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Post a picture of your Vintage Honda Twin!
- Thread starter 1969 CL350
- Start date
Nice! That looks like a Honda advertisement from back then ("you meet the nicest people...")
Makes it easier to find and maintain blockage of the light beams to the photo-electric "eyes" that specify correct positioning ("Staged") at the "start" line at the dragstrip.......
IF you failed to maintain the blockage of the beam by moving forward too early or too far, you "fouled " (red-lighted) and were disqualified......
Thanks, it was one of the better versions of the bike during a 3 or so year period. Actually, it was duct tape and many have asked the same question. At the time, there were instances at some tracks where the spoked front rims weren't able to break the light beam at the end of the track so we learned to put a row of duct tape on the spokes to make the height of the side of the wheel a bit "taller" to help with that. You hate to make a run and go back to the booth at the end of the track only to be told they got no ET and/or speed on you.
This is my CB450 project, which is almost alive now. Its a bit of a frankenstein but I love it. K0 frame wheels speedo, k1 forks and tank, CL450 engine, mikuni vm32 carbs, hagon rear shocks. Started it up for the first time today with just the headers on, what a beast! I've got a good original seat pan and a local leather worker is going to upholster it for me.
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And looks to have a K0 alternator cover too. I love the toaster tank, wish I had one for my bike as a second tank.
I assume you mean drag racing - yes, once you do it, it gets in your blood. I still enjoy going to the track even when I'm not making runs, IMO there are few things more wonderful sounding than a heavily cammed-up V-8 engine with open headers... except maybe a CBX with 6 into 6 pipes.
As a side note, when there are more than a few involved in a thread and you want to be sure the member you're responding to knows the post is intended for them, use the "Reply With Quote" button and it will look like my replies above
I bought a pretty trashed K1 for a reasonable price and managed to salvage a few parts from it including the forks and tank, which under the yucky brown/gold paint was in good nick.. They don't come around too often.
I wish I could find a K1 for a reasonable price!
I assume you mean drag racing - yes, once you do it, it gets in your blood. I still enjoy going to the track even when I'm not making runs, IMO there are few things more wonderful sounding than a heavily cammed-up V-8 engine with open headers... except maybe a CBX with 6 into 6 pipes.
As a side note, when there are more than a few involved in a thread and you want to be sure the member you're responding to knows the post is intended for them, use the "Reply With Quote" button and it will look like my replies above
OK cool, yea I always seem to instinctively delete the quote, I will restrain myself
I know, I was surprised myself. It was on a Honda parts site, used bikes page for a while, here in UK, and I made them an offer and they accepted straight away. A lot of it was NG though
I'm sure, considering their age (much like Bombers) which would be my biggest hurdle in owning one of either - expensive and hard to find parts, not quite so much for the K1 but certain things. I don't know who I'm fooling anyway, even if I had the extra money I really don't have space for one.
1969 CL350
Veteran Member
I think that both the K1 CB and CL models are some of the best looking Hondas ever made.
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Absolutely agree!...But have to add the 450 D model for its' tank...
(But, is it a CB without the chrome, a CL with additional knee-pads, or the best of both?)
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jensen
Veteran Member
Don't forget the CB72 / 77, I really like those, only the size is, let's say, somewhat Japanese.
And bored to 350 CC and X't gears, it's smoother then a CB450 K0 (not faster). Both engines are a joy to look at and work on,
Yes they look great, never seen one outside of cyberspace though. I imagine they’re quite rare.?
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jensen
Veteran Member
Both bikes are quite rare, I really don't know which one is the rarest, but I know that the CB450 K0 is more sought for, thus / and value is higher.
At the moment, working on a CB72, an in-between model, that means partly '61 and partly '62 features. Very hard to restore, because the parts manual is useless.
An in-between model is build on a CB72'62 frame, an '61 engine, and the rest is of the parts where taken to empty the stock. And if the stock was empty, well, they added '62 parts, or even CB92'59 parts like the add-on winkler switch.
Winker relay mounted to the frame:
At the moment, working on a CB72, an in-between model, that means partly '61 and partly '62 features. Very hard to restore, because the parts manual is useless.
An in-between model is build on a CB72'62 frame, an '61 engine, and the rest is of the parts where taken to empty the stock. And if the stock was empty, well, they added '62 parts, or even CB92'59 parts like the add-on winkler switch.
Winker relay mounted to the frame:
That's interesting - and a double leading shoe rear brake too.
