Resurrecting a few Vintage Honda’s

[Oldfishguy]

Over a few decades now I’ve resurrected a few machines. This past summer was no exception as a few came available for reasonable prices. None of these are for sale as when I do part with a machine it is usually to someone I know and near me.

Picked up this 72 Honda CL175 last summer as a non runner, not titled for $400. Probably only a few hundred more in to it; I sold it for $1500, titled to a friend. Ran great, had 50 miles on it since resurrection.


Picked this 1968 Honda CL175 mid summer for $2450.  Beautiful machine that ran like crap because it was in a guys private display. Never could get the sloper engine to run right till I put a couple aftermarket carbs on it. Did a few other things to it but only about a hundred dollars or so. Never really liked riding the machine though, gutless, seat uncomfortable, high balance point . . . Traded it for a blue 1970 CL450 that needed work. More on that in a bit.



Picked up this 71 CL350 midsummer for $500, the machine last ran in 1980 . . . Yes 42 years ago. I think I have 50 hours in to it and another $600 in parts. Still has a slight hitch in the carbs and I’ll have to pull them again I know. But, still a usable machine at this point.



Next is the summers grand prize!  A 1972 Honda CB750. I’ve been hunting for another one for a few years. It had not run in 15-20 years but the bones were all there. Paid $3000 for it, and that was a gift price from the long time elderly owner. I’ve put another $1000 in to the machine in parts and at least 50 hours of time . . . but the machine now runs like new. Fantastic!



Now the current project I’m waiting on parts for, the 1970 CL450 I traded for. A low miler and nice paint. The previous owner put some bopper style handlebars on that had to go. I’m a stock guy for the most part and want to bring it back to OEM. As with all of these projects there are surprise “sins of the past”, the 450 is no exception as I’ve found the wire harness hacked and butchered.




These are all challenging but fun projects. Half the fun is just hunting them down.

[Valkorado]

  Wow, nice finds!  What a great hobby, for those like you with the skills to breathe life into these old bikes.

[f6john]

Those 750’s bring a pretty penny. Always thought I would like two own one, just never happened. Glad your bringing some back to life .

[The emperor has no clothes]

You do some excellent work ! 

[Serk]

Wow! I'm thankful there are folks out there like you that enjoy that side of things.... I love the classic bikes, but don't have the patience to put one back together...

Gorgerous and nice to see 'em being kept going and not just sitting on the wall at a dealership (Or worse)!

[msb]

Beautiful! Most of the old Hondas have such a timeless, classic look...just like those you're giving new life to. That's awesome, that you've spent so much time over the years resurrecting them and getting them back on the road 
I love my old GL1000....all original paint & chrome and most parts, save the aftermarket exhaust and shocks and a few small replacement parts from other bikes. 80,000 km, and it's an everyday rider...I use it for bombing around locally and the odd 2 day overnighter.

I'm not the world's greatest MC wrench, but I enjoy maintaining and can get by fixing what needs to be fixed. Now in retirement with more time, my plan is to search out another vintage Honda or two that are still roadworthy, that I can fix up a bit and add to my stable of two. Up here, MC insurance is expensive, but with "collector" status (25+ years old) bikes in good shape, one can have up to 15 on one low cost Collector plate...the only restriction is they can't be ridden for/to work, and I don't have to worry about that any more   I don't plan on that many, but with the Valk achieving that staus end of next year, I hope to maybe have up to half a dozen in the next few years to tinker on, polish, and ride 

[DIGGER]

Awesome hobby!!!   I love seeing old motorcycles restored.   I never had the capability to restore one.   My hats off to ya!!

[Oldfishguy]

Wow, nice finds!  What a great hobby, for those like you with the skills to breathe life into these old bikes.

Yes, a hobby describes it best.  I've never lost money on a resurrected machine; of course, I never count my time either. 

When I first get a machine to run after a long slumber it is quite the relief/joy.  At that point I know the engine is solid.  The real work begins at that point because one has just started the process of making it road worthy.   

[Oldfishguy]

Those 750’s bring a pretty penny. Always thought I would like two own one, just never happened. Glad your bringing some back to life .

You are correct the 750's are in high demand lately, especially the early year machines.  The earlier the machine, the higher the demand.  My hunt for machines will probably slow now as I've been looking for the 750 for a while and these other bikes pop up while I was looking for the 750. 

[Oldfishguy]

You do some excellent work ! 

