Author Topic: Sanity Check -- 175 twins  (Read 1488 times)

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Offline BigJimG

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Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« on: November 12, 2020, 10:22:33 AM »
In the past year, I branched out into the world of the small twins, picking up a CB175 K7, and a CL175 K5. Just recently while browsing Facebook marketplace for parts and more projects I don't need, I stumbled upon an add for a CD175, as well as two different ads for SL175's. Am I insane for thinking about getting a full set? The one SL175 ad is for two of them with spare parts, so I could probably turn around and sell one of them.  (SL prices are kinda insane...)

From what I can tell, they're all clean, complete, and unmolested (including the SL exhausts)
I *Think* I have the room.
I probably have the money (at least it wont put me in a bad spot).
I am not married. (i.e. no bad decision governor).
Christmas is coming and I still have kids to buy stuff for.
I don't know if they're titled or not.

And yes, I realize posting here will probably give me the "of course" answer...

1972ish CB750 Chopper Project
Yet another CB Chopper frame
1972 CL175
1973 CB175
1975 XR75
1975 CB750F
1976 CB750F1
1977 CB750F2
1978 CB750F3  (apparently, now I have a full set...)
1991 XR80

Offline Steve_K

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2020, 10:41:25 AM »
There may be some performance parts available do to vintage racing.  I have heard they are fun to roadrace, if you have that in mind. There was some CB 160's , too I think.  Might get the full set!!!
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76 CB 550, 73CB750, 86 GSX-R750, 16 Slingshot
Old rides:305 Honda, CL350, 74 CB550
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Offline carnivorous chicken

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2020, 11:44:19 AM »
Those 175s (and the 160s) are fun little bikes, but with other bikes around you gotta ask yourself if you'll give them the riding they need to stay running well.

Offline ekpent

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2020, 03:47:37 PM »
If they have a title and original paint and the price is extremely attractive I say go for it. If they don't have a title and are beat to crap and ugly I say save your money for the 'good stuff'. Especially in a down market there are still buyers for quality and its the low and mid level stuff that suffers the most.
  If you get in a jam with a problem on one I have a friend here in Michigan who has restored a couple and knows them well that I could get you in touch with I'm sure.
« Last Edit: November 12, 2020, 03:51:05 PM by ekpent »

Offline BigJimG

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2020, 09:52:26 AM »
It's probably the CD that interests me the most, I haven't really seen that many of them around, plus the price is better.  I agree the 175's are fun little bikes, even at my size.  My middle daughter (14) has expressed her desire to ride regularly once she gets her license, and my son (6) already is tearing up the yard on his Razor 350, so I think I'll have plenty of riders. 
1972ish CB750 Chopper Project
Yet another CB Chopper frame
1972 CL175
1973 CB175
1975 XR75
1975 CB750F
1976 CB750F1
1977 CB750F2
1978 CB750F3  (apparently, now I have a full set...)
1991 XR80

Offline Flyin900

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2020, 07:56:09 PM »
I moved to the smaller displacement bikes recently as I am getting too old for the 200+ pound motors these days. I picked up a 1967 titled CL175 with serial number 802 on the engine. It was a fun bike to restore, yet I sourced NOS parts worldwide to complete the restoration. Too small to ride for me so it has become a rec room trophy. I see it as a great link to the early Honda technology as they started moving up in the bike world.

Common sense.....isn't so common!

1966 CL77 - 305cc - Gentleman's Scrambler
1967 CL175K0 - Scrambler #802 engine
1972 CB350F - Candy Bacchus Olive - Super Sport
1973 CB350F - Flake Matador Red - Super Sport
1975 CB400F - Parakeet Yellow - Super Sport
1976 CB400F - Varnish Blue - Super Sport
1976 GL1000 - Goldwing Standard
1978 CB550K - Super Sport
1981 GL1100 - Goldwing Standard
1982 CM450A - Hondamatic
1982 CB900C - Custom
1983 CX650E - Eurosport
1983 CB1000C - Custom X 2 Bikes now - both restored
1983 CB1100F - Super Sport - Pristine example
1984 GL1200 - Goldwing Standard

