Old Hondas

[Coyote]

For a long time I have been toying with the idea of redoing an old Honda.. Which models are the most desirable? I know a lot of you guys have them. Long ago about 68/9 there was a twin with low black up-swept pipes. It wasn't large - maybe a 350. Anyone know what model that was or how available they are?. I remember seeing a few of them and always did like their appearance. No interest in dirt bikes at all. been there - done that. The only Honda I ever owned was a 90 I used to ride back and forth to work. I wouldn't even mind having that one back as the little bike are becomong more and more popular.. I traded it for a nice acoustical guitar

[crazyeights]

I personally don't own any Hondas now but my brother has a 1976 CB125S and he had a 1971 CB350. The 350s are easy to find for little cost. My brother just recently resurrected a CB125S which is a great little bike. The Hondas are easy to work on, but the parts are not as easy to find as Suzuki parts. I had a 1974 MT125 Elsinore 2 stroke and it was not a very good bike . Honda's 2 strokes aren't nearly as good as their 4 strokes IMO. It seems to me that the early 70s four cylinders, the CB450 black bomber, and the 60s scramblers like the cl77 are worth the most. I could be mistaken on that though. In general all Hondas are reliable and great bikes.

Long ago about 68/9 there was a twin with low black up-swept pipes. It wasn't large - maybe a 350

I think you are thinking of the SL350 motosport-it's pretty hard to find the pipes in good shape for a reasonable price, so if you do get one make sure the pipes are solid

[sbaugz]

I have restored and/or customized a variety of old hondas. My T500 suzuki is actually my first suzuki.

If you want small, you can't go wrong with the CB175 or CB200. They are super simple, cool little bikes. Parts are readily available. Very fun to drive. I am currently working on my second CB200T

You also can't go wrong with the CB350 or later CB360's. Again, very simple and easy to work on. Tons of readily available parts and they are all pretty much interchangeable.

Personally, I prefer the honda CB350 as my favorite old honda. You start getting into the CB400F, CB550, CB750's and you are talking about more complicated and more expensive bikes to restore.

I am still kicking myself for selling my pair of CB350 and CB360's last summer. I really loved those bikes- especially the 350.

[bill in okc]

I wasn't planning on an old Honda but Craigslist is the devil. A '71 CB750 basketcase - bare frame and boxes of parts - has been slowly going back together. There are a few places that specialize in reproduction parts for 750's. Not sure about parts availability for other models but Partzilla sells Honda parts too.
The CB450 is a desirable bike. They make nice cafe bikes but I like them better stock.

[Eddie]

I have a 1963 superhawk , well actually its a hawk (250cc) the superhawk was a 305cc, they are getting hard to find (250cc) and they are fun as hell to ride, I think you might be talking about the 350cc scrambler it had upswept pipes, I had one a gave it to a friend of mine for helping me with some stuff,,, he has a lot of parts for one if you do get a scrambler , cool thing with Hondas is they still have a lot of parts for them, I have ordered parts for my hawk from the local bike shop, they usually say they will put the order in and not sure if they have it , but they seem to always come in , you can find parts pretty easy and old Hondas in my opinion were ahead of their time and pretty bullet proof motors, when I rebuilt my Honda ,,,(cb72 hawk) what a neat motor, everything rides on roller bearings, even the cam which comes apart into 3 pieces to get it out of the head, the cam fits together on splines and has to come apart to take out or put it in,, the crank is also on roller bearings,, and my Honda turns more rpms than my gt750 by far, the Hondas red line according to the book is 9,000 rpms max, I know the gt750 is built for more touring but I have ridden other 2-strokes and that little Honda revs up quick just like one, or at least pretty damn close...., they are cool bikes , all old Hondas (60's early 70's) were easy to work on ..just noticed you were talking about a bike with black pipes? other than the induro pictured im not sure which one,,,,,the cl350 was a street bike with up swept pipes, Honda was always about 4-strokes from the beginning , they even built the rc166 ( six cylinder, 250cc , 4-stroke) just to beat up on the 2-strokes that were kicking butt back then,,,,if you have never heard of the rc166 look it up, its an amazing engineering feat , probably my favorite 250cc 4-stroke of all time, I am a 2 stroke fan don't want to make you think im not but you cant go wrong with an old Honda, parts everywhere , easy to work on , also the rc166 sounded like a friggen 2-stroke, 18,000 rpm and 150mph is crazy for a 4-stroke!!!!! not to mention this is in 1966!!!!!!

