71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread![A New Look]

djelliott

Real bikes are built in garages.
OK, I've been posting shots in various threads on my build and figured it was time to bring it all together in a thread of it's own. My candidate came to me in the form of a neglected 71 CL350. It hadn't run in an estimated 8 or 9 years due to the date on the plate tags. It had some obvious minor crash damage in the form of bent handle bars, a dent on the shifter side of the tank and a bit of road rash but the price of $200 plus an extra motor was well worth it in my book. I occasionally ran OK but was showing symptoms of a possible stuck or broken ring (which was confirmed when I took the motor apart. So without further ado, here is the progress so far.



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Here she was before disassembly. Pretty much a snotter just begging to be cafed.


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Stripped on down to an ugly ass dirtier then hell from. Some chump really thought this was a dirt bike.


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I took apart both motors to make one good one. The spare motor appeared to have died an early death by swallowing something that fuckered up the rockers, cam, and valves. The tranny parts and crank were in beautiful shape though.


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I blasted the bits I would be using and then sent the jugs off for a 3mm over bore to fit the NOS Rocky S12 overbore set that I picked up on sqweeBay for 9$


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Paint! High heat aluminum for the cases and sides. High heat black for the rest.


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After so discussion on front ends here at DTT, I was inspired by swagger to find a 90's sport bike front end. Here is a 94 EX500 Ninja front end from eBay that I won for like a dollar or something. Great shape. I also pieced together the controls, levers, master cylinder, caliper, and axle bits and figured out I could fit it with a wheel from a CB360 so I can use the front disk break. Still working on the disk break set up.


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Started smacking in the knee dents and doing a bit of Bondo©


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The finished tank. Sorry for the grain pic.


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Had to modify the Roc City Cafe Intercepter seat to fit the strange CL tank. Going to make it a challenge when making a seat cover.


Well thats what I have pictured so far. I'll take some more photos tonight. I just painted my frame and swing arm and almost got the rest of the motor together last night. I hope to have a rolling chassis by next week or as soon as my Bridgestone Spitfires arrive (110/90-18 front 120/90-18 rear). I also just got my shocks and have to finish cleaning them up. I'm using 14 inch shocks off of a '82 CB900 Super sport. They're badass looking. I'll keep this updated often. I've kicked this project into high gear with hope for having all sorted out by April. Here's hoping.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Nice bashing you've done there! A local shop has had a tired, beat-up CL350 in the back since last spring. I asked about it back in April and he said the owner wanted $800 for it. If I'd been drinking a Coke, I'm sure it would've shot out my nose holes! Looking forward to more pics.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Nice job with the tank ;D
Gotta love that arse to

Keep up the good work and remember to post pics
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

More photos!


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Newly painted frame. I used the Rustoleum metalic hand hammered paint. This stuff lays down a supper tough coat. I primed it with rust reformer just to be safe.

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The motor is coming together nicely. Here she is with those beautiful NOS S12 pistons ready to be loaded.

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Better shot of the tank. No that's not a scratch it's a cat hair. Trust me when I looked at this photo I ran downstairs to be sure.

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Gonna look sweet with the knee pads.

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Shocks. To my joy while cleaning them I realized they were already loaded with newer Progressive springs. Not bad for $19 for the set.

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EX500 triples and clip ons.


Well that's it for now. Gotta head out to the garage for more painting and parts clean. This bike ain't gonna build itself. Thanks for looking.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

djelliott said:
Well that's it for now. Gotta head out to the garage for more painting and parts clean. This bike ain't gonna build itself. Thanks for looking.

Looking good so far dude. Love that tank, can't wait to see it painted. Excellent work.

ian
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

lookin good. Great job on the knee dents. the engine looks clean. Keep it up.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

A bit more progress.


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The motor is coming along nicely.


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Shocks all cleaned up and painted.