Online grcamna2

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2020, 08:24:00 PM »
That's a sweet,little CL175 'Sloper' Flyin900;very nice finished show bike and nice color.  8)
How many miles did you ride it before before putting it inside ?
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2020, 08:54:38 PM »
The 175 is utterly indestructible! I have actually seen it toured at full throttle for 10-hour days, carrying well over 200 lb payloads by a couple of real big guys who rode them to Sturgis from Minnesota, multiple years. The bikes were so loaded they could just make 85 MPH flat-out, and they never broke a sweat doing it. One of the bikes had over 20k miles on it, the other was about half that, the guys were friends. I saw another one like that during another trip, had over 20k on the clock (but you'd never know it to look at it) in a gas station: the owner was riding coast-to-coast on it again (this was in the 70-75 MPH interstate days prior to 1974 and the 55 MPH speed limit thing) for his second time, and planned a third trip: each one was at a different lattitude, a planned 4th was to be across Canada, he said.

I think they are some of the coolest all-purpose city bikes Honda ever made, myself. I'm not sure I would have the courage (or maybe the butt?) to go coast-to-coast 85 MPH on one, but it would be tempting for 'light touring'...
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
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Offline 754

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2020, 09:49:38 PM »
The 67 CL 175 was my first bike.. mine was rough and I customized it.. lol..
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Online grcamna2

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2020, 10:19:31 PM »
That 67' CL175 reminds me a Lot of my 66'(first Real motorcycle)CL77 305, only mine wasn't perfectly restored like this beauty:that was a fun bike.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline rb550four

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2020, 02:29:23 PM »
 I've been finding allot of interest in the 175 . I sold both the 175 s I had to a woman in Boston . She runs road rallies  around here with a sidecar attached to her 175. She said the east coast was an expensive place to get a 175 in any condition but I find them around upstate NY like crazy. They are a little too small for my taste but I can see why folks like them.
    And like BigJimG said there would be those who say of course , get them.  I advocate getting as many as you want , we are only here once .
A few Honda 500's, a few Honda 550's, a few Honda 650's, '72 cb 450, a couple 500/550/650 hybrids, and 2001 750. 
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  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,101678.0.html             
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,137317.msg1550907.html#msg1550907

Offline BigJimG

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2020, 06:40:33 AM »
The CD sold the day I posted this originally, Still waiting on title status on the two SL's.  They're a little more than I want to pay for non-titled bikes...  Maybe that's the universe giving me hints  :D 

I've been finding allot of interest in the 175 . I sold both the 175 s I had to a woman in Boston . She runs road rallies  around here with a sidecar attached to her 175. She said the east coast was an expensive place to get a 175 in any condition but I find them around upstate NY like crazy. They are a little too small for my taste but I can see why folks like them.
    And like BigJimG said there would be those who say of course , get them.  I advocate getting as many as you want , we are only here once .

I'm a little more than I'd like to be over 300 lbs... They're fun because I can wring the everloving crap out of them and never get a speeding ticket.  The big issue I've seen, at least around here, is the previous owners like to strip out the spark plugs. >:( >:( >:(
1972ish CB750 Chopper Project
Yet another CB Chopper frame
1972 CL175
1973 CB175
1975 XR75
1975 CB750F
1976 CB750F1
1977 CB750F2
1978 CB750F3  (apparently, now I have a full set...)
1991 XR80

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2020, 06:34:41 PM »
     And like BigJimG said there would be those who say of course , get them.  I advocate getting as many as you want , we are only here once .

You have to at least get 2 of them: this is a Fours forum, ya know...

You guys are tempting me...
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2020, 01:31:33 PM »
My second bike was an SL175. I loved that bike. My dad liked it enough to pick up a CB175 for himself. The SL was sold back in the late 1990's, but dad held onto the CB until the mid 2000's. I should have bought it from him, but at the time I lived in a condo and didn't have any place to store 2 bikes.
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Offline HondaMan

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Re: Sanity Check -- 175 twins
« Reply #14 on: December 08, 2020, 05:08:55 PM »
My second bike was an SL175. I loved that bike. My dad liked it enough to pick up a CB175 for himself. The SL was sold back in the late 1990's, but dad held onto the CB until the mid 2000's. I should have bought it from him, but at the time I lived in a condo and didn't have any place to store 2 bikes.

Riding the SL version was like flying on a butterfly after coming back from a 7000-mile tour on my 750, with my ex and all that 'stuff' aboard!
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com