Thanks, I do resurrections . . . not total restorations.  I like to make machines usable, not so pretty one is afraid to ride it in the rain, gravel roads, etc.  And I like original paint machines; somebody usually had enough respect for the machine to keep them inside and out of the sun, but no knowledge on how to maintain them.  So, some previous owner loved the machine . . . those are the ones I hunt for.     

[Oldfishguy]

Wow! I'm thankful there are folks out there like you that enjoy that side of things.... I love the classic bikes, but don't have the patience to put one back together...

Gorgerous and nice to see 'em being kept going and not just sitting on the wall at a dealership (Or worse)!

Yes, patience is tested . . . many times in a resurrection.  Generally, machines with nice original paint were put away because something mechanically went wrong . . . a long time ago.  So, as one is trying to get the machine to run I'm looking for that original failure.  It is there somewhere.  Patience.

My local Honda dealer is doing a full restore on a Sandcast 1969 CB750, (the first 7400 manufactured).  I'm good with that one being on display, all others should be ridden.  There's a saying I like "Ride'em, Dont' Hide'em". 

[Oldfishguy]

Beautiful! Most of the old Hondas have such a timeless, classic look...just like those you're giving new life to. That's awesome, that you've spent so much time over the years resurrecting them and getting them back on the road 
I love my old GL1000....all original paint & chrome and most parts, save the aftermarket exhaust and shocks and a few small replacement parts from other bikes. 80,000 km, and it's an everyday rider...I use it for bombing around locally and the odd 2 day overnighter.

I'm not the world's greatest MC wrench, but I enjoy maintaining and can get by fixing what needs to be fixed. Now in retirement with more time, my plan is to search out another vintage Honda or two that are still roadworthy, that I can fix up a bit and add to my stable of two. Up here, MC insurance is expensive, but with "collector" status (25+ years old) bikes in good shape, one can have up to 15 on one low cost Collector plate...the only restriction is they can't be ridden for/to work, and I don't have to worry about that any more   I don't plan on that many, but with the Valk achieving that staus end of next year, I hope to maybe have up to half a dozen in the next few years to tinker on, polish, and ride 

The vintage Wings are awesome machines! Yours looks awesome as well. 

We do the same thing, local rides for errands, etc.  I swap out every few days the different rides.  But for anything over a 20 mile trip or so the Valkyrie comes out; nothing beats the full fairing enclosure for comfort.

You will find these vintage Honda's with many similar mechanics, but then again not.  I buy vintage service manuals for the machines, but in all honesty my go to is You Tube.  There are a lot of short videos on these machine mechanics.  And then the online Facebook groups for each model are a huge support network.  Use the online networks to teach you, somebody has already done the repair your about to attempt the first time and recorded the procedure for you. 

Parts are widely available as well.  I do a lot of Ebay and try to buy Honda OEM parts.  For hard to find parts I'll call my local Honda dealer and ask them to do a search for a part number; almost all Honda dealers are now connected together and can see each others inventory.  Get the number to the dealer and call them up, buy the part and have them ship it to you. 

Best of luck, you have a start already with the Wing.       

[Jess from VA]

Oldfishguy, you are an artist.      I like Honda art. 

Resurrectionist too.   

[Oldfishguy]

Oldfishguy, you are an artist.     I like Honda art.  

Resurrectionist too.  

No, this guy was the artist.  Big BF

I’ve done most of the service on my Valkyrie, but hearing Bill was going to be near me in a few days I decided I wanted someone else to service my final drive for another look.  I sat there and watched him work, doing what he does.  What I witnessed was an unbelievably clean, organized shop.  And then of course he finds an extra O ring laying in the drive grease . . . Embarrassing. (My own, “Sin of the past”  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Oldfishguy, you are an artist.     I like Honda art.  

Resurrectionist too.  

No, this guy was the artist.  Big BF

I’ve done most of the service on my Valkyrie, but hearing Bill was going to be near me in a few days I decided I wanted someone else to service my final drive for another look.  I sat there and watched him work, doing what he does.  What I witnessed was an unbelievably clean, organized shop.  And then of course he finds an extra O ring laying in the drive grease . . . Embarrassing. (My own, “Sin of the past”  

[Jess from VA]

Bill (BIG BF) (and dog) spent 4 days at my house, twice, going through my two Interstates.

Things I could do and not do, but I just let him do it all.