Nice bike, that blue frame is cool.
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Yes, the passenger peg mounts on the K0 are tube steel, later models are pressed steel. Gives the Bomber frame a real old school vintage look. Add the large fenders, headlight/speedo como, "toaster" tank, and weird seat and it's just the coolest looking of the breed.
That being said I have a K1 and a K2 and they are my faves.
Yeah, you have the trifecta of DOHC 450s, the best trio for sure.
jensen
Veteran Member
Although I have a CB450 K1 and K2, and a CB400F (almost the same line-up as yours), except I don't have a CL77, but CB72's and 77's, I prefer the CB450 K0 as a daily rider.
I don't miss the fifth gear, and I got used to the strange torque build-up. It's compact, doesn't vibrate as the later engines, and it's bullet proof. The crank of the four speed is stronger, and will stay straight, even under heavy loads.
Since I use the bike for longer highway rides, those things are becoming important. Doing 130 km/hour (80 mls/hr) at 6000 rpm over a longer stretch of highway, it vibrates less then the 5000 rpm at the same speed with a 5 speed engine.
Yes, I could take the CB400f for those rides, but the CB450 K0 is more fun, but if going further then 200 km ride, I'll go for the CB400F, it's more comfortable over time.
^^^Very nice, and in beautiful condition.
tomeben
Veteran Member
Sure don’t see one of those very often, or I don’t. Very nice!
Yeah, I've never seen that color combo 500T on the road in my area. Really, I've never even seen a 500T in person except at Barber, regardless of color.
As far as I know the color was a result of the fact that the brown did not sell very well in europe in 1975, Honda tried to improve by offering the red and orange color next year. The big succes did not happen even now. I guess marked was looking for more than two cylinder at the time But these days the interest for the model is increasing.
But these days the interest for the model is increasing.
As it seems with many things... "what was once old is now new again". We thought the Bomber looked ugly when it came out, but now they're a prized collectible. Who knew? Wish I had, I'd have bought a few of them when you could get them for hundreds of dollars instead of thousands like today.
1969 CL350
Veteran Member
Fresh pic of my 350. Just finished wiping the dust off to ride it to breakfast in the morning.
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Fifty5
Veteran Member
After 6 days of rain, the SL350 finally ventured outside.
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Looking good.
tomeben
Veteran Member
Good looking bike. I like the headers and exhaust in black, works well.
REDDUC
New Member
My 1968 K1
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tomeben
Veteran Member
^^^
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
HerrDeacon
Veteran Member
Beautiful bike!
Fifty5
Veteran Member
And the red ones had a red frame. This is one of my 1965 restorations. Look at the odometer. That is the actual mileage since new.
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FrisianWheel
Veteran Member
Wow, the SL and the Super Hawk look immaculate. Beautiful work!
That's one of the nicest-looking bikes Honda ever made, and red fits it perfectly. Beauty.
Nice ride on a beautiful bike (well, the bars aren't my favorite :neutral: )
Fifty5
Veteran Member
That is disappointing to hear. I had ape hangers on my Cushman. Just wish I had pictures. Ha. Ha.
And, yes, that CB looks good and the scenery fits it well. I just hope ol' Number 97 locomotive doesn't make a surprise appearance and ruin what looks like a great day.
And, yes, that CB looks good and the scenery fits it well. I just hope ol' Number 97 locomotive doesn't make a surprise appearance and ruin what looks like a great day.
HerrDeacon
Veteran Member
I love early morning rides too, great pictures, bike looks great!
Tom, apes were on it when I purchased... not my favorite and I have an original set of bars just too lazy to change to date.:biggrin:
Fifty5, I promise ....seldom used track....I gave a good listen before parking on the track....about as dangerous as my life gets !!!
HerrD, mornings are the best !!!
Fifty5, I promise ....seldom used track....I gave a good listen before parking on the track....about as dangerous as my life gets !!!
HerrD, mornings are the best !!!
I hear you on the PITA of changing bars with internal wiring. Hard to tell in the picture if the PO extended the wires and ran them inside or not. Other than that, the bike looks so original and in excellent condition it's great.
And I noticed the key was on in the railroad track shot in case you had to make a quick getaway...
Randall
Veteran Member
My '82 CM450E with 6K miles, on a beach in Sanibel Island, FL. About an hour later, a 4' bright green iguana came into the road in front of me. Don't let anyone tell you those guys can't go real fast when they want to, and if they are warm enough.
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