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Sweet brandy new tires. Bridgestone Spitfire S12's
120/90-18 Rear
110/90-18 Front
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Sorry it's been a few since an update. I've been getting a lot of the less spectacular stuff done that I felt I wouldn't bore you with. I did however finally get the right mix of steering bearings to mount up the EX500 front end:


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I love it. Been getting a lot of cleaning and painting done. Plus I just put in a huge part order for a lot of the bits and pieces. DAMN that stuff will nickel and dime the hell out of you. My missing motor gasket (for the breather) will be here today, so tonight the finishing touches will be put on that.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Are those universal knee pads from J+P?

Lookin good so far - diggin the color of the frame ;)
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Big R said:
Are those universal knee pads from J+P?

Lookin good so far - diggin the color of the frame ;)

Thanks Big R. I got them off of eBay from some random person. I was the only set shaped like these at the time I searched. Paid $25. Not to bad.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

two questions...

what starter block off is that?

where did you send your cylinders to and how much did they charge?

looks great so far!
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

I been thinking about the Rustoleum hammered aluminum and you pretty much convinced me that is IT!
Keep the pics commin!
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Rocan said:
two questions...

what starter block off is that?

where did you send your cylinders to and how much did they charge?

looks great so far!

I got the block off plate here:

http://www.mginproducts.com/mg%20parts.htm

It was like $20. Nice fit.
The cylinders I took to a local shop. The charged me $150. Which turned out to be a deal considering they told me it took 4 different set ups on the bore bar to get to 3.0mm. Thanks for checking out my build.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Hoosier Daddy said:
I been thinking about the Rustoleum hammered aluminum and you pretty much convinced me that is IT!
Keep the pics commin!

Yea man, it's great stuff. It lays on pretty easy and cures to a tough finish. Looks cool too. I did my rims with the black. I'll post a pic later.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Overbore set for $9. Sweet! The tank came out beautifully as did the engine. Nice cannibalization, BTW. What did you paint the cylinders with? Or, did the shop shoot it? I like the matte look and am thinking about doing the same to my Buellie motor.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

biker_reject said:
Overbore set for $9. Sweet! The tank came out beautifully as did the engine. Nice cannibalization, BTW. What did you paint the cylinders with? Or, did the shop shoot it? I like the matte look and am thinking about doing the same to my Buellie motor.

Thanks for the kind words. I shot it with high heat primer then high heat flat black made by rustoleum. Be warned though. The stuff isn't to durable until it cures under heat. You have to either bake it in the oven for hours or if it's on the bike run the motor in a few intervals while letting it cool completely in between. I started baking it but was warned not to in any oven I plan on cooking food in. So I'm trying not to ding it to much until the bikes together and I can do it that way. Needless to say, I have a bit of touching up to do.
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

Been getting a lot done. The motor is finished, just waiting to scrape the cash together for my Newtronic ignition. I've got parts showing up everyday. It's like Christmas around here! So anyway, I figured piece it together and see how she looks. I'm loving it so far! I'd like to get some opinions on the bars. I wasn't really into them at first but now i'm starting to like them.
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Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

djelliott said:
Been getting a lot done. The motor is finished, just waiting to scrape the cash together for my Newtronic ignition. I've got parts showing up everyday. It's like Christmas around here! So anyway, I figured piece it together and see how she looks. I'm loving it so far! I'd like to get some opinions on the bars. I wasn't really into them at first but now i'm starting to like them.

I'm diggin' the bars...very sharp and clean! Nice work so far, bike is looking stellar!
 
Re: 71 CL350 Cafe Time for the build thread!

jeep28guy said:
I'm diggin' the bars...very sharp and clean! Nice work so far, bike is looking stellar!

Thanks a lot. The bars are just the stock EX500 clip ons that go with the front end. I was really wanting the traditional cafe clip ons but I'm liking how these give the bike it's own character. Since I'm not using the EX500 controls I chopped an inch off of them to tidy things up a bit. That really helped the look out. I should have the wheels on and the motor in this week. Then it's down to wiring and saving up for my rear sets and ignition.
 
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