CB350 Questions

[finnerandr]

I am going to look at a 1971 CB350 this weekend. It supposedly starts and runs fine, and has 19,000 miles. It is titled and also includes another 1971 CB350 parts bike with supposedly good motor but no title. Asking price is $500 for the package. I know enough to say that its a pretty good deal, but I dont know anything about these older bikes. This will be my first project bike ever. I am coming off of riding dual sport bikes and after my last big off and fairly serious concussion, I am deciding to stick to the street from now on. Plus Ive always wanted to do a cafe style bike, so I figure I can start now and work on it through the winter.

My questions to the members here are what sort of weaknesses do the 1971 CB350s have? Any known problem areas with the bikes or motors that I will want to pay special attention to?

With the bike having 19,000 miles will I want to open the motor and do a top end rebuild? How many miles are these motors good for before they require a rebuild?

Any other advice you guys can give to help me decide if I want to pick this bike up from this guy?

Thanks for any and all help you guys can give. Much appreciated.

 

[boomshakalaka]

that sounds like a pretty amazing deal. At that price theres very little that would make me walk away. I paid 600 for 2.5 bikes and a box of parts and none of the bikes ran.

As for what to look for, Im not really sure. Ive never bought one of these running, and mine arent running yet, so Im sure someone else can chime in.

 

[old honda 350]

Took one down last winter, running well now, so I did something right.
Inside, replace the cam chain wheelsfor street. If racing, check out the aftermarket slider elsewhere on this forum. A search will bring it up.

Clean the tank, clean the tank, clean the tank! Then put fuel flters in line.

Clean the carburetors, and replace ALL he orings. What a difference. Best thing you can do for reliability.

Replace the fork seals. Be ware, the only place I found them for a K3 is Honda. The are smaller OD than later years.

David Silver Spares and Northeast Vintage cycle were my best bets for parts.