I miss him, both for his good natured company and friendship, and for his service.

I still have two complete legal pads, full of our conversations (one for each visit).

After I paid the bill, he always insisted on taking me to dinner (I did the cooking and ordering during his visits).  He liked Mexican, so that's what we did. 

RIP

[Oldfishguy]

When one has been resurrecting/refurbishing a machine for a time and you just want to see if your on the right track before winter takes full hold.

https://youtu.be/PMedRUoOJV0

[The emperor has no clothes]

When one has been resurrecting/refurbishing a machine for a time and you just want to see if your on the right track before winter takes full hold.

https://youtu.be/PMedRUoOJV0

[Jack B]

I’m sorry but I was waiting for a crash.

[Oldfishguy]

I’m sorry but I was waiting for a crash.

Kind of funny, but not this time. 

Like many of us, I started out in dirt bikes as a farm kid.  If not a daily event, definitely a weekly event where we dumped a bike.  The freedom to run free and precariously was a great gift.   

[RNFWP]

When one has been resurrecting/refurbishing a machine for a time and you just want to see if your on the right track before winter takes full hold.

https://youtu.be/PMedRUoOJV0

...really enjoyed the video. If the weather is like that here (SC) it is the full hold of winter.  ...school would be closed for a week. 

[3fan4life]

Like many of us, I started out in dirt bikes as a farm kid.  If not a daily event, definitely a weekly event where we dumped a bike. 

I've ALWAYS said that if you don't crash a dirt bike once in awhile, YOU'RE NOT RIDING IT RIGHT!

The freedom to run free and precariously was a great gift.

It Certainly Was!

[LTD]

I would tell people about Bill traveling the country working on only one motorcycle the Valkyrie and no one ever believed me.  They always thought i was just  bsing.

[Jess from VA]

I would tell people about Bill traveling the country working on only one motorcycle the Valkyrie and no one ever believed me.  They always thought i was just  bsing.

When Bill Ferguson was at my house, my new neighbor (a young Navy Lt) had a 250 Rebel that wouldn't run (carburetor).  I asked him if he could fix it.  He told me to have her get a new carb, she did, and we rolled it across the street and he fixed it.  For not much money.  

One of my bikes has developed the sheared clutch rivets, and it's over an hour away to the only guy I know to trust to work on my bikes.  I am not enjoying riding in winter this year.  Brrrr.  Winter is supposed to be the slow time for bike work; he has 50 bikes in his shop, right now.  He's an ace mechanic, and word has gotten out.  

[..]

I would tell people about Bill traveling the country working on only one motorcycle the Valkyrie and no one ever believed me.  They always thought i was just  bsing.

Can't fix stoopid.

[Rams]

Question, at what point does a machine become vintage?

I'm curious since my Valks are nearing antique tag status.

Rams   

[Jess from VA]

Question, at what point does a machine become vintage?

Yeah my bikes are both 22+ years old.

But I'm almost 70, so that makes them seen pretty young.

So my bikes may be approaching vintage, but I'm certainly vintage (with certain parts more vintage than others).   

[h13man]

Love all the pic's folks. Cool to see some fond memories of my youth. Ah the summer of 69'!

I owned a 69' CL 450, 69' CL350 which was a favorite of my oldies, 72' CL175, and I have a 71' CL100 in the garage that I'm hoping to sell this spring. Alway liked the "scrambler" look.

[Oldfishguy]

Question, at what point does a machine become vintage?

I'm curious since my Valks are nearing antique tag status.

Rams   

Well, debatable, but I think are Valkyries are there; most machines don’t look it though.

I have run classic plates on my Valkyrie now for the past two summers.  (Minimum 20 years in Minnesota) There are some stated restrictions but I have found unless your riding the machine to work every day nobody bothers you.  Even if your 1000 miles from home your probably on a social event of some sort.  And at the end of the day the machine is on display as a showpiece wherever your at.  Just don’t take advantage of it.

Arguable, I know.

[Oldfishguy]

Well, another year and a few changes in the fleet.

Sold this 1971 CL350 mid summer for $2400.



Sold this 1970 CL450 a short time ago for $3400




Both machines I bought last year, and both needed a bit of work.  I put 100-200 miles on each and let them go.  I’m building up some funds. As I’m chasing something that I’m finding elusive.  Hunting for a 1979-80 Honda CBX.  They are hot at the moment and pricey; I’m hoping to find one that has not run in a few years.  I would enjoy that challenge.

