7/31/09

Barn Bikes

I'm a sucker for cheap old barn bikes, with the emphasis on cheap. There are old bikes sitting in corners of barns or garages all over. If you get something cheap enough, at worst you will part it out and make a little money to fund other projects, and help others get parts they need to keep their bikes running. Sometimes you find something really cool. The bad thing is that many "barn bikes" have the titles lost over the years. I bought two bikes this week.

The first is this '82 Yamaha Seca 750 I got from a retired farmer. It had a dead battery, but was supposed to be a runner. I stuck in an old battery and it fired right up! This one will be parted out. Need any Seca parts?

This one I bought today. I was going to look at an "old Honda", which I'd thought was a 500 of some sort. It was a 1974 CB750. Cool! Arguably the most influential bike in history, and I've always wanted one. This one has been sitting for quite a few years. It was given a mild "custom" treatment with some goofy handlebars and a "king and queen" type seat, but mostly original.

And came with a large box of parts.

I gave it a quick wash, and it looks like a very solid project bike. Other than some surface rust, even the pipes are solid. Not bad!
As with the Seca, the title is long gone, so I'm thinking I'll do some research on the best way to get one. I'd hate to part this one out.

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