Topic: Greetings from Los Angeles - DTLA

[Kevallino]

Hi all

Just picked up my '74 CB350F about a week ago - been looking for the right one for a bit as a "match" for my wife's '73 CB125 for around town.  We have two other pairs of 'his-n-hers' motorcycles (Yamahas) but the 125 is her first bike and we like the small ones for just bashing around the city.

This one has low-ish miles (odometer says just over 4,900) but clearly has been in the weather - chrome is pretty tired and the paint has faded, but it seems to run pretty well so it can be a bit of a rolling project for me.  All I've done so far is put some mirrors on it - gotta have 'em in LA traffic - but I've found nice used front and rear fenders and taillight housing and am scouring eBay and craigslist for other used shiny bits.  Did break down and pick up repro CB400 bars as I want to change the factory ones ASAP, but generally trying to use OEM parts where I can.  The hunt is part of the fun.

Speaking of - I could really use a left side cover, mine is cracked...

Exhaust is pretty loud and it will get changed for 4-into-4 eventually but in the meantime I get to go through the 2nd Street Tunnel here in DTLA and make a bunch of noise.

Here's a couple of photos - really enjoy this one a lot already. 

Cheers
Kevin

[tool14]

welcome aboard

[newday777]

Welcome aboard Kevin.
That looks to be a fine running project and a fun ride too.
Is the sandwich shop still across from the downtown LA train station? They had the best horseradish mustard for their pastrami sandwich!

[MD]

Welcome from NE MN,

-MD

[dusterdude]

Welcome

Sent from my LM-X420 using Tapatalk

[WhyNot2]

Welcome from Georgia.......nice bike.

I have one, yet to be able to ride it......some day though.

[wolf550]

hello from Orange County

that 350 looks pretty nice! there was a guy selling a 350 not too far near los angeles for 700 bucks obo. you could use it as a donor bike for your parts. also check the for sale on 350 side covers. I think K7steppy was selling a set.

[wolf550]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,185310.0.html

here it was. check to see if they are still available

[carnivorous chicken]

These are great bikes for zipping around town. Nice score.

[Kevallino]

Welcome aboard Kevin.
That looks to be a fine running project and a fun ride too.
Is the sandwich shop still across from the downtown LA train station? They had the best horseradish mustard for their pastrami sandwich!

Philippe's is still there - been there for like 100 years and still cranking out the French dips!

hello from Orange County

that 350 looks pretty nice! there was a guy selling a 350 not too far near los angeles for 700 bucks obo. you could use it as a donor bike for your parts. also check the for sale on 350 side covers. I think K7steppy was selling a set.

I saw that 700 dollar bike on craigslist - from the pictures I didn't see anything nicer than what's on mine already and while I get free motorcycle parking in our building (nice since we have 6 bikes  ) I don't have anywhere to put a parts bike. 

And thanks for the link to the side covers - I saw them on eBay but only really need the left one so managed to pick up a different eBay one for just the left side that's now on its way.

Thanks for the welcome!

Cheers
Kevin

[newday777]

I tried to remember the name.... Yes Philippe's is the best. It's been about 10 years since I rode up there for lunch and yes they've been there a long time even reducing and giving food away during the depression years.

[Davez134]

Welcome from Las Vegas. Nice bike!

[HondaMan]

Nice 350F! That was the same color that Sochiro Honda rode, and it was the only bike he bought from his own company, according to a young Japanese guy here (Axel) who has his own custom shop today. He grew up working on the Honda production lines 1972-1978 before graduating school and coming here. He said Sochiro would ride his green 350F right up to the production lines in his white coveralls, tools in his pockets, and work on the bike right alongside the workers.

I have a red one...