Honda CL350: Resto complete and first ride!

First, This film was made across a couple of incredibly windy days and I had to mess with the sound across several sections of the film to bring it to a reasonable level. On the ride out the bike was blown all over the road so I kept it pretty short.
This CL had been owned by someone with enough knowledge to run it without a starter mechanism yet clumsy enough to over tighten bolts 'til they sheared off. With just 13000 miles showing I was hopeful that it would all come back without major surgery and so it has transpired.
I hope you like the bike.
In the film we'll do a short precis of cosmetic work done to get it this far-I hope you'll have seen the starter stuff in previous vids, we'll paint up the tach and speedo and take a chance on the late January weather with that ride out.
If you have or know of any bikes that would make a good story or that might be for sale, please contact me on [e-mail] and if you like bike stuff ( why else would you be watching?) please give me a thumbs up and SUBSCRIBE to my channel .
Thanks, Rod

[@Bassman1999]

Great video Rod...I really enjoy these. The bike turned out great !

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Thanks Keith. I'm starting another tomorrow so should have tale of woe/resounding success to report on the across the next days.

[@edwardmulder3777]

Yep, ur rite, uve turned it back into a lovely looking bike, another success

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Getting down to the rougher ones now...all bets off. :0)

[@mikeg8035]

excellent video

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Hi Mike. Thanks for watching and hope you enjoy the bikes and can tolerate my terrible commentary.

[@GTMarmot]

Nice bike. I prefer the looks of those to the CB350

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Me too. Nothing the matter with the CB but it's just a little "square" compared to the stylish and sexy CL. They're both beautifully engineered however, like all the 60's and early 70s Hondas. Build quality like nothing else -Its why there's still so many around.

[@GTMarmot]

@@rodcurrieclassics8102 Yes, the CL's got the best looks of the family. However, I also have a soft spot for the late 1980s CB350SG. That was a looker, although in a different way.

[@edwardmulder3777]

Prhaps ya could replace the front fork oil with thicker oil

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Hey Edward. Already did that. The rear shocks look great but riDing the bike is like being on a pogo stick..just no damping left the rear. I have a pair here. I can buy them about £50 ($70) a pair so it won't break the bank. Thanks for watching, Sir.

[@alwood9148]

hi mate curious hard to find cl parts in OZ just wondering about for instruments sorry cant find a web address for u,alan gotta love these tough bikes

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Hey Al. Thanks for watching from Oz. Wet and dry and Autosol will do it but it's a labour of love eh? I have some vids on polishing with sisal wheels that go into your pistol drill and polishing compound. They really take the endless hard work out of it and give you a top result. I think one of the vids is called "polishing Honda cases" so have a look. if you can't find it I'll send you the link tho' I do show polishing fork legs on a CL on one of the others.. The clocks are the same as the CB 250/CB and CL 350/CB and CL 450 and most everything below 500....even the CB/CL 175.We have tons of them here. My email is rodcurrie88@gmail com. Mail me and I'm sure I can get you some instruments . The post might be a killer though. get in touch if you want a hand. Happy New year Sir, Rod

[@willmorison]

Hi, really enjoy your videos. I have a 1971 CL350. Same issues as with the CL in your video. Also got low compression so likely needs a rebore and piston rings. What tyres are those on the CL in this video? Thanks.

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Hi Will. I can't remember what they were but honestly I don't recommend trails tyres as they're noisy and don't track as well as a decent road tyre. This bike came with the tyres you see and they were new. I fit period correct Kendas to my CL 350s and they're super, steer really sweetly and are cheap enough too. Sorry if its not what you want hear. I also wouldn't recommend taking these bikes on anything more testing than a fire trail...they haven't the suspension travel and have no guarding for the engine or cables etc. They're lovely little road bikes though and for a back road there's nothing nicer. Thanks for watching

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

If it doesn't run..try to get it running the compression may well come back with a little settling of valves etc. if it does run but still has poor compression,...yup...its have a look inside time.

[@willmorison]

​@rodcurrieclassics8102 Thanks for answering. It's running but with low power. Also one exhaust running hotter than the other and seems to have the starter clutch issue you described. Old bikes eh... Your videos are brilliant 👏

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Hi Will. The starter clutch thing on CLs is something I come across once in every half dozen bikes. My experience of putting kits in to repair them isn't great but you'll be able to grab a used one from DK on Ebay. Get he best one you can find as taking them down a few times getting annoying. Re: the poor running , check the tappets to ensure the valves aren't too tight -they run at VERY tight tolerances...2 thou inlet, 4 thou exhaust so a little overtight may make it lose compression through the valve face and eventually burn the valve out. Once you've done that do a compression test and let's see what you come back with. Best, Rod

[@willmorison]

Thank you.

[@DAVIDLANE-nt2gz]

i am look for a manal petcock 52 mm across for a kz1000p police morot bike with no joy . most of the manual petcock are to small

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

Where are you based David? U.S or U.K?

[@DAVIDLANE-nt2gz]

barkeley uk

[@rodcurrieclassics8102]

I have a large tap of the vacuum type. Works fine but unsure if it'll fit your bike. Ping me a mail to [e-mail] if you're interested and we can carry this chat on there