OT possibly buying my first motorcycle, need advice

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: OT possibly buying my first motorcycle, need advice
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matthew Atchinson on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 11:41 pm:

Hey guys,

So my neighbor up the road has for sale what appears to be an old Honda CB 350 or 750 motorcycle for sale. Gas kills my job over the summer so I have for some time now been considering getting a motorbike to save on gas. These get about 50mpg I guess, and he's asking $500 or best offer. The bike needs work, but it looks like everything is there so it might not take much to get it running again. Does anybody have experiences with these bikes or motorbikes in general? Any heads up to what to look for when buying a 40 year old bike or in general? I really like the vintage look of this bike, and the price tag is nice too. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Gruber- Spanaway, Wash. on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:07 am:

You might be surprised at how poor the mileage of these bikes is.
I've had and still have some Jap bikes and never had one that got over 40 mpg.
Seems like for a 500 pound rig they should get better.
I have an old VW diesel that gets 50 mpg.
Tires are spendy and only last 5 to 7000 miles.
I don't think bikes are cheap transportation but they are a lot of fun.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Philip Berg on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:15 am:

That $500 will turn into $1500 in no time at all. As a current motorcycle owner and past owner of vintage bikes it will cost you.

If you want to collect and restore old CB's I'm good with that but if you want to save gas head to craigslist. Look for a Ninja 250 or similar size bike or even a 250/350cc dual sport.

My current DR350 gets 65mpg a Ninja 250 can easily get 70mpg. Ninja's have a huge following and parts are cheap on ebay.

Honda CB's are kool but you will soon find out that old bikes need work.

My old 1980 Suzuki GS550 is on the cover of the latest Clymers manual. Too bad I sold it for the T.




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bill harris on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:15 am:

Matthew: Yes, the old Hondas are a lot of fun! You can't kill them. I have a 1966 CL160 which has been in the family since the late 1970s. Parts are available (but sometimes expensive). The common problems are registration, clogged carbs, dead batteries and rusty gas tanks (inside). If the bike isn't running & doesn't have a clear current title, you could spend 3 or 4 times the purchase price getting it on the road... Also, don't forget that those old hard tires may have tread but are unsafe to ride on.
160


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Philip Berg on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:16 am:

My 1980 GS550E which I rode to work for over two years averaged 50mpg by the way. 55mph all the way.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Baker on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:20 am:

I ride my Honda 77 Cb550f as much as I can in the summer sweet bike. You will want to check the gas tank for old gas. If the old gas is still in the carbs it can turn out to be a mess. You can get carb kits and rebuild them but you have to be good at it. Make sure the plastic side covers that go over the airbox and battery are there. If it has sat a while it will need tires and fork seals. Those are some things to look for.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Holzschuh - Panama City, FL on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:22 am:

Big difference between a 350 and a 750. As Bob said 40 mpg might be about right for the 750. My 800cc BMW does about 45 on the road.

You will do a little better with a 350 and 50 to 60 is possible with a 175 twin. All will cruise at 70 mph.

Count the cylinders, I don't think Honda ever made a 750 twin, all 4 cyl. Also never made a 4 cylinder 350, so it should be easy to figure which it is.

If your new to this, get some instruction and develop a healthy paranoia about other drivers.

Cheers
schuh


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bill harris on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:26 am:

Honda actually did make a 350, 500, 550 and 750 Four in the late 60s early 70s era. They also made 125, 150, 160, 175, 200, 250, 305, 350 and even 450cc twins in the earlier years.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:27 am:

The Honda series from that era is pretty much bulletproof and actually quite easy to work on. Back about 1970 my main wheels in the summer was a CB350 with my spare being a CL125 :-)

The CL swallowed a valve and I managed to get through that pretty well and simple.

On these older bikes...let me offer one problem if you are short...I have a just shy of 28" Inseam. The CB350 was just about maximum. I wanted to grow into a next size up one, took one for a test ride and felt like a total fool at the stoplight with my alternating foot tap dance to keep it from taking a dump!

