Author Topic: Scored this last night! (Read 3209 times)

sangyo soichiro · « **on:** June 18, 2012, 07:32:01 AM »

A ~~1969~~ (oops, the seller said '69, but I actually think it's a '70) 350 twin. Been wanting one for a while now.

Can anyone point me in the direction of the Honda Shop Manual for this bike? Much appreciated!

thrutheframe · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2012, 07:34:49 AM »

I believe they are posted at www.hondatwins.net.

Sweet find, I love the twins. Its like riding a big angry sewing machine!

CycleRanger · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2012, 07:54:41 AM »

Score indeed! That looks nice!

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:57:45 AM »

Quote from: thrutheframe on June 18, 2012, 07:34:49 AM

Its like riding a big angry sewing machine!

My first bike was the '68 with the knee pads. Your description is very apt.

Stev-o · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:17:02 PM »

Very nice. How's it run?

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2012, 05:28:04 AM »

very cool, congrats!

333 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2012, 07:20:55 AM »

A reminder- Virtually all Japanese bikes from about '75 and before, the Japanese didn't quite follow a "model year" concept. A model might go a year between changes, but more likely, anywhere from 9 months to 15 months. The important ID is the letter/number after displacement (K1,F0,...). Here in the U.S., most DMVs assigned a model year based on a build date. And this is why it's so important to know exact model info when getting parts.

Nice find.

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2012, 07:23:46 AM »

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone.

Quote from: Stev-o on June 18, 2012, 09:17:02 PM

Very nice. How's it run?

The P.O. wasn't able to get it to run, but I just put gas in it and and it started with little problems. At first only the right cylinder was firing (the left exhaust pipe was cold), but that cleared itself up. It leaks gas out of the left carb, so I'll need to take that apart and look at it. Something is funny with the clutch, and so I can't ride it at all until I figure out what's wrong with that. And the petcock keeps flowing even in the off position. I think those are the major issues so far.

But the thing that is causing me pain (literally) is the kicker. Most of the time it will engage, but twice now I've kicked it and it suddenly let loose and my extended leg follows the kicker arc and I over extend my knee. That hurts like hell. Kind of afraid to kick it now. I'm walking with a limp today.

Quote from: 333 on June 19, 2012, 07:20:55 AM

A reminder- Virtually all Japanese bikes from about '75 and before, the Japanese didn't quite follow a "model year" concept. A model might go a year between changes, but more likely, anywhere from 9 months to 15 months. The important ID is the letter/number after displacement (K1,F0,...). Here in the U.S., most DMVs assigned a model year based on a build date. And this is why it's so important to know exact model info when getting parts.

Nice find.

Thanks for the info. I'll have to check the model numbers.

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2012, 07:39:57 AM »

Quote from: thrutheframe on June 18, 2012, 07:34:49 AM

I believe they are posted at www.hondatwins.net.

Sweet find, I love the twins. Its like riding a big angry sewing machine!

Thanks for the link. Sure enough, I found what I was looking for and more there.

754 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2012, 09:28:36 AM »

Nice bike, I like the paint on the old ones.. red, green, gold..

Ride a 3 or 400 mile day on that, and you will appreciate your 4...lol.

If its early should have a 10,500 redline.. with a cam and spring it will easily turn 13 or 14, 000.. mine did..

Johnie · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2012, 01:57:57 PM »

No electric start on those? Clutch issue may only be an adjustment. Once you get the manual it tells in there how to adjust it. Sure is a nice looker there. Good luck with it and keep us posted. Gosh those 350's were popular back in the day...

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2012, 02:37:41 PM »

It has a nice classic look. I like it.

754 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2012, 09:27:08 PM »

E start is at front of motor, they get moisture problems.. The CB 350 was at one time the highest selling bike in the world, so yeah there should be a few out there...

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2012, 06:19:36 AM »

Quote from: Johnie on June 19, 2012, 01:57:57 PM

No electric start on those? Clutch issue may only be an adjustment. Once you get the manual it tells in there how to adjust it. Sure is a nice looker there. Good luck with it and keep us posted. Gosh those 350's were popular back in the day...

