Thinking of restoring a Motorbike

[Calm]

Hi
I have for a couple of years thought about buying another motorbike.

The last one i had was a K2 CB750 in 1975.

As i dont think i would ride it more than on nice sunny days (think Ballarat weather) my thoughts were buy another K2 or a Z900, restore it and get double enjoyment. Does anyone have info or experience on accesability of parts etc. Are original condition bikes hard to come by or are they all rusted junk these days.

[q9]

If you can find a Z900 it will probably cost a bomb, whatever the condition. But you may get lucky. Parts are around, and ZPower (http://zpower.com.au/catalog/index.php)or whatever seems to specialise in older bikes like the Z (if you didn't guess from the name). Oh, and W650's are fairly popular as fixer uppers/mod bikes too for some reason.

[Ivan in Oz]

My icon says it all.


What do you mean you can't see what it is:~

[Christopha]

My icon says it all.


What do you mean you can't see what it is:~

Looks a bit like a cross between a CZ 250 and a Royal Enfield.... ;)

[Ivan in Oz]

This is the Older Brother.
http://au.geocities.com/jimr_52/Lemansdata.htm

I've had both a CZ and RE
neither of them kept for long.
Found something better...W/Working
Oh!! And the Guzzi......I feel GOOD with both

[snowyskiesau]

I've got a Rickman CB750 Honda that I must start a restoration on one day.
I bought it originally as a CB750 K1 in 1972 and bought the Rickman frame a few years later.
It hasn't been running in some time and just sits in the garden shed making me feel guilty every time I open the door :-

It used to look like this (not my bike but same model)
http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/rickman/Rickman_Honda_CR750_1975_orange.htm

[jmk89]

Stop pi55ing around - you know you want a 1952 Vincent Black Lightning:D

[wheelinround]

I have the Cb 750 manual just waiting to find the right bike

[Calm]

I have the Cb 750 manual just waiting to find the right bike

I too still have the workshop manual from the one i owned 25 years ago.

Have you seen any at a reasonable price??

The only ones i have seen are on ebay and a z900 that needs all the chrome work done and exhaust rusted out (showing its age) they want $7500 and a honda 750 is over $4000 with bits missing. That is far too expensive when you work out the cost of parts etc that are required.

[wheelinround]

I too still have the workshop manual from the one i owned 25 years ago.

Have you seen any at a reasonable price??

The only ones i have seen are on ebay and a z900 that needs all the chrome work done and exhaust rusted out (showing its age) they want $7500 and a honda 750 is over $4000 with bits missing. That is far too expensive when you work out the cost of parts etc that are required.

Couple of years ago Liverpool Motorcycle wreckers had two but when my son called in to have a look the frames where pitted badly paint was bulging meaning the frames were rusted from the inside.

Next door nieghbour in Tamworth restored a CB750 last of the up right type late 70's early 80's vintage went like a dream.

[Calm]

I gave up looking at overpriced Cb750's and Kawasaki Z900 and bought a ZZR600 yesterday. At $2000 with RWC and 12 months rego it is better that $3000 for an old one that you cant ride until you completely rebuild it.

66419

Its a 1996 model and the fairing has been plastic welded in a couple of places but not painted.

The wet weather job will be to strip it down, clean it up and repaint original colours with a new sticker kit.

Maybe i can sell it next summer and get a bigger one if i want it.

Would still like to restore an old one but the cost is prohibitive.

[rsser]

ZX-9's are worth a look David.

Bombproof, comfy and fast.

[Fossil]

Well done David.
I have been thinking about getting another bike.

I used to have one of these, but I agree, It is better to have a running bike, than muck around rebuilding, if time is limited.
Have fun! :)

[Calm]

Well done David.
I have been thinking about getting another bike.

I used to have one of these, but I agree, It is better to have a running bike, than muck around rebuilding, if time is limited.
Have fun! :)

Not only that a CB750 with the 2 outside plugs out(with water inside). Wont turn over and been that way for 5 years made $1500 on UPAY. the exhaust was rusted out and a good condition standard 4 into 4 is only $2,000. If it is just the pistons seized thats ok , what if the water is in the bottom end and the crank is stuffed. Is the fuel tank rusted out as well, how do you repair that?

This restoring is way more expensive that i can afford.

[Calm]

ZX-9's are worth a look David.

Bombproof, comfy and fast.

Would've loved a 900 or 1000 but with thicknessers and good lathes around for sale plus the probability that it will only be ridden a dozen times a year this will fill the gap. Maybe i can clean it up get $3,000 next year and buy the one i would really like.

[Elbow]

David,
after our discussions I think you've made the right decision, enjoy

Allan

[sim76]

good buy on the zzr, thought i'll share my story. bought a zzr600 a few years ago, 94 model. Rode the bike for a couple of months then something went wrong, thought it was a coil. It was dying under load. So I couldn't work it out, thought it could have also been the carbys/fuel pump starving it of juice . Took it to local shop in Ballarat, they tried for weeks, they also couldn't work it out. They then sent it to Geelong to get the electronics guru to have a look at it. He sent it back and said there was nothing wrong. So the mechanics stuffed around with it for a few more weeks and couldn't work it out. So they sent it back to Geelong again. He did a compression test (I thought the mechanics would have done that first thing!), its low on compression and needs a rebuild. So then the mechanics strip it down and find a cracked frame. So I took it to Melbourne and got it repaired. Now the bike is back at the shop waiting to be rebuilt. They are waiting on pistons that have been on back order for three months from kawasaki (if anyone knows where to get aftermarket pistons please let me know). So my bike has now been in for repairs for 18months and been transported nearly as many km's as I got to ride it. They said it wasn't worth the cost to rebuild, but I have bad luck with veichles, so I thought rather than buying another one that will stuff up, i'll rebuild this one. That and the fact it already cost me $3500 when I bought it, and they are telling me to scrap it and buy another one, I don't think so, not with my luck. I have had about five different bikes and all of them spent more time off the road than on, even though I always maintained them.

[Calm]

good buy on the zzr, thought i'll share my story. bought a zzr600 a few years ago, 94 model. Rode the bike for a couple of months then something went wrong, thought it was a coil. It was dying under load. So I couldn't work it out, thought it could have also been the carbys/fuel pump starving it of juice . Took it to local shop in Ballarat, they tried for weeks, they also couldn't work it out. They then sent it to Geelong to get the electronics guru to have a look at it. He sent it back and said there was nothing wrong. So the mechanics stuffed around with it for a few more weeks and couldn't work it out. So they sent it back to Geelong again. He did a compression test (I thought the mechanics would have done that first thing!), its low on compression and needs a rebuild. So then the mechanics strip it down and find a cracked frame. So I took it to Melbourne and got it repaired. Now the bike is back at the shop waiting to be rebuilt. They are waiting on pistons that have been on back order for three months from kawasaki (if anyone knows where to get aftermarket pistons please let me know). So my bike has now been in for repairs for 18months and been transported nearly as many km's as I got to ride it. They said it wasn't worth the cost to rebuild, but I have bad luck with veichles, so I thought rather than buying another one that will stuff up, i'll rebuild this one. That and the fact it already cost me $3500 when I bought it, and they are telling me to scrap it and buy another one, I don't think so, not with my luck. I have had about five different bikes and all of them spent more time off the road than on, even though I always maintained them.

Have you thought of looking on the Fowles website and getting a wreck for the motor.

The advantage of buying a wreck over a 2nd hand vehicle is it was probably going alright before it hit the tree/whatever stopped it.

Cheers

[rsser]

For parts google on US websites.

Mates have sourced Jap parts much cheaper and quicker there than here, but with our dollar going down the tube ....