Topic: New to motorcycles, found a CB350F. Good first bike?

[drj434343]

I recently completed a motorcycle training course and got my endorsement in the state of Oregon.  I've been looking for a first bike and while I initially focused on 70-77 Honda twins, I recently ran across a 73 CB350F for sale locally at $1700.  It looks unmolested, same owner for 20 years, nice original patina.  Well sorted running and stopping bike, probably some little issues here or there.  New tires and battery, carbs recently overhauled.

I've done a flurry of research on the fours in anticipation of talking with the seller and am indeed intrigued by the engineering history of these little fours.  I have a long background in vintage Volvos, and am an experienced wrencher, although I've only ever synced TWO carbs at once!

I like the old Hondas the same way I like the old Volvos, well put together, durable, reliable, well thought out.  I want to extend this philosophy to my first bike and on paper this 350F looks like a good fit.

I am a little worried about parts availability, is that a reasonable fear?  I'm also a little worried about keeping 4 carbs in line, sometimes 2 can be a challenge.

What things should I look for when examining this bike and talking with the seller?  Any strong opinions about this model or asking price or other cautions specific to this model for a first time bike rider?

Thanks and cheers,
Jason

[Really?]

Personally, I think you will dig it.  With a four gauge sync tool, it will be easy enough, no biggie really.

Pictures would help with the cost question.

Plenty of folks here with the smaller fours, I am sure they can chime in with more detailed answers.  My first bike was the 400F when I was 14, I sure miss that bike.

[Sniper X]

It isn't JUST a good first bike. It is a great bike in general! I have one, a nice one and I absolutely love the thing. I have been riding since 1972 as well and still love the little Jewell of a bike that CB350F...here's mine. BTW I also own a 1985 BMW R80RT, and a couple 1969 CL350 Scramblers. I have had over 200 motorcycles.

[harisuluv]

WIthout seeing pcitures, and going from your description, $1700 is sounds high.  Like really high.  A $1700 bike should be running, as in you should be able to drive away safely.  When these bikes are fairly priced, they are gone, like FAST.  I am in AZ here and saw an ad for a 350F with no picture and just said it was in good original condition.  Seller was asking $950 for it.  I saw the ad when it was 4 hours old and called about it, it was already sold.  Now, in this case the price might have been a little low, but the point is, at that price I don't think he is going to sell it.  The fact that you have been "thinking about" buying it for a bit means too high.  How long has he been selling it?

Also, be careful when the owner says he did this or that because often times it's not true.  To some sellers a complete carb overhaul means they removed the floats and rincsed them out and squirting some carb cleaner in the general area.  Not saying that's what this guy did but you need to be careful and verify things.

Parts are not as prevalent as say cb750 parts but you can get them.  Just like anything else, condition is goign to dictate the cost.

[flybox1]

Jason,
you've come to the right place to ask questions.
The 350F is a fabulous bike.  parts are available, and tuning is pretty straightforward, if its unmolested.
Even if the owner has receipts for services, and lots of stuff is new, you'll still probably sink another $1000 into it.  many shops dont work on these old Fours anymore, so dont assume they did it correctly.  you'll want to go through many of the maintenance steps, to know for sure they were done(right) and so you can familiarize yourself with it.
$1700 does sound a bit high, but its not unrealistic for a good, titled runner.  mileage? original 4 into 4 exhaust or something else?
any rust in the tank?  all electrical work? blinkers,  hi/lo bean, gauges, lights 
any signs of melting at the fuse block under the right side cover?

post up some pics of it if you can....

[Duke McDukiedook]

How big are you size-wise?
What do you want to use this bike for- highway cruising or just local streets commuter?

[harisuluv]

Yes to pics!

[johnny]

I must disagree about $1700 being a high price for a titled, running 350F in good shape. These were only made for 3 years and are not nearly as common as some other CB models. If it is as described, I'd snap it up for that price immediately. I paid about $700 for mine (admittedly, a good deal) about 5 years ago. I've since sank approximately another $3000+ getting it where it is now (see my build thread). A great bike - especially for short distance and/or urban commuting. Probably a bit underpowered if you plan on touring or riding freeways.

[Sniper X]

I also think 1700 is a great price for a good clean runner as well since I would ask at least 3000 for mine and I gaurentee I would get it. BUT mine does have almost new NOS pipes, and a top end rebuild as of less than 1K miles ago and runs like new with absolutely no issues. I also just checked the charging system and it works perfectly as well.

[Sniper X]

I must disagree about $1700 being a high price for a titled, running 350F in good shape. These were only made for 3 years and are not nearly as common as some other CB models. If it is as described, I'd snap it up for that price immediately. I paid about $700 for mine (admittedly, a good deal) about 5 years ago. I've since sank approximately another $3000+ getting it where it is now (see my build thread). A great bike - especially for short distance and/or urban commuting. Probably a bit underpowered if you plan on touring or riding freeways.

For sure on the long distance freeway ride! I would be fine riding mine in state if it was geared to do about 1500rpm less at freeway speeds. I might have a 15t counter since it rips off the line for a 350f so I am going to check that and hope it is a 15t so I can go back to the stock 17 for some added freeway speed. Then I'll ride it to and from work a few times a week. BTW I weigh 195 and am WIDE in the shoulders.

[drj434343]

Thanks to all who replied, I will do my best to respond.  The original ad is only a day old, and is the first posting (I have been scouring Craigslist for a month).  I tried to post the link but this board won't allow that.  I will try to post pictures if I can get them independently.

I talked with him on the phone.  Claims to be an aircraft mechanic, long time Honda owner, does all his own maintenance.  Carb service was indeed what you suspected, take apart, clean, put back together.

