Author Topic: Crash course in the CL?  (Read 1839 times)

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Offline Ecosse

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Crash course in the CL?
« on: November 11, 2008, 12:11:20 AM »
Lately I've become increasingly aware of these smaller cc Hondas, especially the CL, and they're beginning to grow on me lake a wart. Anyone care to give a quick breakdown and tell me what I'm looking at in these pix? If you squint you can see the Honda in the last image.
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Offline dustyc

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2008, 01:11:52 AM »
That's great. I guess no helmet law in her state.

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Offline Shenanigans

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2008, 01:28:43 AM »
I have a street legal 1970 SL. Its a small thumper and I doubt you would want to go that small but the smaller CC bikes are seriously a blast to ride on the street. To me it felt like riding around on a bicycle and for surface streets its nimbleness cant be beaten for the fun factor. Its odd that bikes like that make things like divided medians disappear  ;D
   This pretty much sums it up.   76' CB592 cafe. 69 750 project, 03 CBR954, 75 750 super sport.

Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2008, 07:41:03 AM »
Isn't the last pic from the movie "Vanishing Point"?

Offline Bodain

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2008, 08:06:46 AM »
About 7 months ago.  I started thinking along the same lines, mostly driven by the cost of gas. CB 750's are very cool. I just like them, but given the fact that I have a modern inline 4 rocket. The old CB 750 is kind of a old redundant thing. I like multiple bikes, but I like them to be different. Thus all the large displacement old bikes were sold...

New passion...  Small displacement. Yes the cafed 1976 Honda 125 Supersport will only go about 60 mph tops and thats fine.  I dig it.
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Offline mlinder

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2008, 08:45:49 AM »
Bunch of info here:

http://hondatwins.com/resources.html

And the hondatwins.net forum.
No.


Offline bender01

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2008, 08:49:28 AM »
I regret selling mine Especially after finding this site and realizing I probably hadnt cleaned the carbs well enough! The pic looks good but it had sat near the saltwater for many years and it showed up close.I would have another one 68-70 in a second if the chance presented itself.
« Last Edit: November 11, 2008, 08:52:11 AM by bender01 »
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Offline kirkn

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2008, 10:30:44 AM »
...so to answer your question:

mid-60s 305 scrambler.  Forget what the actual designation was - CL72?  CL77?

late-60s 125.  CL125

home-made CL400.  Made from a CB400F to look like a scrambler.  Kewl.

late 60s CL350.  Early 70s models didn't have the 2-tone tanks.

Yep, I've always been into the smaller cc bikes.  Sold my 78 750K8 for that very reason.

I'm building a cafe'd SL125, too.  Should be neat.

Kirk

Offline dusterdude

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2008, 11:08:29 AM »
That's great. I guess no helmet law in her state.


dusty,if all you can say about that is no helmet law,you have issues my man.
mark
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2008, 11:23:23 AM »
Here's mine.

Offline Ecosse

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #10 on: November 11, 2008, 11:52:10 AM »
Thanks all: Seaweb11, nice bike; kirkn, thanks much for the breakdown; mlinder, I completely forgot about that forum, thanks; GG, right you are!

Sorry for the screwy use of punctuation.... don't really care though. ;D
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2008, 02:41:42 PM »
  kirkn said:
mid-60s 305 scrambler.  Forget what the actual designation was - CL72?  CL77?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
       Hey Kirk, the 305 was the CL77 and the 250 was the CL72. Just helping out on that part. ;)

                 Looking to see the progress on the SL125 8)


                                     Take care, Bill ;)                 
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #12 on: November 11, 2008, 02:50:57 PM »


       BTW guys, in this photo, the last bike  (fartherest away) is a Hawk or Super Hawk. The nest to the last is a Dream (CA) not sure what size though. The 3rd from the last is another Hawk or Super Hawk
The 1st one is a CL77 305 Scrambler and the 2nd from the front is a CL72 250 Scrambler.  Just trying to assist here.





