A great reliable classic that runs as well as any bike made today
Nothing has gone wrong.
Extremely reliable, user friendly and fast. Easy to start, operate, and maintain. Lots of looks and admirable comments.
The seat is a little stiff - would recommend a gel cushion for a long trip.
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 5th June, 2010
More fun than a greasy piglet
All sorts of things used to fall off, stop working etc. but you get used to it after a couple of years. It only ever had to pushed home once or twice over 15 years, not too bad.
It seized a rear wheel bearing, in fact ripped it to pieces, but I managed to keep riding for a couple more weeks assuming it was the (very old chopper) back tyre giving up the ghost.
The electrics got beyond repair eventually and had it rewired.
More fun than just about any other bike I'd ever owned, it was at various times a stocker, chopper, cafe racer and various things in-between.
It'd run on supermarket car oil and no maintenance from year to year with no complaint, almost bulletproof, though the gearboxes were a touch fragile after all those "racing changes"
The engine had an 812cc kit with 1/2 race camgrind (taken from Honda Australia race specs) and a jet kit with an open megaphone Walker Indy race exhaust. It sounded awesome and revved like a 2 stroke, you could hold it just off the power band at 60mph, gas it and hold on. From educated guess work and comparisons with other bikes, it probably made an honest 65-70BHP.
Would I have another one? Yes, in a heartbeat, the only problem is I've got a Vmax now and if I get another bike, it'll be another one of them.
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th April, 2010
It is a great bike
I flooded the carburetors and didn't clean them. Can I use some ether or carb cleaner that goes in the tank to clean it out, or should I take it apart? I have very little experience, but am stupid enough to take a bike apart to figure out the problem.
It is a very good looking bike. The previous owner painted it added new pipes and handle bar. He then lowered it 2 inches. It is all original except for what I just mentioned.
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th February, 2010
Another Honda success
Pretty uneventful for the first 20 years, save for a new starter switch on the right handlebar.
Had a major service in 1997... fork seals, brake pads & caliper seals, new electronic ignition, carb cleaning.
In 2005, had the head gasket replaced & rebuilt top end while apart. Only thing other than rubber pieces & gaskets, replaced rings after having the cylinders honed & head milled. The inside of the motor was exceptionally clean & tolerances were well within specs. I bought this bike new & it's been THE most reliable machine I've owned. Never left me stranded due to mechanical failure (save for a couple of flat tires). :)
A sentimental favorite...I've had about 8 bikes over the last 30 years, this is the only one that I've kept through it all.
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 11th November, 2009
Reliable, dependable, all-around bike!
Valve cover leak -- a known issue, common to this engine for many years, easy to replace yourself, though.
Oil needs to be changed at 1,800 miles, as per the book, but I find it is quite dirty after 1,500.
Replaced every single light bulb, after 3 of 4 instrument light bulbs went out, this was at 12,000 miles, and 28 years!
The speedometer is 9 MPH over! 65 MPH on the clock is actually only 56 MPH on radar, and my GPS... Tried to get this fixed by a speedometer repair specialist, but it is too old -- no parts.
This bike (1979 CB750K) is reliable, with no issues yet, other than routine maintenance. I changed all of the fluids after I bought it, added an in-line fuel filter to replace the missing screen from the fuel petcock assembly, and I installed a K&N permanent air filter.
The bike is a bit top-heavy, and it handles sluggishly in town, but on the highway, it handles very well.
Acceleration is poor in 1st-3rd gears, but in 4th and 5th, she really picks up and goes. It has good response on the highway with one person, but it is noticeably less quick with two-up (57 hp @ 8,000 RPM).
I put matching Pirelli Route 66 tires on it last Fall -- SWEET! Virtually immune to cracked pavement and steel grate bridges... Handles much better now.
Thirty years old, but still largely factory original parts. The four-into-four exhaust is showing signs of wear, but it still functions, no rust holes through the outside casings, and it has a nice rumble.
It came to me equipped with a Vetter Vindicator fairing, and a nice, hard trunk. I plan on installing a pair of saddlebags, this Spring. The wife wants to tour Northern Minnesota, around Lake Superior, this Summer. We've taken multiple, 250-mile, weekend trips on it, and it has been almost flawless in performance.
The seat is not the most comfortable, after an hour, for me, and the rear is downright uncomfortable for the wife, but we are checking into a King/Queen seat cover, so this should be a memory in a few months.
The Honda CB750's of the 1970's were well known for their reliability, stability, and overall goodness. My 30-year-old bike, is living up to this legend's reputation so far. Cheers!
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th January, 2009
I've put 13,000 miles on my '79, with the Vetter Vindicator fairing. We toured on this bike, nine days, circling Lake Superior, riding in rain, wind, and cool temperatures. The bike ran and handled flawlessly. The Vetter fairing helped us endure the mid-50's temperatures and rain in Canada.
It also is a frame-mounted fairing, so any crosswinds have to move the whole bike, not just twist on the handlebars -- handlebar mounted windshields act like a kite, twisting the front fork, in any wind. Vetter fairings were extremely popular in the 1970's; they are a proven product, on so very many different bikes. Think what you want, they work, and there are thousands of riders who rode with them, who would agree. Cheers!
6th Nov 2009, 13:11
The article on the 1979 Honda CB750K... the new owner of the bike says it has a Vetter fairing on it. It states right on the rear fender, (chrome part) not recommended for this bike... NO FAIRING It changes the handling and front end of the bike... Too heavy, tooo big... just put a windshield on it.