So i found my future Cafe Racer...

Just talked to the dude, said he ripped the case apart and found one of the pistons had a hole in it! So, he replaced the piston, putting it back together, said by tomorrow, it would be a running bike! All for $500!

Here is a 1971 Honda CL350. Just got this guy running last week. Still a little bit rocky but i think with some tinkering this bike will run good for someone. I cleaned the rust out of the tank but it could use one more cleaning. Polished most of the chrome and was surprised by how good it looked. The front and back fenders look real nice, and the rims turned out great. The exhaust looks to be in very good shape. Maybe a ding or scratch but overall very presentable. It looks like the tank was painted back in the 70's, this could have been a dirt tracker... who knows. I took the carbs completely apart and cleaned everything i could. They seem to work but i am sure they could use a rebuild kit. Who knows how long this bike has been sitting. Got the engine fired up last week and it sounded strong. Have not got it on the street yet. The clutch cable is not attached to the crank case. Have to drill/tap out two screws to see what is going on in there. Probably just missing a connecting bolt and screw. It looks to me like this bike sat in some corner for decades maybe. There are a few nuts and bolts missing like the rear break nut and the clutch connector, but overall it looks all there. The engine runs and i will bet this bike will haul @ss once it gets that clutch connector. This bike sets up high and feels tough. The front tire is a 19 and back an 18 so it has that Enduro feel about it. Plus the back tire is a 4.00, big and beefy. The tank has been repainted as you can tell but it looks actually pretty cool. Custom light red/peach ish with gold accent. The Good: has 97% of the parts there 13k miles the grips are ok and useable all the chrome so far has shined up very nice rear tire looks ok the scramble pipes look real nice has breathers for carbs The bad: needs clutch connection clean tank out again the foot pegs are askew the starter is wonky right side cylinder is weak The parts: get a new petcock! probably a carb rebuild kit front tire maybe could use replacing missing rear break nut side covers are missing All in all i am going to be tinkering with this bike over the weekend. I got it running after God knows how long it has been sitting, so i have faith that it should be able to hit the pavement soon. Come by and get this bike from me because i got no room in my shed for it. It is a tough, cool vintage Honda that has been brought back to life. Give it a good home and bring it back to it's once majestic glory. What do you have to lose? Do it! This bike will kick all those new bikes asses. Plus it looks damn tough! Johnny 678 907 7488 *UPDATE* sept 9, 2010 I just got this bike on the road. I reconnected the clutch cable inside the crank case. The screws heads were totally stripped out and super tough to remove but i got them out. A person will need to replace them but i just put them back in none-too-tight to hold the clutch cable crank case plate back on. I took the bike up and down the street. It ran alright but i can still tell that the right carb is wonky and needs a rebuild kit. Left carb works well but a person should do both. also, the more i fix the higher the price goes. So if you want this guy, come over and get it. I am telling you this is a cool, tough bike... *UPDATE #2* sept 15, 2010 ok, i ran after the fuel delivery issue by removing the original carb and putting the carb off my cb350 on it. Same exact carb, and i know this one works because i ride my cb350 all the time. Anyway, installed the temporary carb and started it up. I am still getting the same situation. No true power out of the right side cylinder. Smoke comes out the breather tube. I looks like a bad oil ring on the piston/cylinder right side. What can i say... i traced it down to this. The price for the bike will be reflecting this situation. I still hope someone wants to get this bike on the road.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/mcy/1950035497.html

You don't say........

I just picked up the same bike this past weekend. Mine is a 71 as well, but this one is almost completely unmolested and bone stock. The shop that sold it to me made me promise (jokingly) I wouldn't turn it into a bobber or cafe racer. He was asking $1,900, but sold it for $1,600.

http://graybeards.yolasite.com/

I guess there aren't too many around that haven't been modded. I've put about 150 miles on it so far and love it! It isn't a screamer, but it isn't a total dog either. (14.5 or so 1/4 mile 85-90 top end if you are brave!)

By the way, there may be a 1985 Honda Interceptor 500 for sale soon.

Great score!

I picked up a 74 CL-360 for $125 with no title. After messing with getting the title sorted I gave up and bought a 75 CB-360 with title for $425. Both run, but i only have one good set of carb diaphrams. I have beem ordering parts and cleaning them up. I hope to have my cafe complete by spring.

