Picked up a cl350

[drooker56]

I picked up a cl350 on Saturday. She was nasty. I got her for a hundred bucks, she has been parked since 1980. already got her down to the frame and ready to re-ring the engine. The engine looks great on the inside probobly could have rode her like that with only 11,000 miles. I think I am going to customize a bit since any original part on her is coverd in mud rust and bird ****. I am going to keep her a softy but move the fork mounts forward a bit and go with a solo seat. I am thinking of a sporty peanut tank, we'll see what I get a deal on as far as that goes. Any ideas on lowering the front end new, old, anything...

[fredintoon]

I picked up a cl350 on Saturday. She was nasty. I got her for a hundred bucks, she has been parked since 1980. already got her down to the frame and ready to re-ring the engine. The engine looks great on the inside probobly could have rode her like that with only 11,000 miles. I think I am going to customize a bit since any original part on her is coverd in mud rust and bird ****. I am going to keep her a softy but move the fork mounts forward a bit and go with a solo seat. I am thinking of a sporty peanut tank, we'll see what I get a deal on as far as that goes. Any ideas on lowering the front end new, old, anything...

Hi drooker,
a bike that old with all it's original parts still there is worth far more on resale than the same bike that's been (shudder) "customized"
Seeing as the main ingredients of auto polish are mud and birdsh1t perhaps all you need for a resto is a damp rag?

[drooker56]

Um... Yeah... I think you skipped over the word RUST and read mud and bird****. It would cost a fortune to make this bike look factory which was the point I was trying to make. I am sorry your so offended by the term, shudder, "customize". Maybe you ought to gp to an artists website and tell them to quit messing up their factory pristine canvas with all that paint. If this was way to harsh I apoligize. Its early and I haven't had coffee yet. or maybe its somone crapping on the plans I am so excited about...

[fredintoon]

Um... Yeah... I think you skipped over the word RUST and read mud and bird****. It would cost a fortune to make this bike look factory which was the point I was trying to make. I am sorry your so offended by the term, shudder, "customize". Maybe you ought to gp to an artists website and tell them to quit messing up their factory pristine canvas with all that paint. If this was way to harsh I apologize. Its early and I haven't had coffee yet. or maybe its somone crapping on the plans I am so excited about...

Hi drooker,
hey, it's your bike to do what you like with and I'm sorry about the (shudder). I had just switched away from a half-minute of the O.C.Choppers show that I'd accidentally turned onto and perhaps I over-reacted.
Seriously though, you'd be amazed how much some folks are willing to pay for an old machine even if it is mostly iron lace so long as all the parts are there.

[drooker56]

I overeacted myself, had a rough morning. I get what your saying, Its true. I am just starting as a hobby to pick up old junk and do what I can with it. So far the wife is going along with it, we'll see how far I get. This thing is so far gone the gauges rusted through and don't work only things worth keeping is engine and frame so I'm gonna play with them.

[fredintoon]

- - - I am just starting as a hobby to pick up old junk and do what I can with it. So far the wife is going along with it, we'll see how far I get. - - -

Hi drooker,
judging from my own experience, living under the cat's foot as I do, any affordable hobby that keeps you at home and out of mischief will meet with wifely approval.
Until there's no room in the garage to park her car in winter.
Then the claws come out.

[Rubin]

I picked up a 72 CL350 a few months ago. She has fresh paint, and after I replaced the rear tire, charged the battery and replaced some of the original cables, she runs great. Got to love the sound of the little 350's high pipes. I had originally planned on turning her into a cafe, but I have started to love the original style. I need to replace the seat cover but other than that she is ready to run. I am looking forward to riding this spring, almost had it out last week in the snow. If I only had a sidecar...

[Bigge_al]

Parted with a 69' cl450

I parted with a showroom condition 69 CL450 to purchase my 82 XJ11. I was not in the market for another bike but when a guy rolls up on you and offer 4 grand for a bike you paid 8 hundred for time for a upgrade. The 69 was sitting covered in a guy garage for 30 years I changed the oil and plugs and rode it. I only had 3000 miles when I got it and I sold it with a little over 6000. Still got pictures of it somewhere.

