Author Topic: Honda SL350 Improved Much During the 3 Models (Read 16378 times)

bill440cars · « **on:** March 31, 2008, 01:56:57 PM »

Not many folks would even consider an SL350, but the latest model is such an improvement over the 1st one. I posted photos of a couple of SL350K0s a while back and got various comments. This made me wonder if many folks even knew about the fact that (by the last model, the K2, the bike had lost around lbs., swapped the CV carbs for traditional type carbs and lost the electric starter after the first year. Also a 21" front wheel among other things. They also got aluminum fenders). The frame was also changed after the K0. Also changed were the fender mounts, the side covers and the gas tanks. So many changes, it could be interesting and costly to build.

Check out the different ones:

The SL350K0

The SL350K1

The SL350K2

nickjtc · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2008, 07:44:53 PM »

They are nice looking bikes. Kathleen, seawebs wife, rode her 1972 in Motogiro BC last year.

Edit: Oops, sorry, hers is a CL.

bill440cars · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2008, 07:54:12 PM »

Quote from: nickjtc on March 31, 2008, 07:44:53 PM

They are nice looking bikes. Kathleen, seawebs wife, rode her 1972 in Motogiro BC last year.

Edit: Oops, sorry, hers is a CL.

Nick, her's may be a Cl, but a fine CL it is!

nickjtc · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2008, 08:25:24 PM »

Quote from: bill440cars on March 31, 2008, 07:54:12 PM

Nick, her's may be a Cl, but a fine CL it is!

I like it a lot, too. It's the look I'm aiming for when I (finally) get my '68 175 back on the road as a CB/CL hybrid.

kghost · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2008, 08:40:45 PM »

Tease $:-\$

bill440cars · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2008, 09:19:36 PM »

Quote from: kghost on March 31, 2008, 08:40:45 PM

Tease $:-\$

Not intentially, but I did wonder how long it would take you to notice this Tim.

Take care, Bill

nickjtc · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2008, 09:49:38 PM »

I'm interested that Honda gave the bike off road pretensions, but kept the low mount exhausts until the end. Yamaha realised pdq that a low slung exhaust on the first XT500 wasn't going to last long, and then raised it for the rest of the history of the bike...

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2008, 01:24:05 AM »

Talk about perfect timing! Yesterday night I watched "The omega man" starring Charlton Heston, and guess which bike did he use to escape.... a blue SL350K1.

DarkRider · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2008, 01:34:13 AM »

Im thinking that an SL350 would lend itself well to a Street Tracker conversion given its simularities to the Yamaha XS650 with its general design and layout of the engine and exhaust...

bill440cars · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2008, 04:27:15 AM »

Quote from: DarkRider on April 01, 2008, 01:34:13 AM

Im thinking that an SL350 would lend itself well to a Street Tracker conversion given its simularities to the Yamaha XS650 with its general design and layout of the engine and exhaust...

Now THERE'S an idea!

Take care, Bill

DarkRider · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2008, 04:43:38 AM »

heh..put an idea in your head for one of your SLs there bill?

bill440cars · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2008, 09:14:07 AM »

Quote from: DarkRider on April 01, 2008, 04:43:38 AM

heh..put an idea in your head for one of your SLs there bill?

Hmmmmmm. Could be!

Maybe a slightly different style of a Tracker.

We'll see.

Wingmonk · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2008, 04:28:33 PM »

I rode a stock K1 SL from Omaha NE to Park Rapids MN. in about 1974. I was an idiot as a teen but its one trip I will always remember. I had to take all secondary roads and my cruising speed with stock sprockets was 47 mph.
If I remember correctly, the CB/CL had larger valves and totally different carbs that produced about 36 hp. The SL had slider carbs with a bit smaller valves and produced I think about 24 hp. It was also a 180 degree crankshaft parallel twin. All the 350's were.
Only the K0 SL had electric start too. K1 through K3 were very similar cept the K1 had the best look in my opinion. Well, I am biased as I really loved the SL and wore out three K1's.

The Yamaha 650 engine is a tandem twin with a 0/360 degree crankshaft. The 650 was very similar to the great British machines with Hitachi electrics that actually worked good. Bearings where it was needed too.

If I remember correctly the 650 engine was designed in England and Yamaha bought out that company tho someone may know more about that. It sure feels and sounds British.

I wish someone would make the SL again. I would love to find another!

Bob in Colorado

bill440cars · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2008, 06:17:23 PM »

Say Bob, good to hear from another former SL350 owner. Some things I didn't remember you saying was that the K0 had CV carbs, the frame was redesigned for the better (K1 & K2), Aluminum fenders were added for the K2 (not sure about K1) and the K2 got a 21" front wheel. As things progressed, the SL started loosing weight too! Honda was trying to make it survive and finally gave in to release the XL250 & then the XL350. I've got a K0 that I hope will eventually be a restored model and a couple of K2s that will most likely become 1 decent (but not restored) SL350K2. The 2nd one doesn't have an SL motor, but I DO have a CL350 motor that I could use in it. I have thought of getting me an SL case to put the guts in. I've seen SL350K1 & K2 cases on ebay for fair prices and if I try to get one, it will probably sky rocket!

