Topic: Slow-mo abandoned NYC bike death watch

[wildcatmahone]

SAVED!! Good job man that looks like a sweet little 350.

[vames]

The engine kicks over seemingly fine. It has two serious looking blast horns and finned points and alt cover. All case screws are hex. Can't see a heck of a lot more. If I do end up owning it and get it running, it will clearly need all electrical run through given that it has been in the elements for so long. That's in addition to the full list of refresh and tune items.

Probably won't be any updates for a bit. I want to wait till I make some progress with the paperwork.

Also, the 454 was gone when I walked by this morning. It was trash day......

[754]

   Its Guano be a cool project...

[fasturd]

I have to admit I would push that one home...But mainly I would just push it into my van...

I have the same set of horns on my Project 13 400F. If they are relayed (mine are) they are the loudest MUTHER#@$%&*! you have ever heard on a bike. My bike came your area. I assume loud horns are a life saver in NYC!

[Johnie]

WOW...a 350 Four at that. For sure a great one to save from the sanitation department!!! Looks to be a great find and save. Heck, I would have pushed that baby a long way. I do have to admit it looks pretty nice for sitting outside all that time. Clean that crap off it and you will be surprised at how nice it will look...Nice job there!!!

[Hush]

Someone loved that bike at some stage, the altered handle bars and finned side covers, the 4 into 2 exhaust system all yells "I care" but for it to be left for so long I guess the caring owner has long since passed it along.
Great save, keep the forum posted as this is our first orphan rescue!
I can see it now, International Save a Bike Day.
Wonder if there are any uncrushed SOHC4's lying around Haiti?
I'm sure John Travolta wouldn't mind us rolling a few onto his plane.

[Grnrngr]

Wow. Not nearly as rusty as I was thinking. Was the LTD in similar shape? Probably at the trashman's house now... ah well. Kinda makes you wonder about the story behind it...is the PO deceased? got married? just got tired of it? Sweet lookin bike, does NY issue temporary operating permits? Not sure how CA handles it now since I've been in OR for 22+yrs, but as long as you have some sort of paperwork to prove you're trying to get the papers straight, (take the PO's super a 6pack and explain the situation, maybe he'll write you a "bill of sale"..) you can get a temp permit. CA temps used to be good for 90 days, here they're good for 30 days for bikes, and up to 90 days for cars, you can only get 3 a yr for a car but unlimited for a bike (at $20 each..) !!NOTE!! I do not recommend, and strongly advise against, removing vehicles (or anything else) from neighbors properties just because "it's been sitting there a long time", but, have a chat with any tow truck driver and find out how often people just walk away from their stuff, abandoning it on public property. We truly do live in the most wealthy nation on the planet.

[Johnie]

Curious...what does the inside of the tank look like? Mileage around 29,000 if I read it right? Those are neat pics...keep them coming. You have stirred the testosterone on this board!!! 

[dagersh]

Great job Vames.  If an owner does surface and you need some help gettin ghim the bike, I will give you a hand.  However, I think your attempts to find the PO will karmically land you the ownership of the bike!

How about just going through ITS to get a title, and screw the NYS DMV, and their stupid hoops?

Gersh

[vames]

Haven't even looked inside of the tank yet -- there's a decent dent on the top and I have a better cb350f tank in storage, so I'm not too worried. I don't think I'd go for that green anyway. I've always dreamed of a black 350f tank with some limited white pinstriping (think of old BMW R60s or R70s) with black side covers. Maybe some rubber pads for the knee indents.

The bike was clearly loved at some point. The little drag bars are great, it's got (now old) Pirellis on it, the green paint is clearly professional, the engine is dressed with finned covers, 4-2 exhaust, custom horns. I wouldn't be surprised to find an electronic ignition and maybe some aftermarket coils when I go digging around. Engine work? I hope so.

For now, however, I'm not getting too excited about anything. I want to make sure that this thing was not stolen.

[vames]

Thanks for the kind offer, dagersh. Where are you in the city? Do you have a workspace somewhere or do you keep your bike upstate?

Has anybody dealt with ITS before? How do they work? Will they find the PO if there is one?