Yeah, Like 754 said, it has an E-start. But when I got it home it cranked 3 times and the battery was dead, so I started kicking it and that's when it bit me for the first time. Then for the heck of it, I started it without the battery (while it was charging). The next day I kicked it over again and that's when it bit me for the second time. My knee seems ok now though - no permanent damage.

I'm hoping the clutch is just an adjustment issue. I've been trying to wrap up my 125 project, so I haven't dug into the 350 yet. Then after the 125, it's probably going to have to wait a little while longer while I finish up my girlfriend's S65 (I've been neglecting that one for too long).

Thanks to everyone for all the nice comments on the bike! I'm pretty happy with it. I've been wanting one for a while now.

bikerbart · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2012, 01:31:39 PM »

You lucky dog!I always wanted(want)an early cb350,great score.soichiro,how do you say 'rice burner'in japanese??doki moeru?doki kaji?Am I even close?Its what I want to name my new project bike?

74cb750 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2012, 02:38:24 PM »

Nice fine and as a plus it actually runs! Wow.

Johnie · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2012, 03:37:05 PM »

Did you find that puppy in MI? I recall looking at pics of that bike back in the day. I was only in Jr. High but knew I was wanting one. Very nice indeed. What are your plans for her.

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2012, 06:09:31 AM »

Quote from: bikerbart on June 20, 2012, 01:31:39 PM

You lucky dog!I always wanted(want)an early cb350,great score.soichiro,how do you say 'rice burner'in japanese??doki moeru?doki kaji?Am I even close?Its what I want to name my new project bike?

Thanks Bart.

Actually, I'm not sure how to say that in Japanese. I'm not Japanese, only my user name is (I figured Soichiro would be more appropriate here than Davidson).

Quote from: 74cb750 on June 20, 2012, 02:38:24 PM

Nice fine and as a plus it actually runs! Wow.

Thanks. Yeah, I was pretty excited when it started. The P.O. said he could never get it running. I didn't do much, only put gas in it, turned on the choke, and kicked it a few times. Kind of funny how that works.

Quote from: Johnie on June 20, 2012, 03:37:05 PM

Did you find that puppy in MI? I recall looking at pics of that bike back in the day. I was only in Jr. High but knew I was wanting one. Very nice indeed. What are your plans for her.

Yes, I found it in Michigan. It was actually in the town I grew up in, and in fact, if the seller and I were the same age, we would have rode the same school bus, because my bus route went right passed his place.

As for my plans, I'm waaaay over the cafe craze, so this and all my other bikes will pretty much remain stock. I might swap some Euro bars and modern turn signals on her (she's missing a turn signal anyways), but that will be the extent of the restoration. That and clean up any rusty spots she might have, paint the headlight bucket and one of the fork ears (one of the ears wasn't painted for some reason). This will be my comfy cruise-around bike, and possibly a daily commuter.

I've been thinking about the 350 for a long time now, and glad I finally scored one. I thought that if only I could get this bike, then my collection would be complete, and I can relax a bit on the searching for bikes part of my life.

...but now I really want a '65 - '67 CB450 Black Bomber. And THEN maybe I can relax.

Johnie · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2012, 06:32:05 AM »

The S65 for your girl...that was my first bike. It was white and I got it in 1969 to learn on. And got my first chewing out from the local cop for riding it on the road with no license. My parents were not happy and took the key away...but they did not hide it to well...

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:10:29 AM »

Quote from: Johnie on June 21, 2012, 06:32:05 AM

The S65 for your girl...that was my first bike. It was white and I got it in 1969 to learn on. And got my first chewing out from the local cop for riding it on the road with no license. My parents were not happy and took the key away...but they did not hide it to well...

I can imagine it must have looked comical for a cop to pull over such a small bike.

This is her sitting on it a couple years ago. As can be seen, it's pretty close to completion. We have the front fender and chrome fork pieces, and new tires have been put on her since this photo was taken. She did most of the painting (there are still overspray marks on my driveway pavement...

