Non FJ, Honda K1 750 SOHC resurrection.

[Pat Conlon]

Welll...I was given a crystal clear command by SWMBO to clean out my man cave.

I really do have too many projects. I have my dad's '55 Tbird I have to get together but before that, I need to make room... I have a old bike I've been holding on to for 38 years and now is the time to sell it. I stored it dry so it wasn't that hard to restore.
Back in '76 when my bike builder friends were struggling with those God awful AMF Harleys, I decided to go a different route. I have always been a fan of the Honda SOHC 750's. It is the engine that literally changed the motorcycling world. What a lovely motor.

A guy by the name of Denver Mullins (RIP) and his friend Mondo had a shop in San Bernardino, Ca called Denver Choppers. They were the top of the class trend setters in the world of custom bikes. Front page on Easy Riders kind of guys. Being Harley guys, they made a very limited run of hardtail frames to fit the SOHC Honda so I jumped on the offer.....it was a fun build and that is what you see here:







I rode that bike all over California in the mid '70's. Even the Harley guys liked it (most of them anyway) The engine is a K1 from 1971 and even in a hard tail frame with the springer front end, the bike is smooooth. I remember riding with my friends and several times having to stop and pick up pieces of their Harleys that vibrated off...never on that Honda....she is smooooth...I love that engine.







Looking at her today I see that she is a silly motorcycle, no front brake, drum back brake, insane turning characteristics, but hell, I was only 23 years old.....it has a small mirror on the left handle bar, not really good for seeing behind you so I would turn it so I could look at myself while going down the road.... and, before Rossi asks....Yes, my hair was fucking perfect..

[fj1289]

You're selling this?!  Please do not let someone low ball on this!  What an awesome period perfect bike! 

[Pat Conlon]

Thanks Chris!

[Dads_FJ]

That is just *the* coolest piece of history I've seen in a long time.    Any videos to share if it running/riding to share? 

[CatTomb]

Great story Pat and a beautiful build. Super clean aesthetics.

A hardy "Well done" to your 24 year old self.

[jscgdunn]

Pat,
Kudos to you to be able to hold onto it all these years.  I have a few shoulda-coulda-woulda items I wish I still had: like a 70 AAR Cuda and a 68 Firebird 400...probably all since into the crusher.

The 750 SOHC was my dream bike as a kid....I clearly remember being on my paper route when I heard what sounded like an F1 car on the next street.....and then this orange bike came around the corner with a very strange brake front , and it had enough exhaust pipes that I thought for sure I had miscounted.

Looks great,

Jeff

[novaraptor]

One of the best engines on the planet for a very long time.. Especially nice in choppers..

[Pat Conlon]

Thanks guys. I worked hard to conceal all the wiring, and used about 2 lbs of Bondo molding the frame.

Fresh gas, oil, new battery and after 30 years of storage she started on the 5th kick....

Off she will go to Cycle Trader. I'll ask $3k firm.....we shall see.

[Yamifj1200]

Pat,
It looks like you developed your attention to detail at a fairly early stage in your life. I can see from your FJ builds that your attention to detail remains a major part of each build.


Eric M

[Pat Conlon]

Thanks Eric!

[movenon]

"Pat's early apprentice polishing years"     Looks good Pat. What are you going to do with the extra man cave space?
George

[Pat Conlon]

I'm going to work on getting my dad's '55 Tbird back together... I need the room.
I currently have the 292 out on a engine stand and I'm trying to get hardened valves, seats and guides so I can run unleaded crap gas and not have to keep pouring in $$$ octane booster with lead.
The Ford Y block 292-312 engines are a bit unique...if it were a common 289 things would have been much simpler. sigh...

Oh yea, the chopper  is SOLD....didn't take long huh?  A guy over in the Honda SOHC forum snapped it right up...

Thank you Mike, Ricky Racer (Ted Mc.) says hello..... we talked on the phone today and he sounds like a cool old timer.

[andyoutandabout]

Now there's another side of Mr Conlon to reckon with; a mid 20's greaser with very different ideas on steering geometry and general bike handling.
Praise be that those practical factors now occupy his thoughts, else the World might have been one Pat less.
Rally time.
Andy

[Pat Conlon]

Amen brother Andy...

[JMR]

I'm going to work on getting my dad's '55 Tbird back together... I need the room.
I currently have the 292 out on a engine stand and I'm trying to get hardened valves, seats and guides so I can run unleaded crap gas and not have to keep pouring in $$$ octane booster with lead.
The Ford Y block 292-312 engines are a bit unique...if it were a common 289 things would have been much simpler. sigh...

Oh yea, the chopper  is SOLD....didn't take long huh?  A guy over in the Honda SOHC forum snapped it right up...

Thank you Mike, Ricky Racer (Ted Mc.) says hello..... we talked on the phone today and he sounds like a cool old timer.

My pleasure Pat....you are a good man.