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Author Topic: Forum Newb  (Read 1451 times)

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steve.m

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Forum Newb
« on: July 02, 2009, 01:50:42 PM »
Hello there SOHC4 gearheads!! 

I'm new to the forum and, as such, will have a very massive slew of questions for you.  I started asking questions over on sport-touring.net and was referred over here.  For those of you who might be interested, here's the link to the thread over there... http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,41245.0.html

For the rest of you who don't care to follow links, here's the scoop:

My dad had an old cb350 four and it's in serious disrepair.  The bike (in it's current condition) has inverted forks, a windjammer, highway pegs attached to an engine guard and all kinds of little doo-dads bolted on (i don't consider them farkles since i don't like them  :D).  I have been informed that Honda never built a touring package for the 350f and as such, all these add ons are aftermarket.  Unless, of course, my dad was right and it's a "rare" bike.

There's rust and corrosion on the steel / aluminum bits and it doesn't run.  I've been warned it's not worth fixing but I forsee it making an excellent mini cafe racer.  Don't plan to cut things up, keep everything bolt on and set the extra bits aside in a box labeled 350 F stuff.  Anyone here with me?

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Offline MJL

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2009, 01:59:42 PM »
Welcome! There are a lot of very knowledgeable people here. You might as well post a picture before someone asks for it  :D   I wouldn't say it's not worth fixing, I have seen much worse brought back to life. As long as there is no internal engine damage (broken rods, rusty cylinders or such) it will probably fire right up with a fresh battery, gas and oil.

Also, check out the project shop forum, lots of guys here build cafes.
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Offline DollarBill

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2009, 02:02:54 PM »
Welcome aboard.  I'm with ya......but we are going to need pics.....lots of pics....  

If you search over in the project shop you will find all kinds of good inspiration from folks that have restored or cafe'd their 350F's. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?board=103.0

The tech forum, where we are now, is a great place for one-off tech type questions or problems.  If you are going to document your build then the project shop is where you will want to start.

This is a fantastic forum with lots of folks with incredible knowledge of these old bikes and a willingness to help.  I have a 350f project that I will tackle after I finish my 750.  Mine is in very poor shape and was made into an off road 3-wheeler.  I call it The Abomination!  Good luck with yours!
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Offline DollarBill

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2009, 02:06:44 PM »
Seems myself and MJL had the same thought process going.... :)

Oh yeah...the person that told you it wasn't worth fixing was probably hoping you would agree and offer it to them for free.  :D  Quite a few people here have taken seized engines and rust bucket bikes and turned them back into good runners that double as pieces of artwork.
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1955 BMW R25/3, 1966 Honda CA160, 1975 CB400f, 1975 CB550, 1976 CB550

Offline HavocTurbo

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2009, 02:18:23 PM »
Quote from: DollarBill on July 02, 2009, 02:06:44 PM
Seems myself and MJL had the same thought process going.... :)

Oh yeah...the person that told you it wasn't worth fixing was probably hoping you would agree and offer it to them for free.  :D  Quite a few people here have taken seized engines and rust bucket bikes and turned them back into good runners that double as pieces of artwork.

And that is the cream of the crop for restoring these old bikes. Anyone who can do that.... most likely will be found here.

It's a great place to be.  ;D
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steve.m

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2009, 02:45:24 PM »
well a bit more of a backstory...

According to my mom, it "conked out" a couple times and then was parked for the 25 years in the barn until my recent interest in it.  She says my grandfather had it looked at by a bike mechanic (dood in question who said it was beyond repair) and it continued to sit.

Could just be needing a points adjustment, could need to be completely torn down and have the top end worked over.  I have no idea.  If ebay has shown me one thing, it's that parts are easy to come by and cheap to be had.
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Offline medic09

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2009, 03:00:45 PM »
Hey Steve, glad to see you made it over here.  You won't be sorry.  What little I know and have succeeded in working on my SOHC is due to all the help I've gotten here.  Good luck on your project!
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Mordechai

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Offline Really?

