1970 Honda SL100

Clutch Cargo

Clutch Cargo

Veteran Member
Joined
May 7, 2021
Total Posts
449
Total likes
7
Location
Pearland, Texas, USA
Scattered about other threads, I have mentioned my current restoration project. This is my 1970 SL100 that I have owned since new. As a Christmas present from my parents, it has always been a special bike, to me. The only bike I have never sold, over the years. I did a half-hearted restoration in the late 80s. Not sure why I thought painting the frame black, instead of the stock Cloud Silver, was a good idea at the time. So, an error in judgment that I wanted to correct this time around. The poor thing has sat, relegated to the corner, as I restored other bikes. I finally decided that it was time for the SL100 to take a turn.

Fortunate to have a photo of my Dad (long deceased) riding the bike in about 1972-73.
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Probably 2005, or so...
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Current restoration...
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The valves certainly needed some attention.
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I reckon this is where the slight smoking was coming from!
New valve guide seal to the rescue.
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Thanks to PartZilla and CMSNL for taking my money...
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The SL100s new Big Brother in the background!
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Clutch Cargo said:
This is my 1970 SL100 that I have owned since new.
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Impressive work, and I can’t imagine how glad you are you kept it all these years! That array of parts bags makes my logical, list making (a bit ocd) brain a wee bit dizzy.


Tom - 1982 CM450E
(“Noob”, but learning fast!)
 
Looking really good Darrell, better than it did new. It's always fun to open NOS parts bags. Looking forward to seeing the completed bike.
 
Clutch, I know you cherish that first photo of your Dad. The bike looks awesome!! Looking forward to watching you finish it.
 
Having discussed the value of having the picture of my Dad, on the bike, I was blown away upon discovering this old home movie footage of my Grandfather riding this bike! When I do restorations, I like to capture progress photos, and turn them into a VLOG of the process. I figured that there was no better way to begin the video than with this short piece a footage.

 
Clutch Cargo said:
I figured that there was no better way to begin the video than with this short piece a footage.
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Heartwarming, beautiful, priceless… and you still have the bike. Whatever brings you joy, she tells me often; that would sure do it. I’m happy for you!
 
Clutch Cargo said:
The pending SL175 crash was unfortunately cut short! :)
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Thanks, like yours those and others are great memories for me. If my reaction time had been quicker you'd have seen even less of it. It took me a couple seconds seeing it in the viewfinder to realize his left foot slipped off the peg when the front end came up and he ended up laid out over the bike, taillight between his legs (ouch). He also hit his head on the handlebars once the bike went down and got up seeing double for a minute or two. He needed minor surgery for hydrocele a few months later as a result of the blast in the package. Mom even got a little squirrely on one of those uphill moments but she rarely fell.
 
Now that is cool, a bike with some real family history. Your grandfather looked like Enzo Ferrari in the video :)
 
Clutch Cargo said:
Ha. Never thought about it. He was a very interesting man. The proverbial tough as nails and rough as sandpaper, do anything, and don't tell me I can't. All handed down through my dad, an me.
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It's certainly a good feeling, glad you had that around you when you were young. My father's father was that guy and I was fortunate to have all that and more available to me from my father (unfortunately I was never able to meet my grandfather, he passed 2 months before I was born). I didn't have the passion for some of it like he did (body work and in-depth painting) but I feel blessed to have the mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting logic he passed down to me along with the creativity to figure out a solution using what you have on hand most of the time. It's been invaluable to me over my lifetime.
 
ancientdad said:
I feel blessed to have the mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting logic he passed down to me along with the creativity to figure out a solution using what you have on hand most of the time. It's been invaluable to me over my lifetime.
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Too well said. I tried my best to pass it to my son, as well, but the mechanical just didn't take. Fortunately, the computer/tech side of it did.
 
Hi Darrell
How is the Sl100 project going have you been able to complete this bike yet
Last post I have seen of this bike was sitting on the box with the engine fitted into the frame
was looking good at that stage

Looking for your update and pictures

Thanks Chris Shelton
 
Chris SL350 AUS said:
Hi Darrell
How is the Sl100 project going have you been able to complete this bike yet
Last post I have seen of this bike was sitting on the box with the engine fitted into the frame
was looking good at that stage

Looking for your update and pictures

Thanks Chris Shelton
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You may not get an answer from him Chris, he got discouraged with VHT and left.
 
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