The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Tony Smith on June 10, 2016, 06:44:43 AM

Title: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 10, 2016, 06:44:43 AM
That in a very short time the Honda CB750 will be 50 years old.

I recently rode a newly rebuilt "sandcast" CB750, the so-called  "K0" model. When I gave it back to the owner I must admit I mouthed some platitudes and shallow congratulations because quite frankly, I didn't like it much.

Then I took a near contemporary of the Honda, a Norton Atlas for a quick spin.

I went back to my friend who owns the Honda and congratulated him and specifically mentioned how wonderful the Honda was considering what went before.

Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 10, 2016, 06:45:53 AM
I'll add here as a follow-on the message above. I had to start the blasted Atlas from dead cold. The procedure is a little more involved than pressing a button.....
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: montmil on June 10, 2016, 08:16:57 AM
My motorcycles from fifty years past were always stellar performers... In my memories.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 10, 2016, 05:53:15 PM
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My motorcycles from fifty years past were always stellar performers... In my memories.

Agreed

To quote a retired Australian racer of my acquaintance, "the older I get, the faster I was."
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Motu on June 10, 2016, 07:53:40 PM
Although I couldn't admit it at the time, being heavily involved in the British bike Culture here, I always wanted one of those early CB750's  I got a nice red tank one in 1985...I hated it.  They were probably worse when new - crap tyres and suspension, it'd be able to fly passed the Atlas in a straight line, but were dangerous in a corner.  Top speed and 1/4 mile times sold bikes in those days, but handling sold a bike to me.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 12, 2016, 07:17:28 AM
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Although I couldn't admit it at the time, being heavily involved in the British bike Culture here, I always wanted one of those early CB750's  I got a nice red tank one in 1985...I hated it.  They were probably worse when new - crap tyres and suspension, it'd be able to fly passed the Atlas in a straight line, but were dangerous in a corner.  Top speed and 1/4 mile times sold bikes in those days, but handling sold a bike to me.

Once "up and running" the Atlas is a joy to ride - the slim-line featherbed frame sees to that. This one was just a little recalcitrant to start and the memories of beastly Pommie Sh!t came flooding back. And yes you are 100% correct, the "k0" is a near as possible 100% original rebuild, it does have decent Dunlop tyres instead to the "rim protectors" Japanese bikes of old came with, but it also has NOS original fitment shockies  which are just for decoration.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: clonmore1 on June 13, 2016, 03:32:32 PM
The 'sand cast' Honda 750 are now hitting £50k here in the UK, mad money...
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: montmil on June 13, 2016, 04:22:57 PM
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The 'sand cast' Honda 750 are now hitting £50k here in the UK, mad money...

What we all need is "sand cast" Airheads. Going for crazy money in the USA as well.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: thrang on June 13, 2016, 04:46:47 PM
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The 'sand cast' Honda 750 are now hitting £50k here in the UK, mad money...

Although its probably to late to be one of the sandcast motor models (think they were the pre 1970 models) hearing stuff like that almost makes me regret taking an angle grinder and hack saw to the near mint 1972 CB750 I chopped as a daft 18 year old.  
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 14, 2016, 07:39:54 PM
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Although its probably to late to be one of the sandcast motor models (think they were the pre 1970 models) hearing stuff like that almost makes me regret taking an angle grinder and hack saw to the near mint 1972 CB750 I chopped as a daft 18 year old.  


I think we all have a few of those type of memories in the closet.

Dog help me I came over all nostalgic looking at a "Thruxtonised" Velocette Venom a couple of weeks ago. Memory glosses over the pain of pushing the bastard thing home on many occasions, of it refusing to start for no apparent reason and of it going "doo-lally" at the first sign of rain. But for some reason you do remember rounding up CB750-s and Z-900s by simply going round the outside of them on mountain roads - tucked in with the throttle pegged to the WOT stop and your riding boots grinding out their sides to show the world your silly coloured socks - that you do remember....
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: lucky on June 14, 2016, 09:05:26 PM
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The 'sand cast' Honda 750 are now hitting £50k here in the UK, mad money...

What we all need is "sand cast" Airheads. Going for crazy money in the USA as well.


