Honda-SOHC
Other Stuff => Misc / Open => Topic started by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on September 05, 2024, 04:22:57 PM
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Now that the 500 is about done bar a longer journey I have been doing worth while but pointless tasks like tidying up the garage that needs little or no tidying. If the forecast of a dry warm day tomorrow in Derby are true it will be a decent ride out on the 500 then for as many days that September will allow.
I think I'm suffering from some sort of empty nest syndrome or like when a pet dies but it's too soom to buy another. Fortunately I'm skint until probably January so for now as it's safe to look at what if any project I might embark on.
Stafford show next month - any ideas of a Maico Letta project are firmly binned - parts are just too hard to source plus the ride will not meet my faded nostalgic memory. Great thing about the 400 & the 500 is they are neat to ride in their different ways.
Then there is the space issue where can I fit a third bike? It would mean the 400 would have to go. I like the idea of a nippy 250 or even a single cylinder small engined Honda with parts not as rare as Dodo Eggs.
I like the idea of free road tax and something lighter. I have hinted that the 500 would be my last project - I may have to eat my words.......any suggestions would only encourage me. 8) 8) 8)
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Yamaha XT 500
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The only thing I can say Ted is I spent a whole winter with nothing doing in the w/shop and no projects definately not doing that again. I have the next two winters sorted. You might just enjoy a little time to focus on other things before committing again! 😜
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Yamaha XT 500
I'm not a fan of the trial bike look but the street version SR500 looks neat as does the SR 400. What is the parts situation?
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Just sold https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326248771292 but a very different bike to the four cylinder types you've just completed.
Great to ride, feel like a bicycle in comparison to fours, narrow, light and very easy to manage when parking etc. Lovely torquey power delivery right from lowest rpm.
Extremely good value too.
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How is the Honda VT500e rated looks an interesting design?
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Just sold https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326248771292 but a very different bike to the four cylinder types you've just completed.
Great to ride, feel like a bicycle in comparison to fours, narrow, light and very easy to manage when parking etc. Lovely torquey power delivery right from lowest rpm.
Extremely good value too.
I have never ridden an Italian Motorcycle but have sat on a few in bike showrooms.
It might not be true but I always felt they were designed for riders that are under 5'8" tall. I looked at buying a Monster several decades ago. I also liked the Suzuki Bandit back in the day.
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How is the Honda VT500e rated looks an interesting design?
They seem quite good Ted, interesting to work with something different too.
Some engines here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365046131777 to get you going .... strip and explore ..... then find a bike to get something together later.
Good winter interest, probably make enough from sale of spares to pay for this consignment ;D
Wouldn't need to clear the 400 out initially and while having winter project interest.
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Or go for a fully sorted VT500 as in the NTV650 although I would personally go for the 650Bros version but it would be an import as never available here. Same engine though as the NTV but a bit more exotic with the alloy beam frame. Plenty of Bros400 around as well, same basic water cooled V-Twin Sohc engine as the 650. The engines were bullet proof and not uncommon for 80,000+ miles. Lots of dispatch riders used them, the natural successor to the VT500 and the CX500 before it.
Or......if you want something smaller but still sohc and still fun to ride AND restore......a CB250RSD. Just make sure the starter motor is working because a lot of them failed!
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Hopefully my 550 will be finished by next spring. I already have the next project in the shed, my RD350LC.
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A few 'Ashimoto' suggestions Ted:-
Fuji Rabbit from Motoclassics in Hampshire (ask for David, mention my name if anyone interested). I don't know of another in the UK !
https://moto-classic.com/fuji-rabbit-90-13-212-klm-arrives-nov-2024/
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CD175A 'Sloper' from Oxford Classic Honda ... He's had this in stock for ages I think because the engine is rattly but engine parts not a problem on this bike BUT it has decent exhausts which are absolute hen's teeth items. So has potential. A very much loved model. The owner Charlie is probably the nicest dealer you would ever meet... a really honest, enthusiastic fella. He would probably come down a few quid too... he did on my C100 50cc Sport I got off him in 2022.
https://oxfordclassicmotorcycles.co.uk/bikedetail.aspx?bike=5354
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Honda S90 from David Silver. Would be a very easy resto. Possibly too easy. But who doesn't admire a tiddler?
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He's got quite a few bikes in, such as a nice C110 Honda 50 Sport and a C100 Step thru.
https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/USED-BIKES-FOR-SALE/
He has a CL160 too ... I am not a fan of the CB160 myself, been there in '75 and have the 'T' shirt. But I think the CL version is cool. Again an easy resto.
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Good suggestions there Ash👍.
