S on October 09, 2021, 11:23:02 AM
I know a bit of patina is regarded as preferable to stock shine these days, but that is crazy!
Cheers,
Jerry
Welcome from me too Jerry, nice collection bikes. Good luck finding a complete 750/4 to restore. As James says, a K2 onwards would be easier to find bits for if needed and they will be, however complete it may be advertised as.
Like others have said you'll find a lot of knowledgeable enthusiasts on here who are only too happy to pass on tips and advice based on years of experience. I know members have helped me at lot since I bought my unrestored 1970 K1 in late 2018.
Personally, I prefer my classic cars and and bikes to reflect their age and show signs of use, although I do like clean and tidy paintwork ::) Incidentally, what classic car are you selling - I've recently sold my 1958 Triumph TR3A (owned for 22 years), luckily it went to my cousin so it stays in the family. :) My 1972 TR6 on the other hand is going nowhere and will be passed onto my two sons when I fall off the perch, hopefully for some time to come yet!
Cheers, Andrew
Post by: cbxman on October 09, 2021, 11:25:47 AM
Welcome to the forum and best of luck in your search for a 750 to restore. From the pictures of your 500/CBx it certainly seems like you know what you’re doing.
My best advice (having restored a couple of 750’s to concours condition) is find the most complete bike you can and find one where replica 4-4 exhausts are available.
I believe DSS still has the replica HM341’s in stock (for K2-6 bikes. Genuine NOS Honda are £2000+ for a set now, if you can find them. The HM300 replicas (Yamiya) for Sandcast, k0-K1 are now £1850/set (NOS Honda £3000) and are out of stock and sporadically available.
My advice would be start looking for. k2 onwards bike to restore.
James,
Thank you for your welcome and suggestions.
There seems to be quite a few K4 to K6s on the market, so I'm keeping my eyes open. I have seen several really nice bikes, but until I have sold my classic car, I will have try and control the big temptation to go get one right now!!!..
I'm looking for a presentable bike but with maybe a four into one set of pipes and then buy a repro set from DSS to make it look right. It may be a slightly cheaper way to achieve a really nice stock looking bike.
I'm not a concourse man, but I like my bikes to look stock, I like to ride them now and then without too much worry.
What is the difference between the 300 and 341 pipes? I think it maybe the internals, or is there something I've missed?
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: cbxman on October 09, 2021, 11:38:35 AM
I have always liked the look of the CB-X the engine must be sooooo smooth like all sixes.
Yours looks well neat - a crowd pleaser when parked up!
Hello Ted,
Yes, always a few people having a look.
She's raises an eyebrow from time to time because being an 'A' model (1980), Honda UK never imported them as they had too many un-sold 'Z' models.
The marketing brochures for the 'A' model presents a black bike, which makes mine stand out from the Candy Glory Red and Perseus Silver ones. Plus they made only 3400 world wide, which makes them pretty rare any way. This one has frame numbers that would indicate it came from Canada. It had a Km speedo too. There were some country specific 'Z' models which had black paintwork. I think Germany and Italy...maybe others, but not the UK.
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: cbxman on October 09, 2021, 01:22:38 PM
I know a bit of patina is regarded as preferable to stock shine these days, but that is crazy!
Cheers,
Jerry
Welcome from me too Jerry, nice collection bikes. Good luck finding a complete 750/4 to restore. As James says, a K2 onwards would be easier to find bits for if needed and they will be, however complete it may be advertised as.
Like others have said you'll find a lot of knowledgeable enthusiasts on here who are only too happy to pass on tips and advice based on years of experience. I know members have helped me at lot since I bought my unrestored 1970 K1 in late 2018.
Personally, I prefer my classic cars and and bikes to reflect their age and show signs of use, although I do like clean and tidy paintwork ::) Incidentally, what classic car are you selling - I've recently sold my 1958 Triumph TR3A (owned for 22 years), luckily it went to my cousin so it stays in the family. :) My 1972 TR6 on the other hand is going nowhere and will be passed onto my two sons when I fall off the perch, hopefully for some time to come yet!
Cheers, Andrew
Andrew,
Apologies. I missed your question regarding the car I am selling.
It is a 1965 TR4A without the IRS. It was an early US export car. The US market was and still is a lover of 'live/rigid' rear axles. The Mustang only went IRS in 2020! So Triumph modified the new IRS chassis so they could put cart springs and a live axle back in!
This car was repatriated about '91 and was restored and converted to RHD. As it was exported to California originally and ended its US life in Pasadena, it knew nothing about rain and is completely rust free.
It should be up for auction on "The Market" shortly.
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: Andrew-S on October 09, 2021, 01:53:45 PM
Andrew,
Apologies. I missed your question regarding the car I am selling.
It is a 1965 TR4A without the IRS. It was an early US export car. The US market was and still is a lover of 'live/rigid' rear axles. The Mustang only went IRS in 2020! So Triumph modified the new IRS chassis so they could put cart springs and a live axle back in!
This car was repatriated about '91 and was restored and converted to RHD. As it was exported to California originally and ended its US life in Pasadena, it knew nothing about rain and is completely rust free.
It should be up for auction on "The Market" shortly.
Cheers,
Jerry
Ahhh Jerry, you're clearly a man with excellent taste is classics cars! 8) I've been a TR owner since 1983, an ownership which has included two TR4As, a TR3A and four TR6's, all UK cars.
