For Honda CL350 Lovers

[Dave Swanson]

Almost everyone of a certain age has a late 60s or early 70s CL (or CB) 350 amongst their bike experience.

This one was pushed home from a neighborhood garage sale many years ago for $250.   A couple years ago I did a complete restoration.  I hardly rode it post restoration, because it had a carb issue that I didn't have the time to solve due to being preoccupied by other restorations.  The CL got pushed to the side for a couple of years until the spirit moved me to tackle the carbs.

A couple weeks ago I got serious and found my carb issue.  Now it is running like a champ. 

It really brings back the memories.  My old buddy had a 69 CL350 that I learned to ride on.  It is like stepping back in time.



 

[DoubleGuzzi]

That's one more to add to your signature list. 

[nc43bsa]

I just saw one of those being ridden on the street last week, although it wasn't restored or the same color.

Prior to that I hadn't seen one in 10 or 15 years, and even then it was in Daytona during Bike Week.

[Dave Swanson]

That's one more to add to your signature list. 

I limit my signature to Guzzis only.     There is a limited amount of space for your signature. 

[DoubleGuzzi]

I limit my signature to Guzzis only.

The mind boggles; I daren't ask. You should start a dealership, you should. 

[MikeP996]

I had this version back in the day until someone decided they needed it more than I did. :(

https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/1969_honda_cl350-scrambler_walkaround-11-01552.jpg

[Brand X]

I think many people do not know how smooth those little 350's can run.. When the carbs are setup, bike broke-in, very sweet little units.
My bother had his setup on a Dyno around 1973 (New CB-350 K-3) 

[Tkelly]

I bought one in 72 when I lived in Chicago,perfect city bike,park anywhere.When that was stolen I bought another,never rode farther than the WI border.The Outlaws did a thriving business stealing Hondas,my uncle knew someone to call to buy your bike back if you didn’t have insurance.

[wirespokes]

Very nice!

I never had a 350, but did have several other Hondas. It was one I would have liked to have.

So what was the carb issue?

[Dave Swanson]

So what was the carb issue?

My last attempt to cure the carb problem included new diaphragms.  These were the correct parts to replace as one of the OG diaphragms had a pinhole leak.   The next issue was operator error.   

[bad Chad]

My first street bike was  a 13 year old CL 125.  I loved that little bike, it never failed once!

[Moparnut72]

When I was in the Army my day job was a tech in the hospital. Nights and weekends I had a job in a motorcycle rental shop. We had a fleet of I think 16 Cl 160's and about a dozen CL 350's. Those bikes were virtually bullet proof, most of the repair came from client abuse. The 160's had the propensity for the selenium rectifier short out for no reason and take out part of the harness and the speedometer cable. The cable was the main path to ground after the wire in the harness melted. Those bikes were like a Timex watch took a beating and kept on ticking. I don't remember any common issues on the 350's. They were fun bikes to ride.
kk

[sdcr]

My second motorcycle was a new, 1973 Honda CL350, in blue and white. These lift the front tire, effortlessly.

[bacongrease]

  Occasionally I see  old Japanese bikes parked at Lowes , dollar store,  Home Depot, etc.  Bailing wire here and there, dented tanks, all kinds of homemade farkles.  The last one I saw was a rattle can I-4 Kawasaki .  I think they are cool.  So many I think they must all be buds.  Dare to be different.

[Clifton]

Beautiful restoration Dave!

Back in 1971 three of my friends rode 1971 CB350's, one a CL350,  the other a 1969 Triumph Trophy 650. They were always talking motorcycles and I recall the back and forth CB CL discussion. TBH all 4 bikes seemed to pull about the same just that the Honda's did so at higher rpm. My father absolutely refused to let me have one but occasionally I rode on the back of theirs.

 The following year for the first time in my life I disobeyed my father and used my summer job savings to buy my first motorcycle an XL250 so was finally able to ride with my friends.

[rtbickel]

The SLs were a lot of fun too.  This one was headed for the junkyard and I got it real cheap and did a restoration about 15 years ago.  Sold it to make room in the shed for



 a California 1400.

[Stretch]

My neighbor had one when I was a kid, and I've always wanted one.
(One of those, and about 500 other bikes.....)

I knew a fellow student when I was in college who had one. He had 35K or so
on it, and as he was skint, it was his only transportation.

Yours looks great!   

                                       -Stretch

[kballowe]

Nice.
VERY nice !

 

[Alfetta]

never threw a leg over a CB/L 350...  But i did own a CL 450 for many years...   Lovely bike.
I did a restoration on it at the same time i was restoring a BSA441.

The Honda was very pricey in comparison... and had things like O-rings imbedded into the head gasket...and a crazy 5 idler pully timing chain guide...

[Dave Swanson]

The Honda was very pricey in comparison... and had things like O-rings imbedded into the head gasket...and a crazy 5 idler pully timing chain guide...

All the timing chain and tensioner components were replaced with NOS on this one.  It was crazy expensive!  This was an exercise is just how upside down you can go!