Suzuki 2 Strokes

Well some of you may or may not remember a couple of years ago after I finished the rebuild of my T200 that I got a Honda CL450, now I know its been awhile but as promised here are the photos of how things are coming along.

How it looked when I brought it home!

Some of you may see a 72 CL450 but upon disassembly I found that the VIN# and frame# were actually a 69 (plus it still had drum brakes and a few other things didn't seem right for a 72) fine by me because I like the look of the earlier models anyways (but it has caused problems locating the right parts)

Finished frame


Rebuilt motor


sorry about the picture quality I had to use my phone, real camera died and I haven't replaced it more important things to spend the money on... like the bikes!
more photos to come as things progress.

I was going to call you on the year. Did they even make the CL version in 69?



Lane

Apparently it first came out in 1967 as an off road conversion kit for the CB450. The 68 models designation K1 had a round wing badge on the tank with no decals/striping. The 69 models had the word Honda as a badge on the tank but it was still devoid of decals/striping.
It also never got disc brakes up front in any of the years and by its last year of production.
In 1975 the bike was dropped from the lineup. and the CB500T replaced it.

Keith i'm not sure how much info youve got but heres some particulars for the 69 models.
The seat for the 69 should have chrome strips along its base, the 70 model had the buttons. Maybe someone put the buttons on yours and took off the strips??????
It appears your front fender is also from a later model, the 69s should have braces on it.
The 69 serial numbers begin at CL450-1012469 for this year.
Also the headlamp and upper fork ears are supposed to be painted in black and the tank emblems are supposed to be infilled with white paint.

Thanks Allen.
I have the proper fender for the front, but I couldn't find the seat trim in any usable shape... so I recovered the seat using buttons (70's style) and actually the 69 did have tank decals (gold)

came in that blue or metallic silver.

it seams at some point the PO of my bike upgraded to the 70's body (fenders and all) besides not finding the seat trim I have acquired the necessary parts to return it to "mostly" a 69...
I have the NOS taillight but I have mounted a different one that I find more visually appealing (you know, personal touches)

Ok so youve got it all covered then Keith, i knew youd have done your research.
BTW i do have a pair of those indicators in very decent shape if youre intersted in them.
OR better yet i also have some NOS ones.

Well its been awhile since I updated you guy's on the Honda, in fact since the last time I was in Holland for a month and had since let the project slide... but some late nights over the last couple weeks have shown progress
wheels rebuilt and ready to go


fresh set of coils as per specs from the Honda twins forum

new tapered bearings and reassembled triple tree

It rolls!

and finally its back in the garage and the fresh wire harness is now temporarily in place

Well here it is all done!




for those familiar with the bike I did make some changes, had her out for her first run today and she sounds great and pulls hard but I still need to fine tune the carbs.

Beautifully done, but I do have to say that I much prefer the original taillight?
That light is actually fairly rare, being only on the 1968 Model 350 (and I guess) on the 1968/69 450s? The HD light you've thrown on their looks good, but I (as a long time vintage Honda Twin fan) must say the original light will be far superior!

Beautiful!

evol02 wrote:Beautifully done, but I do have to say that I much prefer the original taillight?
That light is actually fairly rare, being only on the 1968 Model 350 (and I guess) on the 1968/69 450s? The HD light you've thrown on their looks good, but I (as a long time vintage Honda Twin fan) must say the original light will be far superior!

Beautiful!

Well then it will make you happy to know that I do have the original tail light in NOS condition because even tho I made the change I felt that I should have all the parts needed to make the bike stock. I also have the correct heat shield for the 69 (two piece, not one) along with the stock handle bars the only thing that I don't have to make the bike "correct" is the seat trim.

what fantastic job you have made of that bike.
well done.

Super nice Job!!!!! Didn't know the bike could be made to look so good.

Odin wrote: Well then it will make you happy to know that I do have the original tail light in NOS condition because even tho I made the change I felt that I should have all the parts needed to make the bike stock. I also have the correct heat shield for the 69 (two piece, not one) along with the stock handle bars the only thing that I don't have to make the bike "correct" is the seat trim.

Odin,
Sorry! Not trying to razz you, I'm the last person to be a purist! I'll toss up some pics of my 350 in the near future. I had a few 450s and none of them ever looking anywhere near as good as that puppy!
I'm very keen on the one piece heat shield, very cool!

No worries, I know you weren't razzing me. There is a part of me that is a purist and thats why I have the the correct parts (even if I don't use them)