ProducerBill
Member
That is an amazing transformation. Where did you get that exhaust? It looks like a work of art.
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Before and After - show the results of your hard work
- Thread starter ancientdad
- Start date
Unfortunately Bill, the OP (original poster) of the picture(s) you're commenting on has no idea you're asking him a question (nor do the rest of us know whose bike you mean). But if you use the button "Reply With Quote" under the post you're referring to, then the OP and the rest of us will know. Just FYI, and there's more about this stuff in this thread below, part of your Welcome Package in my reply to your introduction.
https://www.vintagehondatwins.com/forums/showthread.php?343-VHT-Forum-Navigation-tips
Tracks450
Veteran Member
October 2022
May 2023
May 2023
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ETechLabs
New Member
Just finished rebuilding this 1969-1970 Honda CB350 K2 Super Sport.
Custom paint job with Rally Blue and white stripes, topped with silver/sky blue mica pearl coat, and lots of clear
Brake and indicator lights are aftermarket and upgraded to LED
The original fenders didn't come with it when I bought it so it has a custom rear shorty fender from Lowbrow Customs
Lastly I have it geared it as low as I can go with chain sprockets 17/34 (2.0 Ratio) as I like the more relaxed lower rpm cruising and a higher top speed on the highway
Custom paint job with Rally Blue and white stripes, topped with silver/sky blue mica pearl coat, and lots of clear
Brake and indicator lights are aftermarket and upgraded to LED
The original fenders didn't come with it when I bought it so it has a custom rear shorty fender from Lowbrow Customs
Lastly I have it geared it as low as I can go with chain sprockets 17/34 (2.0 Ratio) as I like the more relaxed lower rpm cruising and a higher top speed on the highway
Looks good Elliot but you do want a front fender or fork brace. It keeps both fork sliders working in parallel rather than independently which can get a bit unnerving on tight bumpy turns, feels like the front wheel is flexing and won't grip. It'll be really noticeable if you ride up to Alice's Restaurant.
Yep, and put a bolt in the front hole of the chain guard too, they love to crack from vibration when allowed to wiggle.
1969 CL350
Veteran Member
They’ll actually crack when they’re bolted down correctly, too…lol
dcee
Member
bought this non-running 1968 cl175 3 or 4 years ago (my first twin) ...
then finally got inspired to start work on it a few months ago and here's how it sits now.
then finally got inspired to start work on it a few months ago and here's how it sits now.
ballbearian
Veteran Member
You really went the distance on that lil' sloper. Looks beautiful. Are you going to re-do that seat? I did one like it and it was soooo worth it.
Too bad about the muffler missing, that must be loud unless you have some baffles in there. 
I just sold a complete solid 1968 CL175 exhaust system with heat shield for that exact motor that I refurbished and repainted a semi gloss black.
Thought about listing it here initially, yet shipping would be a factor with the size and cross border destination.
I just sold a complete solid 1968 CL175 exhaust system with heat shield for that exact motor that I refurbished and repainted a semi gloss black.Thought about listing it here initially, yet shipping would be a factor with the size and cross border destination.
dcee
Member
Thanks for the kind words. The original seat foam was crumbley and made a nice mess. So I pulled all of it out and made a decent attempt to refoam it. It’s obviously not the best but I’ll eventually try it again one day. Getting the shape right prior to putting the springs on seemed to be fairly tricky.
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dcee
Member
Too bad about the muffler missing, that must be loud unless you have some baffles in there.
Thought about listing it here initially, yet shipping would be a factor with the size and cross border destination.
Ya I had cut the muffler off cuz there were good size holes in it, then regretted doing it cuz it ran worse and was unbearably loud. So I riveted some Amazon baffles I made to fit in there and now the bike sounds and runs much better.
You'll want to replace those rivets very soon with bolts, the vibration will kill the rivets and they'll go missing on the road somewhere.
ballbearian
Veteran Member
Don't know if you saw my recent post on spring seat refurbishing.
Spring seat refurbish - Dream, CA77 (vintagehondatwins.com)
If you can find some cushion backed vinyl flooring to put against the springs then get one of those dense gardeners kneeling pads and then some regular upholstery foam. You can then build up descending density layers and re-use or get a new cover.
I did all shaping of those materials with a new flap sanding disc.
The recycled gymnasium flooring was perfect to isolate the springs. I think this was key to the job. I still have a roll of that flooring so if you can't find anything like that local, let me know.