Some of BMW /2 have been getting strong money those days

Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 16, 2016, 12:35:25 AM
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Some of BMW /2 have been getting strong money those days


I want 77/78 R100RSs to increase in value. It irks me that the RS is a far better sports tourer than the R90s, it is also a better motorcycle having engine/gearbox/frame modifications to fix areas of concern with the R90.

Yet a R100RS is lucky to be worth 50% of an R90s. That really irks me, not that I plan to dispose of my R100RS anytime soon.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: skippyc on June 16, 2016, 03:04:07 AM
Vincent motor bikes are worth heaps but I wouldn't want to ride one for long distances. Value is in the name not how good they are and yes I owned a Vincent once, but give me my R65 to ride any day .
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 17, 2016, 12:09:13 AM
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Vincent motor bikes are worth heaps but I wouldn't want to ride one for long distances. Value is in the name not how good they are and yes I owned a Vincent once, but give me my R65 to ride any day .

Wow! A nice late model Rapide unless I am mistaken. I am envious as by the time I was in a position to own one they had long passed the point I could justify the expense, now of course it is much simpler, I simply can't afford one!

Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: skippyc on June 17, 2016, 07:06:12 AM
Yes series D a bit uglier but the seat was not connected to the canter-lever making them a bit more comfortable to ride. But I sold it to finance some property, instead I should have gotten a loan and kept it.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: montmil on June 17, 2016, 11:11:21 AM
I can easily describe myownself as to motorcycles:

Should've, Would've and Did.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 17, 2016, 05:28:58 PM
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Yes series D a bit uglier but the seat was not connected to the canter-lever making them a bit more comfortable to ride. But I sold it to finance some property, instead I should have gotten a loan and kept it.

Aside from your bike, you cut a dashing figure too if I may say so.

I found some photos of myself in the 70s recently and wonder why we ever thought that flared jeans, wide collars and (worst of all) safari suits, were a good idea......
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: montmil on June 18, 2016, 12:48:07 PM
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Yes series D a bit uglier but the seat was not connected to the canter-lever making them a bit more comfortable to ride. But I sold it to finance some property, instead I should have gotten a loan and kept it.

Aside from your bike, you cut a dashing figure too if I may say so.

I found some photos of myself in the 70s recently and wonder why we ever thought that flared jeans, wide collars and (worst of all) safari suits, were a good idea......

Here in 'Murcia, we called those polyester, top-stitched fashion failures Leisure Suits. Gag me and I never had one although my late father-in-law favored them as 'dress up' gear.

I once read that there was a Canadian study that proved these outfits caused cancer. Seems the scientists dressed half of the 100 study rats in little poly leisure suits. Seems more of the leisure suited rodents contracted cancer than those rats that ran around nekkid. Weird science.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 18, 2016, 06:10:47 PM
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I once read that there was a Canadian study that proved these outfits caused cancer. Seems the scientists dressed half of the 100 study rats in little poly leisure suits. Seems more of the leisure suited rodents contracted cancer than those rats that ran around nekkid. Weird science.


Responsible for other atrocities too. First "adult' computer game ?i ever played was "Leisure Suit Larry" (closely followed by "Leather Goddesses of Phobos - after which there was no going back it was Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage" all the way after that!).
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: skippyc on June 18, 2016, 06:28:36 PM
Tiz true the 70's had much to answer for. As fashion goes i was fairly mild. I had a collection of weird bikes back then but little ability to restore them.
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: clonmore1 on June 19, 2016, 04:36:45 AM
I knew of an old chap that had two Lavada Jota's in a shed with a leaky roof.

They hadn't run or moved for years, he wouldn't sell them, then he died and his family sold the the whole property off for what they thought was a great price.

The new owner gleefully sold the 2 Jota's for a small fortune... >:( >:(
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: Tony Smith on June 19, 2016, 05:40:18 AM
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Tiz true the 70's had much to answer for. As fashion goes i was fairly mild. I had a collection of weird bikes back then but little ability to restore them.


Definitely the decade that fashion forgot, BUT, the 70's produced the best music and nothing since comes close!
Title: Re: Can you imagine
Post by: wilcom on June 19, 2016, 08:03:33 AM
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the 70's produced the best music and nothing since comes close!  


+1 for Tony...............Although I am a product of the 50"s , the 70's were great for music!