'72 SL350

[wesley929]

Ok Guys,

I have a 1972 SL350 that I bought several years ago with 11,000 miles on it. I made it run within a few weeks by cleaning the carbs and gas tank. It has sat for 5 years since without running. I don't have much money or time into it so far.

I am wanting to build a reliable cafe style bike and keep the build budget under $1000 to get it running reliably and have the general look I'm going for excluding paint/powdercoat/chrome.

Engine and Carbs:
I'm thinking I want to swap the stock CV's with Mikuni VM28's or VM30's. Pro's and Con's ?
I'm thinking of tearing the engine down and replacing the cam chain, tensioner with a slider type what brand is the most bang for my buck?
Replace piston rings and anything else that doesn't look right. That should get me to reliable status in that dept I hope.

Brakes and Controls:
I'd like a front disk brake or dual disk but don't have a clue where or what to get or how much work that would be. I'd like to go with clip-ons since I'm not a huge fan of clubman style bars.

Electrical:
new points or electronic ignition?

Aesthetics:
Long slender tank, shorter seat with medium sized hump. Rearsets, 18" wheels front and rear.

Things I've acquired already:
CB350 forks
CV card rebuild kits
New Points
Chrome straight pipe exhaust pipes
Complete Gasket kit
Clymers Manual

I'm hoping to do all the work myself. Who wants to tell me where to start and what I should be able/won't be able to do with a $1000 budget. Any suggestions appreciated. If it takes more than that I'll just have to save up to finish it but I'd it to be able to ride it this summer even if its fugly looking and not quite finished.
I've never rebuilt or even tore down an engine before.

Thanks in advance,
Wesley

Mods feel free to move if I posted in the wrong area

[taggat]

Ill tell ya just leave most of it alone if you want to stay in your budget.

[felkman]

OK, wesley929, Here are my thoughts on your project if you are wanting to stay under $1,000 you need to think smaller......First, I would stick with the stock carbs, carbs aren't cheap and you already have the rebuild kits for the ones you got, use them. Same with the points, you already have them so use them and save the money you would spend on a new ignition for something else that will come up....
If you have to work on the motor, do it right the first time, you said something about rings, how are the pistons? no sense in putting new rings on pistons that are out of specs. If you have ever torn down a motor, you know that you are going to find more that needs replaced than you thought (same for the rest of the bike).
Yeah, this part is only $5, those bolts are only $3, that cable is only $20. Little parts ad up fast and before you know it you are way over budget.
I know this is only my thoughts and I am sure someone else on her may think differently but keep the running gear somewhat stock, There was a ton of time and thought that went into designing that bike, use that to your advantage and get the project running before you dump a ton of money into hop up parts that may or may not help it run any better.
So you like clip ons better than clubmans, buy you some clip ons, you want that fiberglass seat, buy you one, you want to use a different tank, do that, but make sure the motor is ok before you spend all that money. So many times I see people buy all these parts only to find that they can't afford to fix the engine and then it all goes up for sale as a project and they lose money.
I guess what I am saying is your ideas for the bike sound cool, I love it but make sure it is running good before you dump a ton of money in the extras.
Last thing and I will quit, disk brakes are great, I love them but you will find that many cafe-rs ditch the disk brakes for the drums. I would stick with the stock size wheels and drums. If you must use disks, you may want to find a complete front fork assembly to stick on your bike and if you go this route, buy your clip ons after so you know they fit.

[cb500bobber]

Clap clap clap very well put Felkman I agree you will be very surprised how much power these old bikes have they definitely weren't just a old mans bike. If im not mistaken the old 350's were actually kinda torquey.

[leadkrm]

I do have a front fork assembly from a 72 cb450 with rotors, front wheel and caliper let me know if u would be interested

[550fi]

your best bet is rebuild the factory carbs,sometimes changing carb on them old Hondas is a big waste of time.I know a few guys that tried and they went back to stock because they couldnt get em to run good all around,felkman has some good advice.

[wesley929]

I appreciate all the advice. I'll pull the CV's off and give them a good cleaning and rebuild them first then since that seems to be the consensus. For now I'll focus on the stock carbs and the motor. I've heard pistons, rings, cam chain and tensioner are almost a given to do a rebuild. Is there anything else I should be looking at or checking tolerances on? Do I even tear the motor down if I can get it running with just the new points, plugs, and a carb rebuild?

The $1000 cap is just a goal. If it cost me twice that I think it will still be worth it to ride around a 40 year old motorcycle that rolled off the line 13 years before I was born.

I'll start a build thread in the near future. It will give my wife an excuse to use her camera.

Thanks again guys.

[cb500bobber]

If the motor runs then I wouldn't even mess with tearing it down. I would ride it for a year and see how it does and if it starts acting up on the internals then I would start the rebuild process of the motor. As far as checking tolerances I would get you a manual and don't go buy one you will be surprised I found the hole manual online for my cb500 and my cb360.

[wesley929]

I downloaded a manual from www.hondatwins.net forum and printed it off and put in a 3 ring binder. I think they had other years and models as well. Thanks for the input. I'll see if I can get her running.

[novafrk]

Hondatwins is a great site. They are a great group of guys. Were always very helpful.

[550fi]

A nod for the Honda Twins Forum,helped me get my twin going.