[Coyote]

I was thinking of the one crazyeights posted above. I didn't realize at the time it was a dual terrain bike. I am all too familiar of the 250 scramblers. I was going to a small college in Iowa in 64 and 5. The campus was covered with them. All noise and slo goo as I recall. There wasn't a single Yamaha to be found. and only 1 Triumph I remember. During the time, I took over payments on a 305 Super Hawk to help out a guy that was strapped for cash. I had it for 3 months before he sorta bought it back. I changed the exhaust while I had it. One high pipe on each side. They were popular aftermarket pipes at the time. I think they were made by Webco. Very noisy to say the least.
I remember one morning I came out of the dorm to take off and someone had stolen my battery. I shouldn't tell on myself but I went out the very next night and stole someone else s battery and was back on the road again. Those were the days

[joolstacho]

Eddie's right, It's the CL350 which has the high pipes. (They also did a CL175 version I think).

[Coyote]

Wasn't every cc under the sun called a CB something? I realize there were other abbreviations, but it seems like the CB was made in a whole slew of varying cc's.

[tz375]

Yes. CB was road bike, CL was street scrambler, SL was dual sport, CA was touring (ie slow) C was basic and then there were CX, CM etc

So C9-, C110, CB92, CB77 etc followed by CB100, 125, 160, 175, 200,250,350, 400, 450 etc. Letters after told the year/model

CB350K4 and so on and then they changed to a different system. Get a copy of the Honda model identification guide to see all the different versions

[Coyote]

Local. http://tulsa.craigslist.org/mcy/5156944541.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lrutt]

You will find getting parts for an old Honda a lot easier that's for sure. I just finished a 65 CT200 Trail 90 resto. I also have a 65 CA77 305 Dream, 70 CT 90 Trail, 73 Z50 minitrail, 70 CT70 minitrail, 76 CB750k, 78 CB750k, and 75 CB550k, 81 C70 Passport.

Kind of depends on what you want out of a bike. I personally would LOVE to find a CL450 scrambler. I just love that DOHC head on those old bikes. A real looker.

Problem with the Scramblers are exhaust systems, not being reproduced and nice ones are big $$$$.

[Vintageman]

Just to drive the price up

From the 70s

CL/CB450. wiseco 10:1 piston, Mega Cams mildest cam grind.
Naked, Early Goldwing 1000 with thin seat foam, Mega Cams mildest CAM grind
or supercharger ->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weK1tPttvpQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yam
TX750
XS 650
XS/TX500

[Flywheel]

What about the 1980s bikes? Prices on them really haven't jumped up yet. The early 80s IMO was the pinnacle of the middleweight class before they faded away (at least in the U.S.). Nighthawks are plentiful, or if you want something rare, there is the Ascot: coming in both a 500 single or a 500 V-twin. I was looking for one of these, but when I found my Seca I just couldn't pass up the deal. Here's an example of the Ascot...

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/mcy/5102683752.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just a suggestion. Happy hunting...

[jabcb]

The 70s bikes with 4-into-1 exhausts do look nice, but they can be pricey.
But perhaps the coolest looking are the high-pipe CL350/CL360/CL450s.

Good 80s Nighthawks are reasonable money & low maintenance.
Two nice 80s Nighthawks:

[oldjapanesebikes]

Eddie's right, It's the CL350 which has the high pipes. (They also did a CL175 version I think).

I have a 305cc 1968 CL77 still in original paint - tough to find one in good shape, but they are a great bike. A hoot to ride.