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Build Thread: CB350 Cafe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
Joined
Oct 26, 2002
Location
Where's Cleveland Heights?
Moto(s)
FZ-07 farkled-by-Amazon Edition
Name
Gabe
BARF perks
AMA #: 1006675
I'm inspired by Twitch Monitor's excellent CL160 build (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=317472), and I think I'm committed enough to start this thread. Last year, after some prompting from vintage-riding friends, I decided I needed a vintage Cafe racer. After much soul-searching and time-wasting, and for various reasons, I figured a 68-73 Honda CB350 was the way to go. Here are my reasons, which all you second-guessers, self-proclaimed engineering geniuses and poor-spelling know-it-alls are free to tear down, point-by-point. (Like you need my permission):

-Great availability: Honda sold hundreds of thousands of CB, CL and SL 350 Twins. Parts and parts bikes are everywhere.

-Engineering: Hey, it's a Honda! They run forever, right? Plus, the performance and tuning potential off this bike is well-established. Many AHRMA racers will tell you that it's the racebike of choice. If I can get 30 hp at the wheel (more than BARF's favorite bike, the Ninja 250) and get weight down to 300 pounds wet (a Ninja weighs 60-80 pounds more), and upgrade the suspension and brakes, I'll have a fun street/track/poseur ride for not too much money. I also considered the CB450, but it sounds like they aren't as reliable (older, more complex design) and are much heavier. And for all you two-stroke zombies: just save it. Sure, you'll pass me on the straights, but I'll pass you in the next turn, right after you seize and high-side.

-Looks: In my research I came across this bike built by Newfield High School near Ithaca, NY:

http://www.toolboxpro.org/classrooms/template.cfm?ID=1555

070628015409_angleoutside.jpg


Sure, a Triton would be cooler but I am not going to buy a vintage British bike. Ever. Life is too short. This bike is exactly how a cafe racer should look. Lean and mean.

So who would build the bike? Not me, God knows: I can change oil or swap out parts, but I don't have the patience, attention-to-detail, tools, garage space or other resources to properly do this. Really. A friend offered to actually do the work for me for free, but I can't let somebody do that. So I emailed Charlie O'Hanlon. Charlie's Place (http://www.charlies-place.com/) is the leader in Vintage Honda restoration and repair, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic partner for this project. Charlie instantly got what I wanted: a stripped-down, bare-bones street-friendly AHRMA racer. Now I don't need a complete bike: he has everything I need in his copious supply of 60s-70s Honda bits. Not the cheapest way, but again, using the Ninja 250 template, less than buying a new bike.

Here is what the bike will feature:

-Frame: Stock, but with excess tabs and other bits removed to save weight. The frame backbone will be welded for rigidity (a necessary mod, as the frame is stamped and tack-welded mild sheet steel). We'll also add a brace between the shock mounts to fit the seat and battery. New steering head and swingarm bearings/bushings.

-Front end: CB400F, so we can get a disc brake. We won't drill the disc, but I'll upgrade the master cylinder and add a braided-steel line.

-Wheels/Tires: Stock for now, but cleaned up and with new bearings. High-performance tires. Phase II will see aluminum wheels, Excel if I can afford them...

-Rear shocks: Works dual-rate springs with aluminum bodies.

-Engine: Charlie will inspect the motor he picked and do a top-end rebuild and replace all the doo-dads that commonly fail. Ignition will be electronic, courtesy of Dynatek. (http://www.dynaonline.com/skins/Default.aspx) We're considering a big-bore kit, but I'm not sure which to use. Charlie likes to use period kits when he can find them at swap meets or on eBay. Any leads or ideas would be appreciated. Charlie also likes to use period carbs, rather than use the flat-slide kits the racers use. He suggested a pair of Mikunis from a CB750.

Bodywork/Controls/Lighting: Glass from the Past did the seat on the Newfield bike, so I ordered one from them. $200 with the snap upholstery. Not bad! I want a '69 tank ('cuz that's the year I was born, and I like the kneepads) which I'd like to leave the stock paint: shouldn't a 40-year-old bike look 40? I'll run a fiberglass front fender if I run a fender. If I run instruments, I'll use a small Koso unit (www.kosonorthamerica.com). For lights, I'll sneak one of those LED bars under the tail section and a standard 7-inch headlight with aluminum brackets. I'll paint to match the tank in Phase II. I'll run clip-ons (haven't sourced them yet) and Motion Pro will do cables. Charlie like to re-wire these bikes himself.

