[surfrider70]

Well after spending some time perusing the site i can tell this is gonna hurt, but new guy on the forum so ill just drop this bar of soap right here and take the inevitable...

About to purchase said bike and begin build with my son-im stuck betwixt keeping it original or going with theme and im wondering what the inmates here think of my choice.

Its in decent shape and all original from what i can tell-Starts-frame and engine numbers check out-blue and dingy honda yellow, but im a sucker for the old hondas and i feel like its a good start.

We plan to wrench on it when time permits and when its done i will give it to him.

Im mainly interested in what everyone thinks about the bike.
Be gentle....im a fair lad....

 

[Mi3ninos]

Head over to the New Members area and read up on the sticky at the top. Building with your son is great. Ive done it with each of my sons.

 

[pwalo]

Welcome to the Hotel Cafepornya....

You can sign out (and lurk) but you can never leave...

A lot of the Guys in the states place the first big impetus on making sure of the bikes title.

They'll all be along soon, I'm pretty sure.

 

[DohcBikes]

PICS PICS PICS I love those bikes dont fuck it up

 

[o1marc]

Welcome to the Hotel Cafepornya....

You can sign out (and lurk) but you can never leave...

A lot of the Guys in the states place the first big impetus on making sure of the bikes title.

They'll all be along soon, I'm pretty sure.

I actually don't care if it has a title and is a benefit to me if it does not have one. Not having ones helps me negotiate a lower price, yet it makes no difference where I live if it has a title or not. That doesn't work on locally for sale bikes because the people know you don't need one and price the bikes accordingly knowing that. But in states that require titles the price could vary by a much as $1K with or without a title.

 

[bogzoom]

No title required here in CT if it's older than 20 years.

OP, do you have any pictures of the prospective bike?

 

[surfrider70]

Head over to the New Members area and read up on the sticky at the top. Building with your son is great. Ive done it with each of my sons.

Done and thanks i am looking forward to it.

Pics should be along shortly-its a bit complicated im in Socal-Son is in Idaho-bike is near Seattle. Nazifornia is a nightmare with titles so plan is to buy and register in very friendly Idaho then worry about California later. No title is definitely a bargaining chip for me in my opinion-current owner (second) is a friendly older gentlemen and i have a feeling he just wants to be rid of it.

Im vascillating between keeping her stock and going full cafe. Leaning towards getting her up and running safely then seeing about going cafe when she comes to California. Again sorry about no pics but they are coming soon.

 

[ajordan]

Post some pictures of your 450.

HondaTwins.net is a good resource for technical and model specific information on the 450.

I don't mind them. I have three 450 K0's. Parts availability for the k2 450's onwards is pretty good and they're relatively easy bikes to work on.

 

[o1marc]

Done and thanks i am looking forward to it.

Pics should be along shortly-its a bit complicated im in Socal-Son is in Idaho-bike is near Seattle. Nazifornia is a nightmare with titles so plan is to buy and register in very friendly Idaho then worry about California later. No title is definitely a bargaining chip for me in my opinion-current owner (second) is a friendly older gentlemen and i have a feeling he just wants to be rid of it.

Im vascillating between keeping her stock and going full cafe. Leaning towards getting her up and running safely then seeing about going cafe when she comes to California. Again sorry about no pics but they are coming soon.

You're on the right track to register and title it elsewhere first. Then when you register in Ca. you're just transferring the Idaho title to a Ca. title, should be easy that way. You'd just be changing addresses, not ownership.

 

[DohcBikes]

Im vascillating between keeping her stock and going full cafe.

 

[Mark Burton]

If you go 'full fat'', take a look here. Classic racing Honda motorcycles,classic racing bike, classic racing Motorcycle Race preperation, restoration, repairs & Cafe racer builds undertaken by D&M Engineering.co.uk. CB 250/350K, CB350/4,CB400/4,CB450/500T,CB500/4,CB750/4

 

[surfrider70]

Sorry ive always kinda sucked at posting pics so let me get my shit together before i attempt.
Have not purchased yet-i hate rust and bikes from the PNW tend to have their share. It dosent look horrible but gentlemen wants $1k and i had him down to $800 without getting actual eyes on bike-he sent me these pics at my request. Hes a nice guy and seems willing to work with me but im wary.
I have trustable person 1/2 hour from him that is willing to go over and get eyes on bike.
At bare minimum will have him use screw type compression tester and see what she reads-gentlemen says it does turn over and is not seized but has not run since 1982-again this scares me.... I havent written it off yet but price is too high until i can get better idea on motor condition.
Im anticipating total carb rebuilds-maybe top end? im guessing fuel lines and system shot-leaking seals-gaskets etc... Shit i can feel myself talking myself out of this as i type....
This is a reason i joined this forum-what say you gents?!....

- - - Updated - - -

More pics coming-this is front fender.

 

[surfrider70]

 

[DohcBikes]

you'll eventually have way more into a pile than you would if you just bought a nice one. that one looks completeish

 

[surfrider70]

missing one side cover and headlight-existing side cover is from 69 k1-im not sure he will go too much lower-i havent given up yet-report from my friend after eye-balling will help.
Very true DOHC.

 

[surfrider70]

you'll eventually have way more into a pile than you would if you just bought a nice one. that one looks completeish

Looking forward to wrenching with son so i want to find one that needs some work, but this ones got me worried...

 

[surfrider70]

more pics

 

[DohcBikes]

You have a few options.

A.Pass on it. It needs EVERYTHING.

2.Restore it. Get your check writing hand limbered up, it needs EVERYTHING.

D.Cafe it, which means take it all to pieces and chop the ass end off, wasting your time money and everyones attention while simultaneously destroying another vintage bike.

4-1/2.Buy it, do the bare minumum to make it run ride and stop well, and either ride it and enjoy it or sell it for a decent profit.

 

[o1marc]

You have a few options.

A.Pass on it. It needs EVERYTHING.

2.Restore it. Get your check writing hand limbered up, it needs EVERYTHING.

D.Cafe it, which means take it all to pieces and chop the ass end off, wasting your time money and everyones attention while simultaneously destroying another vintage bike.

4-1/2.Buy it, do the bare minumum to make it run ride and stop well, and either ride it and enjoy it or sell it for a decent profit.

Is a vintage bike needing EVERYTHING worth restoring? It would take $12K to make it worth $6k as a restoration. Might as well cut it up.
This one in my area is asking $2800

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/mcy/5770680265.html

To get the OPs in this condition would cost way more than the selling price. To do 4-1/2 on your list would still take a decent amount of money that I just don't see making a DECENT profit happening.

 

[DohcBikes]

Is a vintage bike needing EVERYTHING worth restoring? It would take $12K to make it worth $6k as a restoration. Might as well cut it up.

Go huff some paint and play in the street marc