Topic: Hello I got a 1971 cb 350

[Mjem082]

Hello I'm new to the form and I'm making a cafe racer and I'm wounding if I need to run a battery in it so if you could help out cuz I could use all the help I can get and I will be selling a lot of original parts off of it          Thanks for the help  .. I'm mike

[kck3]

Yeah you will need a battery on board. If you haven't yet check out hondatwins.net  a lot of good info to be found.

[Mjem082]

Even if I just want to do the kick start only

[dave500]

it wont run without the battery.

[trueblue]

I have seen somewhere a batteryless system for the 350 twins, I just can't remember where it was.  It replaced your entire charge and ignition system. 

[Retro Rocket]

I have seen somewhere a batteryless system for the 350 twins, I just can't remember where it was.  It replaced your entire charge and ignition system. 

Probably runs a large capacitor to store some charge for starting.

[trueblue]

It basically had a system similar to what most dirt bikes run, with a self generating spark.  It had an optional cap in the system to remove flicker from the headight.  I was considering one for my 350, but decided I like electric start.

[Rodger]

I would keep a battery.  If your removing the started down size the battery and hide it in the seat.  I use a 1/4 size battery in the cowling in my 350 twin with no e-start.  I use a sealed lead battery 12v 4.4ah, original is 12v 12ah. the sealed can be installed in any position making it easier to hide.

[Bankerdanny]

Find yourself a lithium iron (Li Fe) battery. At equivalent strength they are smaller and much lighter than the stock battery, and if you intend to remove, or not use the electric start you can go to a smaller capacity that is easily concealed, but still provides the connection you need to run the bike as well as some reserve for lighting.

[Mjem082]

Thank you for all the help I will look in to the options that I have

[lucky]

I have seen somewhere a batteryless system for the 350 twins, I just can't remember where it was.  It replaced your entire charge and ignition system. 

That is (was) called a total loss system.
It depends on the battery completely and then as the battery gets worn down
the engine runs worse and worse.
Racing motorcycles used that system and some did not make it through the entire race before it started to degrade to a one cylinder bike.

Keep the original electrical system unless you want to be stuck out somewhere and have to leave the bike behind. Oh...you have a cell phone? But do they have a truck?
Have you ever tried to put a motorcycle in a pick up truck?
Well if you have you will know how hard it is. You will not forget.


You probably do not like to hear that you should keep the original electrical system.

[SONIC]

I have seen somewhere a batteryless system for the 350 twins, I just can't remember where it was.  It replaced your entire charge and ignition system. 

That is (was) called a total loss system.
It depends on the battery completely and then as the battery gets worn down
the engine runs worse and worse.
Racing motorcycles used that system and some did not make it through the entire race before it started to degrade to a one cylinder bike.

Keep the original electrical system unless you want to be stuck out somewhere and have to leave the bike behind. Oh...you have a cell phone? But do they have a truck?
Have you ever tried to put a motorcycle in a pick up truck?
Well if you have you will know how hard it is. You will not forget.


You probably do not like to hear that you should keep the original electrical system.

Total loss is 100% opposite of batteryless. Hence the name "batteryless"
This system simply runs a capacitor in place of the battery with the stock charging system. It's hit and miss with a 350, the charging system is pretty bad but it may or may not work.
Grab a capacitor about 15-30000 uF an about 50v (20 bucks) and put it in place of your battery and see what happens.

If you want this is work you'll need to do the following:
All led flashers
An electronic flasher relay capable of running with minimal load (ie no resistors on your LEDs)
And a headlight on off switch if you don't already have one, so that you can start the bike without the light drawing current.

Shoot me a pm if you have any question a or post up here.

[trueblue]

I have seen somewhere a batteryless system for the 350 twins, I just can't remember where it was.  It replaced your entire charge and ignition system. 

That is (was) called a total loss system.
It depends on the battery completely and then as the battery gets worn down
the engine runs worse and worse.
Racing motorcycles used that system and some did not make it through the entire race before it started to degrade to a one cylinder bike.

Keep the original electrical system unless you want to be stuck out somewhere and have to leave the bike behind. Oh...you have a cell phone? But do they have a truck?
Have you ever tried to put a motorcycle in a pick up truck?
Well if you have you will know how hard it is. You will not forget.


You probably do not like to hear that you should keep the original electrical system.

Do you not read before you reply? What I was talking about was a system where you removed your entire charge and ignition system and replaced it with a system that didn't require a battery at all and a capacitor was optional, it's only use was to remove flicker from the headlight.  I was in no way talking of a total loss system, I thought that would have been glaringly obvious when I said it was batteryless