New member, CB77 confusion!

[mccoy]

First of all, bless the net! It seems that no matter what, knowledge is just a search away, I found this site awhile back, but have a question to post and registerd today. I am sure that you can help with information on a CB77 that I own.

First off, I will make it clear that I dont want to come off as a pretender, I don't know much about these bikes and that is why I signed on. With that clarification I will tell you that I love anything that runs on petrolium products! I have a few friends that own and ride 305's, or other bikes of similar character and I LOVE EM! I am a child of the 60's and remember the days of the ad campaigns/fuss surrounding these quality little bikes. The only Hondas I have had were a Trail 90 in the 70's and a 78 Goldwing (what a bike!) which was my only transportation when I met my wife. That was years ago and until recently I have been involved very heavily in the old car hobby, not bikes.

Enter the CB77. I got it as part of a trade for a Model A Ford body with a friend.
The bike has just under 12k on the odometer. It has sat in a shed/barn for many years. Though it was on an island up here in Puget sound with salt air and moisture, it is in reasonable condition considering its life. Despite the surface rust and the years of neglect, it is fairly well preserved in a hay and spider covered sort of way.

The frame number is: CB77-102479 3 or 8 (can't tell for sure without some more cleanup). It does not want to turn over with gentle pressure on the kick-start and I dont want to hook a battery up until I check out the wiring. The clutch seems to be stuck, you can go through the gears, brakes need new cables and ? The mufflers look ok until you inspect them closer, they do have some rust. The bike is to my knowledge "all there". The tank is pretty much rust free, carb bottoms come off and look clean, (gas was either gone, or drained when parked). The case has clean oil in it, no sign of moisture.

So the rest of the story is, it came from an estate clean up, I have only a bill of sale with no title. It came from a trusted friend, so I am sure that a title will be available once the paperwork is done. I have thought about a mechanical restoration, which I can do. It would be my style to leave the "Patina" on the paint and chrome parts, but restore the mechanical/safety components to like new condition. I am not sure of the cost to do this, machine shop work and parts wise. Lets take the worst case scenario on this, anyone have a dollar amount in mind for this?

The other option is to sell the bike. I did run an ad in our local Craig's list, someone came out to look at the bike after I did my best to describe it on the phone. He was supposedly a collector of sorts and though he only drove about 10 minutes to get here, seemed irritated that the bike was not very nice. He then proceeded to pick the it apart, had a condecending manner about him. Basically said that it was not restorable and "He picks these up for free, or very very cheap all the time". He was polite enough, yet kind of a snot. I hope he is not representitive of the Honda collector community.

Based on what I saw these bikes going for I had priced it at $900. I admitted to him that I was unsure of what to ask and the price was "fishing a bit" but I was not going to apologize for the price. I find it hard to believe he gets these bikes for free, or next to nothing all the time. I certainly dont want to deal with the likes of him again.

So, I submit to you, the online experts, should I make it a runner and have some fun? (I am not flush with dollars for this, so cost is a factor) Or should I set a reasonable price and let it go to someone (not the snot) for parts or whatever? Last of course is, what is a bike like this reasonably worth?

Thanks in advance!

[LOUD MOUSE]

Try that frame number again. No CB77 has a 7 as the first of the 7 digits. .................lm

First of all, bless the net! It seems that no matter what, knowledge is just a search away, I found this site awhile back, but have a question to post and registerd today. I am sure that you can help with information on a CB77 that I own.

First off, I will make it clear that I dont want to come off as a pretender, I don't know much about these bikes and that is why I signed on. With that clarification I will tell you that I love anything that runs on petrolium products! I have a few friends that own and ride 305's, or other bikes of similar character and I LOVE EM! I am a child of the 60's and remember the days of the ad campaigns/fuss surrounding these quality little bikes. The only Hondas I have had were a Trail 90 in the 70's and a 78 Goldwing (what a bike!) which was my only transportation when I met my wife. That was years ago and until recently I have been involved very heavily in the old car hobby, not bikes.

Enter the CB77. I got it as part of a trade for a Model A Ford body with a friend.
The bike has just under 12k on the odometer. It has sat in a shed/barn for many years. Though it was on an island up here in Puget sound with salt air and moisture, it is in reasonable condition considering its life. Despite the surface rust and the years of neglect, it is fairly well preserved in a hay and spider covered sort of way.