[MickeyX]

It is obvious the bike was loved and time taken to modify it a certain way. I have a feeling the PO is gone, passed on or something like that, to leave that bike just sit there. Probably no one paid attention to who rode it and then when they didn't come back, the details got lost along the way as to why it was still there. It would be nice to be able to return the bike to the PO but it was left behind for a reason and that reason probably still exists or he/she would have come back for it or left word or something. I think you will find that you have inherited a bike.

Thank you for saving this orphan. 

[kck3]

Or the PO could be in jail-all he has been dreaming about is his beloved 350/four.  Now when he gets released, finds out his bike is gone, he is going to be on a mission.

[ekpent]

We need some Help to solve this now haunting and perplexing mystery. Let me introduce-------

[Stev-o]

Another SOHC rescued, great job!

I almost did a similar save last year on a commercial property that I managed, but it was just an old Honda scooter and I didn't think it was worth saving!!

[laser145]

I'm telling you, there are bikes rotting away all over NYC and Brooklyn...lots of SOHC Hondas. It's such a pain and expense to keep a bike here that I assume most people just get tired of taking care of them and leave them sitting until they get removed.

I know there are a few parked under the Williamsburg Bridge right now, sitting so long the tires are rotting out. If only there was an easy and legal way to recover them... maybe there is?

Can you search for owners through a VIN? Most of the bikes have had the plates stolen or otherwise removed...

[fmctm1sw]

I'm telling you, there are bikes rotting away all over NYC and Brooklyn...lots of SOHC Hondas. It's such a pain and expense to keep a bike here that I assume most people just get tired of taking care of them and leave them sitting until they get removed.

I know there are a few parked under the Williamsburg Bridge right now, sitting so long the tires are rotting out. If only there was an easy and legal way to recover them... maybe there is?

Can you search for owners through a VIN? Most of the bikes have had the plates stolen or otherwise removed...

I smell a crusade!

[paddy paul]

Here In Colorado you can take down any Vin# pay something like 2-5 dollars and they will give you a certified Vin search,It will tell you the last owner, if it's stolen, if it has any lien's etc, That's one of the first steps here to getting  a title if you bought something without one, or for a "builder title" or like in this case abandoned vehicle's.

 I don't know if NY has anything like that, but I would go and grab those bikes that are under that bridge,or at least run the #'s on them, SAVE THE SOHC'S

[ksmith0034]

This thread is so engaging I had to take a break to get some popcorn!  Seriously, this is very cool.  Do we have to wait 6 months or a year (or 3) to find out how it ends?  Maybe you could just make up something - you know, to hold us over 'til we get the next fix... 

[jwl41085]

I'm telling you, there are bikes rotting away all over NYC and Brooklyn...lots of SOHC Hondas. It's such a pain and expense to keep a bike here that I assume most people just get tired of taking care of them and leave them sitting until they get removed.

I know there are a few parked under the Williamsburg Bridge right now, sitting so long the tires are rotting out. If only there was an easy and legal way to recover them... maybe there is?

Can you search for owners through a VIN? Most of the bikes have had the plates stolen or otherwise removed...

I smell a crusade!

i hear that! i want some free bikes!!

[MJL]

That's my bike and I want it back. the vin is 12345.
 

[faux fiddy]

I would Oil the chain up a day or two in advance. It might foil your plans if the rear is locked up. 


Old New York City is a friendly old town,
From Washington Heights to Harlem on down,
There’s a-mighty many people all millin’ all around,
They’ll kick you when you’re up and knock you when you’re down.
It’s hard times in the city,
Livin’ down in New York town.

Well the weekend is strong and the rich and the poor;
Gettin there together in a roof and there ain't no more
It's crowded up above and it's crowded down below
And someone disappears you never even know
It’s hard times in the country,
Livin’ down in New York town.

http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/hard-times-in-new-york-town

[faux fiddy]

I guess I missed a chapter or two before that last post. I like those finned points/stator covers.

Maybe you can start an organic garden with all the pigeon poop.

[tomkimberly]

Good job and yes, that bike would have been my yard before I posted here if it was near me.   


Tom

[bucky katt]

clearcoat over the bird crap, i bet nobody else would have a custom paint job like that