Thanks for your input.

Take care, Bill

bill440cars · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2008, 06:59:16 PM »

Quote from: Wingmonk on April 20, 2008, 04:28:33 PM

The Yamaha 650 engine is a tandem twin with a 0/360 degree crankshaft. The 650 was very similar to the great British machines with Hitachi electrics that actually worked good. Bearings where it was needed too.

If I remember correctly the 650 engine was designed in England and Yamaha bought out that company tho someone may know more about that. It sure feels and sounds British.

I wish someone would make the SL again. I would love to find another!

Bob in Colorado

Actually, Yamaha built their own motors. I remember reading about the 650 coming out and I thought, a 4-stroke! Then, as I read on, I found that Yamaha had actually built a motor for Toyota's 200GT just previous to the 650 coming out. Now, since we're now talking about the British looking Japanese bikes, have you ever seen one of the Kawasaki W1, W1SS or W2 ?

Wingmonk · « **Reply #15 on:** April 21, 2008, 12:41:52 AM »

Wow. never seen such a Kawasaki like that. Now that looks British! Sometimes we all forget all the contributions from England. I always loved the "feel" and frame rigidity on their machines. Sadly, all I ever owned was the BSA 441 shooting star? and never got used to right hand shift. Or Lucas electrics..
Always drooled over their big twins tho.

bill440cars · « **Reply #16 on:** April 21, 2008, 04:57:33 AM »

Quote from: Wingmonk on April 21, 2008, 12:41:52 AM

Wow. never seen such a Kawasaki like that. Now that looks British! Sometimes we all forget all the contributions from England. I always loved the "feel" and frame rigidity on their machines. Sadly, all I ever owned was the BSA 441 shooting star? and never got used to right hand shift. Or Lucas electrics..
Always drooled over their big twins tho.

Yeah, I always thought the Kawa looked like a BSA motor myself. Some folks have taken the Yamaha SR500 and given it the BSA Gold Star look. It's kinda funny, but I never had a problem with the shift thing. My Jawas had the shift on the left and the few others that I've ridden, back in the 60's, had the shift on the right. But, that's just me.

Did you check out the thread I posted about folks talk about Triumphs , but what about BSA?" Got some photos in a brochure.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2012, 05:57:58 PM »

Hey Bill, want to part with any of your 350's?

grcamna2 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2012, 12:01:41 PM »

My CB350K4 twin fit's into my life real Nice

great machine !

dhall57 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2012, 07:36:33 AM »

Always like the style and look of the SL350. Never had one dank it, but I had it's little brother a 1971 SL175. I remember riding with a group of guys one time and one had a SL350. Of road and trail riding my little light weight and nimble SL175 could eat his lunch, but once we left the woods and hit the asphalt all I remember is seeing his taillight get smaller and smaller.

Killer Canary · « **Reply #20 on:** March 26, 2012, 10:17:30 AM »

I don't know why a two-cylinder dirt bike, but all dual purpose spend more time on pavement than dirt so Honda, in their pragmatic way probably wanted it to be better on the road than off. Are they actually a fairly competent play-bike Bill? Whichever way, you get that solid engine and frame. I have new-found respect for my 350 after this week-end; check out my post above.

bjatwood · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2012, 05:59:01 AM »

Here's a pic of a SL350 I "found" in Omaha last summer. It was a 1 owner bike with just 2,200 miles on her. Was stored in a climate controlled basement and was primarily used as a chase bike in the early 70's for the owners drag racing HEMI Cuda he ran at NHRA events. Scored it for just over 2K!
Deal of the year for me....

grcamna2 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2012, 10:14:09 AM »

He kept that SL350 in pristine condition by the look of it

,Nice find !

bjatwood · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2012, 12:44:31 PM »

It's a very nice example for sure. My Buddy from Cyprus, TX just HAD to have so he made me a offer I couldn't refuse.....

grcamna2 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2012, 01:35:20 PM »

Oh No..& before you've even logged miles on it? I hope he lets you run it around a while

.

bjatwood · « **Reply #25 on:** March 28, 2012, 02:03:52 PM »

O he told me I could ride it whenever I could get down to his place in Texas! LOL

grcamna2 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 28, 2012, 02:38:34 PM »

I imagine he'll put it to true "SL" use driving it a long way in the dirt ?

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Author Topic: Honda SL350 Improved Much During the 3 Models (Read 16378 times)

Wingmonk

Wingmonk