Newer bikes let you sit lower for guys like me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:43 am:

The Honda CB 350 was four, there was also a 400 four cylinder.
My niece has an old 350 four and my brother had a 400 four.
I have 2 305 Super Sports. I had on in the 60s also. they were twins.
My '77 Suzuki 400 twin with 6 speed transmission got poor mileage, I think about 40. A Harley will do better.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathan Bright on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:52 am:

i have an 82 VW diesel rabbit that gets 47 miles to the gallon and burns rubber all through first gear. I loveee that little rabbit. ever looked at them? not to mention... during the winter.. they have a heater!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:58 am:

I used to have a CB550 Super Sport. I loved that bike and rode it all the time. Got about 33 mpg on it. Now I have a Yamaha 1100. The 1100 gets better gas mileage than the Honda did, but I think it is related to how it is driven. I can relate to the tap dance on the Yamaha. As said above, I would not want to constantly work on an old bike for basic transportation.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susanne on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 01:12 am:

They also made a CB (And CL and SL) 350 twin in the 70's (the difference was exhaust and electrical equipment,. mainly)... they also did the CB 450 twin (and a 500 version), torsion bar "springs" on overhead valves...

If you look at the motor number, it will tell you what you have - the number will be something like "CB450Exxxxxx" - the first 2 letters and 3 numbers will tell you what you have... or post a picture.

If it's a 350-4 - there's a collectors market for those. And they will be cheap on gas if set up right, tho the downside is they are a "small person's" bike...

They are easy as heck to get running, IF you have mechanical aptitude AND a shop manual for the bike (Hondas are notorious for having ONE way to take apart and ONE way to go back together!!) and in rare instances (like the oil spinner "filter" on a CB450T) the specialized tools.. but if you can work on a T you can get the bike running...

Other weak links - Electrical issues - Rectifiers go bad(they sit under the seat, NEVER get one wet!!), the plastic connectors can get hot and distort, and the electrics seem to ALL route through the headlight bucket. You NEED the wiring diagram to suss out the spaghetti in there... at least the color coding is simple.

Carbs will likely be gunked and have junk in the bowls, but are essentially easy, just BE GENTLE and TAKE YOUR TIME... You'll need to get a synchronizer to reset them (specialized tool)... This is one of the main reasons for bad mileage... Oh yeah, TURN THE GAS OFF RELIGIOUSLY. The carbs will seep gas and ill your crankcase if forgotten - so when you get the bike, #1 DRAIN THE OIL AND REPLACE!!! Also check the gas tank, if it's rusted inside, it will need to be cleaned or replaced...

I love the old Hondas, they are generally bulletproof, and will reliably get you from here to there. The 500's and above (and the older 450 twins) have enough power to get you down the road at freeway speeds.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 02:34 am:

40 years old, needs work, $500.00, no motorcycle knowledge (that's the impression I get because you're not aware of what it is) Other than just those 3 or 4 things I guess you can't go wrong. You may also want to take a look at the laws in your state regarding whether or not you need a helmet. I wouldn't ride without one but if you don't have a decent one the cost is going to be a minimum of $100.00. Have you got your motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license. Hondas are easy to work on so you'll have that going for you. Parts for motorcycles are as expensive as parts for cars. Unless the guy has put tires on it in the last 7 years your going to have to. Does it have a windshield. If there's a chance you'll get caught in the rain there's nothing like a windshield. Even with a good helmet with a good facemask a windshield is really nice. Even better yet is a fairing. What shape is the chain, clutch, brakes, lights, battery in. Oh one other thing. Unless you've got a lot of restraint, you should know a $500.00 Honda will likely lead you to a $20,000,00 Harley with all the fixin's. I mean the leather, the bags, the special sunglasses (for wearing on top of your head when you're in the bar), the special watch, the stickers for you car windows, the street sign for your garage, the Harley Davidson F150 Ford pickup the trips to Sturgis, the Harley Davidson gas pump and all things Harley. Even the harley coffee cups and dishes and thousands of dollars worth of other things. Yep, I think you should run right over to your neighbors and buy that Honda. ;-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 02:34 am:

With the rise in price of gas has come lots more motorcycle accidents gumming up freeway traffic. Moto riders save gas until they crash, then waste everybody else's gas; they're so inconsiderate.