Spring seat refurbish - Dream, CA77 (vintagehondatwins.com)
If you can find some cushion backed vinyl flooring to put against the springs then get one of those dense gardeners kneeling pads and then some regular upholstery foam. You can then build up descending density layers and re-use or get a new cover.
I did all shaping of those materials with a new flap sanding disc.
The recycled gymnasium flooring was perfect to isolate the springs. I think this was key to the job. I still have a roll of that flooring so if you can't find anything like that local, let me know.
dcee
Member
Ah thanks for sharing! Will definitely use this reference whenever I decide to redo the seat. Your work turned out amazing
ballbearian
Veteran Member
Ah thanks for sharing! Will definitely use this reference whenever I decide to redo the seat. Your work turned out amazing
I forgot to say that yoga mats are a good source of denser foam for the middle layers.
Wow Tony, that's quite the transformation. A lot of hard work there for sure, well done.
Revv Up
Member
1969 CL350
Veteran Member
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Revv Up
Member
I have a decent powder coating setup so I decide to try that and bought the white decal material from a local sign shop and cut it myself. The powder came out OK for a rider but definitely not for a concours restoration and it was extremely difficult so I wouldn’t do it again. By the time it was done I had to strip the cured powder off 3 times and reshoot before it became just acceptable, the rest of the red components were pretty flawless first shoot
Well it looks great and a nice transformation. The frames can be shot with rattle can paint mixed at a body shop supply house. Which is a better quality both in terms of the paint material and the spray nozzle on the can. Powder is nice too, yet it has gotten quite expensive around here now. I find paint is still quite good if prepared well and much cheaper cost wise and can be touched up if needed.
Skied in your area numerous times in the past and loved the snow and the people.
Skied in your area numerous times in the past and loved the snow and the people.
1973gts
Veteran Member
My first bike was a 1971 SL350 I bought new right out of high school. I really liked that bike and always wanted to have another one. Over time I accumulated three non running SL's, two K1's and a K2. The first bike I restored was the K2. The first picture is the K2 when I got it. The build was put on hold a few times but was finished about 3 years ago.
tmeric7
Member
Here is a link to my thread, if I got it right.
My before picture is 5+ years ago. Add grime, dirt, a ripped seat, battery acid etching on RH muffler, and a lot of aging from sitting in a barn (it didn't look this good!):
After:
My before picture is 5+ years ago. Add grime, dirt, a ripped seat, battery acid etching on RH muffler, and a lot of aging from sitting in a barn (it didn't look this good!):
After:
Mydlyfkryzis
Supporting Member
I am back! Life got in the way of riding and posting, but I have been able to resume some of my favorite activities that had a 4 year Hiatus. I am going to repost what I think is my best project info, but for now, I wanted to show the before and after of my present CB360t.
Before: 24 years untouched in my damp basement. Was purchased in 1979 and sent to the dungeon in 1988. I rode frequently up to 1988, when I moved and bought a house. Then a new house kind of bankrupted me for a while and the poor thing sat in the dark.
After: Spent way too much money on parts, never mind labor. But as a long time owner, the bike was a labor of love, and I restored her for sentimental reasons, not direct value. With electronic ignition, an improved Rectifier/Regulator and LED headlights, she runs well to this day. All she needs this year are some new shoes, already here, waiting for better weather. I restored a lot of parts, but the engine is still original, the battery is now 7 years old and still working great (Thank you Battery Tender Jr and Sonreir's Reg/rect). The improvements (to be listed later) really helped. She runs and handles better than she did when I bought her in 1979. It took time, but was worth it.
Before: 24 years untouched in my damp basement. Was purchased in 1979 and sent to the dungeon in 1988. I rode frequently up to 1988, when I moved and bought a house. Then a new house kind of bankrupted me for a while and the poor thing sat in the dark.
After: Spent way too much money on parts, never mind labor. But as a long time owner, the bike was a labor of love, and I restored her for sentimental reasons, not direct value. With electronic ignition, an improved Rectifier/Regulator and LED headlights, she runs well to this day. All she needs this year are some new shoes, already here, waiting for better weather. I restored a lot of parts, but the engine is still original, the battery is now 7 years old and still working great (Thank you Battery Tender Jr and Sonreir's Reg/rect). The improvements (to be listed later) really helped. She runs and handles better than she did when I bought her in 1979. It took time, but was worth it.
fxray
Veteran Member
Here are some before and after pictures, even though I still have a little work to do yet. Had first startup earlier this week and it runs and rides just fine! It has been quite a long journey. I wrote a couple of threads about it on here, but no full build thread.
