Topic: My first Honda! 74 cb350f

[climber11]

Howdy all,

This is my first post, on my first honda!  I scored an amaizing deal this weekend.  I went to look at this guys 74, he was asking $700.  I thought it might be a little high.  Got there, and low and behold, the paint sucked!  But there was absolutely NO rust anywhere except the spokes.  No surface rust, nothing!  So, I thought, hell yeah.  Then out on the test ride, i notice some oil......and got back and it was a LOT of oil.  I ask the guy if this is normal, and he freaks.  "Oh #$%*, I can't sell you this.."  So, I hem and haw and ask the guy if he wants to part with it anyway, and make him an offer of $350.  He says "sure a dollar per cc".  We then proceeded to get it in my Honda Element, and YES it fit with the doors closed. HA!  So now I have to replace the head gasket, etc.  I planning on looking into the timing chain and tensioner, etc....   So my question is, what performance mods can I make to the intake.  IT has a 4-2 exhaust already, but stock airbox.  Are those filters washable?  K&N's?  I have some carb experience and am not afraid of rejetting, etc...  should I go electronic ignition?  I need ideas!

Thanks,
Scott in Seattle

[Uncle Ernie]

The best way to get more power is to get a bigger bike.
If you read old posts and FAQs, I think you'll see that unless you have more expertise than a Honda engineer, and the ability to hand-carve Chinese puzzle boxes while solving a Rubics Cube with your toes, stock carbs and general set-up is best.
It's a blessing in disguise on the paint; get rid of those stinky stripes and paint the tank one colour and you'll see one of the prettiest tanks there is emerge.



                                                         IMveryHO

[seaweb11]

Congrats on the bike.

Just key in "Pods" to the search box at the top of page for all the info anyone ever wanted or did not want on the subject,
It can be done, but a bigger bike would be easier

[bistromath]

Even a modern 350 is anemic at best. A '70s vintage one isn't exactly going to rip your arms off. Best to appreciate it for its class. That said, it's still a zippy little thing and fun to wind up around town. You can put pod filters and a low-restriction exhaust on it, and then monkey with the carbs to tune it all up, but it'd probably be more rewarding just to clean it up & fix the head gasket and then ride it like you stole it.