Two Wheels Good.

"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti) 01/22/2016 at 11:03 • Filed to: Honda DOHC motorcycle

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I haven’t owned a bike in a long time, but the itch has never gone away. I scratched that itch with a 444cc DOHC screamer. I picked up this 1973 Honda CL450 off Craigslist. Everything works, but the carbs need to be rebuilt, and the some switches replaced. I love old Honda twins, and I’m looking forward to riding this beauty. The CL450 was the scrambler version of the CB450. This bike has had its high exhaust replaced with the CB style exhaust. Even with the carbs acting wonky, the bike has really good pickup and feels very smooth. It’s very light and easily maneuverable. I felt very comfortable on it despite not having ridden a bike in about seven years.

The original owner was in the Air Force and died in 1974. The bike still has DOD and Offutt AFB tags on the forks. The guy I bought it from gave me copies of the probate paperwork from 1974 releasing the bike to the second owner, which gives the bike some interesting history.

Plans:

1. Rebuild and tune the carbs. The runs, but only with the choke out, and will die when you turn. There seems to be fuel leaking out the side of the left carb. My guess is the floats need to be set correctly. I’m just going to clean and rebuild everything while I’m in there.

2. Clean everything up. The battery seems to have overflowed, and there is a light dusting of surface rust underneath it.

3. Remove forward controls and install CB450 foot pegs, brake, and gear levers.

4. Paint the tank. Not sure what color scheme yet, but definitely something bright and ‘60s-70s looking. I’m thinking either orange or mint right now.

5. Design and build some sort of cafe style seat. The seat is brand new, so I don’t really want to cut it up. I’m thinking I’ll just go with a really low profile, flat seat without a tail.

6. Install clubman bars and replace the throttle and brake lines.

Once I get the carbs running smooth the bike will be perfectly rideable. I’m going to take this build slow and make sure I do exactly what I want. I might just ride it around as is for a while just to get a feel for it. Here’s a quick sound clip.

bob and john > DipodomysDeserti 01/22/2016 at 11:18

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You had me RIGHT up to the point where you start talkong about turning it into a cafe racer with cb450 parts.

This thing has history and character dude. If you MUST paint, do somerhing army themed. Keep it stock.

If you really want a cafe racer, start from a jumked bike with no history, not some as intrestin. Or with the back story of this.

Nonster > DipodomysDeserti 01/22/2016 at 11:24

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Nice! Thats a sweet bike. Definitely get rid of those forward controls. I actually dig the current bars and seat though, but I have a thing for street-tracker and scrambler style bikes. How good do those drum brakes work?

64C10 > DipodomysDeserti 01/22/2016 at 11:43

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Nice! Also, I’m assuming that’s your GMC in the background?

DasWauto > bob and john 01/22/2016 at 13:00

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I disagree, if it was closer to original I might be with you but as it is it’s already modified enough that whatever Skychismo does will only add to the bike’s interesting life IMO.

DipodomysDeserti > bob and john 01/22/2016 at 13:23

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That’s actually a really good idea. Maybe give it some sort of old school air force livery with sharkmouth nose art. The paint that’s on it now isn’t original. The second owner did that. It was done pretty poorly as well.

DipodomysDeserti > Nonster 01/22/2016 at 13:39

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Yeah, I might end up leaving the bars and seat alone. I’m thinking about putting the stock high pipe on it too, as I’ve already had a neighbor complain about the noise. It’s funny, because the GMC has a 350 with headers and straight pipes and is much louder, but the bike attracts the negative attention.

DipodomysDeserti > 64C10 01/22/2016 at 13:41

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Yes. ‘66 GMC (has a ‘60 hood on it) with a 350 swapped in, headers, straight pipes, Edelbrock carb and intake, and a mild cam. She’s really fun too.

bob and john > DipodomysDeserti 01/22/2016 at 13:43

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shark nose art is a great idea too actually.

find the old scrambler pipes, sharknose art, and emphasis the scrambler aspect.

dont do another cafe-look alike and they try and sell it for 4k over market value.

DipodomysDeserti > bob and john 01/22/2016 at 13:51

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Yeah, my neighbor complained about these pipes, so I might try and find a CL exhaust. There were a few reasonably priced cafe’s on my loccal CL, but I was trying to stay below $2k. The price of these vintage Honda twins has gone up over the years. I bought my first bike (a ‘79 CM185) back in 2009 for $500. Now people are asking $1,500 for them. I maybe paid a tad too much for this bike, but I hardly ever see the 450's for sale in my area, and I really like these engines.

bob and john > DipodomysDeserti 01/22/2016 at 13:54

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your neighbor can politely take his opinion and shove it where the sun dont shine.

Nonster > DipodomysDeserti 01/22/2016 at 14:25

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That motor sounds awesome so it should still sound good with a good high pipe.

Anyway you now have a sweet vintage bike to match the truck!

DipodomysDeserti > bob and john 01/22/2016 at 14:28

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That was my initial thought as he walked across the street towards me, but apparently his son suffered some sort of head injury, and he was trying to talk to the nurses on the phone. The guy is older and he seemed really distressed, so I just apologized and let him know he can come to me if I’m being loud. He wasn’t being a jerk, and I have no problem working with people if they’re being civil. I have kids now, so I try keep everything as smooth as possible around my home. I have several very loud cars, and this is the first time he’s ever said anything.

DipodomysDeserti > Nonster 01/22/2016 at 14:29

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Yeah, it’s a high revving DOHC twin. It doesn’t have to be loud to sound good.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > bob and john 01/22/2016 at 17:19

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Preach it.

64C10 > DipodomysDeserti 01/24/2016 at 12:33

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Sweet! I currently have a ‘64 C10 (hence the username) in need of a little work. I6, 4 on the floor.

DipodomysDeserti > 64C10 01/24/2016 at 19:11

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Nice. This one originally had a 305ci GMC V6. Although the 350 is a lot of fun, I kind of wish the original owner left the V6 in just for the novelty factor.