1973 Honda 350F Project

[tranqjones]

I'm pretty sure they're aluminum and shouldn't rust. They certainly polished like aluminum.
The tach didn't take me too long at all. 15 minutes to strip the paint, another 15 to sand and clean, then about 2 hours of polishing. I used a coarser grade Nuvite for the initial few polishing runs... that really gets any fine marks from the sanding out. Then a few runs with the finest grade Nuvite. On pieces this small, dremel makes a felt polishing buff (6 to a package) that works perfectly in conjunction with the Nuvite.

 

[1976cb356]

Maybe cb350fs are aluminum, mine are steel. A good way to tell is if its magnetic or not, and you can tell by the smell too.

 

[tranqjones]

Great call on the magnet test! Mine are not aluminum, they could be stainless though... but they are most definitely steel. They did polish with nuvite though. This bike never sees rain and it's dry here in the mountains, but I am certainly going to keep an eye out for any sign of rust.

 

[Tim]

Before anyone goes out and pays to have theirs chromed look into chrome gauge covers. Theyre out there and are cheaper and easier than taking these things apart.

The polish job looks great though!

 

[tranqjones]

I couldn't find chrome or polished covers anywhere... is there a source for those? Thanks, Tim.

 

[ronnie]

Looking good, I'll be keeping up with this!

 

[tranqjones]

Just finishing up my "final" winter of work on the bike. In a few more weeks, this project will be declared, over!

I just put on a new 4 into 4 exhaust system. I found an MIVV system this winter, and opted for that over the reproduction stock exhaust that you can find out there. I just prefer the look and style of this system. I utilized the old downpipes, I had new chrome laid down on them at Brown's Plating in Kentucky this winter. Brown's did all the chrome on the bike, their work is spectacular.

Finishing up a restoration on the seat currently... in a few more weeks, I will post the finished bike.

 

[tranqjones]

Down to the final few items. Currently working on the seat. The original seat foam is in surprisingly great shape, but I felt it was too tall to create a nice clean, aesthetic line coming from the tank. So we decided to go with a lower profile using closed cell foam which is a little stiffer. The cover and all the hardware are going to be kept original.

 

[andycafe]

Nice man! very nice! looking forward to seeing the seat done pic's!

 

[tranqjones]

many thanks! it's been a long 18 month project... ready to finish!!

 

[SwissGuy]

Great looking 350F man.

Looking at the beginning, I notice that you had the same pipes on it originally that I have on mine, this being the third 1973 CB350F with that cruiser-esque slant-cut 4-2 setup I've seen.

Anyone have any idea if those were some sort of popular dealership mod or perhaps Factory somehow?

 

[tranqjones]

From what I understand, those were after market 4-into-2 mufflers. The original exhaust system on a 350 Four was famous for rusting out quickly... at least the muffler portion of the pipes. The down pipes are heavier gauge. The down pipe and muffler were one long piece, but moisture tended to collect in the muffler so that rusted first.

What you could do is save the original downpipes by cutting off the mufflers, then slip on that inexpensive 4 into 2 after market system. (A version of the 4 into 2 slip on is available at Dime City I believe). That's what someone did on this bike. The back edge of the down pipes right up to the muffler had definitely been cut. When I laid down fresh chrome on the pipes, I had the edges smoothed out.

I think the 4 into 4 system just looks more trick and more as intended. I never like the look of that 4 into 2. When I was searching for a replacement, I came across the MIVV system that is on there now. Reproduction 4 into 4 systems are available, but they're pricey and from the look of them, it appears like they'd be prone to the same issues. MIVV made a premium 4 into 4 system for awhile (on there now) but they are rare and hard to find... though there are a few still around. I found mine on the other side of the pond at a place called Disco Volante Moto: http://www.discovolantemoto.co.uk/exhausts/4-megga-silencer-system/prod_359.html

I got my Akront Morad rims on the bike there as well. Those guys were super to deal with at Disco Volante Moto. On both the rims and the silencers, they took the time to do exact measurements on everything with many back and forth emails so we could determine if the fitment was perfect, and on the rims especially, figuring out the exact specs/measurements need to correctly order custom spokes.

 

[tranqjones]

the seat is finished. just waiting on the grab rail to be chromed, a few odds and ends, and... project over.

 

[tranqjones]

Finished.

 

[SwissGuy]

Oh man that is pretty... i love the seat and tank, great looking 350F man.

 

[tranqjones]

Three years later, still sweet.

 

[trek97]

that has to be the shiniest motorcycle I ever seen. 8)

Looks nice.