Guess this fits here..CL200 Motard.

[matty]

I posted in the FNG forum, but figured my actual build should go somewhere techy. It's not really a tracker, but it's defiantly not a cafe or a bobber...

Anywho...

Since I don't have enough projects all at once, I've decided to to start another.

A while back I picked up a Honda CL 200. I paid like $100 for it because the owner couldn't get it running. A quick tank, fuel line and carb clean and it was ride able in 2 hours. It needed tires and some other stuff, so I let it sit in my garage. Now that spring is coming and gas is stupid, I've decided to spruce it up some.

The backstory on the CL series bikes is that they were honda's first foray into the dualsport type cycle. The CL 200 is kinda rare, and only build for 74, somehow though, I have had 2 of them.

I was originally going to cafe racer it, but I'm a mini biker and moto guy from way back. Plus the tank is all wrong. I decided that I would build the bike back to it's roots and make it as if the motard craze had hit in 1974.

Here's the victim:

Since I don't have original ideas, here's what I will be ripping off, the Japan only honda ape. Kinda like a monkeybike on steroids.

Side by side. I'm going to either build a new seat pan or cut the one I have to expose more frame, and lower the seat some. Rear sets are going, side covers are going, high pipes are staying, and I'm going to go with a 16/15 (i think) wheel instead of the 19/18 on it.

I would really like to use wheels similar to what's on the scooter, but I can't find them for shit...

 

[Maritime]

That's pretty cool idea. I like it. Looks like a hoot to ride. Check out actual scooter wheels and see what you can come up with. IF not maybe small displacement dirtbike wheels? Some can handle fatter rubber.

Cheers,

Maritime

 

[matty]

the ape has a 12" rim, being JDM only makes it a pain to to find them.

They do look baaad tho...

 

[loudest143]

I've never seen that Honda Ape before, and I LOVE IT!! That's a really cool idea....


Hey, I dunno, but would Honda Ruckus wheels work? Just a thought...

 

[matty]

they are 10" I think I want to be in the 14" range, nned to measure when I make it out to the garage today.

found these, 14" CRF 50 wheels

 

[Sonreir]

You may be able to reuse some of the parts from an SL350 if you're wanting to stay with an OEM kind of look.

 

[loudest143]

10" LOL OOPS. Yeah, I guess I'm used to ebellishing size. Story of my life. ;D

 

[Maritime]

The big ruckus comes with 12 but I agree, a 14" would be better for looks/handling etc. on the CB frame. That Ape must be a small bike cause the wheels look a lot larger than 12" in the pic.

 

[VonYinzer]

Cool idea man. Though, going any smaller than a 15" wheel seems dangerous to me. Maybe (probobly) Im wrong, but switching to a 14" wheel would really change the trail of the bike, making it super sketchy to ride. Just a thought...

These would be sweet, and you could lace them to the stock drums I bet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcycle-Rim-1-60X15-32Hole-CR80-CR85-Black-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4150d190feQQitemZ280528785662QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[matty]

I'll be changing both front and rears to smaller sizes, so the trail shouldn't be affected any. Good catch though, I posted this here so people would get things I overlook.

I dig those wheels, but I have only laced one set of wheels and swore never again, I'd really like to get some mini bike looking wheels like the Ape has.

Here's an idea of the size of the ape, I would love to have one, I've ridden a few monkey bikes and they are one of the funnest bikes I have been on (and I have had a pile of crotch rockets)

 

[matty]

Since I said I had too many projects, here's what the CL is sharing garage space with. I got it for the woman's birthday last july, started working on it last week....oh and we are remodeling our house and getting married in 3 weeks.... ;D

 

[Big R]

Cool project. But I would suggest looking for tires first, then suitable wheels to match. I've been looking for decent 16" dual sport tires and they are almost non-existent. But if I had 17" wheels........

 

[matty]

Thanks for the heads up. What am I missing, I googled and got all of these?

http://www.google.com/search?q=14%22+dual+sport+tires&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a#q=16%22+dual+sport+tires&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=eOJ&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&ei=1QadTZf0K4L0swOFoKHiDg&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CEQQzAMwAg&biw=1440&bih=769&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=27105db9f40b6df9

 

[Big R]

I guess nothing. I never looked for 14" tires, but I have searched for matching 19" and 16" tires. And those are the problem sizes.

 

[matty]

ohh..gotcha, I wasn't knocking you, just making sure i'm seeing things right. My only bike experience is with 2 stroke moto's in the 90's and sportbikes. Like I said, that's why i posted this here, so I can make sure i'm not missing anything.