So that's where I am right now. I've paid Charlie a deposit; he has set aside parts and he'll start on the motor soon. I've also hustled up some parts:

DSCN0697.JPG


Stay tuned!
 
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Finally, I found a serial thread at the start and now have a reason to surf in often. Thnx.

Please, just don't leave me hanging. (Gawd, I sound like my last girlfriend.)
 
Stock weight of the CB350 was about 375lbs dry I believe. I've very curious if you can shed that much weight.
Obviously stock battery is gone and you will be pulling the starter motor, cutting the case down? What else are you doing to lighten it up? 75 lbs + seems like a long way to go.

I'm currently looking for powroll pistons to match the other parts from my discontinued powroll kit (pistons are AWOL).

I guess I'll ride my CB/CL350 around town tomorrow then...

picture.php


If anyone else start thread about their projects perhaps we should petition BARF Mods for a 'Vintage Project' Clubhouse section? I'm afraid to find out the success percentage after a while however...
 
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Stock weight of the CB350 was about 375lbs dry I believe. I've very curious if you can shed that much weight.
Obviously stock battery is gone and you will be pulling the starter motor, cutting the case down? What else are you doing to lighten it up? 75 lbs + seems like a long way to go.

I guess I'll ride my 350 tomorrow then...

That era of Japanese moto is just festooned with cheesy potmetal junk: fenders, turnsignals, brackets, covers, clips, bolts...plus the seat pan, insturments, lights...I figure there's 50 pounds of that stuff alone. Another big boat-anchor is the stock exhaust. That's going in the trash, and that's gotta weigh in at 25 pounds right there.

I should have mentioned that Moto Fiaccone (www.motofiaccone.com) is going to pitch in with this pantie-wetting-gorgeous underbelly 2-1 stainless exhaust:

motofiaccone6.jpg


That should save a few pounds!

Your CL looks great.
 
Awesome idea.

My first "street bike" - back when I was 14 (mid-80s) was a CL350. Super clean, burgundy and white, like the first photo. I think it was a '71, although I don't recall for sure. Bought it off a friend of my dad for $100.

I rode the piss out of that thing, without a license, until my dad found out - I didn't live with him at the time. Replaced it with a more "modern" bike a couple years later, an '81 Yamaha XT250, which I thrashed on for a couple years, before moving on to various thrasher cafe'd up CB750s.
 
I'm curious why you don't want to drill the front disk brake rotor. You get to lose a bit more weight there. I've always liked the look of drilled rotors that have a different pattern than stock rotors. I especially like the ones with larger holes, like 3/8".

This could be a very interesting bike. I'm counting on you posting photos of it as progress is made.
 
070628015409_angleoutside.jpg


Sure, a Triton would be cooler but I am not going to buy a vintage British bike. Ever. Life is too short. This bike is exactly how a cafe racer should look. Lean and mean.

:drool

/subscribed
 
I'm curious why you don't want to drill the front disk brake rotor. You get to lose a bit more weight there. I've always liked the look of drilled rotors that have a different pattern than stock rotors. I especially like the ones with larger holes, like 3/8".

This could be a very interesting bike. I'm counting on you posting photos of it as progress is made.
Charlie didn't seem to think it's worth the effort, but what the hell...it's probably pretty easy to do and it can't hurt...although I had a mechanic who warned the disc could crack between two holes and the resulting lip could catch the pad and lock the front wheel. That sounds apocryphal to me...
 
Wow! How cool! After I finish my SV project, I want to do a vintage restoration myself. I have been thinking the CB as well. Cool! Good luck.
 
Hell yeah. I've got a 75 CB200 floating around that I need to strip and repair...oh, projects :)
 
I loved the old 350s for reliability and general fun but compared to 2-strokes of the day they were underpowered tanks. There is a good reason that racing in that era was dominated by the smoke bombers.....Moonbeam
 
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