[Edit 6/23/2024] After getting a dab of Tig weld added to the stop on the kickstarter this morning, the kickstart lever no longer retracts far enough to foul the side cover, so I put the kicker and side cover back on and added this picture of the RH side of the bike.
[Edit 6/23/2024] After getting a dab of Tig weld added to the stop on the kickstarter this morning, the kickstart lever no longer retracts far enough to foul the side cover, so I put the kicker and side cover back on and added this picture of the RH side of the bike.
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ausman1000
Veteran Member
Wow that looks wonderful! Lots of bling going on there and very OEM. You must be very proud of yourself
Revv Up
Member
Very very nice!
That CB450T Rider
Member
Gorgeous bike man, just bought a 450t, what handlebars are those? How were the quality of the Z1's? I'm looking at the clubmans for mine for a bit of a more aggressive stance.
cheddarGoblin
Well-known Member
This project was mostly about getting it running and functional again. It was a lot of cleaning the crust and rust. I did paint the tank to try to get it looking original again. I learned a ton from this project. Whenever I ride it, someone always takes interest in it.
bilbikek411
Veteran Member
The nice parts you installed on this sweet machine;especially the Seat and side covers makes me enjoy reading the factory Honda side cover decals in script CUSTOM
Here is my latest addition to the road fleet as I acquired it 5 years ago from the original owner and a very original bike with 7500 kilometers and off the road for 42 years. It took some extensive clean up initially to get it looking like it does presently. I did spend quite a bit of time getting it running again with a carb rebuild and new tires and a AGM battery.
I fixed and sold the original exhaust as they had two small rot holes in the top rear mufflers underneath and replaced both rims with new DID originals. I was fortunate to find a NOS original Honda exhaust at a Ontario Honda dealer and the DID rims are still available from suppliers
It runs quite well now and is really tight as a low kilometer original bike. I am considering replacing the points ignition with a Newtronics CKT-H04 system over the winter.
As I brought it home 5 years ago still with the original Bridgestone factory tires and totally unmolested.
As it looks today after 1500 kilometers of riding recently this past month.
I fixed and sold the original exhaust as they had two small rot holes in the top rear mufflers underneath and replaced both rims with new DID originals. I was fortunate to find a NOS original Honda exhaust at a Ontario Honda dealer and the DID rims are still available from suppliers
It runs quite well now and is really tight as a low kilometer original bike. I am considering replacing the points ignition with a Newtronics CKT-H04 system over the winter.
As I brought it home 5 years ago still with the original Bridgestone factory tires and totally unmolested.
As it looks today after 1500 kilometers of riding recently this past month.
Ah, the sight of original, undisturbed assembly line yellow paint dabbed on various assembled parts from the factory.
Not sure whatever happened to the instructions of "in this section let's post 1 before and 1 after picture of your bike" in the first post of this thread though...
Not sure whatever happened to the instructions of "in this section let's post 1 before and 1 after picture of your bike" in the first post of this thread though...
Gotta get both sides!Ah, the sight of original, undisturbed assembly line yellow paint dabbed on various assembled parts from the factory.
Not sure whatever happened to the instructions of "in this section let's post 1 before and 1 after picture of your bike" in the first post of this thread though...
Denny K
Veteran Member
Great find. Before you replace the stock ignition take a look at the SOHC4 Forum and Hondaman’s ignition. Works great and is less money and uses the existing point.
Michael Kaleyta
Member
I love the before and after stories. Here is the short picture - story of my Honda cb 100. It was a present from my brother. Thanks again
It was my first restoration project.
Just two years later, this bike is driving reliably through the streets of Berlin
Good night and have a nice weekend. Tomorrow I will continue the next cb 450 project
It was my first restoration project.
Just two years later, this bike is driving reliably through the streets of Berlin
Good night and have a nice weekend. Tomorrow I will continue the next cb 450 project
jensen
Veteran Member
Done nicely, nice color as well. The idling is a little high, even for a single.
A 1973 CB350F that I restored about 10 years ago and sold To a nice young couple from the Ottawa area. It was for his wife, as the husband had a Honda CB400F as his bike. The MAC exhaust came with the bike as purchased which was a runner and required no real motor work internally. Everything else was rebuilt or refreshed though. I did ride it for a few months, yet found it too small for my needs and riding area.
