best vintage honda for a rebuild project?.. advice?

jason41987 · 07-04-2012, 11:19 AM

hey everyone... im looking to rebuild a vintage honda for a winter project.. looking at the late 60s, early 70s era, preferably a twin cylinder model...

so i was looking at CL350s, CL450s, CB350s, CB450, CB500T, CL360.. which ones should i focus my attention on mostly?... i hear the later models were just redesigned versions of the older ones simply for the sake of redesigning them, and dont have as much power...

so anyway, with that in mind im leaning more towards an earlier CB350, CL350, or CB450... are the later... even if the later models are a "step back" is it worth rebuilding one to take a step back forward or should i just looked for an earlier model?..

im basically looking for a light, comfortable, reliable bike to use regularly for commuting, and often highway trips, as i like to travel around the state to see and do a variety of different things...

so?.. advice? questions? comments?

kalchcliff · 07-07-2012, 08:15 AM

Ever consider a CB160? 1965-1969

Team Elkhorn · 07-07-2012, 12:10 PM

Old Hondas were really well made. You can probably keep them running forever if you can find the parts that eventually wear out. We just bought a couple of early 80's Hondas that had been in storage for over 20 years. After replacing the stuff that would obviously go bad from sitting, tires, oil changes, tune ups, etc the things run great. If we keep them, I'm thinking about finding a parts bike so I wont need to run to the junk yard when parts do start to wear out.

jason41987 · 07-08-2012, 05:37 PM

well... im looking to do some highway traveling for 200 miles or so at a time, so the CB160 would be too small, would make a nice commuter though.. anyway, i think im going to try to find an early 70s CB450 which i can find for about $500 in need of some work... would make a good winter project and be a very nice, reliable bike when finished i think

78 750K · 07-17-2012, 04:14 PM

I like the 69-78 Honda 750 SOHC easy to work on imho

KB

07-04-2012, 11:19 AM	#1
jason41987 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 260	best vintage honda for a rebuild project?.. advice? hey everyone... im looking to rebuild a vintage honda for a winter project.. looking at the late 60s, early 70s era, preferably a twin cylinder model... so i was looking at CL350s, CL450s, CB350s, CB450, CB500T, CL360.. which ones should i focus my attention on mostly?... i hear the later models were just redesigned versions of the older ones simply for the sake of redesigning them, and dont have as much power... so anyway, with that in mind im leaning more towards an earlier CB350, CL350, or CB450... are the later... even if the later models are a "step back" is it worth rebuilding one to take a step back forward or should i just looked for an earlier model?.. im basically looking for a light, comfortable, reliable bike to use regularly for commuting, and often highway trips, as i like to travel around the state to see and do a variety of different things... so?.. advice? questions? comments?

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07-07-2012, 08:15 AM	#2
kalchcliff Newbie Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Archer, Fl. Posts: 3	Ever consider a CB160? 1965-1969

07-07-2012, 12:10 PM	#3
Team Elkhorn VP in charge of Diddly Squat Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 92	Old Hondas were really well made. You can probably keep them running forever if you can find the parts that eventually wear out. We just bought a couple of early 80's Hondas that had been in storage for over 20 years. After replacing the stuff that would obviously go bad from sitting, tires, oil changes, tune ups, etc the things run great. If we keep them, I'm thinking about finding a parts bike so I wont need to run to the junk yard when parts do start to wear out.

07-08-2012, 05:37 PM	#4
jason41987 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 260	well... im looking to do some highway traveling for 200 miles or so at a time, so the CB160 would be too small, would make a nice commuter though.. anyway, i think im going to try to find an early 70s CB450 which i can find for about $500 in need of some work... would make a good winter project and be a very nice, reliable bike when finished i think

07-17-2012, 04:14 PM	#5
78 750K Verified Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: N.C. Posts: 27	I like the 69-78 Honda 750 SOHC easy to work on imho KB