2strokeTRush
New Member
Whats up guys, My names Tyler Ill start off with a little back story and then get right to it. I have been into the Vintage motorcycle scene since I was 17, building and restoring a few SOHC4 Hondas, and thus got familiar with them. Im now 23 and haven't had a bike since I sold mine to pay my way through trade school. Im a Marine Mechanic in Baltimore. I just bought my first house a year ago and my wife and I are expecting a child mid July. Since boat mechanics Don't work during the winter i picked up a little project to keep me busy. Something different from what I am used to, but familiar enough not to be in the dark completely.
Even though its been 2 years since I sold off my bikes Im always looking online and a few weeks back I found a posting listed with a 1974 Honda Xl350. No title, non running, but complete and very close to me. I think I did ok on it, 300$. I am a big outdoorsmen love to camp,offroad, fish and hunt, so having a bike that i Could take with me on some off road adventures seemed right. yet still be able to drive around town and work.
In the past I have done mild restorations, full restorations and just ridden bikes with factory " Patina " so naturally building a bike with a little custom touch of my own fit the bill just right. I would like to take this bike to a tracker/scrambler. Keeping the original lines of the bike, just adding a few touches of my own. Thinking of something like a Woods Tracker, something I can cruise on a friday afternoon around town, and then take with me camping for the weekend and ride a few dirt roads somewhere.
When I got it home the motor was locked up and the battery hadn't been touched since the 80's. Odometer shows around 6K miles and the bike seems fairly clean for being outside when the PO found it. Right away I poured some Marvels Mystery Oil in the plug hole and soaked some steel wool down to get off some light oxidation. right away the tank cleaned up, side covers looked better and rims started to shine, all good signs. I took the seat ( With no rips ) inside and got the material hot with a heat gun and used some Armor All on it and it cleaned up great. Im going to be building her in my shed the next few months.
The exhaust is trash, rusted through at the muffler, Im thinking a pipe from XLint Performance with a upswept pipe would look good. Didn't really like the stock exhaust anyway. Didn't get a key with the sale, but one of my spare keys I kept from other hondas fit and works! The tank is dent free and beautiful, besides rust under the clear coat. Not sure what I'm going to do. the blue is flawless. The side covers are in good shape, no cracks, original decals with just a little paint chipping on one.
I have just began stripping it down and collecting parts, I did get the motor free, and kicks over fine, showing 110 Psi compression, but I haven't adjusted the valves yet. Bike has spark, but carb is trash. Going to have it rebuilt soon and see what the motor needs. If I can get it running it should show wether it needs ti be rebuild or not. I ordered a repair manual should be here soon.
I bought a new battery and everything is working besides the head light and taillight. I have not invested this just yet. Ill have more time when I get laid off the end of the month. The tank has rust inside so its soaking in Vinegar now.
I starting learning to work on cb350s, 500s. 550s. and a few 750s when I was 17 and those forums helped me so much, so I hope some people here might be interested and follow along and give me a hand here and there!
Even though its been 2 years since I sold off my bikes Im always looking online and a few weeks back I found a posting listed with a 1974 Honda Xl350. No title, non running, but complete and very close to me. I think I did ok on it, 300$. I am a big outdoorsmen love to camp,offroad, fish and hunt, so having a bike that i Could take with me on some off road adventures seemed right. yet still be able to drive around town and work.
In the past I have done mild restorations, full restorations and just ridden bikes with factory " Patina " so naturally building a bike with a little custom touch of my own fit the bill just right. I would like to take this bike to a tracker/scrambler. Keeping the original lines of the bike, just adding a few touches of my own. Thinking of something like a Woods Tracker, something I can cruise on a friday afternoon around town, and then take with me camping for the weekend and ride a few dirt roads somewhere.
When I got it home the motor was locked up and the battery hadn't been touched since the 80's. Odometer shows around 6K miles and the bike seems fairly clean for being outside when the PO found it. Right away I poured some Marvels Mystery Oil in the plug hole and soaked some steel wool down to get off some light oxidation. right away the tank cleaned up, side covers looked better and rims started to shine, all good signs. I took the seat ( With no rips ) inside and got the material hot with a heat gun and used some Armor All on it and it cleaned up great. Im going to be building her in my shed the next few months.
The exhaust is trash, rusted through at the muffler, Im thinking a pipe from XLint Performance with a upswept pipe would look good. Didn't really like the stock exhaust anyway. Didn't get a key with the sale, but one of my spare keys I kept from other hondas fit and works! The tank is dent free and beautiful, besides rust under the clear coat. Not sure what I'm going to do. the blue is flawless. The side covers are in good shape, no cracks, original decals with just a little paint chipping on one.
I have just began stripping it down and collecting parts, I did get the motor free, and kicks over fine, showing 110 Psi compression, but I haven't adjusted the valves yet. Bike has spark, but carb is trash. Going to have it rebuilt soon and see what the motor needs. If I can get it running it should show wether it needs ti be rebuild or not. I ordered a repair manual should be here soon.
I bought a new battery and everything is working besides the head light and taillight. I have not invested this just yet. Ill have more time when I get laid off the end of the month. The tank has rust inside so its soaking in Vinegar now.
I starting learning to work on cb350s, 500s. 550s. and a few 750s when I was 17 and those forums helped me so much, so I hope some people here might be interested and follow along and give me a hand here and there!