Topic: Will eventually get a 76-78' Honda XL350 'Thumper'.. thoughts?

[grcamna2]

I plan on getting an XL350 and turning it into a street bike.Have any of you owned one and driven around on the street much w/ it ? I think it will make a sweet street bike as I don't mind 'kickstart only' or the Big Single vibes.

[MoMo]

Bill, I've worked on and ridden a few, it'd be a fine on/off combo...Larry

[754]

 I been kicking that idea around myself.. probably a tracker with front brake..
 i prefer the earlier model with the side port..  I sold this one a while back but got the stock body parts back , probably put them on mine..
Side port has a bit of that XR 750 look..
Here is the one i had till January,and what it looked like 2 weeks back, it running and painted ,and weighs 225 lbs now..

[grcamna2]

That looks nice Frank,will you be building a pipe for it ? I like the look of the 76-78' center-port XL head.
The XL350 you built looks like a 'Flat Track' replica,you really shortened the orig. rear fender/frame 'hoop'.
I want to keep mine close to the stock 'look' w/ stock tank and sidecovers,carb.(including the stock crankshaft w/ 71mm stroke);mods. will include a nice street 'low pipe' w/ quiet baffle,a 19" front disc brake spoke wheel,a low front fender,fork brace,big bore piston,etc.
I like to dream into the future on this build  .I already found one that i would love to purchase out West but won't be able to w/ that one... 
 I'll start looking for one after I move out-of-state this yr. and get settled-in.
What type of mods. have you done to the inside of the engine on your bike ?

[754]

I sold that bike in January to a guy that cant leave them alone..it now has a 1mm over Venolia 12:1, porting, springs I think, hot cam, and big carb.
It went from a claimed 22 hp at the wheel go to 32 .
It will see its first race on the 11 th.. Will get a better pic of it completed.
Its big brother is a 480 cc, it makes about 45 hp ..money was spent on that one..see pic of it last year.
 The center port has a bit stronger transmission and stiffer frame.

[grcamna2]

The 480cc,is that the #63 Race bike?  Does it have a side-port or center port head on it ?
I like the exh. on it in the last pic.
What Honda 4 is that one on the right of the #39 race bike running the rollers ?

[754]

Hah that threw me off I know Roger has 39... Bored and stroked to 480 cc.
The number plate is upside down in the one pic...lol.
It is a sideport in a Champion frame. Not sure what pipe it runs..the bike came frome Bellingham WA area. The body work on the Champion frame is Champion fibreglass that came with the frame kits. The other bike has a modded TL Honda trials alloy tank, and a glss mystery tail section I found at a swap meet... The gap to the hoop is intentional to be able to lift up the bike.
My XL 350 is 410 cc I think , been in the family for decades.. Was a stunt bike in the last Tron movie.  I also have an SL 350 2win lump, that has an alloy tank and Champion seat section, should get some pics.
 The sohc is a 650..street bike.. On the start rollers... We used my 750 as well that day, then we did about 5 laps on the track, Jimmy on his 650, me on my 750...

[grcamna2]

Frank,
You know anyone that's fitted a pr. of CB750 fork 'lowers/sliders' to the stock XL350 forks? They're both 35mm and just wondered if anyone has attempted it that you know ?

[754]

 They should fit, not sure about the width, but keep in mind the xl has 4 bolt lowers.
 Myself I am thinking of switching to Betor forks with alloy trees..a lot lighter I think.... probably a disc brake too.

[grcamna2]

They should fit, not sure about the width, but keep in mind the xl has 4 bolt lowers.
 Myself I am thinking of switching to Betor forks with alloy trees..a lot lighter I think.... probably a disc brake too.

That switch you plan on making sounds much 'Betor' than stock Honda parts  I imagine those parts aren't too available anywhere.

[754]

You can get Betors in the 100-250 range, then you need to make a stem, and probably change springs. There isa set of fendermount forks on ebay right now for 150
Make sure you get the fender mount type for mounting the brake.
They came stock on the white tank CanAms... If you find a dead one..forks might be cheap.
 Some of the Bultaco ones have offset axle mounts.
 Will try to add pic.
The green bike has betor legs in Ceriani trees. The other pic is Ceriani.

[seanbarney41]

I really like the 90's XR400's.  Decent suspension that has many upgrades available, Super easy motor to work on, relatively cheap to toss in a Wiseco piston and Hot cam and the result is a rowdy wheelie monster.

[grcamna2]

I really like the 90's XR400's.  Decent suspension that has many upgrades available, Super easy motor to work on, relatively cheap to toss in a Wiseco piston and Hot cam and the result is a rowdy wheelie monster.

Those XR400's are nice but I think more for dirt,lot's of suspension makes it tall. 

[754]

Way to modern for me..i never knew about the 400.
Even the centre port XL 350 is looking a bit too modern for me..

[grcamna2]

Way to modern for me..i never knew about the 400.
Even the centre port XL 350 is looking a bit too modern for me..

The XL350 is a Classic that a lot of folks don't know about 
I sure hope I find one for a good deal such as the 78' garage-kept one w/ less than 3K orig. miles I found out West.. he wants less than $2K !  but that's $2K that I don't have right now..     I just hope I can find another one like it after I've moved out West & i save-up the $ later this year. 

[754]

Here is a pic of the finished 74.

[grcamna2]

That's a good looking purpose-built flat track racer Frank  Will someone else w/ strong bones be racing it for you ? 

[754]

The guy that owns all the 39 bikes races them, tough guy to beat good rider

[grcamna2]

What size front wheel on that red race bike,19" ?

[754]

Should be 19 inch, most flattrack tires are 19 inch
 I laced a couple of 19 inch Excel rims onto some KTM hubs, the bike should be racing this weekend.

[754]

Youtube.. KonQuer  the dirt part two
 You can see the 480cc stroker on the short track.. First time event at that venue.

[grcamna2]

Youtube.. KonQuer  the dirt part two
 You can see the 480cc stroker on the short track.. First time event at that venue.

That's a lot of bike for that 'short track'