), and that little design on the gas tank is her personal touch. She tracked down all the parts for it, and if ever I need a part, she is really good at finding it for me at a cheap cost. She's my little biker buddy.

Last time I was working on the S65, I was trying to sort out the headlight wiring. But now I want to take the engine apart again to make sure I put the rings on correctly, and I also missed that little brass-looking springy sheet metal part that goes on the shifting mechanism. Then install a new petcock and back to the wiring. I'm thinking a couple good days work on her and she should be close to being done. Not bad for literally being a basket case when we got it.

MikeZ · « **Reply #20 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:22:46 AM »

That's a cool looking little bike

Johnie · « **Reply #21 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:37:10 AM »

You mean you found a OEM muffler and seat for that? Wow...now that takes me back. I even pulled the baffle out of mine so it would sound way cool...hey, give me a break...I was in 9th grade...

That 65 is looking very good man. Did you get her in a motorcycle safety course yet? Well worth it for the new rider.

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2012, 09:27:49 AM »

Quote from: Johnie on June 21, 2012, 08:37:10 AM

You mean you found a OEM muffler and seat for that? Wow...now that takes me back. I even pulled the baffle out of mine so it would sound way cool...hey, give me a break...I was in 9th grade... That 65 is looking very good man. Did you get her in a motorcycle safety course yet? Well worth it for the new rider.

Those are the seat and muffler that came with the bike. The story is that the P.O. was going to have it rebuilt, but had a falling out with the mechanic. So the mechanic put everything in a box and gave it back. The engine was completely apart, and we didn't even know if all the parts were there. But the good part about that was that with it apart, the P.O. had it all nicely tucked away, and it's hard to trash a bike with it all tucked away.

Oh... and this one didn't have a baffle. Maybe it was your bike?

My GF found one though, and we put it in.

No MS course yet. So far, the only thing she can ride is our scooters. She's so tiny, she has a hard time pulling in the clutch levers on all the other bikes.

Johnie · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2012, 10:32:42 AM »

Yes, she is small...the girlfriend that is. Maybe a weight lifting class first then the MS course.

Man, that is an original seat and muffler? Wow...nice. And the seat is crack free...that is unreal. The pipe looks awesome too.

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #24 on:** June 21, 2012, 11:56:06 AM »

The seat has one cut in it, maybe 3/4 of an inch long, but otherwise it's in nice condition. I put a bandaid on it a while back; I'll go check it to see if it's healed now.

Stev-o · « **Reply #25 on:** June 21, 2012, 06:38:39 PM »

That's really cool that she's into that bike, it looks great.

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #26 on:** June 22, 2012, 07:08:21 AM »

Quote from: Stev-o on June 21, 2012, 06:38:39 PM

That's really cool that she's into that bike, it looks great.

Thank you.

Actually, she's into all of our bikes. She's usually the one who finds them on craigslist, and she's usually the one who bargains with the seller for an agreed upon price. I haven't bought a single bike without her help. I'm pretty darn fortunate to have her.

With as much attention as that 65 is getting in this thread, looks like I may have to start a thread in the 'other bikes' forum for it.

It's the next bike in line to get up and running. Unfortunately when I put the engine together the first time, I forgot one little piece, so it has to come apart again. Plus, I want to check to make sure I put the rings on correctly. But after that, it should be a pretty quick build. I imagine by Monday I'll have it roadworthy. Then it's on to the 350.

Johnie · « **Reply #27 on:** June 22, 2012, 07:25:47 AM »

Let me get this straight...I think I read it wrong...your girl finds the bikes, calls on them, haggles the price, and she buys them too? Man, you got the life!!! Does she have any sisters???

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #28 on:** June 22, 2012, 08:01:39 AM »

If it's going to be my bike, I fork out the money. But yeah, that's pretty much how it works.

I think it works out well also because she's so tiny and cute, and with a Vietnamese accent, the sellers can't resist her.

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Author Topic: Scored this last night! (Read 3209 times)