Topic: 1971 HONDA CL350 SCRAMBLER

[BenelliSEI]

Local CVMG member has one for sale. Low mileage (17,000), totally original and very clean. He just put new tires on it and is asking about US$2500. Anyone have one of these? Any issues or inherent problems? Photo is the actual bike…… Thanks.

[CycleRanger]

Decent looking example. Hard to find with intact exhaust. Last year with the color matched fork ears and headlight. Good color too. 
$2500 is probably a reasonable price these days.
Here's my '71. Still a work in progress but almost done. Not a Honda factory color any more.

[BenelliSEI]

Decent looking example. Hard to find with intact exhaust. Last year with the color matched fork ears and headlight. Good color too. 
$2500 is probably a reasonable price these days.
Here's my '71. Still a work in progress but almost done. Not a Honda factory color any more.

Thanks for the feedback. I like your colour choice. One of my first bikes was a 1970 Triumph Tiger T100S. Same shade of purple, I think they called “Jakarta Purple”? Curious what speed your CL350 is comfortable cruising at?

[CycleRanger]

Decent looking example. Hard to find with intact exhaust. Last year with the color matched fork ears and headlight. Good color too. 
$2500 is probably a reasonable price these days.
Here's my '71. Still a work in progress but almost done. Not a Honda factory color any more.

Thanks for the feedback. I like your colour choice. One of my first bikes was a 1970 Triumph Tiger T100S. Same shade of purple, I think they called “Jacarda”? Curious what speed the Cl350 is comfortable cruising at?

Well I haven't had mine on the highway yet but they're geared the same as a CB350K and should be fine at 65-70mph I would imagine.
Supposedly they top out around 90.
Imho, the only "weakness" with the 350 twin is top end oiling. A lot of these suffered cam damage from lack of maintenance.
I had to replace the cam in mine but it had been poorly maintained and the head had been off previously for some reason.
Well maintained with regular maintenance they are fine. Honda sold a ton of CB/CL350's and many are still out there and parts are pretty easy to find, except for solid exhausts.
Because the upswept pipes were an afterthought accessing the left air box requires pulling the entire exhaust which is a pain.

[BenelliSEI]

Decent looking example. Hard to find with intact exhaust. Last year with the color matched fork ears and headlight. Good color too. 
$2500 is probably a reasonable price these days.
Here's my '71. Still a work in progress but almost done. Not a Honda factory color any more.

Thanks for the feedback. I like your colour choice. One of my first bikes was a 1970 Triumph Tiger T100S. Same shade of purple, I think they called “Jacarda”? Curious what speed the Cl350 is comfortable cruising at?

Well I haven't had mine on the highway yet but they're geared the same as a CB350K and should be fine at 65-70mph I would imagine.
Supposedly they top out around 90.
Imho, the only "weakness" with the 350 twin is top end oiling. A lot of these suffered cam damage from lack of maintenance.
I had to replace the cam in mine but it had been poorly maintained and the head had been off previously for some reason.
Well maintained with regular maintenance they are fine. Honda sold a ton of CB/CL350's and many are still out there and parts are pretty easy to find, except for solid exhausts.
Because the upswept pipes were an afterthought accessing the left air box requires pulling the entire exhaust which is a pain.

Interesting…..This little CL200 I did a few years ago was just as awkward. The pipes had to come off to install the LH side cover too. Fortunately there wasn’t anything under there that required regular access!

[newday777]

The CL350 is a good little bike, though a bit buzzy at highway speeds.
I bought one in 75 for my 1st wife as her 1st bike to get used to riding on the street. She liked it until she decided that she should have a 550/4.

[jakec]

The tank stripe is in the wrong position, too low. 17k also not that low of miles for a 350 in my opinion. 20k is rebuild time. Still $2500 is not a bad price if it's really clean. I sold mine for $3400 last fall.

[denward17]

John, for reference here is a CL360, not the same but close:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1082398073690327/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Ad1a8916c-2652-4a57-8bc3-51f8d1bb8c72

[CycleRanger]

The tank stripe is in the wrong position, too low. 17k also not that low of miles for a 350 in my opinion. 20k is rebuild time. Still $2500 is not a bad price if it's really clean. I sold mine for $3400 last fall.

Oh wow, you're right, I missed that. The headlight should be orange as well.
So it's been repainted. No wonder the orange looks so good.
And you might be right, after 50+ years the cam chain tensioner rollers (especially the upper one) probably need replaced.

