Con grats on a great bike with family history!
If I got that bike, the first thing I would do is to wash it. Then I would change all of the fluids, clean the carbs, clean the gas tank, check, clean and regap and/or replace the points, check the valve clearances, and get a new battery. Make sure the petcock is operational and try to start it. I would get it running first before worrying about the tires, unless they are absolutely dead. If you get it running and it will accept throttle then run it until it comes to full temp.
If your driveway is long enough, take it up and down and see it if goes through all of the gears fine. In any event, try to run it through all the gears as this will give you the best understanding of the mechanical condition (which I suspect is fine). If it does everything okay, then you can focus on the cosmetics. I would give it numerous coats of wax. Old Honda paint usually responds pretty well and your bike looks like a great candidate.
Get a workshop manual and a Clymer manual and use them both.
Good luck, Phil
Advice on restoring CB77I try not to look at the cost because I'd have to stop doing what I keep doing. here's some ballpark numbers.
Simple clean up with rattle can finish $1500, of which mufflers are the bulk of it. Re-chrome, replate zinc etc, good paint with you doing most/all of the R&R, $3-5k Getting a pro to do it. $5-10 but could be more.
Lastman -- I think you know the guy... I believe his name was Brendan... it has been so many years I forgot, but I'm pretty sure that was the guy. He was really helpful and excited about the bike... I'm a bit embarrassed I never got further with the project back then. Hopefully this time I'll get it running.
As far as it being a Rhode Island bike, it truly was garaged since 1972... my dad never renewed his motorcycle license or rode after I was born (in 72) and I never got mine. This bike has just been sitting quietly in the corner of my parents garage the entire time. The only rain it ever saw was in the back of my pick-up on the ride down here to North Carolina.
Serial numberThe serial number from the frame of my bike (see photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hondacb77/ ... 162606404/) is: CB77 - 1024197
Does this mean anything to anyone?
Re: Serial numberThe bike was issued in 1966 and has the wrong bars.
All CB77 bikes came with the KS lever. .......................lm
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