He says the bike runs, shifts, stops very well, no mechanical issues, starts right up every time  Chrome is original and unpitted.  Tank was lined about 20 years ago, no known issues.  Exhaust is a 4 to 1 from a 400F.  He says all lights, instrumentation, and electronics are working perfectly.  Odometer is at 29K.

He did say the green paint was original and had clear coat peeling, fading, little knicks, etc.  Basically 40 year old patina.  It has always been garaged in his ownership.

I am 6 ft even and 200 lbs.  I get the sense this will be a smaller bike for my frame.  I don't want to feel cramped, but I also don't intend to do cross country riding.  Day joy rides in fair weather is my goal.

He has a 4 carb sync tool he says he uses, hopefully he would throw that in.

Price based on my limited looking in the NW is pretty good.  As I've talked to the twin Honda guys about, these bikes seem to have an inflated value in this region.  There is no shortage of hipsters here that drive up the prices of anything "vintage".  For instance, I was also looking at a CB350T listed at $2250 (good condition), which is on the low side of asking prices here.

I'm OK with what I've heard from him so far.  I would like a bike I can safely ride the rest of the summer, but also don't mind tearing into it and dumping some money on it over the winter, etc.  My only real concern is avoiding laying down an original like this as a first rider.  I'd like to keep it original and unmolested.

Any other thoughts?

[drj434343]

Snagged the pictures from the ad.  Best resolution I have at the moment...

[Tews19]

at 6' may be small for you. if this is for riding around the neighborhood should be fine. IMO, price is high. Never driven one but I have a 550F and its great. So are the 750's.  Can't go wrong with a CB..

[750K]

My only concern is the potential to outgrow it quick, I don't think you can go wrong with any Honda four. Coming from 60's volvos myself, you will find 4carbs pretty easy if you have been tuning dual SU's. Just X2 everything, wrenching on cars is more involved than bikes so you'll be fine when it comes to wrenching. I went with a cb750 for my first bike, I'm glad I went bigger. A couple years later I have yet to think it doesn't have enough power. My wife's 400, that's another story. She outgrew it quick, buy the biggest bike you can afford. At your height and weight you'll thank yourself in the long run.

[DJ_AX]

I'm almost 6' ... get a 750

[drj434343]

You guys are funny.  Everyone else says "get a small bike to start, so you won't kill yourself".

I am a conservative driver by nature.  I've made due with 110 HP 4000 lb Volvos for 10 years without coveting a turbo.  I did my training on a 200 cc 1 cyl Kawasaki, and thought it was insanely fast.

I'm normally happy when I can cruise at 55 mph in the country.  What is the draw of more power?  More acceleration?

[DJ_AX]

Yeah .. the 750's more low end acceleration part is really fun and cool ... but compared to modern bikes it's a snail.
I do enjoy riding my 550 (still bigger than the 350) it is easier to handle and a blast around town... but after a week of it I do feel a little cramped, and I MUST get back on the 750! It's just more my size... that's all I'm sayin'.

[DJ_AX]

and 750 parts availability is 10x better...

well maybe not 10x but a whole lot!

[harisuluv]

Pictures look pretty good.  Without dents in the tank and the original exhaust and the honda emblem missing on the stator cover I still don't see $1700.  With that stuff maybe.  The original exhausts in good condition on these things are major selling points and make up a significant portion of the resale value.  The 400f had a 4-4 too didn't it?  Looks like just an aftermarket 4-1 to me.

[750K]

Yeah, I got the 750 before I did my riding course and all I heard was "oh be carefull, that's a big bike for your first bike. You should have got a 400 or something" I'm glad I got a 750 first off, it didnt take long to get used to it at slow speeds and on the highway it has ample juice to pass people when I'm already doing 100-120kms. My wife's cb400 twin tops out a 110-115kms, you don't have that get up and GO! If you need it to pass or avoid some idiot coming into your lane. Compared to a modern 750 it's a slug, but in its own right it's plenty fast in any situation that I've needed the power. If I had bought a 400 for the first bike I would have out grown it within 2 months, I love having a bigger bike as my first.

[Really?]

He can always re-sell the bike when he grows out of it.  Once he realizes what he has with the 350F and wants to go bigger, he will become like many of us.  He will have multiple bikes in the garage.  He won't want to sell the 350F.

I kinda feel odd saying anything I have said in this thread considering my wife (5'4"), her first bike was a 750.  It's the '75 linked in my signature. 

I do get what the guys are saying about wanting a bit more kick when you are out on the streets/road.  That is one reason (there were many) I chose the 750 as her first bike.  The fours are really hard to find down here in Texas though, you kinda take what you can get almost.  Yanno, unless you want to buy something that is ridiculously priced as they can be down here.  The fours seem to be all over the place up north and affordable.

[bender01]

The header looks like a 400f but the mufller is aftermarket. Does it have the tool tray / lid /tools and owners manual? Those are nice items too have. I miss my 350f.

[flybox1]

$1700 is a steal for that 350f.
Buy it and treat it right. It will only be worth more if you eventually decide to sell it.
I sold my 350 as it was the only way to find my 750.
It was a really fun bike, even for me being 6'5" 

[FuZZie]

He did say the green paint was original and had clear coat peeling, fading, little knicks, etc.  Basically 40 year old patina.  It has always been garaged in his ownership.

I don't think clear coat was original, you may want to take a second look at that it may have been repainted. Bender is right on the pipes. To bad the header got painted (usually done to hide problems) a good 400f exhaust system would have made up for a chunk of the price.

I have a 400f, and it's a fun little bike!

[Stev-o]

I'd say $1700 is a fair price at best, prices are higher on the west coast.

More importantly, that bike is too small for a 6 footer. Go look at at it and see how it runs but a 550 would be a better fit. Don't believe what the seller tells you.