And it it's a fatal, it gums up the traffic for hours until a coroner shows up. You need to be on four wheels in heavy freeway traffic.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 02:56 am:

My brother was in the bike business for years, always said the old ones were worth about a dollar per cc if in fair running condition unless it was some ultra rare model or true antique of course. KB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Wicker on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 06:38 am:

What year Honda?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 11:05 am:

Was in your boat for almost the same reasons years back. Hard thoughts. It's cold. I won't drive it. It's raining (or might rain), I won't take it. This that & the other. Fun? Hell yes.
practical main transportation? Not for the faint hearted. Guys at work that rode told me buy it for fun and use it for work when you feel like it not because you have to.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Hatch on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 11:05 am:

Do not want to rain on your parade, but here goes. First let me say I used to ride a bike, 1971 Super Glide with a 80 CI under it. I would not ride one now! Too many Cell phones and other stuff that dumb people do.

A couple Years ago, my Mother-in- Law fell and broke her neck. She was in a ICU ward where there were 14 rooms, all full. She was the only one that was NOT a MC wreck. The nurse said that is the way is always is. Dan


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:12 pm:

The splat factor dissuades me.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Luke Dahlinger on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 12:22 pm:

I had a '73 Honda CB350 that I traded a 312 Ford crank for. Rode the hell out of it for a couple of years and then sold it to a friend. He's still riding it best I know. It gave neither of us any trouble.

Wouldn't mind having another one if I found one cheap enough.

Have a '59 Harley(panhead) and '75 Ironhead Sportster now but haven't ridden either in a few years due to lack of time & interest.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 04:31 pm:

I agree with Steve, the older and fatter you get, the more the splat! KB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 04:53 pm:



I think you should pick up an old Harley. I bought this one in the 60's for $75 and it has kept me off the streets for years.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 06:03 pm:

I demand this thread be pulled! This is a Model T forum!

BARK! BARK! BARK!

hahahahaha


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 07:07 pm:

Ha, Ricks, that last shot of the guy with the pigs was a reminder. I had a honda C-70 just like that and rode it to work back a few years when gas was over 4 bucks here. It was max speed of about 40 MPH but I was on surface streets all the way and that little sucker was drop dead dependable, also got near 100 MPG every time.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 07:21 pm:

I had a Vespa Cio that I bought new. 50 cc. At first it only got about 45 MPG but then later it go worse.
But it saved me from getting parking tickets and moving my car every 2 hours.
I worked at a new car dealer in San Fran sico, they let me park it inside.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Lovejoy, So Cal on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 09:25 pm:

Been riding most every day for 30 plus years, back and forth to work. More fun than allot of things I have done, I just love riding. If you like it, it's great fun. Those old machines are like the old cars. Not as good a mileage as you might think. Believe the 250 Ninjas can't be beat for the riding your thinking of and their pretty good priced.As with the other old vehicles, unless your lucky. You will find, one thing leading to another - and on and on. You can put allot of money in it if not careful, more than it's worth. But if you like it + feel up to it, go for it. Try to have fun. One thing, if you have never been on a bike - you might want to try a friends. Get advice and wet your feet alittle.Take the motorcycle safety course. I have seen several folks git an old machine like it and never git it running. But if you have fun, I guess your still coming out ok. Bet it will cost more than you think, all mine have :-)and I have several 1914 through 47 + a modern HD. Lot's of good advice on here, Richard I love your post and your Harley, agree with Mike G. too - funny stuff, Good luck!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matthew Atchinson on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 10:13 pm:

Thanks for all of the responses guys. I went back to look at it today. It doesn't look as bad as I thought at first. All of the electrical cables look good, not frayed or anything. Upon closer inspection the paint job is still all there except fot the very top of the gas tank. The rest is still gleaming bright orange and black. One muffler definitely needs replacement. I looked over the outside of the engine and it looks good (but then again, so did my T engine and that wound up being some work once inside). I have had experience riding mopeds for some years now, and I love it. It's a great feeling to ride a bike. I'm not too worried about the other driver issue because I live way out in the country so traffic is very light and I never take the freeway for practically anything. It does concern me a little though. I think I will make a go for the bike. I'll start a low haggle offer of $250 (he said 500 or best offer, and I know he hasn't gotten any offers yet). And see where the haggling goes from there. If I can get it for under $350 there's room for my budget to get it working, though honestly it doesn't look like it needs much. Turns out there's a great story behind this bike. It used to sit in my garage! When my parents bought our house twenty years ago the former owners left this Honda, which is definitely a Honda CB, I'm pretty sure 350, sitting in our garage. My Dad didn't want it and it just took up room, but it did run. He gave it to my neighbor who it looks like never really did anything with it. It's perfect for my needs: post on motorcycle forums put it at 50mpg properly tuned at cruising speed around 50mph. It's small, but large enough for me (5' 10''), can fir my girlfriend on the small back seat for short trips, and is cheap. I am definitely going to check it over with my neighbor. He's a nice guy and wouldn't cheat me or sell me something dangerous, known me since I learned to walk. His daughter went to school with me. If there's something wrong he'll definitely tell me. If it runs or needs a little work, I think i'll buy it. I have always had a thing for vintage bikes, but never found one for sale nearby within my price range. My work is usually about 25 to 30 miles away, so getting this bike running good would save me a lot in gas, and be enjoyable.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matthew Atchinson on Saturday, November 17, 2012 - 10:17 pm:

