Topic: New Toy! 1971 CL450

[slikwilli420]

My dad saw this at a sale more than a week ago. Not sure how it had not sold in that time, although the guy said people tried to buy the pipes off of it more than once. He was asking $400 when he talked to my dad, and the price was down to $300 when I bought it. You just don't find complete and original bikes of this era under a grand in this area unless you get damn lucky.

Here it is when we checked it out:



Home in the stable:



The plan is to refresh without destroying patina. The tank has one dent that I wan to get taken care of, and maybe some light buffing to bring up the shine, but no repainting of anything.

The cables need to be replaced, and I will find the correct gray ones if possible for clutch and brake, and I need to straighten out the clutch lever a bit.

All of the chrome looks pretty good but I want to make sure to sympathetically clean it and protect it, so nothing abrasive. I have heard that guys will run a little 2 cycle oil in the gas to keep the pipes slightly oiled on the inside, so I may try that. The pipes look to be in excellent condition and will need only minor clean up to be awesome, same goes for the fenders and wheels.

I need to come up with an air box and a new set of rear signals. The housings have wear marks from some sort of luggage rack and it would be nice to have an unmolested set. It has an el cheapo battery in it right now that will get replaced just for reliable e-starting.

I did hear the bike start up and it ran about 15 seconds, in that time I heard a nice 450 engine and nothing more, which is a relief. Turns out it wouldnt run long since one of the gas lines was split, so that will get taken care of right away. I think going through the periodic maintenance will get this thing running perfectly, then the rest is elbow grease.

I have wanted one of these since I read the article on a '68 model in Motorcycle Classics a few years ago, and really look forward to getting this one going strong again.

[jgger]

Very nice find, congratulations.

[rocket johnny]

great score !   i've always wanted one

[ekpent]

 Good one Matt. I must be slippin' on my garage sale pickin'    I like that color. Did you get a title also ? Looks like a great little winter project and always remember the 450 Honda was the "most impressive bike Honda ever built" or so I read on here once 

[tbpmusic]

Ah, the "Most Impressive Honda" of Forum lore......
Did it have a title??

[slikwilli420]

Clean Michigan title in hand. Im going to the SOS this week (probably Friday) to pay my tax and get her in my name. The ergos on this bike feel like its more CB550 or bigger in size, and the 450 engine makes good enough power, so Im looking forward to its status as around-town cruiser next year. Might even teach the Mrs. to ride, but it may be a bit tall for her. I just printed the manual for periodic maintenance so will get that started after Barber in early October. So much to do!! The racer will need some love in the off season (not much though), my sons Z50 needs few things for next year (he will be 4 in February), my Trail 90 needs to get sorted (official pit bike at the races), and this new honey needs to get up and running so its worth insuring for next year. My off-season filled up quick!!!

[754]

 Hmm can't see the pics.
 I should have an NOS tach cable in grey.  Big knuled ring on it to attach.,

[MoMo]

Cannot see photos either but it is a legendary bike, being the most impressive Honda ever made.  I have a soft spot for them, having owned at least 8 or so....Larry

[jgger]

Let's see if this works.

[754]

It works, great deal that bike..

[Mr. Mike]

Nice find Slik!
Got yerself a nice project with all the pieces too! At least it appears that way.

[02z06dave]

Thats a really good deal for that. The hard cable to find will be the front brake. They had the brake switch built into the cable, but none of the new replacements have it.

[slikwilli420]

Thats a really good deal for that. The hard cable to find will be the front brake. They had the brake switch built into the cable, but none of the new replacements have it.

Looks like I can get all the grey cables for around $150, which includes front brake, tach, speedo, clutch and throttle. What does one do to fix the front brake switch issue?

[02z06dave]

Thats a really good deal for that. The hard cable to find will be the front brake. They had the brake switch built into the cable, but none of the new replacements have it.

Looks like I can get all the grey cables for around $150, which includes front brake, tach, speedo, clutch and throttle. What does one do to fix the front brake switch issue?

