Topic: new guy seeking advice, tips, etc.

[newkidwithbike]

So guys i chose this forum over every other forum because i noticed how helpful you guys and gals can be. So other day i spent some of my hard earned money on something i might or might not regret. Either way i have always wanted a bike like this and so i hope you guys help me in my build process and maybe teach me a thing or too along the way. I know very little about motorcycles but am eager to learn and pick things up pretty decently quick. So here's the bike, 1972 CB350f, in which i heard parts are hard to get a hold of but i have nothing but time. Now my question is what kind of advice or tips can you give me.

[flybox1]

looks like a decent platform, though im not a fan of the seat or its mounting hardward 
Parts are not hard to find.
how does it run?

[RevDoc]

Welcome to the asylum!

First thing you should do is go to the manuals page and download the one for your new baby. Become familiar with it and the steps for a 3K mile tune-up.

What are your intentions for the bike? Restore to original, cafe, rat bike? Whatever your choice you will have a lot less frustration with tuning if you get the airbox back on the bike.

Keep us posted and we like lots of pictures on progress!

[newkidwithbike]

yeah I'm not very comfortable with the mounting hardware either! My plans are to cafe it. What is a good site to buy parts for it? It runs decently well once its warmed up. Takes a while to start it.(kick start only/ New to that) Honestly i don't think it was tuned to the pod filters ever.  Is the tuning really that much of pain with the pod filters? I will definitely download one of those manuals. I really want to rebuild it since i noticed a leakage in the head gasket. i was reading up on it and noticed that its pretty common.

[flybox1]

Tuning to pods is not difficult, but it is time consuming to get it right without a dyno/gas analyzer.
The 3k maintenance items will cover all the things needed for the bike to run, but with the addition of those pods, you'll want to note the jet sizing inside the carbs, and the 'turns" of the air screw out from lightly seated.
You should be running D8EA plugs.
Pull one of all of them, line them up 1-2-3-4 and snap picture of the tips/ceramic for us. 
Plug color is a good indication of the current state of tune.

[newkidwithbike]

1-2-3-4 left to right. noticed one was wetter than the other cylinder two. im assuming its running rich

[BomberMann650]

you'll need a credit card and a 10mm wrench along with time to fix up old hondas.

[shotty750]

Looks like the bike has already been "cafe'd"

As others suggest, do the 3K tune up and find an airbox to put back on. You'll want the bike in good riding condition first so you can ride and get experience on it before doing any hipster mods to it.

[przjohn]

Looks like a good starting point. The big question is how much do you want to spend? Reason being is there is stuff that you might not be thinking about that could be well suited to your budget. Sometimes money is better spent on mechanical and handling stuff than eye candy. For every budget there is a different path.

[flybox1]

inconclusive: tough to tell if the blackness is carbon, or oil on 3/4 plugs
continue with the 3kmi tuneup items, including a new set of plugs.

(take plug pictures at this angle) your goal is this color (or slightly darker):

[newkidwithbike]

Looks like the bike has already been "cafe'd"

As others suggest, do the 3K tune up and find an airbox to put back on. You'll want the bike in good riding condition first so you can ride and get experience on it before doing any hipster mods to it.

alright i really wanted to keep the pod filters but if the airbox is the easiest route ill do that. and yeah thats a good idea get some experience then add more to the bike

[Gene]

Yes - get the airbox back on so you can see how it's supposed to run first.  Read, read, and read some more, then get to the modifications.

[newkidwithbike]

Looks like a good starting point. The big question is how much do you want to spend? Reason being is there is stuff that you might not be thinking about that could be well suited to your budget. Sometimes money is better spent on mechanical and handling stuff than eye candy. For every budget there is a different path.

i really havent set up a budget seeing as how i really want to keep it till as long as possible. that said my budget really is just not spending alot all at once just pay little by little unless i just have to buy something all at once. but i tottaly agree mechanical is more important.

[riffman12]

good god... that seat 

first step is get/download a good manual. I think it's always nice to have a physical one when working on the bike.

[newkidwithbike]

Everyone I really appreciate all you guys advice and tips. I'm not close to my bike at the moment but I will try to get pictures of the plugs and the electrical there is. And I will order me one of those JIS drivers. The seat is pretty bad. That will be one of my top priorities as safety is my main concern! Thanks again everyone! I knew this forum was the best!

[Stev-o]

First off welcome.  Second, dont believe anything the seller told you, he just wanted to dump the bike!

As far as "what is a good site to buy parts?".. there is no 1 good site to buy all parts for your bike.  Let us know specifically what you need and we can suggest where to find it.  This forum is a great place to get good prices on parts. eBay is good too, but you need to know what you are buying. And the most important advice I will give you:  Dont buy chinese cheapass parts!

[Powderman]

While pods can be tuned to run decently the bike will never make more power with pods than with the original airbag. Those who say they run better have never ridden a properly tuned bike with the airbox. It's been proven on the dyno.

[BomberMann650]

That brake setup deserves priority attention.

[Rob69]

So guys i chose this forum over every other forum because i noticed how helpful you guys and gals can be. So other day i spent some of my hard earned money on something i might or might not regret. Either way i have always wanted a bike like this and so i hope you guys help me in my build process and maybe teach me a thing or too along the way. I know very little about motorcycles but am eager to learn and pick things up pretty decently quick. So here's the bike, 1972 CB350f, in which i heard parts are hard to get a hold of but i have nothing but time. Now my question is what kind of advice or tips can you give me.

These are rare and collectible. Please don't turn it into a cafe racer or a bobber . Restore it to original condition.

Sent from my C6730 using Tapatalk

[newkidwithbike]

Yeah I don't plan to buy cheap knock off parts. Not worth the risk. Ive always liked the look of cafe racer and not that I dislike original but I prefer and much rather have a cafe style.
Here are the pictures flybox.

[newkidwithbike]

Forgot 4

[riffman12]

wow those plugs are really across the board...and a couple are quire rich/oily

is that was pods does?