Topic: cb350 bobber/rat inspired bike, new pics 10/17/09

[Pete T]

a few days ago, when i started stripping the paint off, i saw a small crack in the bottom of the frame, i was bummed out but thought to myself "no big deal ill just weld it up" I started welding it and right away started blowing holes in the frame, so then i decided to patch it up, got some pipe and fitted it over the crack and started welding the pipe on, after i started welding that i realized that the entire bottom part of the frame is very close to being rusted throughm because i was blowing hole everywhere i was welding, so as i carefully welded up that piece i saw another crack and then another.. anyway you get the idea, looks like some water got down to the frame and started rusting the bike from inside.. soo what do you guys think.. is the frame salvageble? is there anything I can do to make it safe to ride? i doubt it myself but though i would get a second opinion.. it looks like i might have to pick up another frame : (    so i was wondering which other hondas have the same engine points and similar frame? cb400, cb550? my bike is a twin btw, so maybe a cb450 or cb400 ?

[MosquitoJones]

i also didnt like the headlight that came with my bike, it was too big, so i got this one, not sure what its from though, its got Lucas Motorcyle England written on it, soo maybe a triumph? i dont know but it looks pretty cool, got a huge dent in it though

Oh dear god, run away now.

[martino1972]

yeah,I would not trust that frame...!!!!!!!!!   if she is weak there,she will be weak somewhere else too.....don't risk your life on it...get another one..........

[HavocTurbo]

Where do you live pete.... I could probably fix it.

[Pete T]

Where do you live pete.... I could probably fix it.

hah, very far away, san francisco... how would you fix something like that if you dont mind sharing?

[Pete T]

i also didnt like the headlight that came with my bike, it was too big, so i got this one, not sure what its from though, its got Lucas Motorcyle England written on it, soo maybe a triumph? i dont know but it looks pretty cool, got a huge dent in it though

Oh dear god, run away now.

hahah, what? please elaborate?

[MosquitoJones]

Lucas is world-famous for their #$%*ty electronics.  You can find Lucas jokes all over the internet, such gems as:

"The three-position Lucas switch--SMOKE, SMOLDER, and IGNITE."

"The original anti-theft devices--Lucas Electric products."

"If Lucas made guns, wars would not start either."

And my personal favorite:

"During the 1970's, Lucas diversified its product line and began manufacturing vacuum cleaners. It was the only product Lucas ever offered which didn't suck."

[78CB750CAFE]

Maybe you could appease Joseph Lucas, the Prince of Darkness with some sort of blood sacrifice?

I love the quote attributed to him (real or not, I don't know) when he was asked about the performance of his lighting products, and he stated that no decent person would ride a motorbike after dark.

Loose
Unsoldered
Connections
And
Splices

[Pete T]

hah thats funny, well it fits the bike and i think it looks good, i dont plan to use the wiring from it, only the casing..
anyway i found another cb350 at a local junkyard, it pretty much complete and only $75, just have to make sure it doesnt have any backfees.

[Pete T]

worked on the bike over the summer, didnt have much time but definately made some progress... havent posted in a while though, the donor $75 bike turned out to have a rebuilt motor, wired it up, put oil in it, rebuilt carbs, new plugs and whooallla it started. had a problem with the coil though, one side did not fire, and the bike was running on only one cylinder.. got another set of coils.. was getting spark in both plugs, and now i think its not firing one side again.. the same side coil looks to be burned up again..what kind of wiring problem could cause this?  anyway still need to make the seat and get some rear struts( seat in the picture and hardtail struts are just temporary), the seat pan i made from fiberglass. also made a new set of bars aswell. cut the front springs about 1" (dont know if that was such a great idea)
     thanks for looking
        -Pete

[Industrial Rat400f Killer]

Nice, can we git a straight on side pic?

[kerryb]

I liked the original bars better, was the reach too far?

A good source of seat foam is a higher-density closed-cell polyurethane foam sold as a sleeping pad at the local camping store.  Got mine for ten bucks...enough foam for several seats.  Shaping is easy with a random-orbit sander and 80 grit paper.  Glue together with contact cement.

Good choice on the tank.  Bike looks good.