The frame number is: CB77-702479 3 or 8 (can't tell for sure without some more cleanup). It does not want to turn over with gentle pressure on the kick-start and I dont want to hook a battery up until I check out the wiring. The clutch seems to be stuck, you can go through the gears, brakes need new cables and ? The mufflers look ok until you inspect them closer, they do have some rust. The bike is to my knowledge "all there". The tank is pretty much rust free, carb bottoms come off and look clean, (gas was either gone, or drained when parked). The case has clean oil in it, no sign of moisture.

So the rest of the story is, it came from an estate clean up, I have only a bill of sale with no title. It came from a trusted friend, so I am sure that a title will be available once the paperwork is done. I have thought about a mechanical restoration, which I can do. It would be my style to leave the "Patina" on the paint and chrome parts, but restore the mechanical/safety components to like new condition. I am not sure of the cost to do this, machine shop work and parts wise. Lets take the worst case scenario on this, anyone have a dollar amount in mind for this?

The other option is to sell the bike. I did run an ad in our local Craig's list, someone came out to look at the bike after I did my best to describe it on the phone. He was supposedly a collector of sorts and though he only drove about 10 minutes to get here, seemed irritated that the bike was not very nice. He then proceeded to pick the it apart, had a condecending manner about him. Basically said that it was not restorable and "He picks these up for free, or very very cheap all the time". He was polite enough, yet kind of a snot. I hope he is not representitive of the Honda collector community.

Based on what I saw these bikes going for I had priced it at $900. I admitted to him that I was unsure of what to ask and the price was "fishing a bit" but I was not going to apologize for the price. I find it hard to believe he gets these bikes for free, or next to nothing all the time. I certainly dont want to deal with the likes of him again.

So, I submit to you, the online experts, should I make it a runner and have some fun? (I am not flush with dollars for this, so cost is a factor) Or should I set a reasonable price and let it go to someone (not the snot) for parts or whatever? Last of course is, what is a bike like this reasonably worth?

Thanks in advance!

[mccoy]

Checked the #, my mistake, the first digit after the CB77 is a 1. Changed it on my posting.

Thanks

[kustommusic]

mccoy, The bike looks fairly complete to me. I would restore it for sure! As to what level of restoration that is up to you. You sound like a guy that knows which end of the wrench to hold, so do your own work,take your time and enjoy it. If you want to send out the engine,you might want to talk to Loud mouse (our resident know it all) (Ed thats a compliment). But as far as cleaning up the bike and doing things as brake cables,tires,gauges, and all I find it to be fairly easy work with most parts cheap and available. The 1 1/2 bikes Iv'e done have given me alot of pleasure so I say GO FOR IT ! BTW we are snots here !!! NOT Kustommusic

[LOUD MOUSE]

Yah! Sure!! I got that all right!!!!!!!!! ..................:-). ...........lm

mccoy, The bike looks fairly complete to me. I would restore it for sure! As to what level of restoration that is up to you. You sound like a guy that knows which end of the wrench to hold, so do your own work,take your time and enjoy it. If you want to send out the engine,you might want to talk to Loud mouth (our resident know it all) (Ed thats a compliment). But as far as cleaning up the bike and doing things as brake cables,tires,gauges, and all I find it to be fairly easy work with most parts cheap and available. The 1 1/2 bikes Iv'e done have given me alot of pleasure so I say GO FOR IT ! BTW we are snots here !!! NOT Kustommusic

[mccoy]

Hey thanks for the reply. The bike is pretty much all there and it seems from my initial research the market is full of parts, either repo or even some old stock stuff. I am considering the build as one of my winter projects, not like I don't have enough, but it does seem these bikes are pretty simple.......compared to some of the things I have played with anyway.

So one question I am wanting to find out is if the engine is free. Any suggestions on turning it over? I would just as soon not hook up a battery until I have the wiring all gone over. Most important is I would not want to do any harm in the process, but one way or the other, the pistons have to come out. I would like to have them loose.

I have been pretty liberal with light lube down the plug holes, in fact some was running out one of the pipes.

So, should I just tear into it?

[cribbs74]

McCoy

Let that lube sit for a few days(or longer), perhaps add a bit of quality penetrating fluid. I use PB Blaster myself. Try the kickstart again, also you can pull off the alternator cover and turn the bolt with a 14mm wrench. Good possibility it's stuck as it has been sitting so long. Not a big deal just a little more work during the restoration. Good luck!