I bought a 71 CB350 from a friend. The bike was kinda restored with a painted frame, tank, bucket. It needed some TLC and my buddy ran out of interest so I took it off his hands.
I decided not to cafe the bike and chose to build what I thought the CB350 MIGHT look like if it were built today. The fact is I have no idea where to put this post so I'll explain what I'm doing as I go and you, dear readers, can decide where I should put the bike. It's going to be closest to a Tracker...I think.
So, I've decided on trimming the stock seat, shortening it, lowering the foam and making it a one person bike. Sorry, no passengers, this is just for me. I'm selfish and I don't care. I'm going with, rear sets as they will fit me better than the stock pegs. I will be using a lower profile set of aluminum bars, that have less rise, less sweep and less height than the stockers. Mirrors, kinda on the fence but I tried a set of mirrors from a sport bike that I like, but I need to install a helicoil into the stock switch/mirror mount as the threads are stripped.
Exhaust? Hmmm, Mac 2 into 2? I haven't found anything that really grabs me, and the MAC seems to be a reasonable price point and improves the look over stock significantly IMO.
Esthetics are VERY polarizing and I've had a couple buddies come over and tell me I should do this, or do that after I've told them what I'm thinking and it kinda rubs me wrong. Sooo, I'm keeping my plans to myself while looking at your work. This forum is great for generating ideas and I've come up with a few things and tossed a few as well. My stock front fender is rusted, and going to cost more to fix than replace, so I am looking at two options. Stay tuned. The rear is pitted and rusty, but I plan on sandblasting it, and painting.
I have polished the hell out of the side covers and they are looking good and will be mounting them back on the bike once they are completely finished. Just doing finishing touches now. the previous owner had painted the engine and side covers and I felt they look much better either polished or sanded satin. I chose polished but sating sanded is VERY cool when done right.
I intend to keep the side covers off, but will keep the tool kit and rear fender. my plan is to paint the tool kit and powder coat the frame, but thats either a winter project or next spring depending on funds.
Right now the priorities are, seat, exhaust, electrical (electronic ignition, lithium battery, new regulator, new signals all around and modded battery box), rear sets, handlebars, and changing the gauges to an electronic package.
Hopefully once I make sure everything works as it should, winter will bring a tear down, with new aluminum rims and spokes, powdercoat and paint.
Stay tuned I'll start posting pics soon.
Garrett from Calgary
I decided not to cafe the bike and chose to build what I thought the CB350 MIGHT look like if it were built today. The fact is I have no idea where to put this post so I'll explain what I'm doing as I go and you, dear readers, can decide where I should put the bike. It's going to be closest to a Tracker...I think.
So, I've decided on trimming the stock seat, shortening it, lowering the foam and making it a one person bike. Sorry, no passengers, this is just for me. I'm selfish and I don't care. I'm going with, rear sets as they will fit me better than the stock pegs. I will be using a lower profile set of aluminum bars, that have less rise, less sweep and less height than the stockers. Mirrors, kinda on the fence but I tried a set of mirrors from a sport bike that I like, but I need to install a helicoil into the stock switch/mirror mount as the threads are stripped.
Exhaust? Hmmm, Mac 2 into 2? I haven't found anything that really grabs me, and the MAC seems to be a reasonable price point and improves the look over stock significantly IMO.
Esthetics are VERY polarizing and I've had a couple buddies come over and tell me I should do this, or do that after I've told them what I'm thinking and it kinda rubs me wrong. Sooo, I'm keeping my plans to myself while looking at your work. This forum is great for generating ideas and I've come up with a few things and tossed a few as well. My stock front fender is rusted, and going to cost more to fix than replace, so I am looking at two options. Stay tuned. The rear is pitted and rusty, but I plan on sandblasting it, and painting.
I have polished the hell out of the side covers and they are looking good and will be mounting them back on the bike once they are completely finished. Just doing finishing touches now. the previous owner had painted the engine and side covers and I felt they look much better either polished or sanded satin. I chose polished but sating sanded is VERY cool when done right.
I intend to keep the side covers off, but will keep the tool kit and rear fender. my plan is to paint the tool kit and powder coat the frame, but thats either a winter project or next spring depending on funds.
Right now the priorities are, seat, exhaust, electrical (electronic ignition, lithium battery, new regulator, new signals all around and modded battery box), rear sets, handlebars, and changing the gauges to an electronic package.
Hopefully once I make sure everything works as it should, winter will bring a tear down, with new aluminum rims and spokes, powdercoat and paint.
Stay tuned I'll start posting pics soon.
Garrett from Calgary