Great news: my Friend has an old Honda CB too, and he just sent me a message. I messaged him about the bike and he said he has a bunch of spare parts i'm free to use.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 03:12 am:

Go for it Matthew. You'll be glad you did. And that feeling of sitting on top of the world when you're on a Moped is magnified by the size and speed of the Honda. You'll enjoy getting it running and you'll never regret the experience. I had motorcycles from the time I was 12 until I was 60. Two years ago after having been hurt I lost my confidence in my abilities and quit riding. I miss it. And yes I had everything from a 1981 Yamaha 1100 that was supposed to be the fastest production bike built in that year to a 1952 Harley panhead that had a 14" over narrow-glide tube frontend, a king and queen seat, Zee bars, 5 spoke wheels and a 3/4 in rake. It had a devils tail b_tch bar behind the seat and was all flamed out. When I bought it, the previous owner handed me a ticket from the highway in Florida for 140 mph. And I had a 50cc Honda and an 80cc Yamaha. I have always loved my motorcycles. But now I'm pretty sure if I had one I wouldn't ride it. Have fun!!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Lovejoy, So Cal on Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 11:00 pm:

Great news and a fun post, thanks and good luck with your Honda.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Monday, November 19, 2012 - 10:29 pm:

Mike, I've got a nice FJ1100 that'll do 160mph+. At least that's where the speedo pegged when I whipped that Viper in a drag race on runway 31 at the St. Cloud airport. I haven't ridden it since I got my Heritage Softail. Maybe you should buy it so it can sit in your garage instead of mine and still not get ridden. That way, you can say that you take the Vette instead of the bike when you're not in a hurry.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Noel D. Chicoine, MD, Pierre, SD on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - 12:03 am:

40 miles commute daily X 5 days weekly X 6 months =5200 miles/50 mpg=104 gallons@ $4.00/gal=$416. tires= $125 each every 10K so about $100/year. Total about $641. Same miles at 15mpg=$1386. Liability insurance costs me about $100/year. Total savings $745. Helmet about $100 once. You still need to pay for liability insurance on your other vehicle. If you drive less than the above 40 miles, less than the EVERY day for 6 months, your savings are less! And PLEASE buy long term care insurance so I don't have to support you in the nursing home or adjustment training facility long term for your head injury. Yea, they are fun but you don't save much money on them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susanne on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - 02:24 am:

I want to see pix of this bike. Orange and Black is a pretty rare color combo for the bike I have pictured...

(BTW, I had a friend who had a really rare SL450 in the same color livery - it was the only genuine SL450 Twin I ever saw - and it was both comfortable and fast.)

Just a couple things - make sure you get both the clymers and haynes manual for the bike, whatever it turns out to be. And get to know both the local Honda dealer and the closest couple cycle salvage yards.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - 07:13 am:

Just ran across this:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - 10:35 am:

Geez Eric, maybe I can trade a set of top bow irons for a '14 touring even up for that 1100. My problems are going to be where to store and who's going to deliver it. I know it's only a few miles but I'm not getting on another motorcycle. The Yamaha GS1100 I had was given to me by my brother along with a model 742 Remington 30-06 semi-auto. The motorcycle was in excellent condition but it was scary fast with the 1100cc's and the dual overhead cams. I don't think it mattered if the tach had a red line or not. There was no such thing as over-rev'ing it and there wasn't a top end. And it was scary. The bullets out of the 30-06 were about a thousand feet per second slower than that darn Yamaha. Even though I sold it a few years ago I still shake when I think about it. My '52 panhead was fast but that stupid Yamaha could easily cause a nervous breakdown.

I might have exaggerated the facts again but you have to understand, I don't need another motorcycle.


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