Topic: '75 XL 350 getting cafed

[grcamna2]

Dave,

I put an XL600 engine in a CB350 frame.
The machine is actually a little dangerous to ride.

Phil

Phil,
   What front end are you using? CB550 ? or CB500T ? I ask because I have a CB350G w/ original 33mm fork legs(which I prefer to keep on there)and your dual discs are Nice !

[gerhed]

Dave,

I put an XL600 engine in a CB350 frame.
The machine is actually a little dangerous to ride.

Phil

Phil,
   What front end are you using? CB550 ? or CB500T ? I ask because I have a CB350G w/ original 33mm fork legs(which I prefer to keep on there)and your dual discs are Nice !

Dave,

I put an XL600 engine in a CB350 frame.
The machine is actually a little dangerous to ride.

Phil

Phil,
   What front end are you using? CB550 ? or CB500T ? I ask because I have a CB350G w/ original 33mm fork legs(which I prefer to keep on there)and your dual discs are Nice !

Front end is stock 350/360---They seem a little light weight for this XL600 motor--probably OK for a 350.
 

[grcamna2]

Phil,
  You're CB350 w/ the XL600 engine HAS lots of custom parts on it and many parts from different models also.I believe those forks really are from either a CB500T twin or a CB550 four...it has dual discs and the CB350's never came with the right fork leg set up for a disc,only the left one did on the CB350F and the CB350G twin.If I could get a right fork leg for my CB350 twin that has that mount on it(for 33mm forks;the forks you have there must be 35mm diameter tubes)for a second disc like you have it would be nice.

[gerhed]

Phil,
  You're CB350 w/ the XL600 engine HAS lots of custom parts on it and many parts from different models also.I believe those forks really are from either a CB500T twin or a CB550 four...it has dual discs and the CB350's never came with the right fork leg set up for a disc,only the left one did on the CB350F and the CB350G twin.If I could get a right fork leg for my CB350 twin that has that mount on it(for 33mm forks;the forks you have there must be 35mm diameter tubes)for a second disc like you have it would be nice.

I put that right side disc on myself a while back and I don't think it had the right side mounting points-I just made do--I'll check on that.
rear swing arm is off an H2 --it's longer than stock as I had to make more room for the oil tank as the XL600 is dry sump.
I have locked the rear in place--it is rigid. The oil doesn't seem to cool too well in the remote tank.  In fact it may be boiling sometimes!
I've heard it "popping" down there as I ride along.

[gerhed]

Phil,
  You're CB350 w/ the XL600 engine HAS lots of custom parts on it and many parts from different models also.I believe those forks really are from either a CB500T twin or a CB550 four...it has dual discs and the CB350's never came with the right fork leg set up for a disc,only the left one did on the CB350F and the CB350G twin.If I could get a right fork leg for my CB350 twin that has that mount on it(for 33mm forks;the forks you have there must be 35mm diameter tubes)for a second disc like you have it would be nice.

I put that right side disc on myself a while back and I don't think it had the right side mounting points-I just made do--I'll check on that.
rear swing arm is off an H2 --it's longer than stock as I had to make more room for the oil tank as the XL600 is dry sump.
I have locked the rear in place--it is rigid. The oil doesn't seem to cool too well in the remote tank.  In fact it may be boiling sometimes!
I've heard it "popping" down there as I ride along.

I looked at the fork legs and the caliper assembly attaches to the fender mounting holes on the fork leg.
Both fork legs have these holes.
I'm sure these are stock CB350/360 forks because thats the machine that I had when I began the butchering process.

[gerhed]

The 360 motor came out and went into this machine--pictured

[gerhed]

The above 3-wheeler eventually became the machine picture below
and I finally had to leave it in a barn in upstate New York due to marital discord.

[Cheffish]

Those are two of the most awesome things I have ever seen! Do you have anymore pictures?

[gerhed]

Those are two of the most awesome things I have ever seen! Do you have anymore pictures?

Kind words indeed!-thanks
couple more pics below of same machine with different fittings

[gerhed]

couple more pics--sorry for the hiJack

[grcamna2]

Thanks for asking. At the moment, it is going nowhere as I am in the "engineering" phase. You know, searching out parts that will fit and adapt at what I want it to do. It is also hunting season, so while I am hunting, much of my ideas get hatched. Yesterday ,a MR 175 rear DID front rim came in. This is a 36 spoke rim, that I will mate up to the CB 350, twin leading shoe brake and hub, want to use for the front wheel. Lots of polishing will take place to get the rims and hubs polished. Probably as much time polishing as building. In another thread, I asked about a pipe for this bike. I am looking for a down pipe to be on the right side, like a BSA Gold Star or Norton Manx and snugly shaped to the bike. I also want it on the right, to stay away from the drive chain dirt. As I think of all this, I wonder about engine mods. Do I want to increase HP? It would be great to be getting up around the 35hp- 40hp. range, but will I lose reliability to do that. You don't get something without losing something somewhere else, so it seems. I am ALWAYS searching for those who have done an XL 350 to see how they handled these problems and what worked for them....or didn't work. Again, thanks for asking!

Hi Dave K, how is progress coming on your XL350 project bike? have you collected any more parts to really jump into it yet ?

[Dave K]

I am guilty, other then mentally, I really have done nothing. Hunting season is still here, so when that ends, I will be redirecting my attention. Also, the Gold Wing is on the rack getting new timing belts and just plain getting a full service. The CB 750 will be next with a full service and new plug wires. Than I can concentrate on the XL.

I had started on polishing the DID alloy rims. No one who has done this, can tell you it is easy. It is real work and dirt!

[grcamna2]

Nice to hear you have a lift ...what kind is it ? any pics ?

[Dave K]

Not really a lift. It is a 20" widex8' long steel platform that is actually 2, 4ft. sections bolted together to make the 8ft length. That way I can remove the back 4 ft. section to drop the rear wheels out from under the bike. It is 22" off of the ground and I use a ramp to roll the bikes up on it.

[grcamna2]

That sounds precarious ...be careful .

[Dave K]

Not at all. I have been using this for close to 20yrs. there is a "stop" at the front to bring the bike up to and then tie downs 2 ft. out on each side. at the front. I use a jack to lift the bike and swing the center stand down if I want or need to. Each 4 ft. section is an .080 thick steel formed into a 20"x4" deep box section, 4' long. I welded 4 female receptors at an angle into the bottom of each 4' section so I can store it by removing the legs or remove and unbolt the back section for the rear wheel removal. The Gold Wing requires help to get it up on it, just because of size. But the other bikes, like the Triumph, CB 750 and smaller I do easily by myself. It is the perfect height for me to maintain and wax the bikes. No bending over! Just grab a stool and take a seat.