N00b from Del

[SteveH]

Ladies and Gents,
  Quick intro - I've been lurking for the past couple of months; just registered last week (sick of looking at threads w/o pics!).  Anyway, had a pretty nice CB360G cafe bike about 8 years ago.  Sold it for a CB650SC which I loved, but was sold last year for a bigger (framewise) R80RT.  Now Im back for something abit fun, and picked up a CL450K3.
  I just picked the bike up on Saturday, so I haven't had time to mess with it.  Carb and points/condensor are in the mail, so we'll see if I can get it up and running this week.
  If the motor checks out OK - then I'll just blast it, paint, and leave well enough alone.  If I need to tear the head off for any reason however, I think I'll go with new pistons/rings (not the 500 kit, just S1 or whatever it requires).  But I'll P&P the head and toss some mild cams in.  Maybe keep the keihins, maybe go with the 34mm Miks; guess the jury is still out on that.  Either way, it'll be a $1200 plunge.
  For everything else, I want to keep the stock front end, but I'll powder coat the wheels, and get new spokes.  Prolly drill out the front drum a bit, but that'll be that.  Ditto for the rear.  Then it'll be the usual mix of clubmans, rear sets, and putting the battery in a tail of some sort.
  Either way, progress will be slow; as I don't intend on having it done until next spring....



So for now /lurk mode back on !
  -Steve

[Ease]

Cool starting point.

So the plan is stock with a hot motor? Nice.

Careful drilling the brakes - drums are useless if they get wet.

[locO leoN]

Hey Steve...
Welcome!!... another cl450!!... You should check out what Proteal did with his cb450...

[SteveH]

Ya, Proteal has been an inspiration

That said, I don't plan on going too crazy with the motor - it all depends on how things shape up.  Right now Im just going to try to get it running, and see if I do need to take the engine down.  Hopefully I can get 2-300mi on it within the next couple of weeks, before I tear it all down and drop the frame off to Mr. Powdercoater.  While he has the frame, I'll blast the motor, etc - and get my thoughts together on what I really wanna do.

Suggestions ?  hehehe

Thanks !
  Steve

PS - I will be keeping the stock pipes, and mufflers.  Also, I want to keep the stock fork - although I think maybe dropping it 1/2" or so.

[duncan]

as i recall the main difference between the cb450 and cl450 were the exhaust pipes.  the cl pipes were tuned for more torque and the cb pipes were tuned for more horsepower.  you can really see the cl advantage to 60 mph and the cb advanatge to 100mph:

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/090691/

nobody asked, but i thought i'd show that i'm paying attention!