[fredintoon]

- - - I am looking forward to riding this spring, almost had it out last week in the snow. If I only had a sidecar...

Hi Rubin,
talk to these guys:-
http://www.cozysidecar.ca/
anything much heavier would be too much for your little popper to run with. Swap the rear sprocket for one with mebbe 4 more teeth on it. Such a rig will be NFG on the highway but real neat around town.

[cywelchjr]

I picked up a 72 CL350 a few months ago. She has fresh paint, and after I replaced the rear tire, charged the battery and replaced some of the original cables, she runs great. Got to love the sound of the little 350's high pipes. I had originally planned on turning her into a cafe, but I have started to love the original style. I need to replace the seat cover but other than that she is ready to run. I am looking forward to riding this spring, almost had it out last week in the snow. If I only had a sidecar...

They are lovely little bikes aren't they? I regret to this day selling my 75 CL360. I know I wouldn't be riding it much if at all, but if I still had it I would be keeping it in pristine shape, much like I'm working on getting my XS400 back to. After 2 thefts and partial strippings I have all the parts there, but now I'm going to strip it down and do a frame off restore. It's gonna look good when I get done.

[MindWebs]

back to the point...

cl high pipes are intresting..

i like the "offroad" appearence, but i know what your saying about rust.
it's a freaking nightmare to deal with.

a tip i learned is that if there is rust and you want the casings off, drill the heads on all the bolts. take the caseing off, then unscrew the shafts of the bolts when you can get penitrating oil to the threads.

i've had good luck doing bikes this way.

also i picked up my cb350 for about the same as you, but i'm hasitant to make changes do to very little rust and the bike being in very good condition and has.... i think 6K miles on it.

so i like your bike better. there is NO question.
(spend fortune on restore) or have fun... hmm.. i'd say fun wins.

good luck and have a blast!

[drooker56]

Eventually i will have some photos up, I promise! So far I have the engine apart and the casings and jugs repainted. The cylinder walls were in great shape, I was nervous since the bike was sitting for 20 years I pulled it apart and checked everything. Should be putting the engine back together this weekend then I'll start on some conservative frame mods. I know how everyone feels about mods but I like to put a little bit of "me" in things plus I got some good deals on parts. I found a white leather springer seat brand new for $40. For this I need new mounts and to move it back about 6 inches this bike is incredibly short for a solo seat. With that I am also extending the swingarm by about 5 inches which shouldn't mess with the ride too much as long as I can change the springrate, somone on another forum is going to help with this. I think I am going to go with chrome street tracker pullbacks to keep a 70's sort of look to her with white grantourismo grips to match my seat. For fenders I am not sure yet. I am actually thinking of using a xs11 front fender for the rear... and none in front. I found some cheap capacitors so its going to be kick only. I wish I had the scrambler exhaust but somone switched it out for the cb exhaust so I think I am just going to turn it out before the ffotpegs and run staight pipes. I also want velocity stacks in keeping with the look. Question? I have never done stacks so with those plus straight pipes do I need to rejet? if so any help would be appreciated.

[psycoreefer]

Hey, glad to hear you finally got that "smaller" bike you've been looking for. Not to hijack but any pics of your trike? I've no experience with a CL350 but I'm going to say yes you'll need to rejet. From my experience the rule is anytime you modify intake or exhaust on a carb'd engine you need to re-jet. I suppose the only way to know for sure is to go for it and check the plugs, if they are white jet richer, if they are black jet leaner.....

[drooker56]

Hey Brian! The only pics are on my phone so if you shhot me your new number, at least I'm assuming it changed with the move, I will send you some pics. I am trying to get them on the computer so i can post some of the trike and the 350. After looking around I am going to scrap the stack idea and go with pods, stacks sound like they're bad for the engine and i just rebuilt the damn thing.

[T99Ford]

Drooker,
What style are you building it after? I did not rejet the XS360 with pods. It was rich enough as it was. Good on ya for using filters, though, even though the stacks look cool.