First bike/first build: 1970 CL350

S

Staffords

New Member
I started this over at the hondatwins forum a few weeks ago but figured I should post here too to get more feedback from those interested in cafe bikes. The first post was from the end of May, the second post is current:

Finally got my bike sorted and running! I bought the bike in December and today was her first time running since January when I started pulling things apart. Took a short ride around town to find out if I still remembered how to ride a motorcycle!

Its not done though, still needs rearsets, I know I need to go back and fix a few things, probably rebuild the forks since I noticed they're leaking, and just some general cleanup. Maybe new pipes and mikunis later on... We'll see.

This is how the bike looked when I first brought it home:


This is what the bike looks like today:






I hafta thank Benjie from BCR for the aluminum seat and tank, and Spike from Spikes Customs for helping me get the wiring figured out.
 
Haven't really done much to the bike since May, but I have a few things in the works for it right now.

Finally got around to ordering some rear sets. First I bought some steel ones from Viet. Then I stumbled on some aluminum ones from Slipstream Cycleworks that I liked so I bought those too. Rearsets should be here this week and will make the bike much more comfortable to ride!

I've been considering a few different options for the exhaust. I really like the stainless 2-into-1 high pipe from Benjie's Cafe Racer but $800 is a little too steep for me right now. I wanted to cut the CL stock mufflers off and use shorty reverse megaphones on my stock headers but the really stubby ones I want from MEGS are about $100 a pop. 200 bucks for the exhaust is feasible, but now I'm seriously considering a set of VW beetle exhaust tips on my stock headers instead to save cash. Those can be had for about $10 and I think they look pretty good. I believe they are baffled I just hope they're not so loud as to draw attention from the police. Any input is appreciated. These are the exhaust tips: http://www.socalautoparts.com/product_info.php/aftermarket-exhaust-tip-stock-style-chrome-p-16356

Anybody using those NOS Redwing shocks found on ebay? I'm considering some of those and also looking for some new springs for my front end (early style forks with exterior springs). Are there any springs available to replace those? I saw a post online where a guy tried to use a progressive spring from some rear shocks on the front end of his CB350 and looks like they fit when he was mocking the bike up but the post was never followed up to how well they worked or performed. Again, I appreciate whatever input you guys have as I've never done this before.
 
Hi, Bike looks great so far. Well done! I have read others saying that the redwing shocks are not so good. I am putting Hagons On my CL350 build. They have a classic set that is a direct bolt on. Greg
 
Ordered new shocks , VW muffler tips (decided I'm going to cut down my stock pipes), slip in exhaust baffles, and fork seals.

Already have my slipstream cycle aluminum rearsets, and just got a new shortened throttle cable from motion pro. I previously had a shortened motionpro cable installed but I wasn't paying attention and sheared the cable housing by smashing it in the steering stops of my triple tree.

The Slipstream rearsets come complete with clevis rod ends but I think I'm going to try to fit some heim joints on the end of the rods instead.

I won't even be able to work on the bike till after next week, but I will have pictures of all of this when I get to working on it.
 
Not much to show, but I did have some unexpected time to work on the bike tonight. Did the cam chain tensioner adjustment, valve tappet adjustment, and installed this finned stator cover which I picked up from fellow DTT member Viet:



And hopefully next week I'll have time to install some of these goodies:

 
Got my pipes on and also put on new shocks from DCC. The shocks are 13.2 inches, just a tad longer than stock. Center stand still works but the rear tire touches the ground now with the center stand deployed (used to sit about .5" off the ground on the stand.)

The pipes are VW exhaust tips I picked up for cheap. Not as loud as open headers but still pretty loud. They have little baffles (that look like they don't do much) on the inside and quiet the bike just a bit but I don't think they give much back pressure. Now the bike idles fine and runs fine when cruising but sputters when I go to wide open throttle quickly. I'm thinking its lean (has pods and now basically straight pipes) and will need bigger main and secondary jets. Feel free to correct me if that is totally incorrect! Haha I have no idea what jets are in there right now as the bike always ran well before so I haven't pulled the carbs yet. I'm really not very good at tuning and jetting carbs so feel free to chime in!

And here are the pics:



 
Looking good! When it comes to the carb jetting, make one change at a time, and keep notes. You will probably have to pull the carbs because you need to see if the needle has been shimmed and what jets are in it. I would start by increasing the main jet and do a WOT test. Figure out where your problem is in relation to throttle position. Then you can start to narrow down what changes to make. I would guess the main jet and a needle shim would be needed. Here is a link that should help.

http://www.dansmc.com/carbs2.htm
 
DSmoke said:
Looking good! When it comes to the carb jetting, make one change at a time, and keep notes. You will probably have to pull the carbs because you need to see if the needle has been shimmed and what jets are in it. I would start by increasing the main jet and do a WOT test. Figure out where your problem is in relation to throttle position. Then you can start to narrow down what changes to make. I would guess the main jet and a needle shim would be needed. Here is a link that should help.

http://www.dansmc.com/carbs2.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks for that link!

Today I put the bike in my truck and took it over to a buddy's house. He has a timing light and I thought it would be a good idea to make sure the timing was dead on before diving into the carb jetting to rule out one of the variables that could possibly be making make sputter under lots of throttle. I had also adjusted the cam chain tensioner a few weeks ago and wasn't sure if the timing should be reset after doing so. Figured I should just do it even though the bike ran fine before chopping the exhaust. Once I got it set right (had to retard the timing a bit)the RPM's picked up a little. I gave it a very short jaunt down the street and didn't feel any sputter/hesitating when opening up the throttle. I'll hafta do some plug chops to see what needs to be done to the carbs. Probably pull them next week.
 
Progress has been slow.

I ordered OEM rebuild kits for my carbs. Took a week to get them. Then I pulled the carbs for cleaning once they arrived. Turns out the main jet holders were all chewed to shit looks like the PO tried to use a screwdriver to unscrew the slots and broke them! It also turns out that specific piece is damn near impossible to find anywhere except in the $60 "premium" keyster rebuild kits. Since I needed 2 of them ($120) I was actually considering upgrading to Mikuni VM30 carbs. Then I found some perfectly restored Keihin carbs on ebay that had all new internals from the premium keyster kit already installed. New diaphragms, new chrome tops, and all new brass inside. Only old thing was the carb body which was ultrasonicaly cleaned and looked new inside and out. Paid $250 (still over $100 cheaper than everything needed for Mikunis) for the set of "like new" Keihins. Took another week to get those and another week before I had the time, but finally slapped them on tonight!

The old jetting (from the PO before the exhaust chop) was 70 main and 115 secondary main jets. I went with 72/115 but I have 75's and 120's just in case I'm too lean. Not using any needle shims right now but it's smooth all the way through the throttle range so maybe I won't need them. Time will tell.

I'm all ears if anyone has notes on jetting that worked for them on a similar setup :)
 
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