When you reach the ripe old age of 26, you realize cake and ice cream has slightly less appeal than when you were a kid. So I remedied the situation with a new project!
It's a 1970 CB350 frame with, apparently, a scrambler engine. It turns and has compression, though I don't have numbers yet. After summer when I get back from my trip, I will get to work on it. I was thinking cafe but I've changed my mind. It's going to be a scrambler, but not quite stock. Here's a couple pics from my inspiration gallery:
-I'm thinking a solo seat, but not a tractor seat. Something more 60s, like the ones on a Trail 90.
-The fenders will be painted silver like a 60s Honda. The rear fender will be exposed and there will be a metal luggage rack over it, like early bikes would have.
-I'll get some stock carbs, mount pods (gasp) on them, and do away with side covers. I may try and build a little metal tool box next to the battery, like an old British bike.
-I'll go with the stock srambler pipes if I can find them. If all I can find is headers, than I'll use the Emgo shorty mufflers (If they fit).
-Probably will go with a stock CB tank. The scrambler tank has slightly less capacity. I will paint it powder blue or something similar to a 50s British scrambler. Probably will have knee pads.
-I'll go with those chrome aftermarket headlight ears, but I still want fork gaiters, so I gotta figure that out. I've found an aftermarket chrome headlight similar to stock for around $60.
-Turn signals will be bullet style, sort of like aftermarket Royal Enfield ones. Tail light will be a British style, like the "Lucas" type. Smaller than stock.
-I'd love to find knobby tires like that Ariel above, but I haven't found anything in that size. We'll see.
-I'll use lower bars, Euro or superbike. Not ideal for a scrambler, but lots of the old British bikes had em.
-I'll probably build my own wiring harness going by the stock design. The wires are a mess and some are non-existant. Since I'm going to get rid of the starter, I'll follow the SL350 diagram.
So those are my ideas so far. This project won't begin at least until fall this year, and will drag out as long as it takes. I'll be building on a budget, but I like the idea of piecing things together as I go. I am excited to strip the frame, paint it, paint and clean the engine, go right through it. I never got to do that on my 500. I'll always have the 500 to ride while I'm doing this, too.
Thanks for looking! I'll eventually start a build thread, but it will be a long way off.
Happy re-winter! (it's f#$# 20 degrees in NH)
Jeremy B