In my mind, these are peerless putting-around-town bikes. (Also good for country roads, if yours aren't a 30 minute highway trip away like mine are.) Enough power to get away from cagers, room for a comely young lass to hop on (keep an extra helmet handy), all with vintagey good looks and hammer-like reliability, with no loud/fast/showy ego. Just good clean motorcycling.

Man, I need another one of these things.

Yeah, I rode mine to a friend's house the other day. He said "nice bike, where do you keep the batteries?"

I just asked him if he'd like to race me off-road in his "badass" Harley. He shut up after that.

We have Biketoberfest going on here in Daytona this week. It is kinda nice NOT to be on a shiny brandy-new Harley that looks like all the other Harleys in town.

Nice! I'd seen that for sale but wasn't ready to buy yet. Keep us posted on the cafe build. (If you haven't already found it, there's a lot of good stuff over at dotheton.com)

Some inspiration. (This guy actually lives less than 5 minutes from me.)

I watched that "Cafe Racer" show on HD Theater last night. I'm not a bike guy, but those are really, really cool.

teamdixonracing wrote: Some inspiration. (This guy actually lives less than 5 minutes from me.)

I just came across that today. A lot of people were ripping on it for the way he did the mono shock conversion, the build thread was 130 pages long so I didn't get too far into it.

Nice looking bike - I like the tire sizes. The stock tires are way small.

Joe Gearin wrote: It isn't a screamer, but it isn't a total dog either. (14.5 or so 1/4 mile 85-90 top end if you are brave!)

Seriously?? They are that quick?

Can i get someone to second it that?

They aren't that fast with my big ass riding 'em.

CarKid1989 wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: It isn't a screamer, but it isn't a total dog either. (14.5 or so 1/4 mile 85-90 top end if you are brave!)

Seriously?? They are that quick? Can i get someone to second it that?

It's a hell of a lot faster than my Benz, so I'd say sub 15s are pretty realistic.

Is this an old honda?

Also do you have any more pictures of it? (mainly of the mono rear shock)

Well, I haven't had my bike timed, but Honda seemed to think it could do a low 14 sec 1/4 mile......

It's a 1974 CB360.

This should have all the info you're looking for.

The first picture with the Volvo in the background is my driveway. He bought the bike originally from me. I sold it when I bought the Sportster. Ironically, now I'm shopping around to buy another CB350 or CB360.

Joe Gearin wrote: By the way, there may be a 1985 Honda Interceptor 500 for sale soon.

My interest is piqued!

I just traded off a non-running CB360 with title for a dirt track car car.

I'd have loved to get it running, but I've got the '74 CL200 already, and the 360 was in pretty rough shape.

Clem

i just want another bike so if anyone has leads on a cheap bike you let me know.

Thanks

teamdixonracing wrote: It's a 1974 CB360. This should have all the info you're looking for. The first picture with the Volvo in the background is my driveway. He bought the bike originally from me. I sold it when I bought the Sportster. Ironically, now I'm shopping around to buy another CB350 or CB360.

Thank you for the info, always like to know how people do things.

Wish I could torrent Cafe Racer TV.

My CB400F is sitting at home in pieces...

Gretta is even more beautiful in person! Great workmanship, by a great guy.

OK, I just went through all 130 pages of that build - I didn't read every post, but I did look at all the pics and that did come out nice. I have no clue why i was ragged on my some cafe sites, the swingarm looks good to me.

" I have no clue why i was ragged on my some cafe sites" Some of the sites often compete with the concorse restoration sites for anal retentivness. (Only period correct brit-bikes, period correct modifications etc.). DTT is A LOT like GRM in that reguard...no sacred cows.

Not too far off topic: I had my '76 KZ-400 out yesterday enjoying the fall weather. Turned 2600 miles. I bought the bike several years back for $100. Took me a while to find a set of ebay carbs that weren't corroded to heck, but I've got her running sweet now.

Pretty sure the KZ won't do the 1/4 in 14 seconds. I'm thinking 15's. I wonder what makes that Honda so quick?

The KZ will just get into the 15's It is 50 lbs heavier then the CB and a few less hp (just comparing internet specs).