     
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PRAYERS ALWAYS FOR: Bre, Jeff & Virginia, Bear, Trevor & Brianna ( Close Friend's Daughter)
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Offline Ecosse

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #13 on: November 11, 2008, 02:57:27 PM »
So Bill, what I wonder is what are some tell tale signs of what is what? I dunno if I'd ever get one (who knows, right?) but I am intrigued by Honda's family tree. What's the relationship between the Hawk/SuperHawk and the small CB/CL?

Thanks again mlinder for the Honda twin forum reminder; it's been helpful. Anyone have a close up of the wing emblem on the early CL?
« Last Edit: November 11, 2008, 03:08:59 PM by Ecosse »
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Offline kirkn

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #14 on: November 11, 2008, 03:50:37 PM »
CA is the street bike with the heavily valanced fenders and the pressed steel leading-link front fork.  aka Dream.

CB is the 'normal' street bike ('normal fenders, normal fork)

CL is the scrambler styling - upswept pipes, psuedo-off-road capable.

72 is the designation for a 250cc machine.  CB72 is a Hawk.  77 is for a 305cc machine.  CB77 is a Super Hawk.

There's also a 150cc Dream aka Benly.

There's also a 160cc version of the CB & the CL.

Dreams (and the Benly) have a single carb.  The CB's and CL's have two carbs.

That should get you going... 

Offline Ecosse

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #15 on: November 11, 2008, 04:49:49 PM »
That's great, thanks kirkn!!

I feed off of this sort of thing.
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #16 on: November 11, 2008, 09:29:36 PM »
  Really good clarification there Kirk.  Like to go a little further, if you don't mind. ;)

       If you'll look at the rear fender on the 1st bike in this photo and compare it to the rear fender on the 2nd bike, you'll notice quite a difference with the CL77 being more full. The CL engines are mounted within the frame, whereas the CB engines are hung in the frame (making the engines part of the frame). Within the 250 & 305 line of engines, there are what's called the "Type 1 & the Type 2" engines. The Type 1 engine has 2 sets of point, 2 ignition coils and a 180 degree crankshaft. Where the Type 2 engine has 1 set of points, 1 ignition coil and a 360 degree crankshaft. Like Kirk said, the CA engines have 1 carburetor and the CB along with the CL engines have 2 carburetors. The kick starter on the CB72 & 77 engines, kicks forward and down. All the others operate like a traditional kicker. To the best of my knowledge, the CL72 &  77 are the only ones of that style of engine, that don't come equipped with an electric starter ( the crankshaft isn't even drilled with the oil passage to lube the starter clutch on the crankshaft (if you were to put the setup on a CL engine, the starter clutch with burn up with a lack of oil.).  Hope I have helped and not hindered. ;) 
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PRAYERS ALWAYS FOR: Bre, Jeff & Virginia, Bear, Trevor & Brianna ( Close Friend's Daughter)
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Offline Ecosse

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #17 on: November 11, 2008, 11:50:29 PM »
Thanks Bill! Like I said before I love this kind of stuff. It's like tracing a family tree.

Another question, my buddy has a 1980 CM450, (and a couple of CM 400's) and wonder if there's any relationship between that 450 twin and these older twins. Besides the parentage that is. Have those engines any potential?
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Crash course in the CL?
« Reply #18 on: November 12, 2008, 05:57:03 AM »
Thanks Bill! Like I said before I love this kind of stuff. It's like tracing a family tree.

Another question, my buddy has a 1980 CM450, (and a couple of CM 400's) and wonder if there's any relationship between that 450 twin and these older twins. Besides the parentage that is. Have those engines any potential?

          Those later model engines are totally different from the older engines. There is no relation between the CM450 and the 450 DOHC engines. As far as potential is concerned, I figure that there should be some potential, but I have no input o the newer ones at all. :(
Member # 1969
PRAYERS ALWAYS FOR: Bre, Jeff & Virginia, Bear, Trevor & Brianna ( Close Friend's Daughter)
"Because HE lives, I can Face Tomorrow"                  
 You CAN Teach An Old Dog New Tricks, Just Takes A Little Bit Longer & A Lot More Patience!! 
             
Main Rides: '02 Durango, '71 Swinger & Dad's '93
                  Dakota LE 4x4 '66 CB77 & '72 SL350K2
Watch What You Step Into, It Could  End Up A Mess!