1966 Honda Benly C95 Restoration - putting the puzzle back together...

[pacomotorstuff]

Hey Tim,
CTC used to have a 6V / 12V battery charger - don't know if they still carry it or not.  Flipped voltage with the flick of a switch.  Still have mine, still working well.
CTC also used to carry "whitewall paint", but I haven't seen it in years (not really looking for it, though).  Just what it sounds like - you painted the sidewalls of your tires with it.  Not a concurs result, but decent enough just the same.  You might try Caswell Canada or Eastwood or someone like that to see if they carry it.
Pat.

[JRK5892]

very nice TIM! do not use white wall paint though man you will hate it! i have used it and know several who have! turns an ugly yellow and on really hot days... IT MELTS!!!

[Tim]

I'll likely end up with the white wall Firestone tires from Coker Tire.  Just have to get over the fact they'll cost me $400 for two tires, and I'll still have to mount/balance them.

They're more than double the blackwall version in price, but they'll be on the bike for 5-10 years, so the extra $200 or so is really only $20 a year (that's how I kid myself - don't ruin it for me).

[byrdman76]

Its better than the alternative man - I wish I would have went with the Cokers...  A couple of rides and the rear started to look like crap.

[IMOALE]

I had never looked into these before,  the pics that I had seen really didn't make it appealing to me, but after looking at your target bikes I must say it is a sweet little bike especially with the solo seat.    Are you gonna go red or black???  I though I was doing something wrong I kept looking for pics of your XS650

[Tim]

It will be black, just like the photo above your post.  I'll definitely splurge on the Cokers - just need to accumulate a bit more $US cash in my PayPal acct to make it less painfull.  I have a couple of Schott jackets etc. on eBay ending this week that should cover the cost hopefully.

Just making up my list of parts to order.

[IMOALE]

What ur ebay seller name or post a link to one of ur jackets. 

[DrJ]

Tim, are you sure you want to powdercoat everything? I find the gloss black really thick, blobby and swirls easily. Paint is much crisper and polishes nicely but more pricey. Nice new project.

[JRK5892]

WHAT! NO WAY! you can polish powder just like paint... after all it is a paint... man most people just use basic colors for powder... look at this stuff... this is all powder... no fish eyes, no swirls... this is just powder done right... dont get me wrong, i used to lay paint wiht the guns and booth alot as well (when bondo work is needed i still do) but i rearly pull out my guns anymore... dont see the point when i can get results like this with powder i am all over it!  (I actually think i am going to pull out the guns and shoot the bike in some galcier white, so i am kind of eating my words.. but i can not powder what i am going to shoot and I just found some of that white,hardner, and clear in my paint cabinet... figure why not!... just love the epoxy finish so we will see)
But you can buff powder just the same as paint... hell sometimes i will get fisheyes really bad and ahve to wet sand before laying another coat on

[JRK5892]

DR J... i do know what you are saying though... powder layed too thick looks like crap! here is a gloss black laid wiht 2 mm thick powder

[IMOALE]

My tank was very shiny but didn't look great when we pulled it out the oven, then I went to town with the 3mm rubbbing compound (by hand) and she keeps looking better every time almost have her glass smooth almost. LOL.   Oscr (YRC owner) said I could even wet sand then polish.

[JRK5892]

hey man, get some of this! give it a try! this works awesome to polish out powder

Here is a link to the Liquid Ice
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?...temType=PRODUCT

[Tim]

I'll look into painting the parts, but I'm thinking blasting/polishing will be a heck of a lot cheaper, and I'm not going for a concourse restoration here.  Only reason I'm going to paint/powder it at all is I want it black vs. red.  If it was the original black paint, I'd leave it alone (the red paint is actually in great shape - a little rubbing and it would be very shiny).

Pulled a few parts off it (sidecovers, battery, seat, tank, headlight) to see what I'm up against.  Aside from new cables all 'round, new tires, new brake shoes and splicing 3 wires back together that have broken where they exit the handlebars (from the left controls) it's in good shape.

One problem may be finding replacement handlebars.  The originals are bent, and I need the right holes in the right places in the bars for the internal wiring and internal throttle (yes, these have an internal throttle).  The throttle cable exits the bars only about 5 inches from the throttle, so it's kind of pointless, but I guess they figured it was simpler.

Still has the original 46 year old grips.  If the gauge is original, it has 2,800 miles (odo works - tested it by spinning the front wheel).

Looks great without the long seat - can't wait to get a solo seat on it.

[DrJ]

The early CB125 has a similar handlebar setup so it may broaden your search.

[MN_TX650]

This guy builds some wicked bars.  Might be worth checking to see what it would cost to have him replicate your OEM ones?  Some of the VTX guys I know have used him to build custom bars with good results.  If I ape another VTX, I am going to have him make them for me to my specs.  I believe Joe (JRK) had a guy he used for bar fabrication also...

http://www.brcustomcycles.com/Home_Page.php