[BenelliSEI]

The CL350 is a good little bike, though a bit buzzy at highway speeds.
I bought one in 75 for my 1st wife as her 1st bike to get used to riding on the street. She liked it until she decided that she should have a 550/4.

My wife is finding the KLR650 a bit intimidating (despite having ridden one for the past 15 years). My grandson is 14 months away from riding on the roads around our farm…… Mmmm.

[seanbarney41]

I had a 70' last summer.  I sold mine that was beautifully patinaed original with 18k for $1900.  Earlier the better for value,  These started in 68?
 And it's fun to find all the parts that are shared with familiar 4 cylinders.  Yeah, unless very very uncommonly well cared for, the top end on these is pretty well cooked by 20kmiles.  The good part is only half as many parts to replace as a 4.   But they are a hoot when they are good.  Actual low end torque from a Honda and if you think the small 4's are fun to flick about...well, these flick even better.  The twin cylinder racket is charming as well.

[HondaMan]

IMHO the run of the CB/CL350 was Honda's greatest triumph before the 750K1 appeared. I had a 1970 version of the CL, my brother had the '72 version (which I bought in the crate and assembled for him). With proper oils (many got less than that) they could run 40k miles at touring speeds, although the CL needed to lose the extra 4 teeth on the rear sprocket to reach the top speeds of the CB version all day long, and the pre-1971 version had a smaller 16mm oil pump (later ones with the 9800 RPM redline have the 19mm oil pump, better for the top end). I liked the upright seating stance of the CL in town, but the CB's forward-lean into the wind was much better on long trips.

My ex didn't appreciate that I could wheelie her cleanly off the back of the CL, with the smaller taillight clipping both her knees on their insides. It did teach her to hold on better, though.

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks guys! I may have to go and have a look. Now that I know, that badly placed tank stripe would have to get reset!

[CycleRanger]

Thanks guys! I may have to go and have a look. Now that I know, that badly placed tank stripe would have to get reset!

Maybe it's just a decal and it hasn't been cleared over.
maybe..

[newday777]

Thanks guys! I may have to go and have a look. Now that I know, that badly placed tank stripe would have to get reset!

Here's how it should be.

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks guys! I may have to go and have a look. Now that I know, that badly placed tank stripe would have to get reset!

Maybe it's just a decal and it hasn't been cleared over.
maybe..

🤞

[Stev-o]

I always wanted a CL, love that exhaust.  But a 450...

[BenelliSEI]

If it ever stops snowing, I may go have a look! It’s almost a three hour drive on a clear day…..

[HondaMan]

I always wanted a CL, love that exhaust.  But a 450...

Those were the ORIGINAL wheelie-machine! I had one of them, in blue. What a rocket in city traffic! It could loft the front wheel from 5K RPM in 1st just for turning the grip.

[Stev-o]

I always wanted a CL, love that exhaust.  But a 450...

Those were the ORIGINAL wheelie-machine! I had one of them, in blue. What a rocket in city traffic! It could loft the front wheel from 5K RPM in 1st just for turning the grip.

A quick search didnt turn up a CL450 but look at this clean 350....

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1972-Honda-CL+350-5035013807

[BenelliSEI]

Nice!

[paul_cb836]

I had the 250 version (a 1969 CB with 10,500 redline in my case) when I was still at school (250 licensing restriction for new riders back then). Because I was young and silly it used to spend a lot of time at 10,000 rpm😀. Had 20,000 miles on it when I traded it in on a CB750. It never missed a beat and ran just as well the day I sold it as when it was new.

[BenelliSEI]

Paul…… I’ve been trading emails with the owner. Thanks for the encouragement! I was looking for something lower for my wife, but not so sure she really wants to. It’s been over a year since we last rode together and she’s in no rush. Not pushing it.

[low-side]

I've had a few 350 twins and I liked them a lot.  Light weight rev happy little guys.  That said, the 360 (had a couple) was a less attractive but much better version with a front disc and a sixth gear which made highway riding much smoother.  You may also want to consider any of the 500 twins from the last 30 years.  They are going to make similar or better power than the KLR with seat heights around 31" and around 400 lbs weight.

[GV1390]

I have it's twin. I've owned this one for 5 years or so and it's been one of the most reliable in the fleet. Mine has an electronic ignition setup which really makes it a breeze to start.