At some point they switched to the switch at the brake lever. I dont recall off hand when that was, that might even be how yours is, if youre lucky. If not, you could try to find a right control with the built in switch. Or try to rig up an aftermarket switch. You could go with no switch for the front since you have one at the rear, (this is how the early/mid 60s bikes were from the factory. Of course, you could also get lucky and find an nos cable with the built in switch. I saw one once for like 200.

Personally, if yours works, id just lube it up and not replace it.  It would fit better with the patina of the bike anyways

[tbpmusic]

Clean Michigan title in hand.

Then you stole it, dude.........
Tach cable is the hard one to find. CB500T used the same cable, but it was black on that bike. If you have an old one with good fittings, you can get a cable made.
350/450 use the same clutch cable (different fittings where it enters the sprocket cover).
Front cable can be dealt with - you can drill out the lever clamp to accept one of the little push-type switches easy enough. Or just run without it, as mentioned.

[slikwilli420]

All the cables are available in grey just as the originals. I don't mind fitting new cables for peace of mind and would rather that than snap a 40 year old brake cable. I am going to just clean up everything that is there, even hate to replace the chain unless necessary.

[slikwilli420]

Week 10 of quarantine has me working on everything I can get my hands on. Now all my energy is dedicated to this beast after sitting in the shed for well over a hear. Of course I cannot leave well enough alone, so after discovering that the clutch actuator was destroyed (originally thought I snapped the cable) the revival began.

This one will get most of its use as a pit bike at the races, with occasional around town rides. Insurance in Michigan is stupid expensive so I may keep it off the road until next year.

I decided to go through each system and make sure that everything was safe and ready to jump on and ride. I removed the entire front and rear ends and did the following:

Front end:
Fork seals and oil
New fork gators
Painted top/bottom triple trees and swapped in tapered neck bearings
All new cables: throttle, brake, speedo, tach, clutch
OEM grips and levers
Wheel bearings
Brakes cleaned and serviced
Derusted and polished fender

Rear:
New chain/sprockets
Serviced rear brake
Painted replacement swingarm (original had 2 big holes drilled in the main tubes)
New bronze pivot bushings and shock bushings
Derusted and polished rear fender
Paint and clean tail light

I also pulled the original seat cover to do a few fixes on some cracked seams, so I also painted the pan and got some new rivets for the seat sides. With some vinyl dressing to shine it up, it looks almost new!

Evaporust has been the real MVP in this project. I have used it on everything and even on oxidized Cad plating it helps it really shine and look great. The inside of the fenders were extra crusty and now totally rust free.

Up next is a full engine service, install battery box and new battery, the it should be time to ride!!

Apologies for the total lack of pictures on this one. I get on a roll doing a project and its hours before I pull my phone out to take pics.

The day I picked it up:


Partially derusted fender:


As she sits now:

[MauiK3]

Cool find!!

[Stev-o]

Nice bike! Love the looks of the front drum brake...

[grcamna2]

Good one Matt. I must be slippin' on my garage sale pickin'    I like that color. Did you get a title also ? Looks like a great little winter project and always remember the 450 Honda was the "most impressive bike Honda ever built" or so I read on here once 

Absolutely 

[grcamna2]

Hmm can't see the pics.
 I should have an NOS tach cable in grey.  Big knuled ring on it to attach.,

I can't view the pics either..

Ok,
I love that blue(71'?)CL,very nice pipes on that Gem 

[bill440cars]

     It IS nice, to see a 450, get the treatment that you have lined up for it. Sometimes, I have seen 450s bought, stripped & cafe'd, which (of course) is up to the person who forked out the cash to get it. And I'm not nocking that route, but, it sure is good to see one get the 'Revival" treatment, as they are Fine Looking Rides, as Honda built them. Be looking to see more on this one.

           

[grcamna2]

All the cables are available in grey just as the originals. I don't mind fitting new cables for peace of mind and would rather that than snap a 40 year old brake cable. I am going to just clean up everything that is there, even hate to replace the chain unless necessary.

That is one sweet survivor 

[MauiK3]

Is that a 70 in the background?

[grcamna2]

Is that a 70 in the background?

That CT90? I had a 71',looks like that.