Well I got this back in 2012 and can finally consistently ride it without fear of getting stranded.I figure its time to start contributing now that I have enough knowledge and seat time to at least try keep up on here!!
I grew up riding a Honda big red three wheeler and snowmobiles so I'm no stranger to small motors but never owned a motorbike before. I have had my licence and been riding for about 10years but always just borrowed my father in laws bikes(he got me hooked on motorbikes, its all his fault
) Ill be the first to admit I was a complete noob when I first got this thing but have been learning quite quickly.
It had about 22000Km on the odometer when I got it and looked pretty scruffy in my really naive opinion, but with a wife and kids and a mortage to pay, the $100 I spent on it seemed about right. I knew I wasn't going to "restore" it so Ill call it a revival.
I was eager to learn so I found this place and joined up and started reading and tinkering as I learned, used the search function as much as I could before asking questions and tried to work on it as often as I could find the time.
I cleaned the carbs, changed the oil, unseized by front brake caliper, and a whole pile of other things. The wiring was hacked up on the right handlebar switch and the ignition so I had to do some learning of the electrics... I was most intimidated by that but circuit by circuit I got it figured out and wired up a replacement ignition and a new start/stop switch.
The tank was rusted so I needed to solve that before I poured any fuel through the cleaned carbs, I read up and tried my hand at electrolysis. That was fun!!
I followed up the electrolysis with toilet bowl cleaner and it actually came out pretty clean!! Good to go with putting gas in it. Got some gas in it and aftrer doing the 3000mile service and some new plugs it roared to life, I was stoked.
From a bike with no key and no idea when it last ran(or if it would run) I got this thing going. I was pretty proud to get it running and that gave me the justification to keep at it and I bought new tires and cleaned up the rims.
New Fork seals and oil
Replaced brake lines with SS braided from Slingshot, new pads+shoes. Also replaced the degraded Carb-airbox rubber boots and clamps. Then got to thinking about paint. The black and red just wasnt doing it for me, along with the cracks and rust spots.
I put a wire wheel on my angle grinder and went after it. I read up alot on proper automotive paint and got it painted and sealed with SprayMax 2K clear. Its not perfect but only I notice the tiny imperfections. I now have another skillset: bodywork and paint.
Got some old 350 tank badges and repainted them and cleared over them too.
Once I was happy with that, I had to do something about the seat. The original one was i think from a 400 Honda and never fit, had no latch, cracked etc. I finally found an F model seat on ebay(quite a task!) and snapped it up. Its not black but I figure I can always change the cover out later.
I ordered a NOS points plate off Evilbay and installed that. Also put on new plug wire and plug caps.
That pretty much brings me where I'm at now. Currently fighting with her running RICH like crazy, pulled the air filter and it runs better, still burning more fuel than it should.
I' m starting to think that the ETHANOL laced fuel may have eaten up my main jet O rings. Off with the carbs for the
time.
