Grabbed my ’72 Honda 750 Four out of storage last month. Man, it was running but felt… tired, you know? Like it had more soul buried under all that old stuff. Figured it was time for some easy mods, stuff any regular guy with wrenches can handle without selling a kidney. Here’s exactly what I did, step by step.
Step 1: Breathing Easier
First things first, that airbox! Big old plastic monstrosity under the tank. Yanked that sucker off – four bolts, super easy. Threw it in the “maybe later” pile. Slapped on some pod filters instead. Universal ones, nothing fancy. Popped right onto the carbs.
What changed?
- No more wrestling the airbox during tune-ups. Big plus.
- Engine sounds deeper, throatier. Pure music now.
- Had to tweak the carb jets afterward though. Pods flow way more air, obviously.
Step 2: Silencing the Silencer
Stock exhaust? Sounded like a sleepy vacuum cleaner. Heavy too! Found a cheap set of shorty mufflers online, the universal clamp-on kind. Ditched the stock heavy pipes and mufflers.
This part got tricky. Original exhaust bolts were stubborn. Seriously, felt like they were welded on. Soaked ’em in penetrant overnight. Next day, gave it some “gentle persuasion” with a breaker bar and a long pipe cheater. Finally busted loose. Slapped the new mufflers on. Tightened the clamps good.
What changed?
- Weight dropped significantly lifting it off the bench.
- The roar? Glorious! Deep, rumbling, definitely wakes up the neighbors. Maybe too much?
- Needed to re-adjust the carbs AGAIN. More air out means more air needed in… balancing act.
Step 3: Stopping Without Praying
Old brake pads looked thin and felt wooden. Rear drum was okay-ish, but the front discs? Scary vague. New brake pads were a must.
Took the calipers off. Pistons were kinda crusty. Cleaned ’em up with brake cleaner and a toothbrush. Popped in fresh pads, standard organic ones. Poured in new DOT4 fluid. Bled the system… twice, because air bubbles are sneaky. Old brake hoses looked cracked. Couldn’t risk that. Ordered new braided stainless steel brake lines – front and rear. Easy screw-on swap.
What changed?
- Actual stopping power! It bites now instead of sighing.
- Feel at the lever is way firmer. Confidence booster.
- New lines look kinda cool too. Small win.
Step 4: Getting Comfortable (Sort Of)
That stock seat? Might as well be plywood covered in vinyl. Found a slightly thicker, café-style seat secondhand. Took five minutes to swap – just two bolts under the back. Replaced the old, rock-hard rubber footpegs with some cheap alloy ones. Grippier.
Bars felt too high, made me sit upright like a bus driver. Loosened the clamps, rotated them forward a bit. Not a huge change, but felt sportier.
What changed?
- Seat is marginally better. Still firm. Need longer rides to test.
- Grip on the pegs feels way more secure.
- Little less wind drag with the bars tilted? Maybe?
Was It Worth It?
Hell yeah. Sounds like a beast now, looks leaner without the airbox and that bulky exhaust. Stops like it means it. Doesn’t cost a fortune, just some wrenching time and basic parts. Is it perfect? Nah. The carbs need fine-tuning every time the weather changes. Those pod filters can suck hot air near the engine. It’s a noisy beast now, maybe annoyingly so for some.
But… it woke the bike up. Feels more alive. Makes me grin starting it. That’s what matters to me. Easy mods, real results. Grab some tools, do it yourself.