Gah! Someone stole my left side cover today...

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crankcall said:
is it possible it just fell off? the little rubber bits that hold them on get tired with time.
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Hmmm... I am sure it was still there when I parked the bike but I guess anything is possible. Just the same I got a great tip on this thread for using zip ties. I really hate to modify a rare, original part but putting a small hole in the side panel and using a black zip tie to secure it beats the heck out of losing a side panel to theft and/or it falling off.

I inspected the grommets a few weeks ago when I replaced the battery in the old girl. The side panels seemed to be staying in place well at the time.

I was working on the left side of the bike last week when I opened up the left crankcase to replace a gasket. Could I have inadvertently loosened the left side panel while I was working on the bike?
 
I vote for it falling off, have had it happen on a old Suzuki but lucky me noticed it bouncing down the side of the road and retrieved it. Not wanting to loose the one on my old MB5 I have done the pin hole safety wire on it as they are unobtainable! Notice how they are always missing on the battery side!!!!!
 
Used side covers can be found here: http://www.bikeyard.com. He is located on Airport Road just south of Highway 9. I had a quick look through his online inventory and did not see what you are looking for. Give him a call and he will know if he has one.

Or closer to Guelph you could try Zdeno Cycle in Kitchener. I recall they have a salvage yard, but have not been there in years.

There are a couple other bike salvage places in Toronto as well that I have used in the past. Ontario Cycle Salvage on Kingston Road in Scarborough, and TO Cycle Salvage on Lake Shore Boulevard West near Browns Line.

Good luck on your search.
 
Malks said:
Used side covers can be found here: http://www.bikeyard.com. He is located on Airport Road just south of Highway 9. I had a quick look through his online inventory and did not see what you are looking for. Give him a call and he will know if he has one.

Or closer to Guelph you could try Zdeno Cycle in Kitchener. I recall they have a salvage yard, but have not been there in years.

There are a couple other bike salvage places in Toronto as well that I have used in the past. Ontario Cycle Salvage on Kingston Road in Scarborough, and TO Cycle Salvage on Lake Shore Boulevard West near Browns Line.

Good luck on your search.
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Thanks so much! Kijji and ebay did not find anything. A helpful member here pm'd me and sent me an e-mail with NOS OEM stuff. Yikes though! $200 for a side cover sans emblem is a lot more than the $70-$100 shipped I was thinking of. Just the same I would rather have my bike be "whole" rather than the way it presently is.

I am off today so I am going to drill some small holes in the remaining right side cover and put some zip ties on. Again, I hate to modify a stock part like that but knowing I am not going to easily lose the right side cover will be comforting.

Got to tell ya... If I get a "modern standard" in the future like a Triumph Bonneville or Honda CB 1100 I am going to buy some spare parts!

The one saving grace about the cafe racer craze is that there is a decent aftermarket support for my CB 750 (I guess it helps that the same basic bikes was made for a lot of years over the generations). I was able to easily find another starter, starter clutch, starter clutch rebuild kit, gaskets, used speedo and tach...
 
But, if he stole his own side cover wouldn't it still be there? From the picture it is clearly gone so if the OP did take it, he must have known he was going to take it so he removed it for safekeeping so he could sell it back to himself on Kijiji.

My brain just broke.
 
GDM said:
But, if he stole his own side cover wouldn't it still be there? From the picture it is clearly gone so if the OP did take it, he must have known he was going to take it so he removed it for safekeeping so he could sell it back to himself on Kijiji.

My brain just broke.
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LOL! My brain is broke now too! Then again maybe it is the conveyor belt Mother's Pizza that is doing it to me... ;)
 
Nice 4-4 you should definitely rock those as they are very rare these days.

As for a secure mount, you can use a key hole mod. I've seen a cafe racers with them and i'm actually looking into making one for my bike as well. Give me a few while i look for a bike with the mod.

Okay, i it looks too nice to be a mod. Seems like it's something you can buy?

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Zoodles95 said:
LOL! My brain is broke now too! Then again maybe it is the conveyor belt Mother's Pizza that is doing it to me... ;)
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You asked "Who the f*&% would want a left side cover from a 1981 CB 750 Custom?" and since yours got stolen, you now "want a left side cover".... get it? tip your waitress on your way out please
 
Okay... Took the right cover off and there is already a ready made spot to put the zip tie through...


I think this side cover was from a different color CB 750 custom and someone painted it to match the bike. Wish I still had the left cover to compare but I do not remember a rose/red hue on the backside like this one has.


I put a zip tie through the slot and around the frame. Cannot really see it at all against the frame. If the side cover comes off while I am riding the ziptie will keep the sidecover from flying off. I think I had better buy new grommets too to make sure the side covers are as secure as they can be.

Got a left one ordered up but no emblem! I have some feelers out to get some emblems...

So, planning on keeping the bike a few more seasons for sure now. Will see if I can get some spare side covers and emblems and see if I can replace the right side of my 4 into 4 system.

Next up on the maintenance front is to get the front forks dialed in and the valves adjusted.

Anybody local who will rebuild a tach? My original tach stopped working when I replaced all of the instruments and speedo/tach bulbs and I put another CB 750 Custom tach on but the patina is really different from the original!
 
Bike still looks messed up with no left cover but I took it for a ride today anyways!


I added another ziptie to the right panel. Can't tell unless you were looking with eagle eyes.


I was supposed to have a left cover coming in but the seller kind of screwed me over. Got some side cover emblems incoming thanks to a fellow GTA member and he might be able to help me get a left cover as well.
 
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