Resurrecting a few Vintage Honda’s

[Oldfishguy]

So that CBX exhaust looks aftermarket. Can you tell me the brand, I like the spaghetti look.

I just picked up a 1983 Honda VT 250 that sat since 2008. A v twin with a 13,000 RPM redline. It should be fun to ride. I have had it running but needs carb cleaning.

Dusty

Good eye on the exhaust.  Not original.  It is a DG Performance 6 into 1 system.  Kind of spendy, but probably not to my long term liking.  I’ll put the machine through its paces next summer before changing much.  I doubt I’ll find an original for a fair price anymore.  The bike looks good in the picture, but it is far from a show bike.  Someone loved it at one point and chromed a bunch of things and that chrome is starting to flake in a bunch of spots.  Odd I know, a biker wanting more chrome . . . wish they would have just left it as is.  Then the front fender is the wrong color too, might just keep that though. And these are a few of the things I know already, there are surprises just waiting for me, there always is.

The Honda 250 will be a hoot.  That motor should wind up tight and high.  I enjoy the smaller bikes just as much as the bigger machines, it just depends on how far your trip is that day.  Buy a Honda OEM carb kit and just replace the jets rather than cleaning the old ones.  I use a cheap heated ultrasonic cleaner for the rest of the carb parts but you probably don’t need one if you just take your time and clean it good.  There probably is YouTube videos on cam chain, valve adjustment and timing too.  Sounds like a lot but really isn’t. Use a product like “Metal Rescue” on the tank unless it is spotless to start.  Best of luck, sounds like a fun project.

[Dusty]

So that CBX exhaust looks aftermarket. Can you tell me the brand, I like the spaghetti look.

I just picked up a 1983 Honda VT 250 that sat since 2008. A v twin with a 13,000 RPM redline. It should be fun to ride. I have had it running but needs carb cleaning.

Dusty

Good eye on the exhaust.  Not original.  It is a DG Performance 6 into 1 system.  Kind of spendy, but probably not to my long term liking.  I’ll put the machine through its paces next summer before changing much.  I doubt I’ll find an original for a fair price anymore.  The bike looks good in the picture, but it is far from a show bike.  Someone loved it at one point and chromed a bunch of things and that chrome is starting to flake in a bunch of spots.  Odd I know, a biker wanting more chrome . . . wish they would have just left it as is.  Then the front fender is the wrong color too, might just keep that though. And these are a few of the things I know already, there are surprises just waiting for me, there always is.

The Honda 250 will be a hoot.  That motor should wind up tight and high.  I enjoy the smaller bikes just as much as the bigger machines, it just depends on how far your trip is that day.  Buy a Honda OEM carb kit and just replace the jets rather than cleaning the old ones.  I use a cheap heated ultrasonic cleaner for the rest of the carb parts but you probably don’t need one if you just take your time and clean it good.  There probably is YouTube videos on cam chain, valve adjustment and timing too.  Sounds like a lot but really isn’t. Use a product like “Metal Rescue” on the tank unless it is spotless to start.  Best of luck, sounds like a fun project.

I have done a couple of bikes and used the Metal rescue on tanks and bolts with good results. An ultrasonic cleaner is on my wish list after using my friends unit. The 250 is a JDM import by the VIN number  so parts may be an issue or not. Looking forward to working on it.

Thanks for the exhaust info. Usually the bikes with no surprises are the real expensive ones. One of the CBX s around here has a six into six with 3 mufflers stacked on top of one another on each side. Looks and sounds awesome .

Dusty

[Oldfishguy]

So that CBX exhaust looks aftermarket. Can you tell me the brand, I like the spaghetti look.

I just picked up a 1983 Honda VT 250 that sat since 2008. A v twin with a 13,000 RPM redline. It should be fun to ride. I have had it running but needs carb cleaning.

Dusty

Good eye on the exhaust.  Not original.  It is a DG Performance 6 into 1 system.  Kind of spendy, but probably not to my long term liking.  I’ll put the machine through its paces next summer before changing much.  I doubt I’ll find an original for a fair price anymore.  The bike looks good in the picture, but it is far from a show bike.  Someone loved it at one point and chromed a bunch of things and that chrome is starting to flake in a bunch of spots.  Odd I know, a biker wanting more chrome . . . wish they would have just left it as is.  Then the front fender is the wrong color too, might just keep that though. And these are a few of the things I know already, there are surprises just waiting for me, there always is.

The Honda 250 will be a hoot.  That motor should wind up tight and high.  I enjoy the smaller bikes just as much as the bigger machines, it just depends on how far your trip is that day.  Buy a Honda OEM carb kit and just replace the jets rather than cleaning the old ones.  I use a cheap heated ultrasonic cleaner for the rest of the carb parts but you probably don’t need one if you just take your time and clean it good.  There probably is YouTube videos on cam chain, valve adjustment and timing too.  Sounds like a lot but really isn’t. Use a product like “Metal Rescue” on the tank unless it is spotless to start.  Best of luck, sounds like a fun project.