Maybe our Valkyries will get hot in 20 years like the CBX has.

[f6john]

Hope you find one, I’ll be interested in the story.

[phideux]

One of those 350 Leg Burners was my first bike.

[Oldfishguy]

I found a 1980 CBX a few weeks ago. ($11,000) After being disappointed for six months bidding on various auctions for one and seeing prices I was not comfortable with, I found one within an hours drive.  I put an ad in the local Craigslist as a “Wanted”, and after filtering through the scammers for a few weeks, one reply looked promising.  The machine had not run in a number of years but as was stated “Ran when Parked”; I took a chance anyway.  And after a bit of frustration I found the fuel vacuum shutoff diagram was stuck closed.  (An early version of our Valkyrie system).  There will be more “surprises” I’m sure, but that is actually the fun part for me.

These machines come and go over time.  The hobby is mostly self funding itself at this point, as long as I don’t count my labor time.  

https://youtu.be/oW66-ikd3ZE?feature=shared

[f6john]

I’m slobbering all over my screen right now. Hope I get to hear a sound clip when you’re done!

[Oldfishguy]

I’m slobbering all over my screen right now. Hope I get to hear a sound clip when you’re done!

The YouTube clip attached on the original post has the initial startup.  But I didn’t wind it up much as need to run through a few things on oil pressure, filters, and such before I do much more.  But yes, the machine should howl!  Unfortunately winter is settling in here in Minnesota and it will have to wait till spring for a major shake down run.  I’m looking forward to it.

I wonder sometimes if our Valks will take off in twenty years and escalate in value like these CBX’s have?  Maybe??  

[The emperor has no clothes]

I found a 1980 CBX a few weeks ago. ($11,000) After being disappointed for six months bidding on various auctions for one and seeing prices I was not comfortable with, I found one within an hours drive.  I put an ad in the local Craigslist as a “Wanted”, and after filtering through the scammers for a few weeks, one reply looked promising.  The machine had not run in a number of years but as was stated “Ran when Parked”; I took a chance anyway.  And after a bit of frustration I found the fuel vacuum shutoff diagram was stuck closed.  (An early version of our Valkyrie system).  There will be more “surprises” I’m sure, but that is actually the fun part for me.

These machines come and go over time.  The hobby is mostly self funding itself at this point, as long as I don’t count my labor time.  

https://youtu.be/oW66-ikd3ZE?feature=shared

Nice find ! I had no idea those bikes went for that much these days.

[Oldfishguy]

I found a 1980 CBX a few weeks ago. ($11,000) After being disappointed for six months bidding on various auctions for one and seeing prices I was not comfortable with, I found one within an hours drive.  I put an ad in the local Craigslist as a “Wanted”, and after filtering through the scammers for a few weeks, one reply looked promising.  The machine had not run in a number of years but as was stated “Ran when Parked”; I took a chance anyway.  And after a bit of frustration I found the fuel vacuum shutoff diagram was stuck closed.  (An early version of our Valkyrie system).  There will be more “surprises” I’m sure, but that is actually the fun part for me.

These machines come and go over time.  The hobby is mostly self funding itself at this point, as long as I don’t count my labor time.  

https://youtu.be/oW66-ikd3ZE?feature=shared

Nice find ! I had no idea those bikes went for that much these days.

Yes, surprising to many I’m sure.  I’m sure it has something to do with what we coveted when we were young, but couldn’t afford it.  I think Covid accelerated  a lot of these toys escalation values quite a bit.  In time, as the group that coveted these items ages out they will come back down to reality. 

Oddly, the 1981-82 CBX’s had fairings and bags and turned in to a sport cruiser of sorts.  Not as desirable as the naked 79-80 original machines.  That might tell us something about the future of our Valk model future values??

[Savago]

Truly amazing bikes!

Thanks for keeping them running and in good hands for years to come.
 

[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

[Oldfishguy]

Truly amazing bikes!

Thanks for keeping them running and in good hands for years to come.
 

Thank you.  And yes, most of the machines I’ve resurrected over the last decade or so will probably out live me.  Those that I did in the decades prior to that, well . . . I did the best I could but the learning curve takes time.

One of the fun things I do is write a little note of anything I know about the machine, and what I did to it.  And then stuff it in to a hiding spot for when someone does a full restoration at some point that only they will find.  A little note to the future.