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2009, 03:28:25 PM »
Once you get to the cafe stage of the project, check out ttr400.com.  That is a one sweet place.  And getting even sweeter since he is adding more 750 stuff.

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steve.m

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2009, 08:08:14 PM »
Thanks for the tip medic!

Also have a line on a running 750 here in houston...decisions decisions.  or both.  why not waste money, expand the stable and get in waaaay over my head.  ;D
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Offline UnCrash

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2009, 08:17:55 PM »
It's a fun place to be... that's where I am.
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Offline medic09

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2009, 09:47:18 PM »
Here's a link to one of my favorite articles, from our own member Loonymoon.

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/honda05012100.html

Haven't seen her here in a long time; but it is her fault I ride a Sprint.
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Mordechai

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steve.m

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2009, 06:06:46 AM »
oddly enough I stumbled on that article when the bug first bit.  Sprint's are nice bikes, I'm tossing up between that and a concours 14 for my next bike in a year or two (when the connies can be bought up used)
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Offline HavocTurbo

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2009, 08:17:34 AM »
Concours 14 is an excellent bike!!! You sir have great taste.

There's nothing better than one of the most powerful production engines placed in a sport touring package.

But don't like it more than your 400.  :D Poor thing will find out and quit working on you.
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steve.m

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2009, 09:02:09 AM »
My tastes are varied.  I just want one of everything.  I've got a bandit 600, a HD nightster, soon to have the cb350 and eventually the concours.  Might bail on the nightster in favor of that machine though.  I love the raw 50's greaser styling, but the bandit (while touring capable, took it 10,000 in a month) just isn't quite what i'm looking for on my next big trek.
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Offline SteveD CB500F

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #14 on: July 03, 2009, 12:15:50 PM »
A "14"?

You don't mean a ZZR do you?

Reminds me of a track day at Brands Hatch - there was a guy there in amongst all the 1098/1198s on a ZZR1400. They were overtaking on the inside,     and the outside,   and (everywhere actually)

I know that a 1098/1198 track bike is not really reasonable comparison, but the guys on VFR400s were over taking him as well.

[The Indy circuit at Brands is fairly twisty - no real "power wins" straights.]
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Offline HavocTurbo

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #15 on: July 03, 2009, 01:27:31 PM »
Close...

The Concours 14 is basically a ZX-14 (would be ZZR to you guys) engine in a sport tourer chassis with side bags.



Quote from: SteveD CB500F on July 03, 2009, 12:15:50 PM
A "14"?

You don't mean a ZZR do you?

Reminds me of a track day at Brands Hatch - there was a guy there in amongst all the 1098/1198s on a ZZR1400. They were overtaking on the inside,     and the outside,   and (everywhere actually)

I know that a 1098/1198 track bike is not really reasonable comparison, but the guys on VFR400s were over taking him as well.

[The Indy circuit at Brands is fairly twisty - no real "power wins" straights.]
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'48 HD Panhead - Exxon Valdez
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'80 Yamaha XS850G - Kanibalistik
09 XL883L - No Name

steve.m

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Re: Forum Newb
« Reply #16 on: July 13, 2009, 07:14:12 AM »
Yea I want that but in black.

Update on the bike, or not so much, it's kind of a messy story.

After spending 12 hours tearing apart my bandit and dropping a washer in the crank case (haven't fished it out yet) I decided I'd had enough tinkering, brought the head to the machine shop the next morning and called it a day.  The cb350f was hiding behind two boats, a painting, bed frame and headboard and a slew of other crap that's been deposited in the barn in the past couple years.  Needless to say, my enthusiasm for undertaking another project has waned, at least until the bandits running again.  I'll be sure to keep you all posted.

In other news, there's a nice example of a cb750 on craigslist, might swing by and take a peek.
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