I have done a couple of bikes and used the Metal rescue on tanks and bolts with good results. An ultrasonic cleaner is on my wish list after using my friends unit. The 250 is a JDM import by the VIN number  so parts may be an issue or not. Looking forward to working on it.

Thanks for the exhaust info. Usually the bikes with no surprises are the real expensive ones. One of the CBX s around here has a six into six with 3 mufflers stacked on top of one another on each side. Looks and sounds awesome .

Dusty

I have one JDM machine as well, some things are different but mostly the same as an American domestic machine.  If your having parts problems sometimes I will actually call the local Honda dealer and have them do a parts search.  Many times that dealer will not have the part, but if one asks nicely they can do a search of all dealers for the part.  All the mid to large dealers in US and Canada are tied together with parts inventory.  Your local dealer will have the name and phone number of the dealer (s) with the part.  Easy from there.

The CBX exhaust, actually the machine I just purchased came with the “Pipemasters”, new in the box still, set of the 6 in to 6 system.  That may go on the bike next summer.  Made in Australia by a craftsman one by one.  Apparently takes up to a year after ordering for delivery.  The set was a bonus thrown in at the end to complete the deal.  And yes, I knew what it was at the time and was not leaving without it once I saw it.

[Oldfishguy]

1980 Honda CBX
This one definitely took the most effort of my resurrections.  In order to remove the carb bank one must tilt the engine forward about 45 degrees, and that takes a bit of undoing things.  And then of course I made the rookie mistake of doing a quick carb rebuild only doing a few things I thought were problematic and then reinstalling.  Only to pull them again and do the complete disassemble and rebuild job I should have initially.  And then of course a few electrical gremlins hunted for and found.



One is never really “completed” a project like this though; there is always something lingering, especially if they are ridden.



And then one finds some interesting past maintenance “fixes”.  The “fuse” is now replaced with a modern automotive 30 amp blade type.



I have a short video of it running.  The machine truly comes alive at about 7-8000 rpm.

(And yes, a cell is duct taped to my chest for this short clip)

https://youtu.be/kEerabKOxhY?feature=shared

[Jess from VA]

Awesome!!   

Thanks for sharing. 

I love your yard (and the flag) too.

While there is practically no hair on my head (and the sides are cut down short), the hair on my chest would not like duct tape being yanked off (at all).   

[Oldfishguy]

Awesome!!  

Thanks for sharing.  

I love your yard (and the flag) too.

While there is practically no hair on my head (and the sides are cut down short), the hair on my chest would not like duct tape being yanked off (at all).  

“Flag”, good eye, nice you noticed; to a veteran like yourself it was probably the first thing you saw in the picture.

And now, to hijack my own thread here for a bit:









The images of military cemeteries with the flags always chokes me up, espically when I see it in person.  It is . . . humbling.

[Jess from VA]

Great Memorial Day post.   

I have the same shelf with the row of (mostly) old helmets on it too.

A younger neighbor friend just got himself one of those fancy Lithium powered bicycles and is flying around the neighborhood every day.  I tried to talk him into wearing head protection and showed him my helmets... pick one.  He passed, but will look into a soft bicycle helmet. 

   

[Oldfishguy]

A 2024 end of season update as I put the remaining machines away for a winter slumber.

Not a single acquisition this year and just one sale.  I sold a 1971 Honda CB500 late summer through an auction site “Bring a Trailer”.  I follow this site to watch values and thought I’d give it a shot.  I purchased the machine a few years back for $3600 and one of the rare ones, did nothing to it to make it rode worthy.  And that is probably the reason I sold that machine; the more time I have in a machine the more I become attached.  With the auction it brought $3000; first machine I lost money on. The 750’s are just more in demand.



It was a good day this past Saturday as I had five them on the road, winding them up to rid the moisture.
The current fleet:
1980 Honda C70 Passport
1971 Honda CL450 Scrambler
1972 Honda CB750
1973 Honda CB750
1980 Honda CBX
2001 Honda Valkyrie Interstate
1970 Honda CT70

[Oldfishguy]

I spent the summer working out gremlins on the CBX and putting new tires on most of the machines.  The 6/6 exhaust was installed, a color correct front fender acquired, the carbs were cleaned (twice), and etc.  I actually loved the challenge.




The sound of this machine is unique as one winds it up.  I think the Cobra exhaust on our Valkyrie machines is similar, just a deeper pitch.  Had to hold back as this was a public road.

https://youtu.be/W0nIMQG8JdA?feature=shared

[Jess from VA]

Great collection and great garage.  

Don't you just love fall leaf cleanup?  It look like you can just blow them in the woods.  I wish I could do that.

Here's my Honda powered (270 cc) fall fun machine.  



Self propelled, forward and reverse, but it'll jerk your arms out the sockets.

[Hook#3287]

That CB500 is nice

When I was a shop rat at the local Honda dealership in the early 70's, the service manager raced a CB500 he had amped up, in the NE circuit.

I would sometimes go with him as a pit crew.

He did really well and would have gotten farther, but his wife made him quit because she wanted him around.

I'm liking your collection, very cool.