Christmas with some Honda classics

[Reb]

Went home for Christmas break, decided to invoke some new winter project barn finds!

1972 Honda CB350F
-An uncle of mine purchased this bad boy back in 2004 at a local farm auction for $250. I believe he invested some out of pocket expenses along the way to get it in running order. I road around the farm and up-down the country roads on it in high school. Since my cousins have out grown it (they are now in their mid 20's) It has sat for almost a decade in a shed collecting dust and mouse feces. I pulled it out of the shed over X-mas with the intent of a restoration project. Most of it just needs a thorough cleaning and tune up. I plan to install a electronic ignition to avoid points and condenser wear.  The only thing it doesn't have is the stock exhaust, which is now unobtainable unless you want to shell out the $$$. 23K original miles






1968 Honda CL175 "Sloper Scrambler"
-During the traditional family Christmas on my Dad's side. I was discussing motorcycle affairs with fellow uncles. When my Dad mentioned that his older brother has had a 68' CL175 sitting in his garage for well up to a decade or longer rotting away. It didn't seem as if my uncle really gave adamn about it, He immediately said if I want it, come dig it out and take out. So I did just that.

This bike is in damn good condition for 52 yo, but is missing the original side covers, muffler, and original intakes. The muffler and heat shields is what set the style of this bike IMO.

A quick browsing of Ebay, and I had spend close to 300$ in parts before picking the bike up. I managed to find a LH and RH side covers for it, along with the sloper muffler in good condition. It will need some fresh paint when the time comes. The candy orange and chrome should pop nicely when it's completed.

you can see in the image below, that 50yo Honda chrome  on the rear fender will still shine with a little Elbow grease.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Very cool ! (You are quickly accumulating the family motorcycle history) 

[rocketray]

Good job ...be wary of old tires and tubes

[henry 008]

 

[Skinhead]

Oxalic Acid is your friend for removing rust and restoring chrome.  I bought a couple of large plastic storage bins and soaked several of the neglected parts off the IS I recently acquired.  I'm very pleased with the results.  OA can be bought on Amazon.

Good on you bringing these old girls back to life.

[Jack B]

I always wanted a 350-4
Rare bike.

[Valkorado]

Good scores, love the CB!   

[Oldfishguy]

My 1973

Fun light machines to do short runs with.  Then engines are very smooth runners at speed.  The pistons are about the size of your thumb.  The power band is up high and that is where the machine seems happiest, wind it up!
 

[Flask]

I am coming to your house and doing some riding !! - Looks like with your new finds along with what you have is quite the selection of RIDES !!!! - Keep it up REB you make us all jealous !!!!

[The emperor has no clothes]

My 1973

Fun light machines to do short runs with.  Then engines are very smooth runners at speed.  The pistons are about the size of your thumb.  The power band is up high and that is where the machine seems happiest, wind it up!
 

She's a beauty 

[Pappy!]

Wow!!
That 350-4 is an amazing find. Lesa wants one big time.
Keep us in the loop as the resto comes along.

[Oldfishguy]

Reb is correct about the exhaust systems on these vintage machines being expensive to replace. I found mine from a guy restoring his machine for show, so he bought a nice reproduction set.  My set had some issues that I could partially remedy with JB Weld Extreme Heat epoxy.  Since then I have found an exhaust fabricator that says he has the ability to patch these thin walled exhaust systems; I will test his ability at some point.

Odd though, the exhaust systems are the weak link in these 4 cylinder machines. I have a theory on why they rust through so quickly.  I believe moisture is allowed to remain in the exhaust system after shutdown.  This can occur by running the machine for a short time and not allowing the exhaust to fully heat up.  So, my theory is if the machine is going to be not run for a bit of time, run it hard and hot near the end.

And vintage carburetors . . . well, it is a love/hate relationship.

[hubcapsc]

There's seems to be some kind of exhaust replacement kit here:

https://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB350K4-SUPER-SPORT-1972---1973/part_53708/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=honda%20cb350k%20exhaust&utm_campaign=CB350K&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-u3rh97n5gIVCr3ACh0HKghzEAAYASAAEgKES_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

-Mike

[old2soon]

         I had a New off the Dealer floor 1973 CB 500/4. Salesman was telling me All the things Not to do!  Got 4 or 5 miles away from the dealer and promptly blew thru past and beyond factory red line. And kept doing that fer near bout as long as I owned that bike. Other folks with some similar 500s and 750s saw nuttin but tail light. Would absofrikkinlutely LUV ta have my old 500/4 back!  Danged Good SCORE there Preston.  I are in Fact jealous.  RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

nice christmas present score you got there for a tooling around town bike.

I have found at time is more pleasant to zip around locally say 30 miles one way and under with my 250cc scooter smoking and passing HD's than my bigger cycles.       single cylinder 19.3 hp is what can keep up to say 35 mph with most HD's off the line at least.....     After say 40 mph the pickup speed slows down considerably until I hit top speed around 78 mph and much past 70 mph engine gets a little buzzy....  

That 350 should be plenty to stir up some light to light races in town..... ???   and still get the best MPG numbers out of most cycles on the road...     Is nice to go on the 250 with 2.2 gallon gas tank on avg 63 mpg.  was especially nice some years ago when gas was over 4 bucks per gallon.

biggest issue I see you having is finding the parts and time to restore it successfully seeing as how it is 1972 being older than you by a lot......       Darn near as old as me but the price to get was right - FREE.     My kid bought a 1983 V65 magna and told him BEFORE buying it ALL HIS expense if needing work done to it and soon after we sold it he should have listened to me.  Always a matter of time and money it seems... but that thing was WICKED fast dare I say too darn fast even for me.  I did not think a 1983 vs. a 1984 and later V65 magna mattered much but after driving 2 1983 models with different carbs, etc. vs. the 1984 and 1985 I drove, rest assured the 1983's are the FASTEST production year by far was STUPID SCARY fast full throttle.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Both really nice bikes!