Worth having a look at J H Pugh auction site as well Ted. There's a bike auction tomorrow with a CB160 in the line up.
The sloper CD175 at Oxford Classics as recommended by Ash does look good though if you can get it for the right money.
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Or......if you want something smaller but still sohc and still fun to ride AND restore......a CB250RSD. Just make sure the starter motor is working because a lot of them failed!
RSD Dave ... thought you was an RSA man ;D
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Or go for a fully sorted VT500 as in the NTV650 although I would personally go for the 650Bros version but it would be an import as never available here. Same engine though as the NTV but a bit more exotic with the alloy beam frame. Plenty of Bros400 around as well, same basic water cooled V-Twin Sohc engine as the 650. The engines were bullet proof and not uncommon for 80,000+ miles. Lots of dispatch riders used them, the natural successor to the VT500 and the CX500 before it.
Or......if you want something smaller but still sohc and still fun to ride AND restore......a CB250RSD. Just make sure the starter motor is working because a lot of them failed!
I always liked the look of the Bros
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Sounds to me you should short list the CB250RS, I never did like the Deluxe model paint job, but hey, the best looking one I had was customised. ;)
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Was the front disc brake standard?
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I got a CB200,
Lovely little bike, relatively small and light,
Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk
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Was the front disc brake standard?
If you mean my RS, well yes and it was well up to the job.
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Was the front disc brake standard?
If you mean my RS, well yes and it was well up to the job.
That's an interesting model the 250RS I will do some research, I really don't want to go back to front drum brakes.
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I got a CB200,
Lovely little bike, relatively small and light,
Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk
Top tip!
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The CB200 has a disc front brake as well as being a twin cylinder - quite a few listed on Gumtree all around the same price band £2500-£3250 for what look like at least part restored bikes.
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https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1157500788902998/?ref=search&locale=en_GB
RS here too.Under 1k. It isn't mine!
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The CB200 has a disc front brake as well as being a twin cylinder - quite a few listed on Gumtree all around the same price band £2500-£3250 for what look like at least part restored bikes.
CB200 has a cable operated front disc.
I'd go for the C110 as it was my first bike. But mine had indicators. They were very poor. But wonder if bits are available.
When in St Tropez about 8 years ago there was an elderly fisherman with a well worn C110 nearby. Spent a lot more time gazing at that than any of the boats or cars.
How is your garage? Could that do with a bit of work or gadgets that you can pick up at a car boot sale and fix?
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The CB200 has a disc front brake as well as being a twin cylinder - quite a few listed on Gumtree all around the same price band £2500-£3250 for what look like at least part restored bikes.
CB200 has a cable operated front disc.
I'd go for the C110 as it was my first bike. But mine had indicators. They were very poor. But wonder if bits are available.
When in St Tropez about 8 years ago there was an elderly fisherman with a well worn C110 nearby. Spent a lot more time gazing at that than any of the boats or cars.
How is your garage? Could that do with a bit of work or gadgets that you can pick up at a car boot sale and fix?
I don't like the idea of a cable operated fron disc brake so what does that leave me with the 250RS or is that not hydraulic?
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The 200 was the only cable one i remember Ted and it worked very well if lubed correctly with a good cable.
There was the BMW that had a cable from the lever to the master cyl on the top frame rail
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The 200 was the only cable one i remember Ted and it worked very well if lubed correctly with a good cable.
There was the BMW that had a cable from the lever to the master cyl on the top frame rail
I think the CB50 from the early 80’s also had a cable operated disc Bryan although I maybe incorrect?
I remember the cable operated disc on my CB200 malfunctioning and it locked on sending me over the front!
The CB200 though is a very nice bike as is the CB/CD/CL175 and the CB/CL160.
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Or......if you want something smaller but still sohc and still fun to ride AND restore......a CB250RSD. Just make sure the starter motor is working because a lot of them failed!
RSD Dave ... thought you was an RSA man ;D
I'm a 100% RSA type of guy Ash, RSD's (especially the colours) don't do it for me with that ugly stuck on starter mechanism that had a habit of not working. I was just thinking about Ted's kickstart leg with the RSA although they are really easy to start and if they do kick back it's more of a tickle than a broken ankle😁. The CBX250 was a jewel though if a bit expensive and over complicated but very nice looking and kept the single pot performance 250 going a bit longer.
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I never understood Honda's thinking with the cable disc.
All that machining to produce caliper mechanism.
What was wrong with the simple hydraulic system they used
On everything else. Give me the twin leader on the Cb175 any day.
In fact the Cb200 was a very inferior replacement to the Cb175.