BEFORE AS BOUGHT:
AFTERWARDS A NEW BIKE WITH A NEW FEMALE RIDER.
BEFORE AS BOUGHT:
AFTERWARDS A NEW BIKE WITH A NEW FEMALE RIDER.
bilbikek411
Veteran Member
This bike came to you in good condition?A 1973 CB350F that I restored about 10 years ago and sold To a nice young couple from the Ottawa area. It was for his wife, as the husband had a Honda CB400F as his bike. The MAC exhaust came with the bike as purchased which was a runner and required no real motor work internally. Everything else was rebuilt or refreshed though. I did ride it for a few months, yet found it too small for my needs and riding area.
BEFORE AS BOUGHT:
View attachment 41401View attachment 41402
AFTERWARDS A NEW BIKE WITH A NEW FEMALE RIDER.
View attachment 41403View attachment 41404
I imagine it was kept inside
ballbearian
Veteran Member
Beautiful job Dave. The gauges went from black to silver. Is that usual?A 1973 CB350F that I restored about 10 years ago and sold To a nice young couple from the Ottawa area. It was for his wife, as the husband had a Honda CB400F as his bike. The MAC exhaust came with the bike as purchased which was a runner and required no real motor work internally. Everything else was rebuilt or refreshed though. I did ride it for a few months, yet found it too small for my needs and riding area.
BEFORE AS BOUGHT:
AFTERWARDS A NEW BIKE WITH A NEW FEMALE RIDER.
It was sun faded on the original red paint so it wasn’t salvageable. I repainted it Molten Metallic Red with a clearcoat. The aluminum had the usual deterioration of the finish with oxidation etc. I don’t know the history prior to the purchase, yet it likely had some indoor storage in its life.This bike came to you in good condition?
I imagine it was kept inside
The Ottawa couple found a NOS exhaust in Quebec to replace the loud MAC system about a year later.
BB good catch….the gauges are my little extra touches as I changed the colour from black to silver.
You can’t see it very well in the pictures, yet I also painted the centre sections of both of the chrome fenders. The chrome was still decent on the edges, yet aged on the top area. My solution was a black section of paint with a wide chrome strip of pinstripe tape. It looked much better than the faded chrome and another custom touch.That white seat edging was the underneath colour of the original silver seat band that had deteriorated and become all crazed. I just sanded it down to the white base colour and called it good.
This was also the first engine it did engine fin rebuilds with TECHSTEEL epoxy where a couple of fins had chipped off. It stood up well from the reports back from the couple with them still intact after a few years of use.
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jensen
Veteran Member
Nice little CB350F, very nice restoration. The polished clutch / generator / sprocket cover do look as if it was intended by Soichiro Honda.
Michael Kaleyta
Member
This was the first start in twenty years. The motorcycle ran after the second kick. The idle speed is now set lower.
Rizingson
Well-known Member
My 1968 CL175 K0
As purchased
After restoration and color change
As purchased
After restoration and color change
Rizingson
Well-known Member
Here's another before and after taken in the same place, a popular twin but not Honda...oops! 1966 Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler
As purchased 7/2015
After restoration 11/2016
As purchased 7/2015
After restoration 11/2016
bilbikek411
Veteran Member
NICE !!
I never have known a person who rode one of these around but I'm still curious.
Have you ever ridden one of these on trails or in the woods/dirt back in the day?
How do they do in the soft stuff ? a mid-range powerband ?
Rizingson
Well-known Member
I've never ridden it off road or even in my field, just on pavement. As far as performance, it is typical of a piston port 2 stroke of that size. This year still had the 3 port design. They are just too heavy to be considered a real scrambler and very wide, best described as sitting on a barrel. The cackle sound they make is the big draw for my (and many others apparently) wanting one since the '60s when I was still in High School. An older kid (Fonzie type) used to ride past my school, turn the corner and go through the gears almost daily. Sitting in study hall and listening to those pipes for a couple of blocks, convinced me I wanted one some day. I've written a review of the model a few years ago and will try to post more info on this site later.NICE !!
I never have known a person who rode one of these around but I'm still curious.
Have you ever ridden one of these on trails or in the woods/dirt back in the day?
How do they do in the soft stuff ? a mid-range powerband ?
Bobs twin
Veteran Member
That 450 would be a perfect bike, in my opinion, very nice!Waking up this thread because I know we have a lot more finished projects here at VHT that need to be represented in the Before and After category.
bob