Topic: My 72 CB350F Project

[twinegar]

Hope this helps others with their project: http://www.spookytoms.com/SpookyTom-CB350F-72-0.html

[twinegar]

I finally tagged the bike and have taken several rides since May 6, this morning I was flagged down by some big-bike owners and although they thought my little 350F looked real nice they weren't impressed by the CC's and sort of had a condescending attitude. I promptly returned home and jumped on one of my CBX's and cruised back by and continued our conversation on a more level playing field so to speak. It's kind of a shock to go from a little 350 to a CBX or vice-versa but I have gotten used to it. The 350F is the smallest bike I have tagged and when I first started driving it I felt like a circus clown on one of those circus mini-bikes, it's an odd feeling because looking at the profile in a big store window as I go by the bike looks well proportioned to my stature yet when I throw my leg over and reach for the grips it feels tiny. One of the magazine articles at my site even mentions something about the bike looking bigger than it feels when mounted. Anyway, it looks, runs and drives like a new one and during the weekday work hours I have the roads pretty much to myself so it's up, up, up and away I go!

[hoodellyhoo]

When I still had my K6 it was always really weird hopping on it right after I got off the 350. I always thought the 350 was a decently sized bike until I got the 750. Then it felt tiny.

[Prospect]

Great looking bike.  Lot's of great info on your site as well.  Thanks for sharing the brochures.  They're fun to read.

[twinegar]

Thanks, when I started collecting in 2006 there was an obvious void and even the forums and bike specific groups there was a lack of information so I designed my site to show one guy's attempt at collecting and restoring. Every bike I own is accompanied by all the paper associated with that model, magazine articles, brochures and manuals and so on. I make PDF's of the manuals available to anyone that asks for free. Having purchased my first CB350F new in 1972 the one I have now is growing on me quick and I have a greater appreciation of it's smoothness than before. In '72 I didn't have the cash for a 500 or 750 and by '74 I was tired of driving a 500/750 wanna-be and pretty much parked it.

[SanDogDewey]

I drove my 400F to work for the first time today. I agree, quite a difference from the CBX! I have to keep the bike up in the 7k rpm range to make it rideable. Not a whole lot of torque and it has a hard time holding 70 mph in 6th gear. Should be a good bike for my daughter though, that's who I am building it for.

[twinegar]

Same here, I bought the 350F for my youngest daughter to ride. My larger bikes intimidate her so I got her something small and light with a smooth running engine. For three years she drove my CB750's without any complaints but she always seemed a little stiff and when she admitted that they scared her a bit it was time for a change.