Good luck with the sale of the 4A and finding a nice 750/4.
Cheers,
Andrew
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on October 09, 2021, 07:33:50 PM
When it rained water got past the window seals so I got a wet bum. After a couple of weeks I had the bodywork fixed and sold it & bought an FB Victor. I think I sold it for around £450. Hate to think what it would have been worth today. For some reason although I like the styling of the TR6 my favourite is the TR5 PI - closely followed by the Triumph Vitesse convertable or GT6.
Post by: cbxman on October 10, 2021, 08:31:48 AM
When I was 17 I bought a TR2 from the then Lord Scarsdale of Kedleston Hall via my late father who was in the car trade - it was a black one with rotten sills etc. I hated the dam thing as the ride was so firm - it was if I have remembered correctly one turn of the wheel from lock to lock - I lived in the countryside with my parents at the time so it was typical B road drive into town - a nightmare to keep in a straight line.
When it rained water got past the window seals so I got a wet bum. After a couple of weeks I had the bodywork fixed and sold it & bought an FB Victor. I think I sold it for around £450. Hate to think what it would have been worth today. For some reason although I like the styling of the TR6 my favourite is the TR5 PI - closely followed by the Triumph Vitesse convertable or GT6.
Ted,
TRs aren’t the most waterproof vehicles are they ;D
My wife considers the 4a a bone shaker! >:( She would rather get in the Audi A5 Cabriolet.. OK…
A TR6 would probably have been a better ride than a rigid axle TR4A. Lesson learned!
Cheers,
Jerry
Post by: Andrew-S on October 10, 2021, 10:31:02 AM
When I was 17 I bought a TR2 from the then Lord Scarsdale of Kedleston Hall via my late father who was in the car trade - it was a black one with rotten sills etc. I hated the dam thing as the ride was so firm - it was if I have remembered correctly one turn of the wheel from lock to lock - I lived in the countryside with my parents at the time so it was typical B road drive into town - a nightmare to keep in a straight line.
When it rained water got past the window seals so I got a wet bum. After a couple of weeks I had the bodywork fixed and sold it & bought an FB Victor. I think I sold it for around £450. Hate to think what it would have been worth today. For some reason although I like the styling of the TR6 my favourite is the TR5 PI - closely followed by the Triumph Vitesse convertable or GT6.
Ted,
TRs aren’t the most waterproof vehicles are they ;D
My wife considers the 4a a bone shaker! >:( She would rather get in the Audi A5 Cabriolet.. OK…
A TR6 would probably have been a better ride than a rigid axle TR4A. Lesson learned!
Cheers,
Jerry
Undoubtedly Jerry! ;D ;D
Lake Como, June 2019
Post by: PHILIP2908 on October 10, 2021, 10:52:25 AM
Glad to see so much enthusiasm for TR Sports Cars here. At the risk of losing the thread on CBs…
In 1990, I bought a US import TR3A; advertised as a California car but after I got it home turned out it came from Ohio where it rains more than Manchester. Restored it (not very well), changed it to RHD and myself, my new wife and the Cocker Spaniel used it for a good while travelling around the UK and France. Good fun apart from the vague steering, rubbish brakes and side-screen windows that fell out on the motorway; usually when it was raining.
[attach=1]
As the wife didn’t like bikes (still doesn’t) my restored CB750 K2, two C72s, CD175 sloper, C102 (Honda 50 with an electric start) had to go, so were all sold to make way in my single garage for the TR. I kept the XL250K0 though which I still have.
Next thing, life moves on; 2 daughters turn up and with no safe room in the back of the TR, it had to go and was replaced with a Morgan 4 seater. Worst car (apart from the Matra Rancho) I ever owned. A chassis like a garden gate made from angle iron, rock solid pillar suspension at the front (design unchanged from when it was invented in 1910). But with a Capri 1600GT engine in the front it went like the clappers but in a terrifying unusable way. Hated it – I didn’t get the Morgan ‘thing’ and still don’t.
[attach=2]
Got rid of that and the only 4 seater open classic I fancied was the Merc SL. A HUGE money pit but nice to drive. But the girls, who are now 20 & 22, don’t like it as they have long hair which gets tangled by being blown about by the back draught. They moan like crazy so it doesn’t really get used.
[attach=3]
I give up !! So that’s up for sale next year and maybe I’ll go back to a 2 seater; but whatever happens I’ll always keep the CB750 and XL250.
Phil in Cheltenham.
Post by: cbxman on October 10, 2021, 11:45:20 AM
Welcome to the forum and best of luck in your search for a 750 to restore. From the pictures of your 500/CBx it certainly seems like you know what you’re doing.
My best advice (having restored a couple of 750’s to concours condition) is find the most complete bike you can and find one where replica 4-4 exhausts are available.
I believe DSS still has the replica HM341’s in stock (for K2-6 bikes. Genuine NOS Honda are £2000+ for a set now, if you can find them. The HM300 replicas (Yamiya) for Sandcast, k0-K1 are now £1850/set (NOS Honda £3000) and are out of stock and sporadically available.
My advice would be start looking for. k2 onwards bike to restore.
James,
I agree. There seem to more K4 and K6s for sale. I haven't seen many K2s.
Cheers,
Jerry