1968 CL450 K0 - light recomission

[JamesH]

James you put the rest of us to shame, as usual. You really can go off people you know!

Second that. I always wonder where he gets the time to do all this. Lovely work as usual James. Seat foam is really odd.

Lol - I agree, the seat cover is going to have to come off and the foam re-done at some point as it’s annoying me just looking at it ha ha..

[JamesH]

I use Dunlop K70s, for the blocky off road look without the downsides of knobbly tyres on tarmac.

They are Indonesian made I think, I found them on eBay.

I rev the nuts off it, by the way, there isn’t a load of torque but it loves to buzz along. Unless I miss a gear though, I doubt I’ll ever see the 9,500 red line. The carbs took a lot of setting up before she would run right, very sensitive to float levels, but once it was right I could forget about it, tickover is metronomic now, at first it was all over the place.

Strobing the timing seems to require an alternator cover with a hole cut in it, as these are rare (even damaged) I’ve only timed it static, but without problems so far. Common with many other 450 owners, charging seems marginal but I’ve never been stranded. She started first kick when the battery was flat after a long sleep in the garage.

Thanks Dave. I’ll look into the dunlops - I meant to say thanks for replying to my Pm re. the seat.

My plan is definitely to keep/ride this one - and I’ll do a first outing road test report when I hopefully get her out between Christmas and new year.

Oh and I do have a ‘proper’ points cover that I need to get polished - I’ll fit that in due course.

James


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[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

James you put the rest of us to shame, as usual. You really can go off people you know!

Second that. I always wonder where he gets the time to do all this. Lovely work as usual James. Seat foam is really odd.

Lol - I agree, the seat cover is going to have to come off and the foam re-done at some point as it’s annoying me just looking at it ha ha..

It's not a museum exhibit - or is it - get it into perspective you can't see the seat when you are riding it or can you feel a hump?

[JamesH]

James you put the rest of us to shame, as usual. You really can go off people you know!

Second that. I always wonder where he gets the time to do all this. Lovely work as usual James. Seat foam is really odd.

Lol - I agree, the seat cover is going to have to come off and the foam re-done at some point as it’s annoying me just looking at it ha ha..

It's not a museum exhibit - or is it - get it into perspective you can't see the seat when you are riding it!!

Lol thanks for the advice. It’ll bug me, but not so much that I won’t ride it as-is ha ha! .

But knowing what I’m like I will inevitably sort it.

It’s less about it being a museum piece, more about how I feel about it. Ultimately, that’s all that counts.

[Bryanj]

They dont need strobing static is fine

[JamesH]

Finishing touches applied this evening, and she’s running beautifully and just needs the number plate fitting and a fresh tank of Esso 99+.

Very pleased with how she’s turned out.

Next update will be a road test report when the weather / work commitments permit.

[taysidedragon]

She's a beaut! I love it. 👍

[Nurse Julie]

That looks lovely James.

[MrDavo]

Looking good, if I didn’t already have one, I’d want one now!

I see what you mean about the seat, the cover texture  is much better than my copy, but it has a deflated look to it. I also notice I can no longer be smug about my tank badges having the ‘450’ on them, as now yours have too! Where did you find them? Mine came from California via France, a long story.

Of course Menno’s candy paint looks spectacular as always, as does my blue version.

[JamesH]

Looking good, if I didn’t already have one, I’d want one now!

I see what you mean about the seat, the cover texture  is much better than my copy, but it has a deflated look to it. I also notice I can no longer be smug about my tank badges having the ‘450’ on them, as now yours have too! Where did you find them? Mine came from California via France, a long story.

Of course Menno’s candy paint looks spectacular as always, as does my blue version.

Thanks Dave. The seat is firm as f**k on my backside, so I think I’ll have to source a new foam and fit that at some point.

The tank badges are I suspect repro’s - I bought them back in 2018 from a seller in the states I think..can’t recall who though. Was on eBay I think?

Will report back after the first road test - I’m determined to ride/use this one.

Big thanks to Menno for the superb paintwork done back in 2017/18..still as good as new.

[heli_madken]

What an absolutely beautiful bike well done, the exhaust shields look fantastic

[JamesH]

That looks lovely James.

Thanks Julie.

[JamesH]

What an absolutely beautiful bike well done, the exhaust shields look fantastic

Thanks Ken. I’m a very lucky boy to have it. Can’t quite believe it’s almost 54 years old..

[Laverdaroo]

Thats mint! what a cracker!

[JamesH]

Shame the back of the silencers have been grounded by the look of them James, doesn't really detract from the look as it does look well. Like the colour, what colour is it.

Lol - it’s a tart up not one of my full restorations, so given it’s 53-year lifespan I can live with the odd dent / scratch here. Pretty sure it’s Menno’s Candy Ruby Red..


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